Keep A Barf Bag Nearby

When their car broke down in a dangerous inner-city neighborhood, Kerri and her friends thought they would find shelter inside an old, dark row home. They thought it was abandoned. They thought they would be safe there until help arrived. They were wrong. The residents who live down in the cellar and the tunnels beneath the city are far more dangerous than the streets outside, and they have a very special way of dealing with trespassers. Trapped in a world of darkness, populated by obscene abominations, they will have to fight back if they ever want to see the sun again. Every city has its secrets and urban legends. But nothing can prepare them for when they find out the truth about this horrible house.

URBAN GOTHIC by Brian Keene is an action-packed, claustrophobic nightmare in a hell house full of sickening mutants. The descriptions are so gruesome and gross, I gagged several times throughout this book. This terrifying abomination makes The Hills Have Eyes look like a stroll in the park. The level of terror is off the charts, and the alternating POVs and the cast of characters gives this novel a depth not often found in slasher stories.

Readers are kept guessing about who, if anyone, will survive the night, and the ones who die are slaughtered in a variety of ways. If you're expecting a writing style similar to one of Keene's zombie novels, you might be disappointed, but if you're just looking for some adrenaline-filled entertainment, this is it.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Monsters Above and Below

There is something in the local cemetery that comes out at night. Something that is unearthing corpses and killing people. It’s the summer of 1984 and Timmy and his friends are looking forward to no school, comic books, and adventure. But instead they will be fighting for their lives. The ghoul has smelled their blood and it is after them.

GHOUL by Brian Keene centers on three boys at the beginning of their summer break: Timmy, Doug and Barry. People are going missing, the cemetery is falling apart, and summer is becoming one long nightmare. Timmy makes several horrific discoveries, and he thinks something evil living underneath the graveyard. Unfortunately, the adults won't listen to a twelve year old kid, and the other two boys have their own monsters to deal with.

The author delivers more than one monster in this novel, and the creature devouring corpses is not the most sinister threat. For a kid, being violated by the people you are supposed to be able to trust is worse than a demon from folklore. Keene uses suspense and family drama to bury readers in hopeless terror.

This is a great story to get in the mood for Halloween, and the perfect gift for a horror fan.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Savage Survival

One morning the residents of Walden, Virginia, woke up to find the rest of the world gone. Just . . . gone. Surrounding their town was a wall of inky darkness, plummeting Walden into permanent night. Nothing can get in - not light, not people, not even electricity, radio, TV, internet, food, or water. And nothing can get out. No one who dared to penetrate the mysterious barrier has ever been seen again. Only their screams were heard. But for some, the darkness is not the worst of their fears. Driven mad by thirst, hunger, and perpetual night, the residents of Walden are ready to explode. The last few sane prisoners of this small town must prepare a final stand against their neighbors, themselves, and something even worse . . . something out there . . . in the darkness.

DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN by Brian Keene is one of the most depressing novels I've ever read, mostly because the darkness is the only fictional aspect. People losing their minds, throwing laws and morals out the window, and rampaging around town like a bunch of savages is not only believable, but a recurring theme in human history. In fact, you could probably find something similar happening in the news right now.

I don't choose stories like this for the violence, and Keene doesn't get very graphic with his descriptions in this story, in any case. However, I love how thought-provoking horror can be, particularly when it comes to survival themes, and the author provides a banquet within this book. I wish I could be as proactive as Robbie. Unfortunately, I'd likely off myself like so many of the residents. I think about the way my neighbors attack each other on our local Facebook page over dog poop and lawn mowing, and I know my town would be totally screwed in Walden's situation.

