Don't worry about them. People are just trying to find a bridge between what they know and your project. Or just being mean and trying to make you give up (this happens more than it should). It's okay to write something that has been done a lot before. What you do with it... that's the key. What is your story really about? Who are your characters? What are the themes? Write what you love to write and make it fresh and interesting. Zombies is just a trope to play with (and a fun one at that!) For example, not a book but a game, have you seen The Last of Us? Zombies, sure, but it has a strong beautiful heartbreaking story and I love it very much.
Think about how the popular perception of zombies came about: George Romero wanted to film the novel 'I am Legend' by Richard Matheson. Mathesons book itself was a twist on the portrayal of the vampire. The heart of that story wasn't the monster, it was a person living in isolation as a global crisis destroyed civilization. Romero 'got' it. He turned the vampires into zombies and the rest is history. Now, what is today's fear that a contemporary writer can bring out using a modern take on an old myth? Godspeed!
Tell me what: why is it that the concept of zombies divides people in the clear YES/NO camp? There's thousands other tropes out there, and we're all guilty of utilizing them—but say 'zombie' and people argue. I could as well say that I don't want to read a book about how the survivors deal with a natural disaster. Or a sickness. It always IS about the survivors (okay, with 'Warm bodies' it's about the zombies ). But the point is not which trope each one of us are tired of. It's how the story is executed, how the characters deal with whatever disaster the author deals out to them. Please don't say that writing books about zombies shouldn't be done. Please don't discourage anyone. It's their story and bleeding heart. And if you want to answer that 'they asked the question' just remember: sometimes asking questions simply is a symptom of insecurity. Don't kill anyone's flame. Just tell them how to feed it and make the bonfire beautiful.
I would find an approach interesting in which the Zombies are not the threat, but the victims. For example: Some virus (CLIIIICHEEEE!!! ) has the symptom to impair speech and movement, but consciousness remains for most parts. Think persistent vegetative state or locked-in-syndrome but with some slow movement left. So - millions of people worldwide now need constant care and assistance. It is known they are suffering humans, but how would societies deal with it?
I guess I've seen too many zombie movies because, even if I can't remember the titles, I've seen at least one version of every "alternative" zombie idea suggested in this thread. From the zombies' point of view? "Warm Bodies". Zombies enslaved? "Fido", with poor people recycled as zombies, only the rich could afford to be buried decapitated. Porn stars? Well, I saw a, ahem, short film... Spoiler: Moderately NSFW description ...starring, IIRC, James Deen where there was a tour bus full of porn starlets that crashed, resulting in a "slut spill" on the side of the highway. An attractive lady reporter covering the story got, well, eaten, and... I'm sure you get the idea. Hate to disagree with @Lifeline, whose opinion I greatly respect, but the OP did ask, and right now, I'd be unlikely to pick up anything zombie-themed.
Heck, @Iain Aschendale, I'm just a fan of a unique tale and voice, and not a slave of a particular genre. Any tale in a niche genre can be outstanding if it's executed well. Who am I to spurn one?
I've never liked the idea of zombies in movies or books. Psychologically I understand why they make such a good "bad guy." They are sort of humans, but they aren't so it is OK to kill them, it feeds on a classic nightmare scenario of being chased by something, and they represent an unthinking loss of humanity. They work on a visceral level, but not a logical one. The classic voodoo zombie is a chemically lobotomized person that someone can hold sway over. That makes a little sense. The undead flesh craving zombies we have in US culture are kinda lame to me. If they are dead, why do they hunger? If they eat those they attack, how is there enough left for that person to become a zombie? If zombies are dead, but eat, how do they metabolize their food, and do they poop? I suppose the undead could ignore pain receptors, but they can't ignore basic physiology, so if enough muscle issue is gone, they can't move. Also, decay is decay, and the shelf life of a dead body isn't that long. Finally, how do zombies sneak up on anyone when the smell and cloud of flies would give them away? "Living" zombies like iZombie or The Santa Clarita Diet are just too cheesy to me.
For me, yes. Zombies have been done to death (so to speak) and I do eye-roll whenever I see yet another zombie book/movie/series is coming out. I think 28 Days Later was the last one I enjoyed, and that was released in 2002. But I also agree with Wrey, because it seems that all the zombie books I see fall into this category: ...which is also why I click swiftly past any post-apocalyptic novels, too. I'm bored of that same story being rehashed over and over. If I saw a novel that sounded like an original take on zombies? I might read it, depending on what that take was.
And if one is going to try to take a fresh take on the idea, it's the story that needs changing, not the props. Example: In my dive into Netflix (I held out forever) I found a set of films that I knew would be cheesy, but I needed a bit of wensleydale to keep me company while I was working. Honestly, I settled on these films because the MC, Conner Paolo, in his hirsute phase is pretty cute. Small frame, big eyes, dark hair. My favorite flavor. Stake Land and Stake Land II, even stakier. It's supposed to be a vampire series? It's not. Totally not. It's a zombie series with vampires as stand-ins because maybe the zombies went on strike? The vampires even look and act like "fast" zombies. Everything else is identical to a zombie flick. Apocalypse ✓ Scrappy Crew ✓ "Safe Zone" ✓ But I get the feeling that someone in Hollywood had a sit-down and pitched "I have an utterly new take on the zombie theme! Instead of zombies... (dramatic pause) vampires! Everything else exactly like a zombie flick. Whaddaya think? Great, huh?" (SMH)
I'm not sure if I agree or disagree It's not a trope that makes a story enjoyable, it's the skill of the author in execution, however that particular storyline turns out to be. Or at least that's my opinion.
Zombies, zombies, zombies...Yawn. At least Necromancy would give them some motivation as undead meat puppets, and can be used for whatever the Necromancer has a need of them. Perhaps he wants an undead army to take on the world? Perhaps he is simply trying to raise a barn, and has no Amish friends to help out? IDK, but undead cannibals lumbering around looking for a tasty you to eat, is just burnt toast at this point in time. But if you can't help but love those braindead brain loving cadavers, don't forget to have a healthy stockpile of: (Beats the hell out of SPAM)
