Review: New Zombie Mutations
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 26, 2012
In this story, zombies are called ziggies, and travel either as singles or in packs. The singles appear to be smarter, therefore more dangerous. Scent is a big factor in the ziggies behavior, so the "brains" in the military try a science experiment with spraying the zombies with fruit scents.The POV is told from a soldier named Danton who is one of three selected to spray the zombies with the experimental scents, rather than shoot them. Although the sprays work as planned, there is a bizarre outcome that the scientists didn't predict. Danton takes it upon himself to find out more about the peculiar side-effects, and he discovers that the ziggies virus has been mutating.Gerald Dean Rice has a distinct style of weirdness that works in his stories, especially when it comes to his original zombie tales. If you're sick of the traditional zombie stories of survival, but you need an undead fix, I strongly suggest you give this short story a chance.If you do enjoy this story, be sure to check out Rice'sFleshbags.