The Loving Dead is the fiendish page turning debut novel from Locus Editor Amelia Beamer. It was only a five years ago I thought I had out grown zombies, but then all of a sudden Max Brooks pulled me back and rekindled my joy of reading about flesh eaters. Now we have Beamer making shamblers all sexy-like spreading their STD of love.Beamer's attempt at melding sex and zombies appears at first to be trying to mix two things that just don't belong together. Yet Beamer pulls off the trick and creates a cinematic story that is destined to be made into a film filled with gore, laughter, whips, and yes even heart. Her zombies have bite, but also a sexy side that is hard to turn away from.
The Loving Dead takes place in San Francisco over the course of a day, which Beamer explores to the extreme going from the hills into the sky and finally out on to The Rock for a last stand. The story never staggers even as the characters are placed in some sticky situations that might unsettle your stomach or nerves. The Loving Dead centers on roommates Kate and Michael who both work at Trader Joe's because that is obviously where twenty-something's without direction end up working. After a night of partying some friends turn into zombies and than all the fun really begins.
The Loving Dead has spot on dialogue throughout. Funny and witty in the right places, but also naturalistic where needed. Many times it feels like these are conversations you and your friends have when hanging out. Some relationships could have been fleshed out more, but for the most part the characters are easy to connect with. Many times I found myself thinking this is probably how most people would react to a zombie outbreak in a city. But you can't leave until you take a Zeppelin ride to hell.
The epilogue is quite sad and surprising, but fills the void of a zombie pandemic that just ends without full resolution. If you are a fan of zombie fiction and think you've seen it all than look no further for that something new. Beamer effuses dark humor with a deft hand to bring us a modern take on zombies and the spread of a pandemic many of us are preparing for. I give The Loving Dead 7 out of 10 hats. I look forward to what Beamer has cooking next.
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