Instead of pitting the protagonists against mindless zombies or other supernatural beasties, The Road firmly sets the charred remains of the world as the enemy. All of the other horrors inflicted on the survivors in the novel are a direct result of the harsh nature of a used-up husk of a planet.
The protagonists are a boy, born after the (presumed) nuclear war that shrouded the Earth in ash and clouds, and his father. They walk, scrounging enough food, water, clothing, and shoes to survive on a day-to-day basis. They’re going to the coast, but beyond that vague destination and day-to-day survival, they don’t have any long-term goals. Characters who find joy in a tin of pears or a can of Coke put our current consumer-driven lifestyle into sharp relief.
However, what The Road does best is kill the romanticized notion that being the last man on Earth would be anything but a nightmare.

This is the second Max Brooks book in a row that I’ve read, and I’m really impressed with his work. Presenting this story as a series of interviews could have been nothing more than a gimmick, but instead Brooks uses it as a way to let the reader figure out all the stuff that the zombie war survivors take for granted.

Brooks does a great job capturing the voices of his characters, from the insane ex-President to the Israeli foot soldier to the civilian survivors to deep sea divers to the profiteers. Each story adds either some tidbit of information about the outbreak or introduces a new strategy that the survivors used to clear out the infested zones. Despite the fact that you know that humans (and the characters being “interviewed”) eventually triumph, the tension is almost unbearable in places.

Like all great post-apocalyptic stories, World War Z is a reflection of today’s society, and like all great zombie stories, the real enemy isn’t the undead, it’s man.

I’ve only got a couple of more post-apocalypse themed books to read–Monster Nation and The Road–then I think I’ll read something upbeat and cheerful.

He’s out of his mind about weapon choice, specifically the amount of ammunition to carry in a zombie attack scenario. If you leave your fortress with the amount of ammo he recommends (just a few hundred rounds) you’re going to have real problems getting back alive. He seriously discounts the zombie-killing power and potency of a .22 rimfire, which is perfectly suited for anti-zombie warfare. There aren’t many weapons that you can carry 5000 rounds of ammo without straining yourself, and deliver enough penetration power to take down the undead at 200 yards.

Brooks also neglected to mention the most fortress-like construct, available to refugees in almost any major area–the warehouse store. I’m sure he’s just saving his local Costco or Sam’s Warehouse for himself. Think about it, not only does your local Costco have an infinite supply of food, water, and even booze; it also has dozens of potential anti-zombie weapons, bedding, and outdoor clothing. They even stock supplies to help you make your escape, camping gear, bicycles, scooters, and weapons. Hell, warehouse stores even have generators and gas so you’ll have power to run the fridges and freezer sections. The building are virtual fortresses; built of cinderblock, with only a few easily secured entrances. They have roof access for perimeter patrol, and can easily hold several dozen refugees with plenty of room to move. When the zombie apocalypse comes, I’ll be at Costco.

The book is shockingly entertaining, though it does bog down by rehashing some of the advice two or three times for different scenarios (on the run, defense, hunting zombies) the entertainment factor picks right back up when Brooks gets into the (fictional?!) accounts of zombie attacks through the ages.

The book’s good. You should read it.