If you enjoy horror with evil taking the form of a familiar face, or if you're entertained by characters attempting to problem-solve in the middle of a waking nightmare, this is a story you need to read. The ending might frustrate many people, but such is the author's style. Keene doesn't wrap things up neatly, he leaves the story soaking in a puddle of blood and ash.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Ran Away Crawling

Discover the secret origins of the "drink of the gods" in this dark fantasy fable by best-selling author Brian Keene. Chalco, a young Aztec boy, feels helpless as conquering Spanish forces near his village. But when a messenger of the gods hands him a key to unlock the doors of human perception and visit unseen worlds, Chalco journeys into the mystical Labyrinth, searching for a way to defeat the invaders. He will face gods, devils, and things that are neither. But he will also learn that some doorways should never be opened and not all entrances have exits... Tequila's Sunrise. Take the shot and open the door... if you dare. Deadite Press is proud to present this author's preferred edition of Brian Keene's long out-of-print novella, which contains material not included in previously published editions. Also included in this edition are seven bonus short stories: Dust, Burying Betsy, Fade To Null, Golden Boy, Two-Headed Alien Love Child, That Which Lingers, and Bunnies In August.

TEQUILA'S SUNRISE by Brian Keene is a story of opportunity. While mostly a slow setup, this tale has an ending best appreciated by hardcore Keene fans. I strongly recommend reading the author's previous work, before attempting this story.

BURYING BETSY is a flash fiction piece about a family trying to keep a little girl safe in a very extreme way.

DUST is a post 9/11 story.

FADE TO NULL uses flash fiction to describe the deterioration of an elderly woman's mind.

BUNNIES IN AUGUST is a soul-crusher...I struggled with this one...we always have baby bunnies in our yard.

THAT WHICH LINGERS is the creepiest haunting story I've ever read.

TWO-HEADED ALIEN LOVE CHILD...I can't stop laughing...

GOLDEN BOY is a modern, albeit twisted, version of King Midas.

Overall, this is an interesting mix of stories, proving Keene is more than just a basic horror author, but I think readers will have to familiarize themselves with his novels, before reading any of his shorts.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Burden My Soul

The year is 2009, and the world’s financial and publishing sectors are in chaos. In the midst of this disarray, a burned-out horror writer finds himself haunted by a variety of ghosts, both real and metaphorical. And as the ghosts increase their attacks, his struggle to make a living quickly becomes a fight to hold on to his family – and his very sanity.

THE GIRL ON THE GLIDER by Brian Keene is nothing like any of his work I've read previously. On a related note, readers should probably read all of the Keene stories published before this one, in order to truly appreciate the personal POV.

The setup is painfully slow, not unlike watching an artist create a landscape and waiting for all the strokes to form something recognizable. The details are obviously necessary, but the pace is similar to watching paint dry.

While a few parts freaked me out enough that I jumped when my 13 yr old walked into the room (dressed in black), I didn't really feel much of anything for this story. Simply isn't my flavor of Keene.

I'm still recommending this one to fans of the author...there is some terrific literary insight to be had.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 12

In the long-awaited follow up to DEAD SEA, it has been several months since the disease known as Hamelin's Revenge decimated the world. Civilization has collapsed and the dead far outnumber the living. The survivors seek refuge from the roaming zombie hordes, but one-by-one, those shelters are falling.

Twenty-five survivors barricade themselves inside a former military bunker buried deep beneath a luxury hotel. They are safe from the zombies... but are they safe from one another? As supplies run low and despair sets in, each of them will find out just how far they're willing to go to survive.

ENTOMBED by Brian Keene is a bloodbath, and the undead are just a background detail. Basically, the bunker survivors turn on the one guy, Peter, who saved them all, at the beginning of the story. He is also the one who wanted to bring food supplies with them, before sealing the blast doors. Not only did everyone rag on him to seal the doors without grabbing the supply cart, but they also refused to fight a few undead between the supplies and the group. As far as I'm concerned, they all got what they deserved.

This is not a sequel to DEAD SEA, but a separate story which takes place during the same outbreak in the same Keene world. You don't have to read the first novel to appreciate Entombed, but it does offer an explanation of why there is never any hope for the survivors. There is a lot of action, and no one dies the same way.

Who will you root for?

