To my knowledge modern civilization has never been overrun by hordes of the flesh eating undead. However, after reading Kim Paffenroth's Dying to Live: A Novel of Life Among the Undead, I'm beginning to wonder if there might indeed have been a period where just such a horrendous thing happened. Paffenroth's ability to transport the reader deep into the dark, desiccated remains of a world where humanity clings to a perilous thread of existence and zombies, spawned of a mutated virus, wander the streets in search of fresh flesh upon which to feast, is disturbingly brilliant in its realism. Each scene is lovingly crafted with a rich, gruesome detail and sharp emotional resonance that makes one swear that Paffenroth himself once fought for his life in just such an apocalyptic world. Yet, as horrific and gut wrenching as some of those scenes may be, his masterful grip on the English language creates poetry from what others might only be able to pull mindless blood and gore. With distinct well-sculpted characters one instantly identifies with, witty intelligent dialogue and a quicksilver pace that keeps you turning the pages, Dying to Live is by far the best zombie novel I have ever read!

I do say it takes a true genius to pull off such a stunning debut, to in the same instance be able to take the reader to the point of teeth-chattering fear and cause them to step back and revel in the profound philosophy of life versus death that runs thick throughout each paragraph. Johnathan Maberry, author of Ghost Road Blues , has called Dying to Live "a zombie book for philosophers" and I have to say that I agree completely. It's as if Daniel Quinn and George Romero sat down one night and discussed the true nature of humanity and evil and then handed their notes over to Paffenroth as a gift. The ancient question of "What is true evil?" is laid out upon the autopsy table and brutally investigated from every possible angle leaving the reader both shaken to the core and profoundly moved to meditate further upon the topic. The anthropological study of human instinct for survival against all odds is also carefully pondered as Paffenroth pushes his characters to their breaking points. Yet, throughout the novel, no matter how endless the darkness appears to be, there always lingers a glimmer of hope that perhaps not all is truly ever lost.

I highly recommend Dying to Live and cannot wait to see what else Kim Paffenroth has up his literary sleeve! He is a horror writer to be celebrated and if his next novel is anything like Dying to Live it is guaranteed to make history. The world has been long overdue for truly intelligent horror literature and this novel, by and far, deserves high acclaim. Congratulations to Kim Paffenroth on his stunning debut!