Zombies of the Gene Pool (Jay Omega)

by Sharyn McCrumb

Book Overview

In the 1950s, a group of young science fiction writers, dreaming of literary immortality and calling themselves the Lanthanides, buried a time capsule with their stories and relics from the time. Now,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345379144
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Fawcett
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.9" x 0.6" x 4.1"

Customer Reviews

A pleasant and amusing work.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was a fun book with a lot of humor, but with a bit of hard edge toward the end. The novel has some great characters and a pretty interesting plot that held my interest and kept me turning the pages at a pretty rapid clip. Another of McCrumb's initial works, it shows that she already had quite a lot of skill early in her career.

Great Quirky Characters

In the 1950's, a group of science fiction fans decided to drive to WorldCon to meet their writer idols (and basically to have a big blast). They didn't make it to WorldCon, but they did make it to Wall Hollow, Tennessee, where all the members each wrote a story and buried it in a time capsule.30 years later, several of the members of the group have hit it big as SF writers. Their reunion at Wall Hollow becomes a huge media event, with publishers bidding on the rights to the stories buried in the time capsule. But just before the reunion starts, someone is murdered. `Zombies of the Gene Pool' is an entertaining book which includes well-drawn, quirky characters straight out of the science fiction world. McCrumb's writing and characterization are right on target. The payoff, for me, wasn't as satisfying as the journey, which in itself was quite fun. Fans of science fiction will enjoy this humorous, sometimes bittersweet look at the world of science fiction authors.

For SF/Fantasy FEN, this could be de ja vou...

I am a recovering fan. This means I haven't been to a con or a SF club meeting in over 5 years, but I still crave them. I personally have a hard time viewing this as 'satirical' mystery, because I have known ALL the people in the story. I have been part of a Fen-house, full of hopeful writers and Big Name Fan wanna be's. At one point I was active in 5 different fan groups. I editted the SF club newsletter. I helped plan a moderately sized local convention for 5 years. Of course, I was quite sophisticated and not nearly as silly as all the others I hung around with... I love the Jay Omega books and I hope Ms McCrumb is forthcoming with more. I have to say that I also enjoyed Bimbos more, but this was a close 2nd. A word of warning for other recovering fans, reading these two novels and Highland Laddie Gone (about Scottish Recreationists (closely akin to SCA-ers)) made me crave fannish activities intensely. Fortunately, my recovery support group was there for me. If you are still active in fandom, you will probably recognize most of your friends or at least their type. A 'must read' for anyone with a sense of humor, though those not involved in sf/fantasy fandom may not 'get' all the satire.

Not "Bimbos..." but still good

Well, I agree that this book is not as sharp as "Bimbos of the Death Sun," but McCrumb's humorous slant on fans of SciFi/Fantasy and, to a lesser degree, the on-line community, is still prevelant. And of course, Dr. J. O. Mega and Dr. Marion Farley work well together, lending a comfortable atmosphere to their investigation of the obligatory murder...

Not QUITE "Bimbos..."

Well, this chronicles a bunch of grown-up skiffy attendees. Since it's McCrumb, there is the obligatory murder, and stuff happens. It's pretty amusing. While it's not quite the hysterical level of Bimbos of the Death Sun, it's both silly and ironic. Again, it gives a good skewering of SF mores, something that never gets as much as it deserves.