Breathing New Life Into Classic Literature

Today's post begins with a new fractal image called Ancient Artifact. I chose it mainly because it reprents something old--dare I even say classic. This image was one of the first I created with the reinstalled Mind Boggling Fractals program which breathed new life into my creating fractals. Maybe the post will help breathe some new life into classic literature.
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Saturday morning Robyn and I were on our weekly shopping trip to Costco. We'd also decided to get our flu shots there that day (since they are less than anywhere else we could go). But we got to the store early (so we could find parking) and the flu shots didn't start for a while so we had time to kill. Being bibliophiles we both drifted over to the book section to see what was there. (Usually we don't find much since the store tends not to stock the type of material we're interested in reading but sometimes we unearth a gem.) This time we ran across a title called Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
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Those of you with at least a nodding acquaintance with English Literature know that Pride and Prejudice was one of the classic "Regency Romances" by Jane Austen. Once upon a time you couldn't have escaped a high-school lit. class without reading at least ONE Austen novel (or at least the Cliff Notes thereof). Now she, and her compatriots have rather fallen out of favor with everyone but a few young leadies of a certain temperment and Miramax Films. Still, these lush, potboilers were once considered high art and I think we may have lots something now that Jane and her cohorts have fallen out of fashion.
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Seth Grahame-Smith, author of such dubious classics as How To Survive A Horror Movie and The Spider-Man Handbook came up with an ingenius way to update Pride And Prejudice--by adding zombies! I mean--really people--what musty old classic WOULDN'T be improved by a judicious addition of those loveable shuffling, undead brain-eaters? I can think of one--with the possible exception of Goodnight Moon (which is plenty creepy enough in its own right.) He also kicked up War Of The Worlds (by H.G. Wells) by adding "blood guts and zombies" there too--but for some reason thought "Sea Monsters" would be a better fit for Sense And Sensibility.
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Personally, I think Seth is on to something here--or maybe just ON something. (Since I've never met the guy I can't make a value judgement.) Mister Grahame-Smith may have unwittingly created a literary cottage industry for himself by reinvigorating the classics. Of course zombies--lovable as they are--could grow stale afte a while. Why not go a bit further afield? On the off chance the author might really be "on something" I have thoughtfull provided a few suggestions for further novels. (Of course, proper remuneration should be forthcoming--but that's only a formality.) Without further ado--I submit these possibilities...
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TOM SAWYER VAMPIRE HUNTER: there's no reason why Mark Twain's loveable scamp SHOULDN'T encounter Vampires in Hanibal Missouri. After all--they seem to be everywhere else...
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HUCKLEBERRY FINN: THE ALIEN ABDUCTION TAPES: OK the anal probling might be a bit much for a few readers--but a few readers would really like it.
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A TALE OF TWO CITIES AND NUCLEAR TERRORISM: yes, it walks away from "creatures of the night" but a good "nuclear attack" story can be a nice potboiler
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TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD AND A ZOMBIE: really--what else do you need to say?
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THE OLD MAN AND THE SEAMOSTER: that one is just obvious.
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THE HOUSE OF SEVEN VAMPIRES: lets face it--Nathaniel Hawtorne needs all the hel[p he can get! Adding some ghouls or a zombie infestation to THE SCARLET LETTER wouldn't hurt either. (Anything but that ridiculous Demi Moore update!)
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Why limit the idea to classic literature? Why not expand the idea to classic theater. Here are a few suggestions...
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ROMEO AND JULIET: THE NIGHTSIDE CHRONICLES. Vampire Romeo falls in love with beautiful werewolf Juliet in this truly star-crossed romance. Likewise HAMLET would be vastly improved by having the dead characters "rise" and ravage the audience in traditional zombie fashion.
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Since I'm mining Shakespeare why not reimagine a modern classic into ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE ZOMBIES? You KNOW that would totally work on ANY stage!!!
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Last but not last Disney has taken over Broadway--why not add a little zombie mayhem to MARY POPPINS or a sea monster attack in THE LITTLE MERMAID? Or how 'bout if TARZAN had been raised by a tribe of vampires? That would be truly cool!
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Any or all of these would make WONDERFUL additions to classics of drama and literature. Think about it.
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'nuff said.