Apocalypse Yesterday

Many people are nostalgic for days gone by. Fewer people are nostalgic for the four months where civilization collapsed in the wake of a zombie uprising. Rip is one of the few. He thrived during the end times, truly finding a place for himself as a zombie hunter. But when civilization returned, Rip was lost again. How far will Rip go to recapture his glory days?

Apocalypse Yesterday is unexpected. You expect a Zombieland-style romp through zombie hunting, and you do get a little bit of that. But you also get a genuinely empathetic look at what it feels like to not fit in the world and the depression that follows newfound success. You may not get Rip, but you get what he’s going through, and you can’t help but root for him to find a way forward (even if it’s not the insane path he chooses). Not only that, but Adams manages to pepper some poignant commentary on consumerism, climate change, and human nature along the way.

Apocalypse Yesterday isn’t as hilarious as some zombie books, but its unique mix of humor, heart, melancholy, and deliciously gory detail helps it to stand out from the pack. In a genre full of groaners, Apocalypse Yesterday speaks.