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Terminal
From award-winning author Brian Keene comes a darkly suspenseful tale of crime and the common man—with a surprising jolt of the supernatural . . .
Tommy O’Brien once hoped to leave his run-down industrial hometown. But marriage and fatherhood have kept him running in place, working a job that doesn’t even pay the bills. And now he seems fated to stay for the rest of his life. Tommy’s just learned he’s going to die young– and soon. But he refuses to leave his family with less than nothing–especially now that he has nothing to lose.
Over a couple of beers with his best friends, John and Sherm, Tommy launches a bold scheme to provide for his family’s future. And though his plan will spin shockingly out of control, it will throw him together with a child whose touch can heal—and whose ultimate lesson is that there are far worse things than dying.
“A powerful, unique novel with a fascinating plot and characters, and echoes of Stephen King’s working-class voice.”—Ed Gorman
Tommy O’Brien once hoped to leave his run-down industrial hometown. But marriage and fatherhood have kept him running in place, working a job that doesn’t even pay the bills. And now he seems fated to stay for the rest of his life. Tommy’s just learned he’s going to die young– and soon. But he refuses to leave his family with less than nothing–especially now that he has nothing to lose.
Over a couple of beers with his best friends, John and Sherm, Tommy launches a bold scheme to provide for his family’s future. And though his plan will spin shockingly out of control, it will throw him together with a child whose touch can heal—and whose ultimate lesson is that there are far worse things than dying.
“A powerful, unique novel with a fascinating plot and characters, and echoes of Stephen King’s working-class voice.”—Ed Gorman
306 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 28, 2004
22 people are currently reading
1059 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 80 reviews
December 10, 2014
Posted at Shelf Inflicted
25-year-old Tommy O’Brien learns he has terminal cancer and has only a month or so to live. He has no health insurance, is deep in debt, and recently lost his job. Desperate for cash and wanting to provide for his wife and son, he and two best friends, Sherm and John, plan to rob a bank.
The main character is very well drawn, his suffering and desperation very real. This story accurately portrays depressed US industrial towns and their inhabitants who have lost jobs and are unable to get out of poverty. It is a bleak exploration of the finality of death and life's possibilities after learning you don't have much time left.
Tommy is a very likable character who’s easy to connect and empathize with. He loves his family deeply and doesn’t want to hurt them by telling them he has cancer. I wanted him to succeed, even though he made a lot of wrong choices. His wife and son were interesting characters who could have been developed further. I also would have liked more about Tommy’s feelings concerning his impending death.
This was an engaging and compelling story that was difficult to put down. Once the bank robbery got under way, the story became very predictable. Tommy’s friend, John, is a little slow, but basically a likable guy. Sherm was always crazy, his dark nature becoming more apparent later on in the story. Tommy just wanted the money; he never intended to hurt or kill anyone. Things go wrong and hostages are taken – among them an old man with a heart problem, a single mother and her son with unusual abilities, a nutty religious fanatic, and an overweight loner who likes comic books.
Most of the hostages were stereotypes and not very well developed, especially Martha, so I really didn’t feel too much when the body count started to rise. The most interesting hostage was the little boy with a healing touch.
Reading Terminal is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You just know that nothing good will happen, but you can’t stay away.
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July 20, 2017This hardcover is copy 63 of 400 copies and is singed by Brian Keene.
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July 20, 2017Note this is a different book from the one titled "Terminal" by a different publisher (Though the two are associated)
This hardcover book is copy 175 of 300 produced and is signed by Brian Keene.
This hardcover book is copy 175 of 300 produced and is signed by Brian Keene.
October 7, 2018
Me ha parecido una historia espeluznante la cual nos enseña lo peor de la vida, lo humillante que llega a ser y la única salida que nos queda en ella.
Aquí el autor quita la máscara idílica típica de anuncio de televisión y nos muestra lo rastrera y dura que puede llegar a ser la vida, aunque creas que has podido tocar fondo, resulta que si escarbas aún se puede llegar mas abajo, es allí donde nos lleva y nos cuanta está terrible historia tan real y a la vez fantástica.
Es dura no os mentiré, hay momentos en los que se te hace un nudo la garganta e incluso el tipo mas duro y con un corazón de piedra llega a sentir que algo se rompe por ahí dentro.
No es un libro de lágrima fácil, es un libro de terror, de terror a la vida y de lo duro y lo fuerte que te puede llegar a golpear.
Todos queremos lo mejor para nuestra familia, pero nunca sabes cual es el mejor camino a tomar y las consecuencias de nuestros actos, por muy de buena voluntad que los hagamos, ese es el guion de este libro, - un hecho, unos actos, unas consecuencias –
La vida es una mierda y luego te mueres. Esa, en esencia, es mi filosofía
Aquí el autor quita la máscara idílica típica de anuncio de televisión y nos muestra lo rastrera y dura que puede llegar a ser la vida, aunque creas que has podido tocar fondo, resulta que si escarbas aún se puede llegar mas abajo, es allí donde nos lleva y nos cuanta está terrible historia tan real y a la vez fantástica.
Es dura no os mentiré, hay momentos en los que se te hace un nudo la garganta e incluso el tipo mas duro y con un corazón de piedra llega a sentir que algo se rompe por ahí dentro.
