Abraham Lincoln is going to stake some undead asses and other historical thrillers
Well, here’s some pretty awesome news. Seth Grahame-Smith, author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies has released his next book. And it’s another fusing of old and AWESOME. It’s called Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.
The story surrounds a newly found “journal of Abraham Lincoln” that has never before been seen by anyone. In it, we discover that Lincoln’s mother was killed by a vampire over one of his father’s debts. When the truth became known to the young Abraham Lincoln, he wrote in his journal: “henceforth my life shall be one of rigorous study and devotion. I shall become learned in all things—a master of mind and body. And this mastery shall have but one purpose.”
Using the newly found journal as his guide, Grahame-Smith tells the unknown history of one of our greatest presidents and his quest to kill every undead demon he comes across.
I’ll admit, vamps have become a little played out the last few years (thank you, Twilight). However, this idea is cool and I’m 98% sure these vamps won’t sparkle in the f***ing sun.
Here’s a badass trailer for the book to give you an idea of the story’s tone:
Tell me that doesn’t look badass and I’ll call you a LIAR, sir.
I received Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for my birthday last year, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. However, I will read it this year, and then this Abe Lincoln: Badass book will come next.
I’m a little concerned, however, that this particular niche of literature, while so far stupendously awesome, is becoming too crowded and a bit overplayed. After the huge success of P&P&Z, we got Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters, which, actually, I think sounds awesome. Now, when I look for similar books on Barnes & Noble I see these books that I never even knew existed:
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadful – This is apparently a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I’m not sure I wanted or needed to know how the zombies came about in the original book.
Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter – This looks similar to the Abe Lincoln book. Unknown activities of a famous historical personage and demon killing. Lots of it.
The Undead World of Oz – Why am I strangely intrigued by the idea of this book? Wizard of Oz is one of my favorite books of all time. I’ve read it multiple times. In this story, apparently the Wicked Witch casts a spell over Oz causing the dead to walk. Dorothy and her friends must fight through the undead hordes to find the Emerald City and get the Wizard to put an end to the curse. Does that sound awesome to anyone else?
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Zombie Jim – Wow. Just…wow. Zombie slave Jim? Really?
Robin Hood and Friar Tuck: Zombie Killers – I swear I’m not making these up.
And there’s a bunch more out there. There are ones based on Anna Karenina (Android Karenina), War of the Worlds (War of the Worlds Plus Blood, Guts and Zombies) and a vampire sequel to the original Pride & Prejudice called Mr Darcy, Vampyre. I would almost say it’s getting out of control, but I really like the idea of these books. Some more so than others, obviously. This trend is similar to the time I came up with 5 different, more awesome versions of classic literature like Little Women Fight Club and Jane Eyre: Assassin. I even mocked up book covers.
Anyway, just thought I’d let everyone know, the guy that started this whole alternative literature trend, Seth Grahame-Smith, has a new book out about a badass Abraham Lincoln killing vampires.
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Cavalcade of Awesome 
March 4, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Pax,
This looks AWESOME! Just when I trying to get my book buying habit under control, the Ftaes conspire and produce this piece of awesomeness.
March 4, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Dude! I know, right? I had toned down my book buying and was putting a good dent in my TBR pile, but the last few weeks I splurged. I got several werewolf/Universal Monsters novels off eBay, I borrowed those 2 Star Wars novels from you and now I find out the Jax library book sale is this weekend at the fairgrounds. I am totally going to have to go to that. 50 cents for paperbacks and $1 for hardbacks? You’d have to kill me to get me not to go.
March 5, 2010 at 12:15 pm
LOL. I even hear they not half bad as books, given that they don’t do much to change the text but just insert random bits of “KILL THAT ZOMBIE!” into the plot. Gotta read one myself.
March 7, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Just read it…fun book
March 8, 2010 at 8:21 am
I will, sir. I expect it to be pretty awesome. 🙂
March 8, 2010 at 5:37 am
There is also:
Jesus Hates Zombies featuring Lincoln Hates Werewolves
It is a comic book, though, and therefore not really a historical remake or whatever, but it is pretty awesome.
March 8, 2010 at 8:22 am
It sounds awesome, I’ll ahve to check it out. Thanks for the recommend!
March 10, 2010 at 8:40 pm
i’m not sure i’m ready for this one. Abe is my fav president.
I will be reading the Dawn of the Dreadful book, but the cover scares me.
March 28, 2010 at 2:06 am
I’m the author of ‘Robin Hood and Friar Tuck: Zombie Killers – A Canterbury Tale by Paul A. Freeman’, and I would like this opportunity, if I may, to put my book into context.
Although my novella includes zombies, it’s not actually part of the ‘monster mash’ movement. The Robin Hood legends we all know and love are actually composed of myth fragments from a number of sources. Although I allude to one or two of these in my book, my novella is in effect an original tale. In fact, the first half takes place not in Sherwood Forest, but in the Holy Land during the ill-fated First Crusade.
Also, ‘Robin Hood and Friar Tuck: Zombie Killers’ is alternatively titled ‘The Monk’s Second Tale’, and is the longest of a series of eight ‘new’ Canterbury Tales that I’ve so far written.
The Canterbury Tales I’ve written so far (which chronicle the pilgrims’ homeward journey) are all in different genres, varying from fables to fabliau, and from crime fiction to chick lit. Since Coscom Entertainment offered me a chance at publication, ‘The Monk’s Second Tale’ became my horror Canterbury Tale’.
My Canterbury Tales project is now going quite well. My ‘Miller’s Second Tale’ is being edited for an anthology of neo-medieval literature, and the abridged version of my ‘Knight’s Second Tale’, and Arthurian legend, will appear soon in the Every Day Poets’ inaugural poetry anthology. All’s explained on my website:
http://www.paulfreeman.weebly.com
Sorry I’ve been a bit long-winded, but this project is very close to my heart and is not meant to be exploitative at all.
Thank you for giving me this chance at explaining what on the face of things is a sensationally titled, band-wagon book, but is in reality meant to be anything but.
All the best
Paul A. Freeman
March 29, 2010 at 7:56 am
No, man, thank you for stopping by. I didn’t really mean to irreverently throw your book in there with an off hand comment, but it just struck me as funny. However, if I had to pick a book to read, I’d pick either yours or the Undead Oz books. Honestly they sound the best.
Seriously, thanks for coming over to set me straight. I will definitely plan on checking out your book due to your clarification of what your motives were.
March 30, 2010 at 11:37 am
Hey very nice blog!! Man .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…