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 11

In 2003, Brian Keene's The Rising revived horror literature's dormant obsession with zombies. In 2007, Brian Keene's Dead Sea knocked that obsession on its ass... The city streets are no longer safe. They are filled instead with the living dead, rotting predators driven only by a need to kill and eat. Some of the living still struggle to survive, but with each passing day, their odds grow worse. Some survivors have fled, frantically searching for a place to escape, even briefly, the slaughter around them. For Lamar Reed and a handful of others, that safe haven is an old Coast Guard ship out at sea, with plenty of water between them and the zombies. These desperate survivors are completely isolated from the dangers of the mainland. But their haven will soon become a deathtrap, and they'll learn that isolation can also mean no escape! Deadite Press is proud to present this Author's Preferred version of Keene's over-the-top cult classic, which includes never-before-published material!

DEAD SEA by horror author Brian Keene has always been one of my all-time favorite zombie novels. This book is the reason I became a fan of Keene in the first place. The author has quite a talent for taking a hopeless situation and twisting the waking nightmare into something much worse than hopeless. I thought I had become desensitized, until I read Dead Sea.

The main character is a young gay Black man named Lamar, and the story is centered on his POV. Throughout the book, he often wonders why anyone bothers to keep fighting when they are very likely to die a gruesome death...and then come back as the undead. I love the thought process of this character. Unlike many of the other characters, Lamar is always trying to think ahead, instead of just reacting to the danger around his group.

Dead Sea is one of the horror novels I recommend as a general go-to horror novel, but this is also the Keene story I recommend to introduce new readers to the author.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 10

Go back to the beginning of the end of the world...

Hell has come to earth as sadistic zombies rampage and massacre the human population. Reverend Thomas Martin has lost his congregation to the chaos but has found two wayward survivors to protect - Becky and John. The three of them have holed up in Martin's church in a desperate attempt for survival. But as supplies run low and civilization crumbles around them, Martin must come to a realization - God has abandoned them. But why?

Is there any chance of hope in this new world? Is there any chance for deliverance?

Modern horror legend, Brian Keene returns to his fan-favorite universe of The Rising with a tale of faith, loss, and zombies.

This special edition also includes two short stories that expand and explore The Rising mythos - "The Resurrection and the Life" and "The Siqqusim who Stole Christmas."

THE RISING: DELIVERANCE by Brian Keene offers some insight into the character, Reverend Thomas Martin, as well as what occurred inside the church before Jim showed up. However, Keene still keeps the specific fates of Becky and John secret, so this story would have been better off included in THE RISING, instead of being released as an afterthought. There's just not enough meat for readers to sink their teeth into.

THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE is Keene's version of the Book of John, complete with the inclusion of Ob. I enjoyed this story far more than the first one. Nothing like Ob taunting Jesus to create a dramatic biblical thriller.

THE SIQQUSIM WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS involves a couple of characters from THE RISING: SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD. As soon as I realized who Ob's host body belonged to, I laughed out loud. Readers can't truly appreciate Keene's twisted mind, until they've experienced his dark humor.

While I appreciate the creativity which went into the last two stories, and I love the cross-references and connections to Keene's previously published menagerie of horrors, I think the author is just milking THE RISING series for more money. I'm glad Keene moved on from this series. I look forward to finishing his Levi Stoltzfus series in 2019.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 9

Brian Keene's seminal novel THE RISING and its sequel, CITY OF THE DEAD, revitalized the horror genre and gave zombie fans a new reason to celebrate. Since their original publication a decade ago, readers have hoped for a return to that universe.

THE RISING: SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD is a collection of short stories set in the world of THE RISING, examining the history of the Siqqusim, the arrival of the first zombie, the fall of mankind, and the terrifying events that occur after CITY OF THE DEAD's conclusion. Featuring both new characters and beloved fan-favorites, this globe-spanning saga elevates the horror to new heights. If you are a fan of Keene's zombie mythos, you cannot miss this book!

