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Jack's Magic Beans
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".
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".
104 pages
First published January 1, 2007
25 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
Brian Keene
386 books3,001 followersBRIAN KEENE writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. He is the author of over forty books, mostly in the horror, crime, and dark fantasy genres. His 2003 novel, The Rising, is often credited (along with Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later film) with inspiring pop culture’s current interest in zombies. Keene’s novels have been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French, Taiwanese, and many more. In addition to his own original work, Keene has written for media properties such as Doctor Who, Hellboy, Masters of the Universe, and Superman.
Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.
Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.
Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.
The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.
Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions, via Thunderstorm Books.
Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher’s Weekly, Media Bistro, Fangoria Magazine, and Rue Morgue Magazine. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.
The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
February 14, 2022
Just another day at Save-A-Lot grocery store. One minute customers are happily shopping, the next they have turned into crazed murderous maniacs. Jack, Sammi, Angie and Marcel are the only ones not infected. As people are getting murder on aisle 5, our crew of misfits are trying to survive. Will they unravel the secret of Jack's magic beans to make it out alive? A short, fun horror book.
October 1, 2020
After Tequila's Sunrise I went through the next volume of stories by this author. They were awesome but not as over the top as in Tequila. In "Jack's Magic Beans" you'll learn that Prozac pills are calles magic beans and that they help if everything around you gets insane and people are killing people. Very gory, a follow up to "Ghoul". "Without You" is the story of "a balding loser and a fat cow his wife has turned into over the years". Will he divorce her or do something else. He definitely took no easy way out. Then we have two exit/no exit stories about a killer on the road (you should listen to Riders on the Storm by The Doors when reading those stories). The last in line here is "The King, in Yellow". Of course a homage to Chambers story The King in Yellow. Actors depicting dead musicians in a play with an eerie atmosphere (e.g. Kurt Cobain). The collection was strong but the first story was a bit too repetitive in its violence, gore and bloodshed for my taste. I like the references of the author to music and songs. Brian Keene did it again. Highly recommended!
October 2, 2011
A small collection of early stories by post-splatter horror author Brian Keene, some of them having gone through later re-writes. These are pretty good short little screams....
Jack Magic Beans: Fits nicely into a common Keene theme; The end of the world through chaos, murder and gore. There's a nice twist though in which the survivors are immune due to...sorry, no spoilers. But it is a tight scary story with one problem. It stops abruptly, reading like the first chapter of a longer story. Still worth reading, four stars.
Without You: Short disturbing story with a twist I can't get out of my head. Makes you wonder about those things you promised your sweetheart in your early days. A graduate class on how to write short fiction. Five Stars.
I am an Exit and This is not an exit: Two related stories about serial killing. Not my favorite Keene but still scary. Feels like a preview of a longer novel idea and, inferred from the author's after word, probably is. Three Stars each.
'The King", In: YELLOW: My favorite of the five tales. Absolutely freaking genius. This is a loving tribute to Robert W. Chambers' masterpiece, The King in Yellow. BTW, I agree with what Keene said in the afterword. If you haven't read Chambers'The King in Yellow, you must. But you can enjoy this fine tribute without reading the original inspiration.
So there you go. A solid four stars in total for this nice but too short collection.
Jack Magic Beans: Fits nicely into a common Keene theme; The end of the world through chaos, murder and gore. There's a nice twist though in which the survivors are immune due to...sorry, no spoilers. But it is a tight scary story with one problem. It stops abruptly, reading like the first chapter of a longer story. Still worth reading, four stars.
Without You: Short disturbing story with a twist I can't get out of my head. Makes you wonder about those things you promised your sweetheart in your early days. A graduate class on how to write short fiction. Five Stars.
I am an Exit and This is not an exit: Two related stories about serial killing. Not my favorite Keene but still scary. Feels like a preview of a longer novel idea and, inferred from the author's after word, probably is. Three Stars each.
