The Conqueror Worms by Brian Keene Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Conqueror Worms
Book Review: A novelized short story.
Summary: 2 Stars
This is a clear case of an agent and/or editor not knowing when to tell a writer "No. Write something else." While I have to give high marks to Keene for his imagination (the imagery of a drowned Earth overrun with worms and Cthulhu-esque monsters is pretty damn cool), I found the characters two-dimensional and frankly unfathomable - there is next to no character development.
The narrator is likable enough, but only that. I felt no real sympathy for him, and the way the story ends left me more than a little disappointed. It's all very well to tell us, "This is how the story ends, because this is life," but guess what? If you're anything like me, you like a little resolution at the end of a novel.
The framing is awkward, as other reviewers have mentioned. While a first-person narrative usually allows you to really climb inside one character's head and see what makes him tick, Keene's protagonists are simply reporting events. The entire middle section of the book seemed out of place - I didn't like it when Wells used this trick in 'War of the Worlds', and I liked it even less here. The effect was as if two similar stories were welded together unevenly, and it really detracted from the power of each, in my opinion. There are so many potentially great characters introduced in the middle section of the novel, that it really made me cringe to see them wasted like they were. If I wanted to see character after character introduced merely to serve as cannon fodder, I'd watch Resident Evil or something. If this section had been expanded and used as the entire focus of the novel, the story could've been great.
Keene is a pretty decent writer, as evidenced by his great zombie novels, but this one just seemed like something churned out over the course of a few weeks in order to pay the utility bills. As a short story this would have been marvelous, but as a novel, I sure felt like I wasted seven bucks and two days reading it.
Book Review: As the worm turns....
Summary: 4 Stars
The rain had been going over for over 40 days and nights. The roads were being washed out, the ocean was reclaiming the land and civilization as we know it had ended.
But Teddy, on top of a mountain in West Virginia, and a few others, were surviving. Sooner or later the rain had to stop and the pieces of mankind would get back together. Right? Wrong.
This is what one tag called smart horror and it is. It is one of those horror stories where the real horror is not outside the window but inside the human mind. True, there are giant worms out. True, it is raining and dark and everything is dying out. True, the toilet does not work. But the horror is knowing that Teddy is going to go outside, leaving the safety of the house, for those darn cigarettes because he needs his nicotine!
It's just human nature. To fight, to love, to want, even when everything is falling a apart and the world is going to Hell. Or in this case, to the worms.
The first part of the book is scary, yes, but still realistic, somewhat believable. The second book pushes it a tad, bringing in magic and more, but that's OK too. By that time you're starting to believe in weirdness anyway.
The ending could had more closure, but it leaves it open for a second book, which is OK. And it leaves us with hope, which is always fun, because we know there isn't any.
I highly suggest reading it if you are a fan of Lovecraft or Mr. King's early novels.
Book Review: Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
Brian Keene is the most awesome new face on the horror scene. This book is just great. How in the world can a book about worms be scary? Yeah, totally. That's what I was thinking too. If you like King, Koontz, Laymon, Barker, Straub, etc. Check this guy out. He's a nice, young, unassuming guy that is just blessed with the ability to write really kick-butt horror stories. Talent like this only comes along every so often. Support new horror! Read Keene.Book Review: Awesome Horror Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
This was my first Brian Keene novel and i'm really impressed. The pace never lets up from page one. I felt my blood pressure rising when turning through the pages of the main monsters. Through his style of writing, it's easy to visualize these creature as if they're smashing your own house trying to devour you. The scenarios that take place throughout the book are very original. I can't wait to read The Rising and its sequel. Thank you Keene.Book Review: Boring!
Summary: 1 Stars
The writing is not bad if you can imagine a world of worms---yes, great big earthworms and lots of rain. It makes me tired to even think of this book. I have read some of his other books, but this hit rock bottom with me!