THE RISING: SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD by Brian Keene is a collection of stories which take place within the same universe as THE RISING and CITY OF THE DEAD. If you haven't read those two novels, do not attempt to read selected scenes. Not only do the stories contain new characters, but they also include characters from the previously mentioned novels. Most could be described as flash fiction.

There is quite a variety within these pages, everything from typical horror scenarios to a few love stories. Some tales have some dark humor, others will chip away at your heart. Quite a few are connected to one another, due to migrating survivors and undead making more than one appearance.

One story in particular stood out from all the others: AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH HIM. Keene really went above and beyond with this tale of revenge. I would love a novella featuring the twist presented in this one.

I don't usually mention author notes in my reviews, but Brian Keene's notes are usually pretty entertaining stories themselves, and I really enjoyed his notes at the end of this anthology.

If you're a fan of THE RISING series, I think you'll enjoy this addition. If you haven't read the series yet, what are you waiting for?

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 8

The sequel to one of those most popular zombies of all time in a new, uncut, author's preferred edition!

In this sequel to THE RISING, cities are overrun with legions of the undead, intent on destroying what's left of the living. Trapped inside a fortified skyscraper, a handful of survivors prepare to make their last stand against an unstoppable, merciless enemy. With every hour their chances diminish and their numbers dwindle, while the ranks of the dead continue to rise. Because sooner or later, everything dies. And then it comes back, ready to kill.

Deadite Press is proud to present this uncut, Author's Preferred Edition of Brian Keene's seminal CITY OF THE DEAD

CITY OF THE DEAD by Brian Keene gives Ob and his army of zombies just as much coverage as the survivors. Not only do readers discover what has become of the characters from the first book, but Keene also reveals the motivation and plans of the undead. The sequel could have easily been titled, The Hunt.

Once again, the humans are forced to run a gauntlet in order to stay alive, but, this time, they must navigate a privately owned skyscraper. With birds and bats attacking from above, rats trying to work their way in from below, and Ob's army overtaking the city, there appears to be no place to escape to. The human race will only be able to survive if they leave science behind and accept a new way of thinking.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 7

The classic that helped start a pop culture phenomenon - back in print and UNCUT!

Since it's 2003 debut, Brian Keene's THE RISING is one of the best-selling zombie novels of all-time. It has been translated into over a dozen languages, inspired the works of other authors and filmmakers, and has become a cultural touchstone for an entire generation of horror fans.

THE RISING is the story of Jim Thurmond, a determined father battling his way across a post-apocalyptic zombie landscape, to find his young son. Accompanied by Martin, a preacher still holding to his faith, and Frankie, a recovering heroin addict with an indomitable will to survive, Jim travels from state to state and town to town, facing an endless onslaught of undead hordes, and the evils perpetrated by his fellow man.

This brand-new, author's preferred edition, restores nearly 30,000 words of material that was cut from the original edition. These new chapters, which have never been seen by anyone before now, expand the original story, adding new depths to characters and more horrific situations.

You may think you've read THE RISING, but you haven't read it all until you read this edition!

Deadite Press is proud to present this uncut, author's preferred edition, which also includes a lengthy essay by the author about the novel's genesis and history.

THE RISING by Brian Keene is a metaphysical twist on zombies. The first time I read the original version, I didn't like the undead. I was into viral, unthinking zombies at the time Keene's novel was first released. As much as I love the author's work, several years went by before I would even consider giving the novel another chance. I'm glad I did.

The nature of the undead is bad enough, and pretty damn hopeless, but the military has also turned on the survivors, using them for slave labor and other atrocities. Sounds typical of this genre, but Keene's version of a zombie apocalypse is anything but typical. The author switches POVs as well as storylines, until several characters converge on the location where everything began, adding multiple layers and tragedies to battle mankind has no chance of winning.

