Newsflesh Series by Mira Grant

Sorry for being so quiet this spring.  I've had my ear buds on, nose in my e-reader/books, and fingers on the keyboard!

One of the reading projects that distracted me from posting was the Newsflesh Series by Mira Grant.  The books in order are:

• Feed (2010) 
• Deadline (2011)
• Blackout  (2012)

Mira Grant is a pseudonym that Seanan McGuire uses for this series.   http://www.seananmcguire.com/

Zombies!!! (Again!) But, much much more!

Really, I think this series is more about the communication of news and opinion in the 21st century than it is about zombies.  Grant (McGuire) combines issues related to biomedical research, politics, and the media coverage of these two issues in this series.  If I wanted a book that helped secondary-aged students see the importance of learning to write well, this would be it.

The protagonists of the series, George (Georgia) and Shaun, are bloggers.  In the post-apocalyptic world of @2039) they are journalists (bloggers).  In this future traditional news sources (television network news, newspapers, magazines) no longer have the dominant presence as ways that citizens obtain information.  Instead bloggers are the primary sources for news.  Georgia and Shaun, with their friend Buffy are the CEOs of a blogging "company" that is trying to maintain high ratings in the extremely competitive blogosphere. In this world there are "newsies," "fictionals," and "Irwins."  These are obvious names for the types of blogs each writes, except for Irwins.  These are vloggers (video blogs) who capture video of zombies and zombie killing.  Yes, there is some violence, but no more than other popular zombie-based books/video.  

 WARNING!  There is a scene in Deadline that is sexually explicit, but not terribly salacious.  (Mira/Seanan--wish you'd left this out!)   I would use the first book of this series as a book-club choice for high schoolers.  I'd recommend the entire series to individual readers (just try and get them to stop after the first book!).  There is such great content in the series about politics, national health organizations, business, news, media, writing, and the market place (and self-protection) that it would actually be a good inter-disciplinary study book.

A third book under this pseudonym that I really enjoyed is Parasite (2013).  This is another biomedical "issues" book.  During the time that I was reading this series I also hear an NPR Science Friday program on stem-cell research.  The resonance of the surety of the scientists about how carefully they were safe-guarding the work they were doing made me immediately turn to a skeptical stance.  I wish that a someone more conservative yet authoritative voice had been available to offer a little more counterbalanced discussion of the risk factors.  http://sciencefriday.com/segment/02/14/2014/stem-cell-research-update.html

Of course some of the content of all three books in this series is alarming.  It could lead readers to a reactionary position about biomedical research.  My daughter has been a biology major and I am a strong supporter of science in all forms.  I do worry however that the majority of America does not pay much attention to the research underway.  Generally, I believe that our research has out-paced our ethics.  The current political debates about the "flash point" medical and genetic research is far behind the issues we should actually be exploring.  I believe these books are a great opening to get students more interested/involved.

Zombie Fallout, by Mark Tufo

This came to me as a "Book Bub" promotion (an email promotion that sends a listing of free/inexpensive ebooks).  I picked it up on a whim, I've been reading a lot of paranormal fantasy lately.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Turfo's narrator has a most refreshing voice that makes the zombie apocalypse presented in this series of books new and different from the typical grim zombie story. 

Michael Talbot is a flawed, unemployed, suburban ex-Marine, survivalist who finds himself one of the few in his affluent gated-community up to the challenges of a zombie pandemic.  He has children whom he loves, a best friend a few miles away, and a petite wife who is surprisingly tough.  Together they meet the challenges of a zombie take-over and help their community defend their lives and homes.

Throughout the book I was laughing and thoroughly enjoyed Talbot's sarcastic, immature, but self-aware narration.  He has a bull-dog devotion to his friends and family that ultimately force him into to the unwilling role of hero.

I shared this book with my 23 year-old son.  He has since read the other five titles in the series.  (I have not.)  He tells me that the first title is the best, but it's worth noting that he took the time from video game play and general semi-adult hi-jinx to read the entire series.

Generally the content has been aimed at an adult audience, but I would be quite comfortable recommending it to older teens.  It would make for a very interesting comparative analysis of voice.  I can see putting this together with WWZ and other zombie literature to complete a careful analysis of voice, mood, and tone.