Is Zombies The New Vampires?

I have always been a fan of zombies and post-apocalyptic fiction. That is why I was so excited when I found about this new series of books that comes from an author named Carrie Ryan. I was looking for a book where I can immerse myself into its world and so rarely I can find the kind of books that can make me stay up late at night and lose sleep over it. What I want is a new series with a good critical acclaim, which is what The Forest of Hands and Teeth is. I am making it a priority to hunt for these books!

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is a New York Times best-selling post-apocalyptic zombie novel by first-time author Carrie Ryan that is marketed to young-adults. This is the first volume of a projected trilogy. As the story opens, an unexplained disaster has turned much of the human race into mindless, cannibalistic undead. They roam the forest of the title, seeking to destroy a band of survivors barricaded inside a walled village deep in the woods. However, the fence that protects these villagers also imprisons them within a dystopian society marked by violence, secrecy, and repression.

Mary lives in the village ruled by a religious order known as the Sisterhood, and their military force, the Guardians. The village is surrounded by a large chain-link fence, beyond which lies a seemingly endless, zombie-infested forest. There are only three ways through the fence—two gates that open on paths that are themselves enclosed by fencing, and a corral designed for expelling those who've been infected by the zombie plague. Where the two paths lead, no one knows, for the Sisterhood says the village is the only human habitation left on Earth. Mary has been raised on stories passed down from her great-great-great-grandmother about life before the coming of zombies. She is especially fascinated by the ocean and believes if she could reach it, she'd be free of zombies.

Hmm, sounds like M. Night Shyamalan's The Village... only with zombies!!!!

Forest of Hands and Teeth Trailer

The Dead-Tossed Waves, the second book in the series tells the story of a girl named Gabry. Gabry lives a quiet life, secure in her town next to the sea and behind the Barrier. She's content to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. Home is all she's ever known, and all she needs for happiness.

But life after the Return is never safe, and there are threats even the Barrier can't hold back. Gabry's mother thought she left her secrets behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, but like the dead in their world, secrets don't stay buried. And now, Gabry's world is crumbling.

One night beyond the Barrier... One boy Gabry's known forever and one veiled in mystery... One reckless moment... and half of Gabry's generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Gabry knows only one thing: if she is to have any hope of a future, she must face the forest of her mother's past. 

The Dead-Tossed Waves Trailer

The Dark and Hollow Places, the final part of the trilogy is scheduled to follow in Spring 2011 and Seven Star Pictures has optioned the film rights to The Forest of Hands and Teeth and is fast-tracking the project.  Now the question I have in mind, is zombies the new vampires?

Praise for the books:

"The suspense that Ryan has created from the very first page on entices and tempts readers so that putting the book down is not an option."
   —School Library Journal, Starred Review
 
"...elegantly written from title to last line."
   —Scott Westerfeld, Amazon.com

"Fresh and riveting." 
   —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

"Carrie Ryan's astonishing debut novel is one of the best works of speculative fiction published in recent years."
   —The Australian 

"Compelling enough to suggest that zombies may be the new vampires."
   —The Times

 

"a pretty freakin' amazing, empowering and absolutely thrilling young-adult post-apocalyptic zombie love story. That never once uses the word 'zombie.'"
   —MTV News