Readers will get road rash of the mind trying to hold on to this savage ride with Keene and his undead nightmare. Best strap in tight.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 6

For the employees of Big Bill's Home Electronics, it's just the end of another long workday-until a gunman bursts into the store and begins shooting. Now, with some of their co-workers dead, the hostages are disappearing one-by-one, and if they want to survive the night, they'll have to escape... THE CAGE.

Deadite Press is proud to make Brian Keene's hard-to-find, ultra-violent novella THE CAGE available to a wider audience. Also includes three rare bonus stories: "Marriage Causes Cancer In Rats," "Lest Ye Become," and "Waiting For Darkness"

The Cage by Brian Keene is all about the unknown. Not knowing who the stranger is, not knowing what he's doing with the electronics, not knowing what is happening to the employees when they are led, one by one, from the cage. They can't fight the unknown, they can't plan for it...Keene takes a risk keeping his readers in a holding pattern, but the risk pays off as the imagination runs wild, wondering what in the HELL is on the other side of those warehouse doors.

Marriage Cause Cancer In Rats reminds me of the stories played out in Tales of the Crypt.

Lest Ye Become is more of a sci-fi flash fiction piece than horror.

Waiting For Darkness is creepy AF.

All of these stories focus more on the monsters which mess with our heads, rather than physical horror.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 5

There was no warning. No chance to escape. They came suddenly. Naked. Bloodthirsty. Sadistic. They descended upon the Pine Village Apartment Complex, relentlessly torturing and killing anyone they could find.

Fearing for their lives, the residents of the complex must band together. A young trans woman, a suicidal middle-aged writer, a lonely Vietnam vet, a newlywed couple, an elderly widow, a single mother and her son, two on-the-run criminals and the serial killer known as The Exit. Eleven strangers. The only thing they have in common is the unstoppable horde that wants to kill them. If they are to make it through the night, they must fight back.

The Complex by Brian Keene is told through various POVs of the apartment tenants, revealing backstories for each character, as well as referencing events and characters from the author's short stories included in Scratch and Jack's Magic Beans. I couldn't help but feel the tenants could be people I've crossed paths with in the past, giving the story a more personal feel and amping the horror of their battle for survival.

I urge readers to pay special attention to Javier's POV, as it offers some insight into the supernatural entities from Keene's stories, such as Halves. There are just so many great elements in this novella, but I don't want to give away any spoilers. As entertaining as the horror is, I am most impressed by the sociological aspects, particularly Stephanie's last words.

I would love, LOVE, a follow-up story strictly from Hannibal's POV. Better yet, have Hannibal and Javier team up in a story of their own.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 4

April showers bring May flowers. But as the rain-swollen creeks recede, the residents of one rural Pennsylvania town learn that April showers bring something far worse than destructive floods and property damage. This year, the April showers have brought a crypto-zoological nightmare named Scratch, and only pain and terror follow in his wake.

This novella from award-winning, best-selling horror writer Brian Keene also includes a bonus short story - "Halves".

Scratch by Brian Keene is one of the few stories I've read which genuinely concerns me. I've encountered some mind-blowing oversized creatures lurking in the Missouri River in South Dakota, and I've read about bull sharks making their way into freshwater creeks, as well as other real-life examples of nature resembling the monsters in American folklore, so Keene's story about the nightmare living in a Pennsylvanian stream is just too damn believable for me. I will be keeping a close eye on the tree line in the flood zone behind my house during our next rain season, just in case. Once again, the author's talent for blending fact and fiction results in a rather frightening piece of horror.

Halves is a short story about the usefulness of an outdoor cat. Reminded me a bit of General from Cat's Eye, but the suspense is much more intense, and I enjoyed the POV of the parent.

I also appreciated the little nods within each tale to some of Keene's other stories.

