Zombies /

A significant contribution to the field of zombie studies, Rutherford's modestly titled monograph will help both the uninitiated and scholars understand why the zombie has become an indicator of the zeitgeist of the postmodern era. Published in the "Shortcuts" series, which provides "concise, accessible introductions to some major issues of our time," Zombies is a meditation on the creature, spanning its genesis in Haitian folklore to its current incarnations in television series, on zombie walks, and even as a spokesperson for consumer products. In her broad-reaching analysis, Rutherford (Univ. of South Australia) employs psychoanalytic and Marxist theory to consider how the creature makes visible the wide range of social forces that shape current reality but is otherwise invisible. The book is remarkable for the way the author brings together a wide range of contemporary philosophical thought about the zombie. For this reason, it would serve as a useful introduction for those interested in the zombie and/or critical theory. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.51-4227 J. M. Pulliam Louisiana State University