'The King", In: YELLOW: My favorite of the five tales. Absolutely freaking genius. This is a loving tribute to Robert W. Chambers' masterpiece, The King in Yellow. BTW, I agree with what Keene said in the afterword. If you haven't read Chambers'The King in Yellow, you must. But you can enjoy this fine tribute without reading the original inspiration.
So there you go. A solid four stars in total for this nice but too short collection.
March 31, 2011
In Jack’s Magic Beans, people are going about their day as they notice the people around them are getting tense and angry, tenser and angrier than people become even in long grocery lines and in traffic. Then everyone snaps. Everyone outright snaps and begins to kill violently and indiscriminately. Four people find themselves unaffected by the madness that is gripping the slaying madmen around them, hiding in a walk-in freezer in the back of a supermarket and they eventually discover what it is that they have in common, a shared trait that is the reason they remained sane when everyone else lost it.
This is one of those stories that I wish was longer. Why everyone lost their minds is likely not important, but damn it, I want to know. And we get only a brief look at the world that remains when the survivors step out of the freezer. It’s hard to know the world ended but not see how the survivors maneuver in what remains of civilization. But sometimes you got to love a story for what it is and not what you want it to be. I always find it to be a slightly backhanded compliment to wish that a story was more than what it is, but in this case, I think it is just a natural reaction to reading a good story. Read my entire review here.
This is one of those stories that I wish was longer. Why everyone lost their minds is likely not important, but damn it, I want to know. And we get only a brief look at the world that remains when the survivors step out of the freezer. It’s hard to know the world ended but not see how the survivors maneuver in what remains of civilization. But sometimes you got to love a story for what it is and not what you want it to be. I always find it to be a slightly backhanded compliment to wish that a story was more than what it is, but in this case, I think it is just a natural reaction to reading a good story. Read my entire review here.
March 29, 2022
5 short stories a couple I have I have read previously in other collections. The first one was great I loved the supermarket story.
August 7, 2015
Another novella with bonus short stories by Brian Keene, from Deadite Press. The book title is the opening novella, which probably has A) one of the best opening lines ever, and B) a premise which is both astounding and chillingly terrifying. All of a sudden, people go mad and begin murdering one another in brutal fashion. Where the novella takes place, in a supermarket, four survivors hole up in a freezer, and soon discover the startling truth of why the madness hadn't affected them.
"Without You," about undying love (sort of), his popular serial killer Exit stories, "I Am An Exit," "This Is Not An Exit," and The King, In YELLOW," all round out this amazing collection by the horror grandmaster himself.
Highly recommended!
"Without You," about undying love (sort of), his popular serial killer Exit stories, "I Am An Exit," "This Is Not An Exit," and The King, In YELLOW," all round out this amazing collection by the horror grandmaster himself.
Highly recommended!
April 14, 2011
Keene is one sick mofo. Which is why I tend to like his books. This was no exception. Even though this is more a short story. I must say, however, that I do wish that it was longer. Just as I was getting into the story and the characters, it ended. How disappointing. Though the other short stories in the republished book ALMOST make it worth while.
It's a day like any other, and everyone suddenly goes berserk. Except for a few people, who while in the freezer at Save-A-Lot, realize what makes them different, staying sane while everyone around them goes full out crazy. Full of violence, blood and gore. All I have to say is, if the lettuce starts talking to you, don't listen.
It's a day like any other, and everyone suddenly goes berserk. Except for a few people, who while in the freezer at Save-A-Lot, realize what makes them different, staying sane while everyone around them goes full out crazy. Full of violence, blood and gore. All I have to say is, if the lettuce starts talking to you, don't listen.
February 4, 2020
A short collection of short stories! All of them were absolutely fantastic and very well written, despite the short length of this book it is well worth your time.
March 11, 2018
Кратък сборник съдържащ пет разказа от ранните писателски дни на Кийн, по-късно доработени и прилежно шлифовани. Брутален, бърз и много шокиращ. Като за 4,5 ми е, но си пляскам петицата, никой не е казал, че не мога да бъда пристрастен.