Keep checking back for more Days of Keene! Reviews are being posted on a delay due to more than one family emergency this month.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 3

It happens in a split-second. One moment, customers are happily shopping in the Save-A-Lot grocery store. The next instant, they are transformed into bloodthirsty psychotics, interested only in slaughtering one another and committing unimaginably atrocious and frenzied acts of violent depravity. Only Jack, Sammi, Angie and Marcel seem immune to the insanity that has infected the rest of the town. But can they stay alive long enough -- and trust each other long enough -- to unravel the secret of Jack's magic beans... Deadite Press is proud to bring one of Brian Keene's bleakest and most violent novellas back into print once more. This edition also includes four bonus short stories: "Without You", "I Am An Exit", "This Is Not An Exit", and "The King, in: YELLOW".

Jack's Magic Beans by Brian Keene opens with, "The lettuce started talking to Ben Mahoney halfway through his shift at Save-A-Lot," and, if you've ever worked in a grocery store, it's not that difficult to imagine the produce telling you to kill the customers. Although, I do have to admit, Keene's level of savagery between the customers and employees far exceeds any Black Friday rioting. I love how quickly the author throws the reader into the brutal action, from kicking and stabbing to running people down in the parking lot.

Without You is a morbid version of the saying, "Till death do us part."

I Am An Exit has a slightly predictable ending...not the usual shock and awe I've come to expect from Keene. However, this story features a character who connects many other stories together.

This Is Not An Exit is a sequel to the previous short story. This one is surprising.

The King, in: Yellow makes me think Keene channeled Lovecraft.

Not a bad mix, but I prefer Keene's longer stories.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 2

From Grandmaster of Horror, Brian Keene, comes a pandemic tale of survival and terror.

When a freak storm hits, time is the enemy as a government-created super virus gets loose and spreads through the quiet little town of Godfrey, Illinois. But the virus isn't the only threat. There are mysterious forces at play and disease is just one instrument of fear.

Previously out of print and never before available as a stand-alone, this new edition of WHITE FIRE has been revised and expanded, and is considered the Author's Preferred Version.

White Fire by Brian Keene has one of the most spectacular storm descriptions I've ever read, with the tornado being a rather extreme version of foreshadowing. The author hooked me with the unusual pairing of Captain Tom Collins and private contractor Phil McLeod, daring to break away from the stereotypical males usually found in the horror genre.

Having read Take the Long Way Home prior to this story, I'm under the impression Keene has developed a skill for weaving theology within horror, without being too obvious. Adding this extra element takes the author's terrifying tales beyond the realms of psychology and sociology, showing readers how a virus can devastate mankind physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.

You don't read a Keene story, you experience the nightmare. The only happy ending is being able to move on to his next story.

As always,
AstraDaemon

12 Days of Keene: Day 1

All across the world, people suddenly vanish in the blink of an eye. From their cars during the rush hour commute. From the shopping malls. Their homes. Their beds. Even from the arms of their loved ones. Airline pilots. World leaders. Teachers. Parents. Children. Gone. Steve, Charlie and Frank were just trying to get home when it happened. Now they find themselves left behind, and wishing they'd disappeared, too. Trapped in the ultimate traffic jam, they watch as civilization collapses, claiming the souls of those around them. God has called his faithful home, but the invitations for Steve, Charlie and Frank got lost. Now they must set off on foot through a nightmarish post-apocalyptic landscape in search of answers. In search of God. In search of their loved ones. And in search of home.

Take the Long Way Home by Brian Keene is a novella featuring a personal POV of the Rapture. The entire storyline takes place within one night, and those left behind, with a few exceptions, waste no time turning into absolute savages. The violence goes far beyond people exploiting the breakdown of society, into pure madness. Steven is one of the few who survives the first night, but what he witnesses will certainly inflict a special kind of pain and suffering of his soul.

While this novella has the quality storytelling I've come to expect from Keene, the subject matter is sure to offend some readers, regardless of their religious/spiritual beliefs or non-beliefs. For those who do take issue, I strongly recommend they read the author's note at the end. I think Keene is more than fair with his handling of the religious aspects, without using his characters to manipulate readers into any specific mindset.

With all that said, this is a very entertaining novella, which is sure to appeal to many horror fans.

As always,
AstraDaemon