Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[KPaffenroth]

A nice one from Scott A. Johnson over at Dread Central and a fine zombie novelist in his own right:

"Kim Paffenroth writes with passion, bringing a human element to a world of the inhuman. His love of the zombie genre is matched only by his insight in posing philosophical questions of those surviving the apocalypse. Intelligent and never boring, Dying to Live is as good as the zombie genre gets."
- Scott A. Johnson, Author of Deadlands

[KPaffenroth]

And another great one:

"A grave new world…. an original vision of the direction of the whole human race…. This is as bloody, violent and intense as it gets. An intelligent novel that will make you think and make you squirm with disgust in equal measure."

David Moody, author of the Autumn series

[HOO-HAA]

Wow, Kim. I've been reading this thread with much intrigue.

I'm not a christian. Quite the opposite, in fact. Unlike you, I was indoctrinated, as a child, in all things fundie-christian and quickly ran to the hills away from such. However, like you, I've also studied religion - both in terms of academia and also in relation to some of the heresies over the years, such as gnosticism. My BEd disertation was in the relationship between christianity and the occult and, with the likes of gnosticism, we have such a marriage incarnate.

Anyway, my own horror manuscript 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' would feature a number of religious folk in post-apocalyptic Northern Ireland, amongst all the other disparate characters. Their ongoing fervour (perhaps heightened) despite 99% of the world falling dead, is quite interesting.

In short, my novel may well be in contrast to yours in term of its religious flavour. The small crucifix which passes between several characters in the book would chart more the destruction of faith, hope and love in the post-apocalyptic world rather than the embracing of such...

[KPaffenroth]

I am sure there will be both reactions in a post-apocalyptic world, both types of communities and individuals that thrive or crumble. And indeed, I was thinking the other day: what do horror novels or stories do, other than just exagerrate and concentrate the forces and tensions of everyday life? Therefore, what goes on in such fiction is just an amplified or more vivid depiction of "reality." And, therefore, it's real.

[KPaffenroth]

oh, and the one thing that's constant in my world or yours: an author has to get paid if she or he's gonna go on writing. So pick up a copy today!

[KPaffenroth]

Though I also should add: this isn't Left Behind (though if making scratch is what I'm after, maybe I should rethink it) and it isn't Ned Flanders. My characters, when not fighting zombies, are not praying or having a Bible study. What I tried to have them do is for them to make intelligent analyses of their situation, and God would most likely be a part of that conversation.

[HOO-HAA]

I am sure there will be both reactions in a post-apocalyptic world, both types of communities and individuals that thrive or crumble. And indeed, I was thinking the other day: what do horror novels or stories do, other than just exagerrate and concentrate the forces and tensions of everyday life? Therefore, what goes on in such fiction is just an amplified or more vivid depiction of "reality." And, therefore, it's real.

I absolutely agree with you on this one.

I think there would be big business to do for those who prey on the vulnerable, offering half-baked answers to their questions of 'Why?' That's kind of what happens in my manuscript. The foreboding charcater named, simply, The Preacher Man, gathers a small group of survivors around him to pray for angels to come and rescue them. Even some of the most cynical and ungodly survivors find themselves drawn to this leader as he seems so sure that what has happened has been judgement from God. Being confused, some of the survivors needed someone with a clear and concise answer to their 'Why?s'... and a clear and concise rescue plan.

Will I buy your novel? Yes, probably.

Oh, and you might want to contact these guys about your work. they would most definitely review it for you:

http://www.tcpc.org/template/index.cfm

They're an extremely inclusive bunch of Christians, perhaps the only ones I've ever met who I have time for! Some of them are atheists who see xianity as a metaphor/ myth to help us understand the human psyche, as opposed to any doctrinal value. 

[KPaffenroth]

Thanks!