Have you read "Pride and Prejudice" yet?

I hope that you have.

First of all, it's a classic.

Second, it's the only way you will truly enjoy these little gems.

That's right. I've just finished reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith.

It's basically a retelling of Austen's classic, with zombies, ninjas and a few playground jokes about balls thrown in.

For instance:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."

and

"The business of Mr. Bennett's life was to keep his daughters alive. The business of Mrs. Bennett's was to get them married."

I think that a good many love stories could be improved by the addition of manky dreadfuls. Manky dreadfuls. I love that phrase so much, that I wish I had written it myself. Manky. Dreadfuls.

In fact, zombie mayhem turns out to be a perfect fit into Austen's original work. Why was Netherfield Hall available for Mr. Bingley? A zombie attack removed the previous tenants. Why was there a regiment stationed in Meryton? The zombie uprising, of course!


And then, I read this one, by Steve Hockensmith. Dawn of the Dreadfuls is a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Written by a different author. There were fewer jokes about balls, but he did throw one in for good measure.

And since this action was to take place before Pride and Prejudice, the story material was all new. I liked seeing the familiar characters doing something different. There were new characters as well, and I liked the additions to the cast.

Some of my favorite passages:

"In the old days, during The Troubles, many men of science studied the zombies, yes. But always the goal was the same: How to destroy them? What are their weaknesses? How best to fight them? No one stopped to ask, 'Why do they want to eat us?'"

*and*

Elizabeth shrugged. "Curiosity hardly makes one mad."

Dr. Keckilpenny's smile grew so broad Elizabeth almost wondered how his lean, narrow face could contain it.

"What a splendid sentiment! And so, so rare. I should translate it into Latin and declare it my motto. Now, how would that go? Curiositas non novo a vir rabidus, perhaps? I'm not sure. I was always so much better with Greek, but it doesn't look nearly so good carved into marble."

So there you have it. My report. Go forth and read for yourself. And let me know what you think.

P.S. I covered both books with a book jacket while reading them. The first time Connor got a glimpse of the zombie on the cover of the first book he said, "Mommy, let me look at that. What is that girl doing?" I knew better than to encourage his imagination with zombie nonsense. Especially since it was the morning after his fright about tornadoes and fire.