Zombie Apocalypse Now! by Thorfinn Skullsplitter

Author:Thorfinn Skullsplitter [Skullsplitter, Thorfinn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780648499664
Publisher: Manticore Press
Published: 2019-08-08T04:00:00+00:00

ChaPter

4

aLL you need is Lead

(and a feW other things):

survivaLism, teotWaWKi and Zombageddon

Introduction: Dare to Prepare… for the End

Economist and financial advisor Barton Biggs in Wealth, War and Wisdom (2008)419 says in chapter 16 of his book, entitled “Barbarians at the Gate,” that those who have wealth should recognize that the “four horsemen will ride again, and…

someday, suddenly the barbarians will be at your gate.”420 This threat is usual y posed by war but today the greatest danger he believes “will be some form of total breakdown of civilized society and the social and financial infrastructure as we know it.”421 Here is Biggs’ advice: Another, much smaller part of your diversification strategy should be to have a farm or a ranch somewhere far off the beaten track but which you can get to reasonably quickly and easily.

Think of it as an insurance policy, and for rich people in the 419 Barton Biggs, Wealth, War and Wisdom, (John Wiley, New York, 2008).

420 As above, p. 331

421 As above.

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ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE NOW!

developed economies a farm is a fine diversifier and probably an excellent long-term investment. Perhaps its purchase price should amount to five percent of your net worth. The control of food-producing land is a basic instinct of mankind, and landowners seem to find considerable psychic satisfaction just from the knowledge of possession. There are few things as fulfilling as having a drink in the sunset and looking at your field and cows…

You should assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure. Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food. It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson. Even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily breaks down. A few rounds over the approaching brigand’s heads would probably be a compelling persuader that there are easier farms to pil age. Brigands tend to be cowards.422

This sensible “survivalist” or “prepper” attitude can be contrasted with the general y less-than-prepared position of most characters in apocalypse movies, especial y those dealing with the zombie apocalypse. Of course, the unrealistic attitudes, carelessness, stupidity and screw-ups in many such films is necessary to create dramatic tension and viewer interest. Nevertheless, it is still valid to study film to examine what survivalist lessons can be learnt from the general fol y of these characters.

For example, the film The Road (2009) tel s the story of a man and his son trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world, as they journey along a road/roads, to the coast to hopeful y find a more sustainable place. This is likely to be a nuclear winter world: cold, grey and dying.

The man, narrating at the beginning of the film says: “The clock stopped at 1:17. There was a long shear of bright light then a series of low concussions.” Tramping on he then laments:

422 As above, pp. 332-333.

150

THORFINN SKULLSPLITTER

each day is more grey than the one before… it is cold and growing colder… [as] the world slowly dies… no animals have survived.

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