Jack’s Magic Beans – Експлозивно късче чист кошмар. Кратко и потресаващо. В Save-A-Lot (някакъв локален хипермаркет) марулите започват да заповядват на Бен да убива и той не е единственият случай. Скоро всички полудяват и започва едно гротеско и доста гнусно описано меле. Само четирима души, запазили разсъдъка си, успяват да се скрият в хладилната камера на магазина. Скоро разбират какво ги е спасило от общата истерия и установяват, че май целият свят е полудял. А вълшебните бобчета... прочетете, за да разберете.
Тук да вметна, че доста сме дискутирали с други фенове, дали за истерията не е виновен Щар (един от тринадесетте, който само се споменава тук-там) и ако е, тогава не е ли пак той виновен за лудостта на Шърм в „Летален“. Кийн се включи в спора и отрече второто, но за първото само се подхилкваше.
Without You – Това и следващите две, вече съм ги ревюирал в друг сборник, но както и да е. Много ранен разказ на автора, който дори след изглаждането не ме впечатлява толкова. Сигурно Кийн има сантимент към него.
I Am An Exit и This Is Not An Exit – Два от любимите ми кратки разкази. В тях за първи път се появява серийният убиец „Изходът“, който играе голяма роля в „Комплексът“ и по-минорни из други произведения. Кратки и режещи, обичам ги.
The King, in: YELLOW – Перлата на сборника. Естествено, вдъхновена от Чеймбърс и почти толкова откачена. Финли и Катрин живеят заедно от десет години. През поредната им вечеря навън установяват, че животът им е доста улегнал и мечтаят за нещо по-вълнуващо. И вълнуващото идва под формата на прежълтял клошар, който им препоръчва странна театрална пиеса. – ЖЪЛТО. А кралят? Кралят е Елвис, ама няма да мажа повече.
Jack’s Magic Beans – Експлозивно късче чист кошмар. Кратко и потресаващо. В Save-A-Lot (някакъв локален хипермаркет) марулите започват да заповядват на Бен да убива и той не е единственият случай. Скоро всички полудяват и започва едно гротеско и доста гнусно описано меле. Само четирима души, запазили разсъдъка си, успяват да се скрият в хладилната камера на магазина. Скоро разбират какво ги е спасило от общата истерия и установяват, че май целият свят е полудял. А вълшебните бобчета... прочетете, за да разберете.
Тук да вметна, че доста сме дискутирали с други фенове, дали за истерията не е виновен Щар (един от тринадесетте, който само се споменава тук-там) и ако е, тогава не е ли пак той виновен за лудостта на Шърм в „Летален“. Кийн се включи в спора и отрече второто, но за първото само се подхилкваше.
Without You – Това и следващите две, вече съм ги ревюирал в друг сборник, но както и да е. Много ранен разказ на автора, който дори след изглаждането не ме впечатлява толкова. Сигурно Кийн има сантимент към него.
I Am An Exit и This Is Not An Exit – Два от любимите ми кратки разкази. В тях за първи път се появява серийният убиец „Изходът“, който играе голяма роля в „Комплексът“ и по-минорни из други произведения. Кратки и режещи, обичам ги.
The King, in: YELLOW – Перлата на сборника. Естествено, вдъхновена от Чеймбърс и почти толкова откачена. Финли и Катрин живеят заедно от десет години. През поредната им вечеря навън установяват, че животът им е доста улегнал и мечтаят за нещо по-вълнуващо. И вълнуващото идва под формата на прежълтял клошар, който им препоръчва странна театрална пиеса. – ЖЪЛТО. А кралят? Кралят е Елвис, ама няма да мажа повече.
September 15, 2020
Very good collection of stories. All of them, except the king in yellow, were violent and quite savage. The two exit stories were my favorites and some of the best short horror i've read. I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because the king in yellow fell flat for me. It didn't seem to fit in with the other stories.
June 7, 2021
Some more great stuff from Brian Keene.
June 28, 2016
This is a short book with 100 pages were we are presented with a novella a four short stories. For the price I think it deserves more but...
