Customer Reviews

The Official Zombie Handbook: The Ministry of Zombies

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Although I thoroughly enjoyed Max Brooks Zombie Survival Guide, it was a little too americanised for my liking.
Fortunately, Sean Pages Official Zombie Handbook (uk) addresses these issues in spades. Expect your hopes of surviving an outbreak on these shores to be given a short sharp shock - the future in a post apocalyptic UK is not bright, highlighting the failings of our own security forces and indicating where perhaps our hopes for longtime survival lie.
This is obviously a painstakingly researched volume - the level of detail and knowledge behind the countries infrastructure and protocols of our security agencies is quite staggering.
My personal highlight - The volume also includes a handful of "patient zero" test cases, suggesting how the disease would spread, should an infected individual be introduced under various circumstances.

If you are reading this from outside the UK, then perhaps this is not the book for you.
If you are based in the UK and have any fear of the undead - then don't hesitate to purchase, it could make the difference to your family being a Zombie buffet...

Top marks Mr Page.

When society breaks down it will not happen all at once and sadly many of the early signs are already upon us. Who is going to help you when the inevitable zombie apocalypse begins? Who is going to guide you through the misinformation concerning ghoul attack? Greenpeace? Ashford Borough Council? Tesco? No. It will be the prepared and the informed. The recently dead are a formidable foe to fight and when they come moaning to your door you will need to be able to deal with them.

In The Official Zombie Handbook (UK), Sean T. Page has answered your questions. It is presented in the traditional rectangular paper format complete with an attractive cover. It is informative, articulate, well researched and moderately cheap to buy. Primarily of interest to those who love their families but do not want to end up being eaten by them.

Do not rely on others. Do not wait until you are reading alone by candlelight. Be a survivor, start burying the food and setting out the kill zones now.

I received this book as a gift, and, even though I am located in the states, I was very interested in this handbook by Sean Page. I mistakenly thought it would be a slightly different version of The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks, but after reading through the whole thing, I was pleasantly surprised at the originality of Page's effort.

As a result of the debates and discussions within the zombie community, the genre has been growing and evolving. However, the general public still remains unaware of the danger of potential outbreaks. Even though there have already been several guides/manuals written, most of the books do not contain practical guidelines that can be applied internationally.

Sean Page, the author, has taken it upon himself to write such a manual specifically for the UK, where it is nearly impossible to get your hands on a firearm for self-defense. He also points out that preparing for a zombie outbreak with his 90-day survival plan would appeal to the environmentally-conscientious with a "green" agenda (for example, self-sufficiency); as most zombiephiles know, if you're prepared for an apocalypse, you'll be prepared for any emergency.

Addressing the controversy over the various types zombies within the horror genre, Page defines a zombie as "a dead body that has been brought back to life by an as yet unidentified virus which leads to the body to behave in a low intelligent and cannibalistic way." He emphasizes that the cause of an outbreak is not as important as keeping yourself alive. Beginning with the history of zombies and corresponding research, Page provides basic background information for those not already familiar with the field of "zombiology," and walks readers through the science of zombie infection and transformation.

The UK guide quickly moves onto defense and disposal issues for varying levels of outbreaks, going so far as to address the concern that a zombie virus could spread from humans to animals. Readers are made aware of the tactical differences between land and water locations, while Page lays out the blueprint for his country's national defense. He describes the complications that could arise if the UK government attempted a cover-up, illustrating this with a case study of one such incidence.

The most crucial section of this manual is Complete Zombie Defence (sic), which examines the barricades, provisions and skills required for a group's survival. It tackles the who, what, why and how of the three main phases of the 90-day plan, taking lessons from past historical disasters, both man-made and natural, and including survivors with disabilities. There are a few diagrams, as well as a map of the UK, and critical details of every possible scenario are provided.

I highly recommend this book to add to any collection of zombie literature!

There is no escaping the immediate comparison to Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide. Whilst Brook's guide is best enjoyed washed down with a beer and some pretzels, Page's work is the perfect accompaniment to a nice cup of tea and a packet of custard creams.

Split into easy to digest sections, The Official Zombie Handbook (UK) brings the prospect of surviving an onslaught of flesh-eating undead very much into our rather British world of double-decker buses, the welfare state, cricket on the green and a distinct lack of easily obtainable firearms. The only thing missing is how to queue during the zombie apocalypse.

A must-read alongside the deeds to your Victorian sea fort (so obvious I don't know what we never thought of that), The Official Zombie Handbook (UK) skirts a very fine line between meticulously researched detail laced with subtly dark humour and a paranoid survivalist mantra. In my opinion, this is just the way any guide to surviving a zombie apocalypse should be.

