Last Updated on by Nishil Prasad
Best Zombie Audiobooks
Having been a part of Haitian mythology for centuries before being introduced to modern pop culture, zombies have had a fascinating history. Earlier having magical origins, the popular games and movies that brought out these entities in limelight had more and less of a scientific origin.
Today, we’re going to look at some of the best audiobooks that feature these undead creatures. Featuring across genres, zombies are always a fascinating plot or subplot to explore. So without any further delay, let’s look at the ten best zombie audiobooks:
1) I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
A classic tale of horror, I Am Legend is set in an apocalyptic world infested with the undead. Only one man remains alive: Robert Neville. At night, he hides in his home, under barricades, praying to live for another day. By day, he hunts, finding and finishing the creatures one by one. How long will he survive?
Also serving as the inspiration for the Will Smith starrer movie, this is a sci-fi/horror classic that has persisted through decades. Narrated by Robertson Dean, the story forays into dark themes that are bound to keep you hooked till the very last word.
2) Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead: Search and Destroy by Jay Bonansinga
Graphic, action-packed, gory: Bonansinga’s piece is everything you’d expect from a zombie novel, and much more. There’s epic worldbuilding, and the devastation is almost atmospheric. After all, the world has collapsed and only a few survivors remain: it’s as bad as it can go. But hope arises, for the survivors to come together and plan to create a massive project to revive human civilization.
That is until they’re unexpectedly attacked by hordes of the undead, and just a few members survive by pure coincidence. And the zombies are the least of the problems, for those with brains, often tend to be the worst adversaries. Fred Berman breathes life into this stellar tale with his voice, making it an exciting adventure for the listeners.
3) The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey
In a genre saturated with cliches and tropes that have been done to death, Carey’s wonderful novel is like a fresh breath of air. A more character-oriented, philosophical study, The Girl With All the Gifts is as tender as it is thrilling. Initially told from the viewpoint of Melanie, a “child zombie”, who’s curious about the world around her. It’s also about her relationship with Miss Justineau, and coming to terms with who she is.
With some phenomenal characterization that’s bound to enthrall you and a gripping plot, Carey places an enchanting spell over her readers throughout. Brilliantly narrated by Finty Williams, complemented with some incredible background music, you’ll find it hard to leave once begun.
4) Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S. G. Browne
Is there a life after death? Scores of philosophers and scientists have spent hours on this question. Let Browne show you the life after death, provided you died after being bitten by a zombie. A hilarious adventure of a book, Breathers is a romantic zombie comedy or a rom-zom-com (get it?)!
Andy Warner, a newly minted zombie, is resented by his parents and society that doesn’t consider him a human anymore. Explore his story of acceptance and self-discovery when he gets into trouble after starting to enjoy the joys of human flesh. With charming wit and humor, Browne draws you into this dark and funny tale of the undead, delightfully narrated by Kirby Heyborne.
5) World War Z: The Complete Edition: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
This one deserves to be listened to, just because of its narrators: from Martin Scorsese to Frank Darabont to Mark Hamill to Max Brooks to many, many more. As the title states, it’s an oral history of the zombie war in a documentary style. It records the testimony of the men and women, and sometimes even children, who survived after facing the undead.
In exploring this, it also explores the issues plaguing our world: global warming, natural disasters, terrorism, and more. It’s witty and horrifying at the same time, and Brooks does a wonderful job at keeping you hooked throughout the span of the book.
6) Zone One by Colson Whitehead
A horror novel that takes us to a world after a pandemic that leads to an apocalypse, Zone One has the premise of a typical zombie story. But what Whitehead explores here is not the adventure and action part as much as the psychological and the emotional. He shrugs off the expectations and takes you through a chilling and horrifying tale.
How to come to terms with a world that’s no more a world that you recognize, not by far? How to come to terms with your own trauma? The atmospheric prose is bound to draw you in instantly, and Beresford Bennett’s narration makes sure you keep all other engagements at bay and binge listen to this one.
7 Cell by Stephen King
One of the most violent, most brutal works to have come out of the mind of the master storyteller that is King, Cell draws you in instantly from the very beginning. Laced with social commentary, future rhetorics, metaphors, and plot devices, the story is also a critique of individualism and overt reliance on technology in our times.
An apocalypse that spreads with just a phone call: sounds terrible, doesn’t it? Chaos and madness spread all-around within a few minutes into the piece. Campbell Scott brings the story to life in an enchanting fashion that’s sure to leave you craving for more.
8) The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Mary’s world, governed by simple rules, comes crashing down over time as she learns things that fall directly in contrast to what she’s believed all her life. A book perfect for YA fans, Ryan’s book is as much a story about dangers from the outer world as it is about dangers from inside. Vane Millon voices this gripping tale of choices, romance, and darkness.
9) Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Most zombie stories explore the perspective of those who survive. And therefore, it’s always fascinating to come across a piece that shows the world from a zombie’s viewpoint. Existential crisis, longing, and wonder resides deep inside our protagonist, R, who can speak only through grunts and noises.
Then all changes when he eats Perry’s brains and falls in love with his victim’s girlfriend, Julie. A retelling of Romeo and Juliet of sorts, Warm Bodies is scary, funny, and wonderful all at the same time. Dive into this world with the voice of Kevin Kenerly and fall in love with our teen zombie!
10) Rot and Ruin by Jonathan Maberry
Recipient of numerous Bram Stoker awards, this is the gateway to Jonathan Maberry’s Rot and Ruin series, his first foray into the YA world. And he doesn’t disappoint. The story follows Benny Imura, a teenager in a post-apocalyptic America infested by zombies. As he turns 15, he’s expected to get a job, but after trying his hand at everything, he’ll have to resort to his family business: zombie killing. What follows is a beautiful treatise on what it means to be a human, splendidly narrated by Brian Hutchison.
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