Can zombies be virtuous?

"if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy..."

So here is what I've been contemplating. Can a zombie book, full of blood and gore and hordes of undead be appropriate reading? I love zombies. They scare me and I like it. But I'm wondering, if I was going to write a story about them, with plenty of violence against them, am I stepping over a line? I don't have a problem with real accounts of war stories that can be graphic because they let you know what it was really like... but with zombies, I'm just not sure. What is your point of view?

[bodhigirlsmiles]

Originally Posted by Alana

"if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy..."

So here is what I've been contemplating. Can a zombie book, full of blood and gore and hordes of undead be appropriate reading? I love zombies. They scare me and I like it. But I'm wondering, if I was going to write a story about them, with plenty of violence against them, am I stepping over a line? I don't have a problem with real accounts of war stories that can be graphic because they let you know what it was really like... but with zombies, I'm just not sure. What is your point of view?

i believe that stephanie meyer, the author of the popular series about vampires, is lds. i know that doesn't answer your question directly, but her books tend to have a gory element to them, and i know she has answered questions in interviews about this very topic. perhaps you could look to her for guidance....

(sorry to assume you are lds yourself, if you are not.)

[bodhigirlsmiles]

Originally Posted by Alana

"if there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy..."

So here is what I've been contemplating. Can a zombie book, full of blood and gore and hordes of undead be appropriate reading? I love zombies. They scare me and I like it. But I'm wondering, if I was going to write a story about them, with plenty of violence against them, am I stepping over a line? I don't have a problem with real accounts of war stories that can be graphic because they let you know what it was really like... but with zombies, I'm just not sure. What is your point of view?

btw, i am buddhist, and i have no problem with zombie stories....i think they are just that, stories.

i am also a librarian....

Originally Posted by bodhigirlsmiles

i believe that stephanie meyer, the author of the popular series about vampires, is lds. i know that doesn't answer your question directly, but her books tend to have a gory element to them, and i know she has answered questions in interviews about this very topic. perhaps you could look to her for guidance....

(sorry to assume you are lds yourself, if you are not.)

Yeah I've read her books. What I'm thinking though is nothing like what she writes. My goal would be to gross the reader out a little. Getting very descriptive with brains and blood and guts and smell going on and on for pages. Ok, maybe not that crazy. But I wouldn't want a 5 year old reading it, doubt a 10 would want to.

[DigitalShadow]

I would like to see a book with a sympathetic Zombie character. For some reason, no one ever does that.

[bodhigirlsmiles]

Originally Posted by Alana

Yeah I've read her books. What I'm thinking though is nothing like what she writes. My goal would be to gross the reader out a little. Getting very descriptive with brains and blood and guts and smell going on and on for pages. Ok, maybe not that crazy. But I wouldn't want a 5 year old reading it, doubt a 10 would want to.

i suppose, then, it depends on what you consider to be "appropriate reading." as a librarian, i absolutely abhor censorship of any kind. this does NOT mean that i would want all audiences reading all things. there is a saying that i've always enjoyed...."censorship, like charity, should begin in the home....but unlike charity, it should remain there." i think it is up to individuals as well as parents (when it involves their children) to determine what is appropriate for them.

[pam]

Originally Posted by bodhigirlsmiles

i suppose, then, it depends on what you consider to be "appropriate reading." as a librarian, i absolutely abhor censorship of any kind. this does NOT mean that i would want all audiences reading all things. there is a saying that i've always enjoyed...."censorship, like charity, should begin in the home....but unlike charity, it should remain there." i think it is up to individuals as well as parents (when it involves their children) to determine what is appropriate for them.

I agree with you. We have the capability to make choices about everything we do in life. That also includes what books we would or should read.

[hordak]

Originally Posted by DigitalShadow

I would like to see a book with a sympathetic Zombie character. For some reason, no one ever does that.

Watch the movie FIDO.

so lets get away from the whole zombie thing. I guess it comes down to if violence is ok to read about, even if just a story. Of course it's just a story, but there are plenty of books out there that simply do no good at all. Do I think they should be censored? Of course not! I just don't read those, obviously. I suppose 'let the spirit be your guide' is a good guide (as always.)

So would you agree/disagree that you can read a book with descriptive fictional violence and still have the spirit with you? I mean, the story could be uplifting with heroes and valor and sacrifice... but if you go crazy with the gore, does that ruin it all?

Originally Posted by DigitalShadow

I would like to see a book with a sympathetic Zombie character. For some reason, no one ever does that.

Can't think of any books, but they do it in movies. Good ol' Bub