Today, I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind for a while. I’m not sure if anyone will understand, but I’m going to try to explain it as clearly as I can. After all, Monday Mayhem wouldn’t be interesting if occasionally I didn’t include mayhem. Don’t you think?
In past posts, I’ve talked about zombie apocalypse causes. I’ve written about how neurotoxins can inhibit the brain’s ability to utilize cognitive reasoning in order to perform simple tasks. Alkaloids render victims helpless by producing a trancelike state all the while motor skills remain intact.
I’ve also documented how brain parasites such as Toxoplasma gondii could create a zombie crisis by attacking a victim’s brain and converting it into a bowl of mush. The parasite, which originates from ingesting undercooked meat, currently lives in one-third of the world’s population.
Then there’s Cysticercosis a parasite born from consuming undercooked pork infested with Taenia solium eggs. In some cases, the incubation period lasts ten years before symptoms begin to display themselves in the form of muscle swelling, atrophy, and fibrosis, which, in turn, would cause headaches, brain lesions and seizures. Imagine a society succumbing to a worldwide plague of this sort.
Although these zombie apocalypse causes stir the imagination of any undead fan, the one thing I’ve heard with resounding agreement is that we shouldn’t even consider merging the world of zombies with the world of aliens. But you know what I say? I say change is good. Have we forgotten that zombies from George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead originated from exposure to satellite radiation?
One cannot deny the similarities between zombies and aliens. For instance, inasmuch as zombies avoid having empty stomachs, likewise, aliens avoid having empty heads. In some form or fashion, every alien movie features extraterrestrials conducting experiments with the human anatomy. Like zombies, malevolent aliens want a piece of us.
If we take it one step further, why, in the first place, do zombies have to spawn from a disease here on earth? Why not have zombies emerge soon after aliens initiate a plan to take over the world? Aliens, deep in the heart of Texas, defeat American armies, transforming them into zombies bent on destroying humanity. Seems plausible, right?
Not everyone would agree, however. Ardent zombie fans would rather not marry genres and keep the status quo.
So, I’ll put the questions to you. Do you think adding aliens to the zombie genre would add a new level of excitement? Would it breathe life in a mature genre? And would the stories encourage other fans to follow the trend?
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What do you think of genre hopping between zombies and aliens?
Looking to God 
I really like the Venn Diagram of aliens, robots and zombies. I never really thought of what dangerous traits they shared. I think it would be scary to be in a world with any of them but if you imagine a world where you had to pick one of them as an opponent I think, to my surprise after some deliberation, I would want to live in a zombie apocalypse over the other two because robots and aliens get scarier with size but the zombies will never be larger than they were as humans (all variables considering).
I know there are zombies in fantasy stories. One of my favorite series is about a necromancer, so I think zombies and aliens would be an exciting and interesting mix. 🙂
Thanks, Melissa! I’ll have to read about necromancers–thanks for the reference! 🙂
I like the genre-bend of aliens and zombies – it’s a fresh twist on two time-honored story lines.
Very interesting. I’d never thought of this before. If humans came from an alien race anyway, and humans turn into zombies, then aliens are zombies, right? Ooh, I wonder if zombies eventually go back to the home planet after they take over Earth…
Uau, I love your blog :p well I think that as long it has a good story behind it doing the right connections I think it could work! Maybe if the aliens were the virus itself… I don’t know but great job with your blog can’t wait to get lost in it! It will help me on the story I’m writing 🙂
This sounds like a good idea. As one comment said, it was done in the Predator movie series and it melded well.
I love the alien/undead combo. But you know that already. However, if aliens did invade the earth with the intent of watching us eat one another, they wouldn’t start in Texas. Texas doesn’t put up with anybody’s crap and would definitely be the last to fall. 🙂
Marrying these two genres is fantastic. It opens up story lines to so much possibility!
I should have thought of that! I wrote the first state that popped into my head not realizing that Texas don’t take no flack from no one (yes, triple negative–does it make it okay?)! 😉
Combining sci-fi with other genres has often worked well in the past, so why not zombies and aliens?
The Borg = ” Techno zombies ” but they have a hive mind / collective consciousness, so they’re not like shambling, moaning reanimated corpses. I’m not the 1st to mention this.
What about crack – & / or methads ? They’re fixated strictly on where their next hit is coming from. Just like a mindless machine or zombie.
I’m going to explain it as clearly as I can: we already have brain dead zombies. It happens when ever anyone is elected to public office. Smart and educated people with common sense and morals to some degree are elected to public off and for some reason they lose all decency and become greedy, self-serving, power hungry people pulling crazy thoughts from who knows where. I use to think it was the water in Washington DC but it happens all over the world. Do not worry about zombie apocalypse or aliens, worry about the people in charge!
Interesting point….. Perhaps.
I always liked the Head Crabs from Half Life. Fired from a cannon into a trouble area they suppress the population pretty quickly
Those things always reminded me of the plucked and headless chickens you buy from the meat counter. Creepy.
why not… they did it with Predator lol
Now that I DON’T recall.
You haven’t seen Alien vs. predator? my son watches it entirely too often lol
I think I might have a copy in my DVD collection, I need to dig back through it AGAIN.
What about a scenario wherein humanity is taken over by a species like the Borg ? I remember ST : First Contact, where the Borg had transported aboard the Enterprise – D before the Borg ship was destroyed, & they were assimilating crew members whilst hiding out on one the decks.
Then the Cybermen of the series ” Doctor Who ” could be a kind of mecha – zombie, even though most of the time, the brain & nervous system is the only organic element left of a human victim.
Then there’s my personal favorite – Nanites ( Alien or Earth – made ) that raise the recently deceased, rebuilding neural networks & muscle tissue while re – formatting the re – booted brain.
The right mix of genres can create a new intriguing genre.
My favourite mix of alien and zombie so far: The Night of the Creeps. The tube was air-dropped from an alien aircraft…
I think genres crossing each other is a great idea. It can lead to fresh ideas in both genres. As far as aliens and zombies specifically, it does make some sense. An extraterrestrial disease or parasite that creates zombies is just as believable as an infected burger or monkey bite. Something I wonder is if aliens would try to use a zombie apocalypse as a weapon considering how often we talk about it. They show up and see us constantly talking about it, they might perceive it as our worst nightmare. Simply make the zombie apocalypse, wait a little while for the chaos, and then swoop in to become the saviors of Earth. Easy conquest.
Great thoughts on a tough subject, Charles. Thanks!
I think that no genre is sacred from being married. No genre is a ‘race’ unto itself. Words are of one ‘race’ that have been divided into genres that people discourage an interracial marriage of. I say go for it.
I believe one day there will be an alien race but that race will be the mutation of our clones into a split personality complex. By day normal and by night cannibalism will reign.