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Keene vs Keene
A *No Spoilers* review of Brian Keene's
"The Rising" and "The Conqueror Worms"
By R.J. Cavender

VS.

Like I do often times when I'm making myself familiar with a writer I've not yet read, I picked up a few copies of author Brian Keene's books to get acquainted with his style and work. I decided to pick up a copy of his 2004 zombie novel "The Rising" and his fresh-off-the-presses paperback "The Conqueror Worms". I have to say, I'm absolutely a fan of his work now. These books totally impress.

Being a *No Spoilers* review, I want to make sure I don't give anything away about either book, but a small outline and description won't ruin anything for a reader. I won't put anything more than the back cover blurbs contain, I assure you.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that "The Rising", to date, may be my very favorite "zombie" genre book or movie ever. Stop and read that last sentence again. That's a huge statement for any horror writer or fan to make. But, this book is what I can only call outstanding. It keeps true to so many of the 'rules' of the genre, but brings some wicked tricks to the table in return. It redefines the modern tale of the walking dead in a way that chilled my bones.

There are things in "The Rising" I'd never really expected to read in a zombie story. The rules shift a bit when you venture into Keene territory, and old conventions don't always apply. His zombies will have their critics, as do most all non-Romero types like "28 Days Later" and others that might deviate from the stiff (no pun intended) definition of what fans have come to expect zombies to be. But, I think fans will embrace what's done in this book, simply for where it leaves us in the "evolution of the zombie" story. Once you've considered the world of zombies that this book presents, it's hard to go back to thinking 'inside the box' (again, no pun intended) for the zombie story of the future. I'm getting a copy of the next book in the series, "City of the Dead" as soon as a spot on my reading list opens up.

So, if you are up for an intense and exciting trip through the end of the world of the living..."The Rising" is the best suggestion you'll get from me. His characters were so engaging that when I put the book down, I almost felt like I was keeping them in peril! It's one of those books you consume in 48 hours-flat, even at 320 pages. I ripped through dozens of pages without even looking up once, I'm sure. You make time to read when you pick a book like this up, and I lost myself for hours. I was hooked from cover to cover.

I hear there is talk of a movie soon. Probably best to keep an eye on his website for updates on this. I'll list it at the end of the review. Mr. Keene has got a great website, and he seems to keep it updated quite often with news and updates.

The next book in the Keene-duo of world destruction, is the newly released novel "The Conqueror Worms".

Again, I have to say, if this guy is writing the script for the end of the world, I'm not sure I want to be there. A Brian Keene apocalypse is a place of hellish measure like no other. There is always that spark of hope he entwines into his characters, though, and that's what gives his stories such heart. A quote from the back of the book:

"One day the rain just didn't stop."

That one sentence just floored me. I guess I just had flashbacks of recent hurricanes and the aftermath and floods and tsunamis. What would become of the Earth, if one day, the rain just didn't stop? We like to think that things like this aren't scientifically possible, but 'what if'? Keene again, finds a new way to end the world and bring an intense and moving story of humanity and survival against the odds of an all-out worst-case scenario.

I've got to admit, moments of this book had me thinking of some of my favorite old b-movies of the 50's and 60's variety, ala 'Big Mutant Insect". I mean, the book has worms. Big Ones. That's something a reader would see themselves from picking up the book and looking at the cover, so I don't consider that a spoiler of any sort. But, while the 'big bug' movies of years past like "Tarantula" and "The Deadly Mantis" where done simply because directors of films believed they could get away with the special effects and sell some popcorn. ,"The Conqueror Worms" is much more than just a one-off shock device. Keene creates a world where the rules to survive have changed for everyone, man and beast, and the world is evolving in strange and horrible ways.

The world of the "The Conqueror Worms" is a cold and wet one, where everything is either ruined or completely gone already. There are no more creature comforts, hell...a man can't even get a little tobacco if he's craving it. And, then there's the creatures in the ground. Then, there are also the creatures in the water! And, what's left of the human race aren't doing all that well either. Aside from a rag tag band of survivors, there are other small groups of people roaming the world too. But, some of them are even worse than the unknown beasts on the watery horizon.

This book made me really reconsider how an end-of-the-world scenario could be told. Again, Keene's characters are realistic and engaging, and I found myself bound to them through their plight. There's so much humanity in the characters that Keene writes, that you can empathize with them and really get inside the story. The action never stops, and each chapter nearly leaves you in a cliffhanger. Keene has perfected that, he's a total page-turner.

So, if there is any doubt, let me clear it up. I absolutely loved both books. I'm a Keene fan for sure. I think his work is just universal in some ways. It's accessible, it's clear, it's disturbing, and energetic. It doesn't try too hard to shock you. But, instead shocks you in ways you didn't expect it to. There is an ease to Keene's storytelling that must just come naturally to him. I'm totally looking forward to reading more when I can! Keene is a true 'Master of the Horror World.' If you haven't checked his work out yet, you don't know what you're missing!

Visit his website at: www.briankeene.com