The Conqueror Worms by Brian Keene Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Conqueror Worms
Book Review: Keene is King of Apocalyptic fiction.
Summary: 4 Stars
One day it starts raining and never stops. Along with the rain comes super tornadoes, massive earthquakes and monster tsunamis. Farmlands are submerged and cities are flooded or washed away. Every inch of the planet is affected. Scientists can't explain what is causing the phenomenon.
The Polar Icecaps eventually melt and soon the only safe places on the planet are on mountain tops. Teddy Garnett and his friend Carl Seaton are two elderly men that live in the mountains of West Virginia. They spend their days trying to stay dry and debating on what is causing the global catastrophe. They soon discover that the rain isn't the only thing that they should be worried about. Weird sounds from outside are waking them at night. A unknown fungus is starting to grow all over the plants and animals that are still alive. Giant slime coated holes are popping up outside Teddy's house. They soon find themselves fighting for their lives against giant man eating Earthworms. The old world is passing away and a ancient evil from deep within the earth is rising to lay claim to the planet.
Brian is one of the best horror authors in the game today and The Conqueror Worms is one of the reasons why. I was hooked on the first page. I story is original and moves at a very fast pace. The cast of characters in The Conquer Worms are very believable. I especially liked Teddy; Brian made him jump out of the pages. A lot of people that read this book say that Teddy reminds them of their grandpa and I totally agree. He is one of the most memorable characters of any story I've read.
Fans of apocalyptic fiction or horror in general must grab a copy of The Conqueror Worms. It is one heck of a ride that never disappoints.
Book Review: Large things that crawl in the mud
Summary: 3 Stars
I love discovering a new author, at least one that is new to me, Brian Keene, a well known name in the horror world was just that. Being a two-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award for "Jobs in Hell." in 2001, and again in 2003 for his well received zombie tale "The Rising." Then a 2004 Shocker Award (Non-Fiction) for "Sympathy For the Devil." His list of works is staggering. I'm going to stop here for a long second and go into my consulting mode and do some arithmetic, 15 novels, 10 short story collections, 3 non fiction collections, 140 Novellas, Novelettes and Short Stories, and the list goes on...I think you get the idea, a massive amount of work.
His background or at least his occupations before becoming a full time writer gives him plenty of first hand accounts of characters to dip in and pull from his stories.
His novel "The Conqueror Worms," takes place in West Virginia. Interestingly most of his novels are about that region of the country. Born in 1967 and growing up in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, it's not surprising this is the hunting ground for his horror.
The rain won't stop, I mean it goes on forever. Keene introduces us to a world of large things that crawl in the mud coming to the surface only to feed and terrorize us. This West Virginia story of two old timers attacked by monstrous earthworms is very descriptive. The story is told through the first hand account of Teddy Garnett and his friend Carl Seaton as they struggle to live each day. They are joined by survivors from a helicopter crash, and this small band meet the monster of all monsters, worms that rise from beneath their house destroying it and taking lives. Creative concept, next time it rains you will look at earthworms differently. You might want to think twice before squashing one of those juicy night crawlers just in case its mother shows up.
Book Review: Let it rain
Summary: 4 Stars
There are lots of Biblical references in "The Conqueror Worms" which seem to be frighteningly timely.
Here's why.
Non-stop rain has flooded the world and there are strange things in both the water and the earth. Do not let the title fool you into thinking this is just a Sci-fi channel howler. No. There is a lot more going on. The title is more prophecy than a promise.
This story is really two stories. One, we follow Ted, an older man, who is stranded in his home atop a mountain community. Houses fall into the earth. People vanish. The town below them is underwater.
Two, a band of scruffy survivors camps out atop a Baltimore highrise hotel. Only thing is that the whole city is underwater and they're forced to live in the top floors dozens of stories up.
Very creepy things peek out at them. I'm not going to ruin any surprises. Keene really knows how to pull you inside a story and inside the heads of the characters. As crazy as some of this stuff sounds and gets, you're right there with them believing and living every second.
My only critique of the book is that there really could have been a whole last part added on. I like ambiguous endings, but in this case I wanted just a little bit more. I wasn't ready for it to end so quickly.
In reading this book I found it impossible not to think of all the recent water catastrophes: the tsunami, New Orleans, the east coast storm, that Keene has written a deeply disturbing book that also happens to be a real page turner.
Book Review: Low budget horror movie at it's best!
Summary: 5 Stars
Really cool story. Keeps you interested all the way through. I am quickly becoming a fan of Brian. Looking forward to the next one.Book Review: Maybe I need to fish more!
Summary: 4 Stars
Fast read. Action packed. I enjoyed the old mans method of telling the story. As the saying goes: "there are more things in heaven and earth...."