Just about a week ago we asked you to submit your questions to Max Brooks for a chance to see them answered here on our site (in addition to a signed Recorded Attacks graphic novel). Well, Max selected a few at random and has answered them below. Thanks to everyone who wrote in! And now, we beg you to pay close attention to what Max has to say. Some of this might just save your life.
My son is in Iraq and I’m talking to him on Instant Message and asked him to give me a question for the contest…. he won’t stop LOL. He is a great fan of the zombie world and pointed out …. there’s a story about a girl shooting 15 zombies with changing a mag in a 15 shot m-1 and the last was her husband. The M-1 has an 8 round clip. Maybe that makes sense to you?
Yes it does. The U.S. Army M1 GARAND rifle has an 8 round clip. The U.S. Army M1 CARBINE has a 15 round clip. Sorry if I didn’t explain that better in the book. There are more than one of those confusing points in “The Zombie Survival Guide”. Don’t get me started on the use a crossbow!
Who is your favorite author:
My wife, Michelle Kholos. She’s a playwright and a novelist. Her skill at dissecting human weakness astounds me as does her ability to keep me interested in stories that have neither monsters or flame throwers. She writes about real people in real situations with a mix of humor and sadness that I couldn’t even hope to compete with. I’m constantly in awe of her talent with words.
World War Z was amazing, especially for someone who is a history buff like me. How much research did you do for the book and how did you do it?
I probably did more homework for this book than I did in 4 years of college. Simple book learning was one half of the process. I always joked that if the FBI ever raided my office, it would have looked like a terror cell (books on weapons, maps, military journals, etc.) The other half was speaking to friends of mine who actually have real jobs (doctors, journalists, military personnel, even one friend who ‘works for Uncle Sam’.)
What inspires you the most in your work:
Writing what I want to read. I have no idea what’s going to be commercially successful. If I did, I’d probably still be back on Saturday Night Live. I seem to only be good at writing about subjects that deeply interest me. I’ve always said that if “The Zombie Survival Guide” had already been written, I would have bought a copy and gone on with my life.
For your next book or graphic novel, are you planning on creating a new zombie story or are you looking to tackle other genres?
Right now I’m working on a comic book mini-series for “G.I. Joe.” I also have a graphic novel in the works that has nothing to do with zombies, or anything else supernatural, but, at least to me is just as frightening.
Hey i was wondering can zombies hear well cause if they do then wouldnt a silencer or hand to hand combat be much more effective for staying alive