Brian Keene, for those who follow my reviews is one of my favourite horror writers. Him, Clive Barker and Bentley Little are at the core.
What I enjoy of Brian Keene is that he got himself a mythos called Labyrinth. And in my opinion it rules. With each book, or story he gives us something to add to his mythos.
Another thing I enjoy reading is his footnotes about where this short stories or novel comes from. I think it adds something other writers should also give us. I mean, a book is a book and if it was done right it doesn't need any footnotes or information about how it came to be but sometimes it can connects us to the author.
First story - Jack Magic Beens - Its the end of the world but instead of zombies we've got... crazy people (it has the same theme as David Moody trilogy Hate). Of course not everyone went berserk or the story would have ended there. Some people stay "normal" because of their medicine. That's the twist that makes Keene one heck of a writer. The story itself was good but I thought it had some weak ending. It was rushed. The story deserved more pages in my opinion. Or at least I wanted to know more of why or whom this happened. There is connections to other stories. At least one connection was at the third chapter when they say " They could have used a crop-duster or something. Like what happened in that little town in Pensylvania a few years ago. That chemical got released from a hot air balloon and made the rain purple, and then everybody die? Supposedly they went insane before they were killed." Maybe there were more but..
The second story "Without You" I didn't enjoy. It was predictable and a bit weak. Nothing stand out.
"I am exit" and "This is Not an exit" are excellent two part stories about the a killer. Truly unique and it gave much information about the Labyrinth and the information people have of it. Very interesting. I really hope to read the novel, Keene will be writing about him.
"The King', in: Yellow" is a great story for those people who have read "The King in Yellow" by Rpbert W Chambers. ( I have read it sometime ago). This story is a tribute but a tribute that stands on its own. It gives information Chambers never did. It gives Keene intepretation of play.
All in all, it's a great collection of stories. My only concern was the price vs pages in it. Sorry - I know this sounds bad - after purchasing 3000 books things change. I have a family and now my purchase of books are very limited. I must think everything before I buy. Nowadays I wouldn't have bought a 7,50€ book for 100 pages. Sorry. I have almost Brian Keene books but things change unfortunately...
Brian Keene, for those who follow my reviews is one of my favourite horror writers. Him, Clive Barker and Bentley Little are at the core.
What I enjoy of Brian Keene is that he got himself a mythos called Labyrinth. And in my opinion it rules. With each book, or story he gives us something to add to his mythos.
Another thing I enjoy reading is his footnotes about where this short stories or novel comes from. I think it adds something other writers should also give us. I mean, a book is a book and if it was done right it doesn't need any footnotes or information about how it came to be but sometimes it can connects us to the author.
First story - Jack Magic Beens - Its the end of the world but instead of zombies we've got... crazy people (it has the same theme as David Moody trilogy Hate). Of course not everyone went berserk or the story would have ended there. Some people stay "normal" because of their medicine. That's the twist that makes Keene one heck of a writer. The story itself was good but I thought it had some weak ending. It was rushed. The story deserved more pages in my opinion. Or at least I wanted to know more of why or whom this happened. There is connections to other stories. At least one connection was at the third chapter when they say " They could have used a crop-duster or something. Like what happened in that little town in Pensylvania a few years ago. That chemical got released from a hot air balloon and made the rain purple, and then everybody die? Supposedly they went insane before they were killed." Maybe there were more but..
The second story "Without You" I didn't enjoy. It was predictable and a bit weak. Nothing stand out.
"I am exit" and "This is Not an exit" are excellent two part stories about the a killer. Truly unique and it gave much information about the Labyrinth and the information people have of it. Very interesting. I really hope to read the novel, Keene will be writing about him.
"The King', in: Yellow" is a great story for those people who have read "The King in Yellow" by Rpbert W Chambers. ( I have read it sometime ago). This story is a tribute but a tribute that stands on its own. It gives information Chambers never did. It gives Keene intepretation of play.
