Gimmick Books

In the recent past there have been more than a few gimmick books come out. They are perpetually coming out, really, but the ones I am refering to are the horror gimmick books.

I guess it all started with The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. This excellent book was both funny and launched a zombie craze in literature. This was soon followed by the very novel (pardon the pun) idea of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Not saying that P&P&Z is a great book, only that the idea was very clever.

Now, it seems, every book ever written is bein given the treatment. I hear they are going to rewrite I Am Legend and put more Vampires in it. Then call it I Am Legend and Vampires. It is kind of rediculous and I imagine some of these books are selling quite well, but they are just a novelty.


Who is going to go to the store and pick up one of these novels and buy if for serious reading. I am sure P&P&Z had a few that did but every subsequent title has most readers rolling their eyes. Then Seth Grahame-Smith had to go and do it again with Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

I can see into the future and it looks like this: George Washington: Zombie Assassin, Benjamin Franklin and the Search for Frankenstein's Monster, Mother Theresa: Exorcist, and countless others.

The problem is that Abe Lincoln: Vampire Hunter looks really good and the book the Undead World of Oz catches my interest because of all of the potential. These books will continue to be made, but, mark my words, for every gem there will be a hundred horrible copycats.

Have you read any of these books, or do you have a title you made up that is just looking to be made? Let me know in the comments.