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| Posted By : Thirdy Lopez - 3/11/2008 11:11 PM | Any horror fan should read at least one of his books. I just got my hands on Ghoul, and I'm moving it up my TBR list. I never play favorites, but Brian hasn't let me down yet. Read... his... books. I can't stress that enough. 
Aurelio Rico Lopez III aka "Thirdy" has had fiction featured in COLD FLESH (Hellbound Books), THE BLACKEST DEATH I, II, and III (Black Death Books), SPORTY SPEC: GAMES OF THE FANTASTIC (Raven Electrick Ink), STAR-SPANGLED ZOMBIE (Maniac Press), RAW MEAT (Sideshow Press), SHADOW BOX (Brimstone Press), TRIP THE LIGHT HORRIFIC (RAGE machine Books), DEAD MEN (AND WOMEN) WALKING (Bards and Sages), and THE BOOK OF SHADOWS VOL. I (Brimstone Press). His poems have appeared in Mythic Delirium, Star*Line, Dark Animus, Goblin Fruit, Scifaikuest, Electric Velocipede, Sybil's Garage, The Horror Express, Down In the Cellar, and elsewhere. |
| Posted By : Hazimel - 3/12/2008 12:33 PM | I'll throw in my own anecdote. In my family, my mom-in-law is the real horror guru. My wife reads sf, fantasy, horror and crime (basically everything), and I am more focused on fantasy. So they keep telling me about this brutal zombie novel by Brian Keene. Then the sequel comes out. Then his name keeps coming up on the Pod of Horror podcast that I really enjoy. So I went to the bookshelf and picked up The Rising.
Wow! That book just cooks along. In one part it explores similar territory as the film 28 Days Later, with the human survivors becoming more horrifying than the zombies. Except that The Rising leaves that film in smoking, weeping ruins wishing it had the guts to compete. The guy just doesn't pull any punches, and yet there is always still a ray of hope that keeps you following along, desperate for something good to happen for the lead characters.
***
Just a few weeks ago, I was in a bookstore and saw a younger guy looking through the horror stacks. I'm basically a Keene evangelist at this point, so I asked him, "You looking for a good horror novel?"
"Yeah," he said, "I just finished World War Z. It was really good."
"Read The Rising by Brian Keene?"
"No, is it a good one?"
Evil chuckle.
He bought the book. Mission accomplished.
Check out my story "Cold Snap" in Lords of Justice from Carnifex Press. It's an anthology of kick-ass super hero novellas.
I Dream of Dragons, a writing blog |
| Posted By : darkbow - 3/12/2008 2:42 PM | After mostly staying away from horror for about a decade, I've just recently (last year or so) started getting back into it. So, I'm familiar with the usual suspects ... King, Koontz, Straub, etc. But Keene is one of those names I keep hearing over and over ... I just haven't got around to one of his books yet.
On "World War Z," it is without a doubt the best "new" book I've read in the last few years. It's different, though, told as a recorded documentary and not a straight narrative, so it might not be for everyone. Still, I loved WWZ and think of it as more than just a horror novel because it touched on so many different emotions.
www.tyjohnston.blogspot.com
http://radiodarkbow.blogspot.com Two songs a day, every day.
"Walking Between the Rain" Every Day Fiction on March 21, 2008
"Beneath a Persian Sun" upcoming in Carnivah House's "Infinity Swords" anthology
"Deep in the Land of the Ice and Snow" in "The Return of the Sword" anthology
"Hot Off the Press" Ray Gun Revival #25, 2007 |
| Posted By : Thirdy Lopez - 3/12/2008 4:20 PM | Darkbow, if you're really into Koontz, then you should read Brian Keene's TERMINAL. Subtle build-up, with an ending that sends chills down your spine.
Hazimel, you should work for Brian Keene. LOL!