All in all, it's a great collection of stories. My only concern was the price vs pages in it. Sorry - I know this sounds bad - after purchasing 3000 books things change. I have a family and now my purchase of books are very limited. I must think everything before I buy. Nowadays I wouldn't have bought a 7,50€ book for 100 pages. Sorry. I have almost Brian Keene books but things change unfortunately...
March 6, 2011
Jack's Magic Beans by Brian Keene once again showcases the author's talent of the strange, horrific and enjoyable aspects of a short story.
In this collection of 5 stories we have:
Jack's Magic Beans that tells of a supermarket gone astray. Where people act in a hostile nature hurting each other and killing everyone they come in contact with. Their rage, unknown. Jack, who was asleep during the start of the chaos, wakes up to hear screaming and pounding on a door. He along with a few others who have not been infected with this unknown rage, try to survive whatever comes next. Jack offers a solution, but does this solution really work?
Without You tells the tale of a man who has lost his self-worth. He is in a dead-end job that he just got fired from, in debt and married to a woman he fell out of love with. He remembers how it used to be where he would say to her "I would die without you." Under circumstances in which he can no longer take, he has made a choice to kill himself, but does he really die?
I am an Exit tells the story of a killer where certain aspects of the situations becomes what they consider "an exit."
This is not an Exit deals with two people sitting at a bar discussing things. The topic comes up about if they ever killed anyone. They both agree yes they have. One only killed a family, the other has killed more. What could this type of conversation produce as a result?
The King in: Yellow starts with a homeless man telling this couple they have to see the show Yellow. Of course Finely and Kathryn think it is just ramblings of a lost soul. They go to a restaurant and see a woman yelling and singing something about "Yellow." They think it's odd and leave. Then later Kathryn wants to see a show called Yellow that she sees on a advertisement on the street. They go to the show, but will they ever be the same again?
With intensity and a flare for the extreme, Keene opens the eyes of the readers who dare turn the pages of this collection. You think of things not heard of, you experience the words like the taste of a fine wine. There is no collection that will make you enjoy a story and fear the ending as much as this.
In this collection of 5 stories we have:
Jack's Magic Beans that tells of a supermarket gone astray. Where people act in a hostile nature hurting each other and killing everyone they come in contact with. Their rage, unknown. Jack, who was asleep during the start of the chaos, wakes up to hear screaming and pounding on a door. He along with a few others who have not been infected with this unknown rage, try to survive whatever comes next. Jack offers a solution, but does this solution really work?
Without You tells the tale of a man who has lost his self-worth. He is in a dead-end job that he just got fired from, in debt and married to a woman he fell out of love with. He remembers how it used to be where he would say to her "I would die without you." Under circumstances in which he can no longer take, he has made a choice to kill himself, but does he really die?
I am an Exit tells the story of a killer where certain aspects of the situations becomes what they consider "an exit."
This is not an Exit deals with two people sitting at a bar discussing things. The topic comes up about if they ever killed anyone. They both agree yes they have. One only killed a family, the other has killed more. What could this type of conversation produce as a result?
The King in: Yellow starts with a homeless man telling this couple they have to see the show Yellow. Of course Finely and Kathryn think it is just ramblings of a lost soul. They go to a restaurant and see a woman yelling and singing something about "Yellow." They think it's odd and leave. Then later Kathryn wants to see a show called Yellow that she sees on a advertisement on the street. They go to the show, but will they ever be the same again?
With intensity and a flare for the extreme, Keene opens the eyes of the readers who dare turn the pages of this collection. You think of things not heard of, you experience the words like the taste of a fine wine. There is no collection that will make you enjoy a story and fear the ending as much as this.
July 6, 2011
Brian Keene is my favorite author to get wellknown after 2000 and is rapidly becoming my favorite horror author of all time. I have only been disappointed by one of his books, Urban Gothic. The novella Jack’s Magic Beans and the four short stories that follow only serve to strengthen my good opinion of this author. Jack’s Magic Beans is violent to the point of being comical at times but Keene’s reasoning for why some people go insane and why others don’t was brilliantly simple to me. The reason could also be found funny. My only complaint is that this was just a novella and I wanted to find out more about the remaining characters and see how long they could survive and whether or not their theory of survival was correct. That is a good thing though because I had a similar feeling after finishing what is probably my favorite novella of all time, The Mist by Stephen King. As I said, the following stories, especially The King, In: Yellow are also engaging and brilliant. This was an excellent little dose of Keene and I recommend it to all horror fans especially those who enjoy Keene’s writing.
