May You Live Forever and May I Never Die is a writing project begun in the summer of 2004. Partly inspired by Jeff "not of the New York Times" Goldberg's short story A Survey of Post-WWII Zombie Consumerism in Suburban America submitted to our workshop in April, 2005, I wanted to try my hand at this genre rich in both convention and innovation.
As a dash-off, summer project I didn't want too much effort to go into research, but I re-watched Romero's "Dead" movies, and read Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide. I also interviewed friends who are allupin that zombie stuff. Between these efforts, and dispatching the animated undead lingering in the basement of my apartment building, I thought I had enough background to proceed.
May You Live Forever and May I Never Die is a post-apocalyptic scenario. The zombies in this story are not, technically speaking, dead at all, but have been afflicted by two diseases brought on by ecological disaster. Humans have survived by barricading themselves in densely packed cities connected by tenuous "corridors." Resources and security are a constant struggle, and malnutrition and disease are as deadly threats as the zombies themselves.
A significant aspect of this scenario is that zombism is only brought on by the eseritio virus and the phasmatis infection acting together. The protagonists, Simon and Bernice, each afflicted with one of the conditions cannot consummate their relationship because this would result in the two of them becoming zombies. At the urging of their guardian, Mams, and Preacher Sevens, a minister, they undertake a journey to the perilous city of Chicago in search of a miracle cure.
May You Live Forever and May I Never Die is currently about halfway drafted.
If you have any questions or comments about this project, please contact me HERE.
