“Elizabeth, having rather expected to affront him was amazed at his gallantry; and Darcy had never been so bewitched by any woman as he was by her. He really believed, that were it not for the inferiority of her connections, he should be in danger of falling in love, and were it not for his considerable skill in the deadly arts, that he should be in danger of being bested by hers – for never had he seen a lady more gifted in the ways of vanquishing the dead.”
I enjoyed this book. Ms. Austen’s classic is is about 80% intact with a smattering of zombie (or should I say unmentionables) references – whether it be how to recognize one, slay one or how one’s thoughts always turn to brains. The original characters are present as is the basic story line. It is how these characters live day-to-day in a zombie plagued land that makes the book it’s own original. The Bennet girls are still expected to be proper ladies and to master the art of being a good wife, but they have also been sent to China to master the art of battling zombies by sword, knife or hand as Mr. Bennet realizes they must live long enough to get married. Mr. Darcy is still his moody self but can slice a zombie in half before your eyes can adjust. Charlotte meets a fate no one should have to endure but only Elizabeth recognizes. There is the romantic banter, the “I love him/her” – “I hate him/her” conflict and the interactions of the families but there are also zombie conflicts, ninja assaults and general zombie mayhem sprinkled throughut. Jane Austen purists may hate it, zombie lovers may think there is not enough carnage but I was thoroughly entertained. Who knows, it may spark the interest of someone to pick up the original and make their own comparisons. Oh, the illustrations just add to the zombie fun!
Other Austen news:
I realize the hoopla of this book has long gone but I thought I would give my thoughts now in preparation for the August 1, 2009 release of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre and Darcy’s Hunger: A Vampire Retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Did I mention the September 15th release of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters? Hmmm, trend?
