The Return of the Living Dead Novelization

[Dr Evil]

Hi, everyone. Got a question here. I'm doing research on The Return of the Living Dead novelization and I'm wondering whether the novel contains the same story as in the movie. Are the zombies fast and smart as they were in the film?

Thanks much in advance for your help.

[Monkey Mech X]

No, the story is different. It involved children on a bus.

[UndeadAnthology]

In the Return of the Living Dead book are the zombies Night of the Living Dead style?

Thanks,
Jacob
http://www.undeadanthology.com

[Zombie_mod]

Yes.

John Russo, who wrote the Night book, wrote two versions of Return.

The first version (1979) is a direct sequel to Night of the living dead, although no film was made of it. The second version was made into a film, and has a completely different plot.

And the original ROTLD didn't involve children on a bus.

In the 1979 Return of the living dead book the following happens:
1) OPENING SCENE: A 40 y/o farmer and his 3 daughters pay a visit to a funeral. A child has died of rheumatic fever. The dead child has to be spiked by the father. This village was ravaged by zombies 10 years ago (as explained in the "Night" book)

2) During the procession, 2 kids interrupt and tell the reverend a bus has overturned. No survivors.

3) The funeral procession makes their way to the crash scene, but they only manage to "spike" 13 or so of the dead.

4) That night, the dead from the bus resurrect, as do the other dead.

5) The farmer is killed by zombies, and his daughters are taken hostage by looters. The looters bring in 2 captive policemen.

6) The looters go to a private residence, but leave the policemen behind. I won't tell you why...

7) The looters end up being killed.

8) The hero ends up being killed.

That's it.

[UndeadAnthology]

Cool, thanks. We were trying to figure out how to classify the ROTLD novel for the book list (http://zombies.cjb.net) so I guess this settles it.

If anybody knows anything about the other books shown as "Unknown" on the book list we would appreciate you filling us in.

Thanks!
Jacob
http://www.undeadanthology.com

[Dr Evil]

Thanks a lot, Zombie Mod and Monkey Mecha X. UndeadAnthology and I really appreciate it.

[UndeadAnthology]

Yes thanks to Zombie Mod and Monkey and, thanks to you Dr. Evil for posting it in the first place. :D

Jacob
http://www.undeadanthology.com

[Monkey Mech X]

*Shrugs* I heard it had children on a bus. I'm probably picking up thoughts from another class discussion I had on books. Sorry.

[Dr Evil]

No prob, Undead. Just trying to be a help.