Sunny with a chance of Zombies edited by Dion Winton Polak

KnightWatch Press is proud to present Sunny, with a Chance of Zombies: a sensational selection of strangely uplifting stories to help raise a smile at the end of the world.

“This is gonna sound a bit weird, but do you think all people taste this good, or just zombies, or just this zombie?”

Our authors have dug deep to bring you brand new tales of anarchy, heartbreak and revenge, leavened with a little bit of love, life and laughter.

Within these pages you’ll find a variety of zombies, from the classic Shamblers to the Working Dead and the sentient Other. Ranged against them are a motley bunch of survivors. Some will take cynical advantage of the situation whilst others try to build a better life in the dead new world.

“Pop bought me my first zom when I was eighteen. She was a real bitch; wiry and evil, and she won me a few races before her left leg dropped off and she couldn’t race no more.”

We’ve got all sorts waiting in store for you here, from necromancy to technomancy; savagery to comedy; lovers, liars, looters, and the very tenderest of tragedy.

All in all, the outlook’s good.

I have a problem with zombie fiction. Actually, if I’m honest, it’s more than a problem. It is an addiction.  For me, stories featuring zombies are my literary equivalent of being in the Mafia. I like them, they are fun to be around, and every time I finish one I swear never again. That tends to last about three months, at most, and then I find myself back in the land of the undead. Just when I thought I was out, they drag me back in. Consequently, I’ve read quite a few zombie novels over the past five years. When I heard about Sunny with a Chance of Zombies, the new short story collection from Knightswatch Press, I knew that I couldn’t deny myself. It was inevitable, I would end up reading it.

This collection boasts twelve new stories each with their own unique interpretation of death and, more importantly, undeath.

First Thaw in the North Woods by Chris Bauer – Horace Jespersen is a Reclaimer. He spends his days out in the wilderness dealing with the undead. A chance meeting with a talking zombie kicks off a series of events that finds Horace up to his neck in trouble.  

Thirty Minutes or It’s Free by Anthony Cowin – Since the outbreak of the zombie virus, ordering takeout is a bit more dangerous than it used. Craig has a hankering for pizza though and when you have that fast food urge not even the undead are going to stop you.

Sacrifice by Sarah Doebereiner – Amy, Megan, a spot of necromancy and a cat named Caramel. I ask you, what could possibly go wrong?

Paradise by Nikki Tanner – Can the end of the world be so bad if you’re with the one you love. When all Hell breaks loose David will stop at nothing to get back to his sweetheart Shelly. A love story with a zombie-esque slant.

Mystery Meat by Mark Kadushin – The title says it all really. Ever wondered what zombie tastes like? I’m guessing chicken. Todd and Jim have discussed it at length and Jim is all for finding out.

Run Rabbit by Louise Maskill – When it comes to zombie racing there is a golden rule – once they start moving don’t get in the bloomin’ way. Eric is going to learn that valuable lesson the hard way.

Order Up by Angeline Trevena – How do you keep a zombie at bay? Give them what they want. Doyle, along with his new assistant Nola, run a diner that is happy to cater for the living impaired.  Keeping the customers satisfied shouldn’t be a problem as long as the most important ingredient required remains readily available.

…Sort of a Love Song by Eric Blair – Just about surviving, existing underground away from hungry undead eyes, is no way to live. A harrowing tale about trying to outpace the inevitable during a zombie plague. This story claims the honour of being the standout darkest entry in the entire anthology.

Two Wheel Salvation by Samson Stormcrow Hayes – In a world full of Shamblers a bit of pedal power might just be the difference between life and death. I rather liked the episodic nature of this story. There are always one or two stories in an anthology that feel like they are part of a larger. This story feels like it is just a chapter in much larger tale. I’d love to see how this could develop into a full novel.  

Revenants by James Pratt – A series of interviews and newspaper articles details the discovery of nanotech that allows the reanimation of corpses. Another story that I’d love to see expanded into something a bit longer.

Sunny and The Ugly Man by B T Joy – Andrew is suffering from S.I.A.V. – Systemic Intracellular Autolysis Virus. His body is slowly destroying him from within, cell by cell. Andrew doesn’t care though, not as long as he still has his daughter Sunny in what is left of his life.

Wolf’s Bane by Mark Best – To round things off a reinvention of a classic fairy tale, now with added zombie bite.

When I read zombie fiction I’m always looking out for something fresh. Sunny with a chance of Zombies worked for me, I enjoyed this well balanced little collection. There are some great characters, some fun plots and more than enough corpses to ensure your zombie killin’ quota is suitably met. My personal favourites were probably First Thaw in the North Woods and Two Wheel Salvation. Both stories had some great well thought out world-building going on.

If you’re a fan of the undead then this anthology is well worth your time. Irrespective of you zombie requirements it feels like there is something for everyone.

Sunny, with a Chance of Zombies is published by Knightswatch Press and is available now.