July 24, 2011
This book had more pages then I had time in the day. That was all that stopped my from devouring this short story collection in a day. The 'just-shy-of-100-page' book is a 4 short story/novella collection of some long ago out of print stories brought back in this new collection.
Out of the gate, Jack's Magic Beans is pure Keene in a short burst. The next two stories I Am An Exit and This Is Not An Exit displays a deeper literary prose for Keene and also promises to set up a longer form novel featuring the lead character. The collection finishes off with "The King, In: Yellow" and ode to Robert W. Chambers. Chambers is considered by Keene to be an absolute need to know horror writer to know for all followers of the genre, readers and writers alike.
Even in short burts, I am left in awk of Keene's words. He tales haunt me long after I've read the final page. I can't recommend reading this or ANYTHING by Brian Keene!
Out of the gate, Jack's Magic Beans is pure Keene in a short burst. The next two stories I Am An Exit and This Is Not An Exit displays a deeper literary prose for Keene and also promises to set up a longer form novel featuring the lead character. The collection finishes off with "The King, In: Yellow" and ode to Robert W. Chambers. Chambers is considered by Keene to be an absolute need to know horror writer to know for all followers of the genre, readers and writers alike.
Even in short burts, I am left in awk of Keene's words. He tales haunt me long after I've read the final page. I can't recommend reading this or ANYTHING by Brian Keene!
December 19, 2014
This is a great, short collection of short stories by Brian Keene! A lot of fun packed in to a few pages here! The title novella was by far my favorite, a story of how something has snapped inside of people and they simply start killing anybody and everybody. A select few are immune, but wait until you find out what sets them apart! Not for the faint of heart, Keene spills a lot of gore in this fun tale! The accompanying stories were very fun, quick spooky reads as well. "I Am An Exit" and the sequel "This Is Not An Exit" are fantastic pieces that are both just great horror stories, but also have some literary depth. I can't wait to read the promised return of this killer in an upcoming novel!
June 5, 2011
This is a collection of five stories, the best of which I thought was a very striking and unusual piece called "'The King',In"YELLOW". The title story, I felt, was a bit too similar to Stephen King, and the others were short and unremarkable, but the last piece was worth the price of admission on its own merit.
March 10, 2016
This is a loose collection of Keene's early stories. There's not one story here with a proper ending. They just end as abruptly as they begin. I'm harder on Keene with ratings and reviews because I expect a lot more from him. He's talented, but the hype should match the output.
October 2, 2014
An easy read that is easy to muscle your way through. The King in Yellow initially caught my interest with its connections to Carcosa, Chambers, and yes, True Detective.
July 29, 2016
Amazing as always, Brian Keene never fails to deliver.
July 22, 2024
Brian Keene is an author who I like to occasionally read now and again if I'm looking for a more relaxing, fast-paced, and exciting kind of read rather than terrifying and gruesome stories by writers like Edward Lee or the mammoth Epics by Stephen King then it safe to say I'm in safe hands with Brian. Novellas are interesting to me because they can either be remarkable and in some cases, unique pieces of horror literature or fun quick reads that you won't think much of in the future but were an enjoyable way to kill some time. Jack's Magic Beans has always occurred to me that it'll be the latter, but we'll see!
It's a quiet, ordinary day in the city, except for the angry road drivers, but there'll always be some, right? Unfortunately, today is anything but an ordinary day and things are about to get very violent and gruesome in record time. A small group of young individuals have come together to fight off the angry and bloodthirsty hoards of people, but what's made everyone like this, and is there a way to stop it?
