Suburbanite Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 It's... Darcy of the Dead "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains." It's an opening line that might make Jane Austen turn in her grave - or rise from it with her arms out-stretched. For writer Seth Grahame-Smith has taken Austen's Regency classic and turned it into Pride and Prejudice with Zombies. The novel, which uses the the vast majority of Austen's original text, is being touted as the first mainstream literary "mash-up". It's a bizarre mix of genres which sees Elizabeth Bennet as a kung-fu expert dedicated to wiping out the zombie menace in the quiet village of Meryton. The publication of the book comes amid plans for a sci-fi horror film in which aliens wreak havoc on a Jane Austen-style period drama. Elton John's film company, Rocket Pictures, is to start filming Pride and Predator in London later this year. Here, Grahame-Smith reveals what he thinks Austen herself would have made of all this zombie mayhem. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7985728.stm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDR124 Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 It seems funny. I'll have a look at the link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I'm not sure what to make of it all. I think it will either be brilliant, witty, clever and wild, or it will be an embarassing disaster for all concerned. I don't think there will be any middle ground with this! I like that the author has a respect and admiration for Jane Austen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Sounds like Robert Rankin with no originality. I'll check it out anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nightwish Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I'm not sure what to make of it either...in all honesty I don't really like the sound of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raven Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I like the idea of this, but I wonder if the idea can really carry a full novel. I must say I'm tempted to give it a go though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 My friend sent me a link for that the other day - she thought it would appeal to me (she was right)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrysalis_stage Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I like the idea of this, but I wonder if the idea can really carry a full novel. I must say I'm tempted to give it a go though. I would be interested in giving it a go too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlette Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Is nothing sacred anymore... I'm not sure if I find this very appealing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seiichi Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I'm not sure about this either. I can see how it might appeal to some, but there's always a chance that it'll turn out like most of the parodies on the market, e.g., the Harry Potter ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 I heard the guy interviewed on The Today Programme on Radio 4 this morning. He sounded pretty cool, intelligent and deferential towards Austen. I'm actually tempted to read the thing. I couldn't stand Austen at school. Consequently haven't touched any since. I find it all most disagreeable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smay Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Does this sound like a good book to anyone? I love it! http://www.avclub.com/articles/pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies,26559/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 Have you read the book? I just read the article maybe a week ago and found the book somewhat disturbing but also intriguing. I don't really know what to think about it! If the book was available in the local library I'd probably give it a go but I don't think I'd buy it, unless someone with a similar taste in books would recommend it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smay Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 I also just read the review, but I'm thinking about buying the book. I really like the premisse! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seiichi Posted April 20, 2009 Share Posted April 20, 2009 (edited) There's a slightly older thread about this book here. Edited April 20, 2009 by Michelle Thank you - threads merged :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suburbanite Posted May 6, 2009 Author Share Posted May 6, 2009 Is nothing sacred anymore... I'm not sure if I find this very appealing... You wait until they remake the Bible with zombie-ninjas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzanna Addison Posted May 6, 2009 Share Posted May 6, 2009 I agree with Scarlette - I shall be avoiding this like the plague - Modern versions of classic stories I don't mind. Like Bride And Prejudice and Bridget Jones Diary and Clueless (a modern retelling of Emma) but - please! No I definitely won't be reading this! I'm too much of a purist! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladymacbeth Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 The idea of this book really appealed to me as I am a huge Pride and Prejudice fan and not averse to zombies. However, when I actually read it, I thought it was poorly done. The characters got tampered with so badly they were no longer likeable especially Elizabeth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 You know what? I've just gone and ordered it - despite being a fan of P&P and not usually liking zombie-involvement in anything, this sounds like a lot of fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 I've heard it tries to be funny but is highly unoriginal and just, isn't funny However, I'm very opened minded, and I'll reserve any form of judgement until it recieves the good or bad opinion of Kell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 However, I'm very opened minded, and I'll reserve any form of judgement until it recieves the good or bad opinion of Kell Wow! Thanks for the vote of confidence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewell Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 I quite like the idea of taking a story and being clever with it by changing the words slightly, or the plot. Like some song writers change lyrics to make them more comical. It has to be done carefully though, and clevely. If it's just being 'stupid' then there is very little point, to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suburbanite Posted July 13, 2009 Author Share Posted July 13, 2009 I just looked it up on Amazon to see how it's doing... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pride-Prejudice-Zombies-Romance-now-Ultraviolent/dp/1594743347/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1247472916&sr=1-1 I think, judging by some of the reviews, that opinion is seriously divided. You've got about half of the 26 reviews giving it 5/5 and the rest who absolutely hated it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookJumper Posted July 13, 2009 Share Posted July 13, 2009 I think the only thing for it is getting oneself down to a large, sofa-full Waterstone's, surreptitiously read the first few chapters and see if one likes those. Me, I'm intrigued and scared by the idea in equal measure so I'll probably adopt the above mentioned technique to test-drive the mash-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montmorency Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 I read this a little while back, it was not as good as I thought it would be. Pretty poor really. Sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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