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Zombies Versus Unicorns -- which is awesomer? I discovered this debate while reading Scott Westerfeld's blog. Intrigued, I visited some other blogs to find out more. After thorough researching, I have decided that I am for Team Unicorn.
Sure, zombies can be kind of cool -- the ones from Reaper Man come to mind. But unicorns have lots going for them too. Look at the unicorns from HP. They're pure, innocent, extremely difficult to catch, and very magical.
Or look at Jewel, in The Last Battle. He is loyal, brave, fierce in battle. He fought for Narnia to the end.
Whereas zombies -- well, they're dead. They're gross. (Note: Do inferi count as zombies?)
I'm very curious as to where everyone else stands on this. Anyone?
submitted by ZNZ
(June 26, 2010 - 12:38 pm)
(June 26, 2010 - 12:38 pm)
Well, I think really that the two shouldn't be pitted against each other in a contest like this. Two reasons:
1. Different genres
2. Zombies are the bad guys and Unicorns are the good guys (I challenge anyone to write a story where a unicorn is the bad guy. (bonus points if pitted against a benevolent zombie))
Myself, I think that White Stags are much better than Unicorns. (See "Emilie and Jessica" thread on the Inkwell for my TAPM story with Wolfgirl) The real question should be, which is better, White Stags or Fire Salamanders?
But if I had to answer the question I would have to say Unicorns, because the walking dead are so, like, unhip, you know, like? Ahem. Sorry.
(June 27, 2010 - 5:48 pm)
It's a huge thing, though, or at least it was a while back. All these YA authors chose sides. There was even a book published called Zombies Versus Unicorns in an attempt to discover who was better -- authors from the two teams wrote short stories for their sides.
(June 28, 2010 - 7:07 am)
@ Emily H. Yes, the walking dead is soo unhip! And so last year too!
Spamboy says "udid" What did you do Spamboy??
(June 28, 2010 - 7:51 pm)
Emily L., I took your challenge and wrote a wacky short story. It's on the last page.
(July 12, 2010 - 7:56 am)
Topper. Also -- which side are you on, Admin?
This Admin is definitely on the Unicorn side. I've never been fond of Zombies.
Evening Admin
(June 27, 2010 - 8:17 pm)
Re: Evil Unicorns: Oh yes there are. In Lords and Ladies, the unicorn is a wild beast that does its very best to skewer every human it comes across until Granny catches it with a strand of her own hair and has it shod with silver shoes, at which point it becomes more tame but still wild.
Also, in Rampant, unicorns are carnivores who prey on human flesh and whose venom can kill the average human within minutes, and they can only be killed by a select few women, all of them (in the case of the story, anyway) college age or less. And the unicorns range in size from small goat-size to slightly smaller than an elephant.
Now, the zombies vs. unicorns thing... nine times out of ten I'd say zombies are better, because most unicorns Taste Like Diabetes (excluding the examples above, of course). Especially if the zombies are like, say, Reg Shoe or Mr. Slant.
(June 28, 2010 - 11:40 am)
Like, totally unicorns. Seriously, it's kinda weird if you like zombies better because they're disgusting. Unicorns are beautiful, mystical, pure creatures. Zombies are hideous, often times gory, GROSS, evil things left to suffer, monsters. So yeah.
GO TEAM UNICORN! *waves hands* *pulls out unicorn stuffed animal from childhood* *shouts again* :):):):):):)
(June 28, 2010 - 10:46 pm)
Ahem. Let's not make sweeping generalizations, shall we? Did you not read the part about venomous, man-eating unicorns the size of small elephants? Similarly, just because they're a little decomposed doesn't mean all zombies are evil. Just as Reg Shoe: Undead Yes, Unperson No. And Reg, I might add, is a genuinely nice (if a little bit intense about undead rights) person who just happens be slightly decomposed and capable of punching people with force equivalent to being whacked with a sledgehammer. But he's a watchman, one of Vimes' watchman, so certainly not a monster by any stretch of the imagination.
@Mary: Hooray, another zombie fan! I'm not the only one!
Oh. It's closing time. More later, probably.
(June 29, 2010 - 9:56 pm)
And even better than that, I've started reading Discworld. :) It's hilarious. Though I'm not at any zombie/unicorn bits yet...
(June 30, 2010 - 9:41 am)
There are exceptions to every rule, though. I'd say that the unicorns and zombies you mentioned are exceptions, not that it really matters to me. But moral status completely aside, I still prefer unicorns. Zombies are just... well, for some reason, I've never found them very interesting. It's just a matter of personal preference, I suppose.
(June 30, 2010 - 12:34 pm)
Generally, I'd say I prefer unicorns, except for the annoying, sappy, tame ones with wings, who spend their entire lives letting princesses ride them, in those little books and animated movies for 5-year-olds. (Those commas were not all in the right places, but I thought it was clearer that way). Then I have to say I prefer zombies, even though I don't generally like them much. It just depends. But certain types of zombies are better than others, too. Inferi are all right, and so are those children possessed by witches in South African mythology, even though I can't remember what they were actually called.
(June 28, 2010 - 9:12 pm)
Oh, ever since I heard the Venetian Princess song Just A Zombie I've been on the zombie side. XD
(June 29, 2010 - 12:23 pm)
Ugh, yes, I hate the sappy tame ones. The thing about unicorns is that they are often poorly written, but when they're done well they're awesome.
(June 29, 2010 - 12:39 pm)
I agree. And I like the picture, by the way.
(June 29, 2010 - 6:29 pm)
(June 29, 2010 - 6:57 pm)