Nerds That Geek Book Review - 'Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead.'

Written by Scott Edwards

On April 15th, 1912 the Titanic sank in the Atlantic killing 1,502 of its passengers and crew. But were the deaths caused by drowning, hypothermia, panic, or a plague? Two researchers try to discover the true reason for the ship's demise by raising some of the most valuable artifacts from the wreckage, not only for knowledge, but for the money and fame it will bring them.

In 1910, a German doctor, Theodor Weiss is called into a small village to investigate a plague that has ravaged the entire area. People are dying, but are not staying dead and they are exhibiting a hunger that no food that a regular person would eat could soften. A local shaman shows Weiss around and directs him not to get too close to the infected for they are biters.  Weiss collects his samples to return to Germany for study, but the shaman ends up making the trip back with the doctor, for he has become one of the infected as well.

Weiss continues his studies on the plague, trying to find an antidote to cure anyone that is unfortunate enough to contract it, but the Kaiser and the looming war effort get word of this Toxic and want to weaponize it. Weiss, knowing that he is unable to fight with his own government to protect his research, tries to lay waste to his research facility along with his notes and flee to America. Being a good doctor however, Weiss keeps a small vial of this Toxic in his possession to try to keep the prayer of a cure alive. 

Deck Z: The Titanic: Unsinkable. Undead. takes you on one of history's most famous trips across the Atlantic Ocean, the Titanic’s maiden voyage. Doctor Weiss is running from a fate that he believes is worse than death in his home country, being pursued by one of the Kaiser Agents. The doctor tries to take refuge on the large ship, hiding with the middle class that are looking for a better life in America. Weiss is however captured by the Agent who capitalized on his affections for a young paper girl, Lou, (Louise) and her mother. The Vial of Toxic is removed from Weiss’ possession and turned loose on the ship, causing an outbreak no ocean liner has ever seen, a zombie outbreak.

Captain Edward J. Smith, on his last voyage across the Atlantic, joins the fight along with the ship's architect Thomas Andrews. Trying to secure the decks below the three are challenged with finding and disposing of the infected before causing unrest amongst the uninfected passengers. J. Bruce Ismay, the head of White Star Line has other motives, trying to get the ship to port before he has a chance of getting infected as well. Pushing the ship to its limits, the Titanic hits an iceberg and begins to sink as the battle for survival continues on the lower decks.

If you're in love with the classic Titanic story and also happen to love the living dead, Deck Z is just a joyful read. A retelling of the famous disaster combined with a zombie outbreak really makes you wonder what happened on that hapless day. You get fantastic zombie kills and an alternative usage of squash balls that you will never see coming. Oh yeah, and most importantly, the ship still sinks.

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