Where to start? I don’t aim for vapid fandom here, despite what might happen anyway.

I came across Breathers a few days ago at the Cincinnati Public Library, and wasn’t quite sure whether to pick it up or not. That’s a function of business more than appeal; I imagined I’d want to read it and have lots of “projects” in the wind to compete for time. I was more right than I could’ve expected.

I browsed The Zombie Survival Guide, and enjoyed it, but despite being very into the zombie aesthetic, it didn’t grab me. I never read World War Z, but the audiobook was more a radio play, and was masterfully done. I’ve also read Jason Bourne’s Day by Day Armageddon. Breathers, to confirm your hope, is quite a different beast.

I’ve wanted to for a while, but I’m finally making it a point to pick up Palahnuik on the virtue of your inspiration and the comparisons you’ve noted. There are so many pitfalls, so many easy, self-serving cliches in the zombie subgenre, and where you touch on them, you don’t fall victim to them.

I almost prefer Breathers not be labeled a comedy: humor is an art, and you’ve used it deftly, but this isn’t precisely comedy. Maybe in the classic sense, but not in the modern.

And I’ve caught myself wanting to taste some Breather.

Cheers,

Daniel

Guy G