Review: Counter-Zombie Warfare by Jason A. Beauchemin

Telling a horrific story about the coming zombie apocalypse is no longer a unique approach to the genre, but Counter-Zombie Warfare by Jason A. Beauchemin takes a decidedly different angle. Once the zombie apocalypse happens, there are bound to be some people standing boldly on the front lines, tasked with protecting the rest of us from certain death. This is the story of one such soldier.

Readers are invited to see the strange and terrifying new world through the eyes of a counter-zombie infantryman, and while the context of the dead coming back to life is far-fetched, there is a brutal realism to this novel that makes it immediately engaging and relatable. Readers aren’t asked to imagine some far-flung future, but rather introduced to a well-developed world that is disturbingly recognizable.

The first thing one notices about the novel is the authentic military voice presented by Beauchemin, as well as the tongue-in-cheek commentary on the routine nature of violence and war. With the constant outbreaks and nearly perpetual deployments to new areas to fend off the undead, the reader begins to settle into the natural pace of military life. The jargon is authentic and the language sounds torn from real life. It takes a skillful author to balance a fantastical environment with such human interactions, but Beauchemin colors the novel with a sense of depth and authenticity.

The narrative perspective is clever and introspective, and enjoyable to read, but Beauchemin doesn’t rely too heavily on internal monologue to tell the story. For those who have been in the military, this book is ideal, as it gives a great deal of respect and time to the procedural aspects of serving. That being said, lovers of zombie movies and novels will also appreciate the vivid actions scenes and gruesome descriptions that are core to any zombie novel. The visceral language of the invasion stands in stark contrast to the sterile military language, but the juxtaposition works surprisingly well.

The writing does tend to be rough around the edges, but in a way that fits the militaristic edge of the story, and the dialogue is believable in most scenes. Grammatically and editorially, the book could use a bit of polishing, but the errors aren’t overly distracting. Some of the exposition regarding the military procedures can become a bit dry – Beauchemin could have peppered more of that information in, rather than relying on large info drops. There is a fair amount of profanity and volatile language as well, so it is important to immerse yourself in the world and appreciate that the author is attempting authenticity (and succeeding). If readers can accept that, the prose – vulgar as it can be – becomes much more powerful.

On the whole, Counter-Zombie Warfare presents a new perspective on a genre that is rapidly approaching its zenith. By showing the trudging, routine, human aspects of war, Beauchemin exposes the less horrific aspects of a zombie apocalypse, yet still manages to make readers white-knuckle the binding throughout the novel.