Brian Keene has written a fun if unoriginal apocalypse story that is gruesome, violent, insane, and humorous. I love the whole meaning behind the title and how it connects to anti-depressants, it's a story that surprisingly has a lot to say on how others stigmatize people with mental health. As someone who struggles with depression this aspect of the story means a lot to me and I like how it was done.
Overall: Nothing much to say about this novella, but it was a fun time! 8/10
It's a quiet, ordinary day in the city, except for the angry road drivers, but there'll always be some, right? Unfortunately, today is anything but an ordinary day and things are about to get very violent and gruesome in record time. A small group of young individuals have come together to fight off the angry and bloodthirsty hoards of people, but what's made everyone like this, and is there a way to stop it?
Brian Keene has written a fun if unoriginal apocalypse story that is gruesome, violent, insane, and humorous. I love the whole meaning behind the title and how it connects to anti-depressants, it's a story that surprisingly has a lot to say on how others stigmatize people with mental health. As someone who struggles with depression this aspect of the story means a lot to me and I like how it was done.
Overall: Nothing much to say about this novella, but it was a fun time! 8/10
March 31, 2021
I haven't read any Brian Keene in ages, I know what the hell is wrong with me. Anyway I picked this up at a thrift store recently, and I'm so happy I did. It has 4 short stories along with the novella Jack's Magic Beans. I enjoyed them all, my favs were I Am An Exit and 'The King', In: Yellow. But all were gruesomely delicious! Recommend for Keene fans or anyone wanting a taste of the talent that is Brian Keene :) Excited to get back into some of the Keene books I picked up when I was a teenager and have been sitting on my shelf for many years.
4 Nasty Stars!
4 Nasty Stars!
November 18, 2023
Five short stories - my favorite was 'Jack's Magic Beans': four people try to survive in a grocery store when a wave of madness causes people to start slaughtering each other
'Without You': a man decides to commit suicide but finds it will be harder than he thought
'I am an Exit' and 'I am Not an Exit': a serial killer reveals himself
'The King, in: YELLOW': Finley and his girlfriend attend a play that does not go as they expected
'Without You': a man decides to commit suicide but finds it will be harder than he thought
'I am an Exit' and 'I am Not an Exit': a serial killer reveals himself
'The King, in: YELLOW': Finley and his girlfriend attend a play that does not go as they expected
July 11, 2018
Decent end of the world story felt like the opening of what should have been a longer story. Quite interesting though. The other short stories included were not as good, though I did find one serial killer character in a couple stories an interesting one (he kind of reminded me of John Ryder from The Hitcher).
May 26, 2022
These are good Keene stories, I always love his style. Not my favorite stories. While the main story "Jack's Magic Beans" was a fun and violent story I was a kind of grossed out by "Without You". It wasn't a bad short story. I think that I felt that it was to gritty, raw and realistic for my taste. Bravo Keene, it's good to see that you can disturb me, an avid reader of horror.
June 24, 2024
Nice short story with a lot of whimsy. I think it was a little unexplained. Why wouldn't the main character notice the dried blood and flesh from previous performances on the theatre seats beforehand? Why couldn't he smell the dead shells of bodies that are the staff? But anyway I know it's a short story and I did enjoy reading it despite my questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
more than one story!
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this had a few extra stories at the end! I think my favorite of all of them was Yellow, but they were all interesting or fun for their own reason!
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this had a few extra stories at the end! I think my favorite of all of them was Yellow, but they were all interesting or fun for their own reason!
January 14, 2023
Underwhelming. I wanted something more gruesome and terrible, but overall it just fell flat. I've been reading Keene's stuff since the the early 2000s and it was sooooooooo good back in the day. I'm guessing it just doesn't hold up to today's world of gruesome and horribleness.
October 31, 2024
A very quick read. Entertaining and never boring but can’t score higher than a 3, as I think it could have been a longer story. It felt like we got the skeleton of a fun, horror story that could have been improved with a bit of added flesh on the bone. But like I said, it’s a fun, quick read.
December 30, 2018
True to the gruesome Keene style - no fluffing about and gets down to the gore
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