I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus
Written by S.G. Browne
Gallery Books
Release Date: October 30, 2012
Hardcover | Kindle

Okay, let me preface this review of I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus with the statement that I’m really not a fan of zombies. *Pauses for gasps and looks of shock* I am a huge fan of that popular zombie comic and the television series upon which it is based. Maybe a few of the movies over the years have entertained me, but for the most part…nope, couldn’t care less. Let the Facebook unfriending begin!

Now, having said this, I went into this book with zero expectations and not a little apprehension. I am not normally known for finding entertainment in silly stories but luckily this one surprised me from start to finish. I Saw Zombies Eating Santa Claus was a fun novel from the get go. A real eye-opener to what I might have normally passed off as not worthy of my attention. I laughed so much while reading this novella that I woke my wife up twice that night with all the noise. On top of it all, there was a really great story to be found here, wrapped up in some well laid humor and morals.

Andy Warner, or RC-1854 as he is known by the scientists, is our protagonist in this tale. RC stands for Reanimated Corpse, by the way. Anyway, he was unfortunate to have some rare gene that keeps him from staying dead…and he isn’t the only one. Of course, you probably already figured that out since there was a four-digit number attached to RC. But I digress…

Through a series of events, Andy finds himself freed from the facility in which he has been imprisoned for the past year. Once a celebrity who campaigned for equal rights for zombies, he is now merely a guinea pig for random experiments and he is fed up with it. Taking this opportunity to escape, Andy finds himself in Portland with nowhere to go.

This is where I have to avoid spoilers, but suffice to say the first interaction he has with a live person, or Breather as he calls them, is life altering. Or should I say un-life altering. Undeath altering? Whatever. Regardless of the proper terminology, he finds himself remembering what it used to be like when he was alive. He starts to feel again, metaphorically speaking. The main plot is infused with a lot of extra components that really flesh out the story. Get it? Fleshed out?

More characters are introduced and the tale finds its way, traipsing not just across your funny bone but your heartstrings, too. I was awestruck by the subplot that was so cleverly inserted. What I thought was a mere incident in the story turned out to be my favorite part of the whole book. I wish I could tell you, but if I did I would have to kill you. But would you stay dead? That’s the real question, isn’t it?

I haven’t read anything else by S.G. Browne, but after this one, I will be picking another one up. As I said before, I was very impressed with not just the plot but the writing style, as well. Reminiscent of some of my favorite authors, you really get a sense of the character and his plight. That’s what a good writer does, he creates a world where things seem plausible even when they most obviously are not.

I suggest this for anyone who digs zombies (Get it? Digs zombies?). A Christmas-themed book at the holidays is an excellent gift even if you aren’t a fan of the undead. I’m giving it a two thumbs up because I had a blast reading it. And you will, too. Plus, it’s a hardbound novella at a really good price, so it won’t cost you an arm and a leg to pick it up (pun intended).

Ha ha, I slay myself. Wait, what if I don’t stay dead?  Hmmmm…