Finally a decent guide to zombie survial in the UK. This book provides would-be survivers in the Uk with some hope for survial and is a must have for anybody in Britain who plans to survive the zombie mencace. Whilst other books currently on the market such as The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks are good survial guides they tend to assume that those reading it will have acces to fire arms as they are often US based. I would say that most of us here in the UK would not even know were to acquire guns and ammo let alone be a good shot. This book however mostly focuses on fortifying you home and evaluates how effective our armed forces and law enforcment would be. It also provides a good guide of weaponry other than guns that will help you and your family survive. In conclusion Britain is shockingly under prepared for the zombie apocalypse and if you still want be around after the zombies start to eventually decay then this is definatly the book for you.

So what would you do if or when the zombies take over the world?
Well you could do a lot worse than grab yourself the Ministry of Zombies Official Zombie Handbook (UK) by Sean T Page
Sean Pages well researched and presented book will give you a 90 day survival guide should the living dead attempt to take over the United Kingdom
How do you survive, where's the best place to head to? How will our armed forces react? What's the best way to combat the living dead?
Well these questions and more are answered in an easy to read and understand 188 page guide
Sean Page in his introduction assures us he's not insane but merely planning ahead for the day when it comes
Part one is a Survivors Guide to Zombies this is described as Zombie 101
Sean tells us in Politically correct Britain we may soon have to refer to the zombie or living dead as "mortally challenged"
We find out that the term Zombie can cover anything from an African Voodoo God to an apathetic person
What are the schools of thinking (supernatural and scientific) and how do they view the undead?
What are the 4 Zed - Con states and how do they affect you?
Did the Soviets and Afghans join forces to combat a Zed Con 3 outbreak in Afghanistan?
Do you know about zombie animals what is the most feared and discussed zombie animal on line?
All your zombie questions will be answered in this fascinating section

Section two takes us to the crux of the book
How to survive A Zombie Apocalypse in the UK
Is the UK prepared for a Zombie out break?
Well in short - No
In response to a question about it one MP responded "Nice films but not covered by Government policy"
So who are our first line of defence and how will they react?
Sean goes into great detail about the Police the Armed Forces and more importantly dear reader you what will you do?
This is where you need a 90 day survival plan
The book comes into it's own here
Forget what you've seen in the films
Sean T Page will give you the definitive plan on how to survive a Zombie outbreak in the UK
How to create all round defence, what's the best food? what about water?
Do you have a bug out plan? Thought about your kids how do you keep them entertained?
It's all here for you to follow with comprehensive guides on the best foods to stock up on and the best weapons to use
How do you travel if you need to move location
It's not as easy as you might think and needs thinking about

Finally Sean provides us with a list of further reading, websites and films to enable you to further research the topic if you wish.
In answer to Sean T Page's question at the start do I think he's insane?
Well I don't think so but I tell you one thing he knows his stuff about Zombies
I must confess I took a chance on this as I'm not a big zombie film fan but I enjoyed this book
A good read and a welcome addition to the bookshelf - get it read it - keep it handy you just never know when you'll need it
Get yourself one before they come scratching at the window - Your not getting mine!!

4/5 for me

I purchased this book after reading the reviews and have to say i agree with most that this is an excelent book. It goes into great detail on how to prepare and survive the zombie apocalypse. Well worth purchasing and an enjoyable read.

A thought provoking book from Mr Page on a much maligned subject. The author has created a handbook which will appeal to both Adults and Children alike. Get the book and enjoy!

Broadcasting thirteen hours now. Batteries almost dead. Hope someone is monitoring this frequency.
They're everywhere. Three of us made it to the bunker, only me and Alexi now. One of those things bit Dimitri and we had to blow his brains out before the madness got him. Only two rounds left. One for Alexi and one for me if they find us before help comes. It stinks down here. Alexi is back from reinforcing the trapdoor. He heard one of them shuffling around up there. It'll be back, with others. He said he got a good look at this one. He recognised it. A day ago, it was his eldest kid. I hope to God it doesn't know what she used to be. TV whiteout now. Maybe the things found the aerial, maybe no-ones transmitting. Last few hours were garbled. Something about separatists hitting some old Cold War dump with a suitcase nuke; released some Biological crap that was conveniently overlooked by the UN back in the Nineties. President vowing to hunt down the madmen responsible. Usual BS. The madmen responsible will be dead by now, or they'll be things.

I don't know who built this place. Either they knew what was coming or they were survivalist crazies. No shortage of milk and mint cookies. Crates of tinned peaches. No tin opener, nach. They weren't big into books, that's for sure. Just one on the desk here, looks as though it's been read a thousand times. "The Official Zombie Handbook (UK)" by the Minister of Zombies, Sean T Page. They should have listened, Page, they should have listened...

If you want to survive the zombie hordes that'll inevitably engulf Britain when the apocalypse comes, you must read this book. It's full of useful and potentially life-saving information, strategies and tips that will make sure you'll be safe and secure in your shelter/bunker/shed while your neighbours are being eaten alive. The detail in this book is extraordinary, and every eventuality is considered and dissected. Just as good as the Max Brooks book, if not better.
If you don't want to become a rotting carcass I suggest you purchase and read this. It will save your life!
There, I warned you.