History

A History of the Great Zombie War

history of the great zombie warNot every course offered by the history department is entirely serious.

In May 2010, thirty-two students took Nicolas Proctor’s intensive three-week course in which they conceptualized, plotted, drafted, critiqued, edited, and compiled an entire novel: A History of the Great Zombie War: The Simpson Experience. Proctor supervised the process and edited their work into final form over the summer.

Most of the elements of the 264-page book are based on research done by the students. One went to the Indianola police department to determine just how well armed they were. Another went all around campus to determine which buildings would be the most secure in the event of a zombie invasion. Other students did research on varied topics including: improvised weapons, the Iowa National Guard, and whether chimpanzees could become zombies. Several biology majors collaborated and constructed a plausible disease model, while other students designed a marketing plan and researched publishers.

To raise the money necessary to self-publish the book, the class came up with several fundraisers as well as posting their project on Kickstarter.com. The group was able to earn about $2300 through pledges from individuals across the United States and the world who took an interest in the project. The initial amount they asked for was $600, so the funding was achieved at almost 400% of the target.

Even though the premise was absurd, students taking the course learned a great deal about collaborative writing, oral history, project management, self-publishing, our community, and, of course, zombies.

The Great Zombie War: The Simpson Experience is not simply a zombie book. It is the result of three weeks of constant struggle and labor, a great amount of teamwork and cooperation, and the merging of thirty-two separate imaginations. You can purchase your own copy here.

Last Updated: 11/18/11