Romancing the Zombie: Essays on the Undead as Significant "Other

The zombie, popular culture's undead darling, shows no signs of stopping. But as it deliberately conquers pop culture, zombies also adapt to suit our needs and, perhaps more importantly, our desires. This work presents examinations of the romantic zombie, for better or worse, as the newest inductee to the Hall of Paranormal Lovers. Why have we elevated the zombie monster to a creature we want to help, heal, and love rather than destroy? This collection considers how this transformation began and why, now, we cannot seem to escape our zombie significant "Other." While these contributors take myriad positions and theoretical approaches to the romantic zombie monster, we assert the collection as a whole makes a clear statement: while some may reject the zombie as romantic partner, popular culture remains fascinated by considerations of the zombie as more than a mere body, a physical being devoid of life and personality. The zombie genre's inclusion of romance speaks to a burgeoning desire to not only include, but love, these undead "Others." This volume declares that our love affair with the walking dead is only just beginning.