Vancouver Public Library and V.I.A. have teamed up to help you discover new reads, hidden book gems and surprising literary finds. Check back every couple of weeks for the latest reading recommendations from the experts at Vancouver’s library.
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After months of waiting, Walking Dead fans will finally find out who will die in the cliffhanger ending from last season's finale. Whether your head is hanging low from zombie withdrawal, or the show's return is awakening a craving for everything 'zombie,' VPL's reading experts share this list of top 10 zombie reads:
The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
This book-turned-film follows Melanie, a girl who goes to school restrained in a wheelchair and spends her nights in a heavily guarded cell. She doesn't understand why she's treated like this, nor does she understand how special she is until it's up to her to save the world.
Welcome to Deadland by Zachary Tyler Linville
Asher, Wendy and Rico are some of the last few survivors of a disease that has virtually wiped out humanity – a disease that includes symptoms such as uncontrollable rage, violent outbursts and a desire for human flesh. As humanity’s last hope, the three band together to fight for their lives and find sanctuary.
Dinner by César Aira
A bankrupt bachelor dines with a wealthy friend. Dinner conversation about the town turns to a mysterious pit that has opened, and the old bricklayer who walks to the cemetery to cheer up. When the late-night news breaks with the dead rising from their graves and sucking the blood of the living, things take peculiar twists and turns.
The New Hunger by Isaac Marion
After suffering through years of war, freak storms and rising tides, humanity is hovering on the brink of collapse. When corpses begin rising to feed on the living, that's the final blow! The New Hunger follows a cast of characters trying to understand their world, both alive and dead.
Positive by David Wellington
Born after the zombie outbreak that claimed the lives of 99 per cent of the population, Finn is part of the so-called second generation. His mother succumbs to the deadly virus and he is marked with a symbol indicating he's a potential carrier. Cast out of society, Finn tries to survive in a world where the living can be just as dangerous as the walking dead.
Styx by Bavo Dhooge
Rafael Styx – a corrupt middle-aged cop with ties to the Belgian underworld – is investigating the case of a mysterious killer who fills his victims with sand. When Styx is killed on the job, his afterlife is just the beginning as he battles his hunger for human flesh and seeks out his own murderer.
When the Heavens Fall by Marc Turner
The Book of Lost Souls – a dangerous tome that gives the reader power over the dead – has been stolen by a renegade mage, Mayot Mencada. As factions vie to steal the Book of Lost Souls, Mencada fears she may not be able to control the dark powers she has unleashed.
Coldbrook by Tim Lebbon
In a secret laboratory in the Appalachian Mountains, scientists achieve the impossible by opening a gateway to a new world. It was to be the greatest scientific discovery in the history of humanity, but they had no idea what they were unleashing.
Ex-Isle by Peter Clines
It's been years since the ex-humans destroyed the world, and St. George and his band of heroes are some of the few survivors who have carved out a safe place for people to live. When their food stocks are destroyed, they must look for supplies and turn to a mysterious man-made island with sinister secrets.
The Last Weekend: A Novel of Zombies, Booze, and Power Tools
by Nick Mamatas
Billy Kostopolos is living in San Francisco, making a living as a failed science fiction writer, barfly and zombie killer. When the 'Big One' finally strikes and topples over city hall, a dark secret is lurking in the basement. Can he discover the truth behind the zombie apocalypse and save the city, or will he destroy what little is left?
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