Zombies: Not Just For Halloween

One of the most popular shows on television today is The Walking Dead. In case you're behind on current events because you've been in a coma after being shot by a fleeing felon in Episode 1, this show is about zombies overtaking the world and the ragtag band of survivors who must fight for their lives against both the hungry undead and the evil (and sometimes also hungry) living. The show is based on a graphic novel by the same name.

The Walking Dead didn't invent zombies – they've been creeping people out for generations. Who hasn't watched the original black and white version of Night of the Living Dead on Halloween night and then been too freaked out to open the door for trick-or-treaters? Okay, maybe that's too much personal reflection. But zombies are definitely frightening, with their shuffling gate, voracious appetites, overwhelming numbers, and poor personal hygiene.

Because we can't get enough of re-animated corpses, plenty of books have been published about zombies. Fans can get their hands on The Walking Dead graphic novels if they're interested in reading about where the show came from and where it's likely to go in the next few seasons. There is also a wide variety of other books that focus on zombies. For instance, Slow Burn is the first in a popular zombie series, and let's not forget that quirky take on Jane Austen's classic romance, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Unlikely as is it might sound, nonfiction about zombies is also available, including The Zombie Survival Guide.

An entire cottage industry has grown up in towns where TWD does its filming. "Walker Stalkers" are loyal fans who visit locations where the show is being filmed in hopes of catching a glimpse of a scene or meeting a cast member. A popular destination for Walker Stalkers is the city of Senoia, Georgia, which served as the setting for Season 3's zombie-free town of Woodbury. Now Senoia is playing host to TWD again as Season 5 filming is underway. Senoia businesses are capitalizing on the show's popularity by offering tourists a wide variety of merchandise. Visitors can browse zombie-themed merchandise like t-shirts and scented candles, or they can book walking tours of filming locations for both TWD and other TV shows and movies that have been made in Senoia.

However you choose to celebrate your love for the evil undead, have fun out there stalking the walkers!