BOOK OF THE DEAD 2 : STILL DEAD

Rating:
Summary: Nothing beats a zombie book and a cold beer!
Review: I read The Book of the Dead and this, its sequel, many years ago. For some unknown reason, I'd forgotten how truly excellent they are - I don't know why there were never more in the series. Perhaps because Skipp & Spector appear to have dropped off the face of the planet?

Anyway, Book of the Dead 2: Still Dead is a great read. Its loaded with imaginative and unusual takes on the zombie genre, as well as some retreads of classic gems that work because they are simply well-written. The stories range from uber-cool 'The Old Man and the Dead', about Hemingway dealing with zombies during the Spanish civil war, to 'This Year's Class Picture', which was so sad it choked me up, to 'Abed', which is probably the most disgusting, revolting, nauseating, perverted, and just plain sick story I've ever read. I loved it! :)

Still Dead also features an interesting foreward by Tom Savini, who needs no introduction.

The only downside to this book, and the reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars, is the introduction by Skipp & Spector, who I've never really been a big fan of. The intro is way too self-congratulatory, pseudo-intellectual, and smarmy. Oh well. Can't have everything.

Rating:
Summary: Still Dead and Still Creepy...
Review: This anthology is not only far superior to other horror anthologies, it far outstrips it's predecessor, Book of the Dead. Inside it's masterfully painted pages are 19 terrifying tales based on the mythos of George R. Romero. They're divided into 3 sections, Where Were You When the Lights Went Out, Coping With the Dead, and End Games.

Some of the more well known authors that contribute original stories are Poppy Z. Brite, Nancy Collins, and Douglas E. Winter. Even the team of Spector and Skipp contribute a very chilling tale of what love means to those who are no longer alive.

All the stories are memorable and all will leave that creepy taste of wormy flesh somewhere in the back of your throat. I highly recommend this book for horror fans looking for something different, but it is an absolute must have for fans of George R. Romero's brilliant trilogy.