In this 'Zombified' classic, Tom Sawyer still cons his pals into helping him work on Aunt Polly's fence, but this time he wants to sharpen the tops of the planks into stakes rather than put a coat of whitewash on them. I'm of the opinion that no one can be another Mark Twain, but Borchert manages to maintain Twain's Missouri flavor while adding the undead "Zum" into his take on this boyhood classic.

The author has done a nice job of weaving in the Zum without altering the storyline until it's unrecognizable. Unlike some of the other ultra-contrived 'Zombified' and 'Vampired' classics available, this one reads well. The undead join Twain's established characters without obscuring the core story. In fact, the two worlds fit like a hand in glove.

Tom Sawyer's highjinks make for a good read any time, and adding the undead 'Zum' into the mix added a macabre twist or three heightening the adventure; making it a book I couldn't put down until I finished the final page. THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER AND THE UNDEAD is a pleasant surprise, and among the best of the new sub-genre of classics-melded-with-horror humor. Unlike some of the other authors, Don Borchert didn't attempt to hit us over the head with "isn't this hilarious" and "aren't I clever" writing. He respected the bones Mark Twain laid out when he wrote the original, and simply added to them. A great weekend read.