Aurelio Rico Lopez III aka "Thirdy" has had fiction featured in COLD FLESH (Hellbound Books), THE BLACKEST DEATH I, II, and III (Black Death Books), SPORTY SPEC: GAMES OF THE FANTASTIC (Raven Electrick Ink), STAR-SPANGLED ZOMBIE (Maniac Press), RAW MEAT (Sideshow Press), SHADOW BOX (Brimstone Press), TRIP THE LIGHT HORRIFIC (RAGE machine Books), DEAD MEN (AND WOMEN) WALKING (Bards and Sages), and THE BOOK OF SHADOWS VOL. I (Brimstone Press). His poems have appeared in Mythic Delirium, Star*Line, Dark Animus, Goblin Fruit, Scifaikuest, Electric Velocipede, Sybil's Garage, The Horror Express, Down In the Cellar, and elsewhere. |
| Posted By : Troy - 3/23/2008 1:29 AM | | Well, after the many recommendations for The Rising made by forum members, I finally gave it a try because I wanted to try something different from what I normally read (fantasy, sci-fi thrillers, action/adventure, history). I read it in one sitting and would definitely recommend it. It was well-paced and focused on the effect the events had on the characters and the world (as all good stories should). I will probably pick up the sequel (City of the Dead?); do you all recommend it? It seems it would be difficult to avoid being "more of the same", but if it successfully builds on and adds to the The Rising I would be more than happy to explore it.
And this from a newcomer to horror who previously would have written off zombie apocalypse stories (before he read them) as cliche and not very interesting. Obviously the idea of zombies taking over the world is never going to be completely original as a basic concept, but it seems there are still interesting and new ways to tell such a story. For the record, I am a fan of the 28 Days Later movie.
By the way, World War Z (different author) sounds intriguing and I may just have to pick this one up.
Thanks for the recommendations; I am always looking for my next good read.
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| Posted By : Thirdy Lopez - 3/23/2008 1:29 PM | Troy, I do recommend City of the Dead. :)
Aurelio Rico Lopez III aka "Thirdy" has had fiction featured in COLD FLESH (Hellbound Books), THE BLACKEST DEATH I, II, and III (Black Death Books), SPORTY SPEC: GAMES OF THE FANTASTIC (Raven Electrick Ink), STAR-SPANGLED ZOMBIE (Maniac Press), RAW MEAT (Sideshow Press), SHADOW BOX (Brimstone Press), TRIP THE LIGHT HORRIFIC (RAGE machine Books), DEAD MEN (AND WOMEN) WALKING (Bards and Sages), and THE BOOK OF SHADOWS VOL. I (Brimstone Press). His poems have appeared in Mythic Delirium, Star*Line, Dark Animus, Goblin Fruit, Scifaikuest, Electric Velocipede, Sybil's Garage, The Horror Express, Down In the Cellar, and elsewhere. |
| Posted By : Hazimel - 3/24/2008 5:42 PM | Thirdy Lopez said...
Troy, I do recommend City of the Dead. :)
Yeah, it's a good read that develops the zombie army and also wraps up the story in an unequivocal manner.
Check out my story "Cold Snap" in Lords of Justice from Carnifex Press. It's an anthology of kick-ass super hero novellas.
I Dream of Dragons, a writing blog |
| Posted By : Thirdy Lopez - 6/3/2008 3:18 PM | Read GHOUL. Not my favorite Keene novel, but still a wonderfully woven story. :)
Aurelio Rico Lopez III aka "Thirdy" has had fiction featured in COLD FLESH (Hellbound Books), THE BLACKEST DEATH I, II, and III (Black Death Books), SPORTY SPEC: GAMES OF THE FANTASTIC (Raven Electrick Ink), STAR-SPANGLED ZOMBIE (Maniac Press), RAW MEAT (Sideshow Press), SHADOW BOX (Brimstone Press), TRIP THE LIGHT HORRIFIC (RAGE machine Books), DEAD MEN (AND WOMEN) WALKING (Bards and Sages), and THE BOOK OF SHADOWS VOL. I (Brimstone Press). His poems have appeared in Mythic Delirium, Star*Line, Dark Animus, Goblin Fruit, Scifaikuest, Electric Velocipede, Sybil's Garage, The Horror Express, Down In the Cellar, and elsewhere. |
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