For now, I would just like to share my disappointment. I have been awaiting the release of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
,by Seth Grahame-Smith, much to the embarrassment of Becky and my mom. I thought it would be a hilarious blend of two of my favorite things, Jane Austen and Stephen King. And I've always been a fan of Jane Austen fan fiction.
However, fan fiction, this book is not. In normal (read *acceptable*) fan fiction, it is usually just an extension of the story, or a view of the same story from another character's eyes. This book tries to change Pride and Prejudice, by making England overrun by the unmentionables. If this were the only change, I could be ok with the book, because it is kind of funny to think of Elizabeth as a zombie slayer. The unforgivable offense comes in where the author decides to change who the characters are fundamentally. Here are some examples that spring to mind:
- Lady Catherine is the best zombie killer ever, and Elizabeth looks up to her. Part of what makes Elizabeth who she is, is the fact that she does not fall to the typical views of the day and admire people of stature simply for being born into wealth. Now I'm only 1/4 of the way in, but I cannot see how the P&P storyline can remain the same if Elizabeth is another Collinsesque Lady Catherine cronie.
- Mr. Bennet is a jerk to his wife. In the original, he may have made some underhanded sharp tonged comments, but in this rendition, he is embarrassingly rude.
- Same with Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy tolerates Caroline Bingley. In this book, he is a jerk to her. This perhaps is the most unforgivable offense, because MR DARCY (though proud and misguided) IS NOT A JERK.
