Considering the situations as they unfold, Toward the Brink (the title for my saga of survival in the time of a total Zombie Apocalypse) was, I believe, a well chosen one. There have been many “end of the world as we know it” scenario’s in books and movies over the years. Disasters of one form or another strike but if we stop to think about it… the zombie apocalypse really would be the end. The undead rise and walk again, seek out the living to feed upon and all that and the “disease” causing it only worsens, spreading further. As in Toward the Brink, the entire world is soon engulfed in waves of shuffling, swaggering, foot-dragging – and hungry – Walking Dead. Even those we would expect to come to our rescue (the military, the police forces etc) fall victim as everyone else has. It becomes the ultimate survival of the fittest, the smartest but… Who will survive? Will it be the ones with the most guns & ammo or those with the most food and water and safe shelter?

In Toward the Brink, I had (in the last book of the series) our intrepid (don’t they always say that) survivors finally discover a safe haven in Australia  (where I was born) and New Zealand.  Nuclear submarines, hiding under the waves and safe from the Zombie virus, surfaced just off the Moresby and Graham islands West of Canada and rescued everyone before taking them to Australia. The ability of a nuclear sub to remain underwater for prolonged periods meant the crews avoided the contaminated foods (French Fries), the direct cause of the zombie outbreak. But how did Australia and New Zealand avoid the plague of the foot-shufflers when it decimated the entire world? The distance (which saved Australia and NZ from Japanese attack in WWII) proved to be their safety net… the Pacific Ocean their mote.

The story line was simple, we (humanity) were headed Toward the Brink. I do a lot of reading and research on many subjects and situations, historical and current, affecting the world and its people. I go deep, much deeper than the Mainstream media, which is all marketing and profit driven. If you want the real news, turn off your TV. I have to say, though, what has occurred over the last 2 – 3 years has many, not just me, wondering if we really are headed Toward the Brink. And if, maybe, the zombies are actually the ones in the positions of power throughout the world right now. None of them show any remorse, empathy, sympathy or tolerance. In short they have all the feelings and characteristics of the Walking Dead. In one sense, you can understand why apocalyptic books are so popular: A reflection on the daily alives around us. We also see why fantasy books are so popular for other readers as they want to “escape” the reality that is the apocalypse.

Zombies and their popularity seem(to me) a reflection of the harshness that is the world right now and has probably always been. It just seems so much more concentrated into such fewer years now and, of course, the instant media reporting of events – no matter where they happen – adds to the feeling that the apocalypse is upon us. Zombies represent all the events in a singularly, enclosed and destructive element. The stories never really present the zombies as likeable or even something to feel sympathy over, in most part they are great foot-shuffling hordes (except 28 Days Later and a few others) hell bent on attacking humans for sustenance. It is the individuals caught in the evacuation (as it always seems to be) who will empathize with. We put ourselves in that picture, battling the Zombie Hordes! The reality is, the zombies we battle are; the house bills, the banks, work or lack of it, traffic, crime in the area, our kids, the neighbors kids, the prices at the store and managing all these damn passwords and login’s online with banks, hospitals anywhere you pay bills and all the crazy 2-Step verification methods which can be out of date within a month and, of course, as internet companies/practices go there is no way to get hold of anyone… the site will kindly send you to their FAQs page.

Yep, you know what I’m talking about. It makes dealing with a horde of Zombies preferential in many cases.