Old Writers Just Fade Away

Zombies of the Gene Pool by Sharyn McCrumb

Zombies of the Gene Pool is the second in the series. While it lacks the side-splitting humor and the cruel satire of the first (Bimbos of the Death Sun), it is still quite humorous and worthy of a read.

Zombies, like Bimbos, does poke fun at the ever out-of-step subculture of sci-fi and fantasy writers and fandom. But this time the teasing is a bit more gentle and there is almost a lingering sadness and pity for the characters who have all found different ways to escape or embrace their adolescent/young adulthood dreams.

This time the erstwhile detective and companion (both professors at a university together) are less of the straight outsiders and more in tune with their fellow characters. Perhaps that's because the characters in this story need little interpretation to the average reader. We may not know almost-famous and mostly famous authors, but we do know those people who dreamed big and fell short. We do know those people who have so much to hide that hatreds that have long simmered come boiling to the surface once a target is once again within reach.

For all the melancholy that is in this book, McCrumb does maintain her characteristic quirkiness and humor. There are many points that make one laugh out loud.

I found the ending to be confusing the first time I read it. It was certainly a surprise, but the denouement was not as expertly handled as the rest of McCrumb's tale.

--B. Redman