No es un libro de lágrima fácil, es un libro de terror, de terror a la vida y de lo duro y lo fuerte que te puede llegar a golpear.
Todos queremos lo mejor para nuestra familia, pero nunca sabes cual es el mejor camino a tomar y las consecuencias de nuestros actos, por muy de buena voluntad que los hagamos, ese es el guion de este libro, - un hecho, unos actos, unas consecuencias –
La vida es una mierda y luego te mueres. Esa, en esencia, es mi filosofía
July 20, 2008
This one certainly seems atypical of most of Keene's other novels. The supernatural element is slight and I wouldn't really consider it a horror novel at all. It's a kind of refreshing blend of "The Mist" and "The Breakfast Club" told in the format of a traditional crime drama/suspense novel. The characterizations are excellent, and it was a fun, fast-paced read.
October 28, 2015
What an amazing story. Picture Breaking Bad, Reservoir Dogs and Breakfast Club mixed in a blender. You'd get this...
Well done Keene
Well done Keene
January 29, 2020
Terminal is a bleak story of a man with terminal cancer looking for a way to support his family once he has passed. Desperation takes hold and he makes a decision that will affect many more people than he realises.
I liked the book but I didn’t love it. The plot was interesting but some of the characters needed a bit more development and too many of their actions didn’t seem very well thought out. The book is a decent read, it’s not Brian’s best work but it's still worth checking out.
I liked the book but I didn’t love it. The plot was interesting but some of the characters needed a bit more development and too many of their actions didn’t seem very well thought out. The book is a decent read, it’s not Brian’s best work but it's still worth checking out.
January 25, 2021
This books was really good...reminded me a lot of John Coffey but not spelled the same you know Stephen King Green Mile. The only thing I didn't like was the ending...terrible but that is my opinion.
November 15, 2020
A very different outing from the modern master of splatterpunk! Due to Keene's heavy foreshadowing, we kinda know what is going to happen after the first chapters, it is just a matter of filling in the details. Our main lead Tommy works in the foundry-- a crappy job, but in this depressed area (Southeast PA) good jobs are few and far between. He has a lovely wife and a young boy, and even though they live week to week, barely scraping by, they are reasonably happy. A visit to the doctor, however, changes Tommy's life. Turns out he has terminal cancer and at age 25, only has a few months at best to live. Then, he gets laid off from work, along with his buddies. With bill collectors calling night and day and being behind on the payments for their double-wide, Tommy comes up with an idea to rob a bank. We also know from the first few chapters that the robbery will turn out something like Dog Day Afternoon!
Keene writes well, and the depiction of 'down and out America' is vivid albeit depressing. The development of Tommy's character really makes this novel, although he is a little too good to be true. Keene packs some interesting supernatural twists in as well toward the end that give the novel some flair, although there is not much in the way of suspense given his foreshadowing. All in all, a rather tame outing for Keene, but a good read nonetheless. 3.5 stars rounding up.
Keene writes well, and the depiction of 'down and out America' is vivid albeit depressing. The development of Tommy's character really makes this novel, although he is a little too good to be true. Keene packs some interesting supernatural twists in as well toward the end that give the novel some flair, although there is not much in the way of suspense given his foreshadowing. All in all, a rather tame outing for Keene, but a good read nonetheless. 3.5 stars rounding up.
August 13, 2011
This was a great book, very well-written with an intriguing protaganist who you feel as conflicted about as he does. Totally satisfying ending which elevated the story even higher. Keene is becoming a favorite. Highly recommended.
April 5, 2017
Сериозно ми се клати между две и три звезди, но защото съм критична гад, давам две – става. Чел съм много добри неща от автора и това не е от тях.
Книгата е компот от „Глутница кучета”на Тарантино , „Ланголиерите” на Кинг и „Клетката” на самият Кийн, но на няколко пъти авторът изпуска юздите.
Томи е типичен бачкатор, живеещ в каравана в замиращо индустриално градче. Животът му поднася кофите с лайна една след друга – Няма пари да си изплати ипотеката на караваната, съкращават го от фабриката, а за капак му откриват агресивен рак с разсейки. В отчаянието си се хваща за идеята да обере банка с двама верни приятели. – Много, мнооого мелодрама в първата част на книгата, чак ме заболяха зъбите, иначе Кийн е чудесен разказвач, ама на места се отнася със страници.
Нещата се подобриха, когато ситуацията в банката много бързо ескалира и стана много зле. Затворени в трезора с шепа необичайни заложници и прострелян шофьор, Томи и Шърм трябва да направят всичко възможно да се измъкнат. Шърм обаче, показва една тъмна своя страна, за която приятелят му не е подозирал. Тръгна перфектно. Изперкал обирджия, заложници – ветеран от Виетнам, хлапе с паранормални способности, влюбена застаряваща двойка, религиозна баба фанатичка – все предразполагащи за здрав екшън образи. Ама, авторът го обръща на изповеди тип лична драма и тъпа шаблонна развръзка.
Накрая епилога ми оправи малко настроението, но не стигна за оправдаване на цялата книга.
Главният герой прави няколко доста нелогични завоя в идеологията си. Има и няколко груби нестиковки в повествованието. Иначе Кийн много добре вкарва цялостната атмосфера при белите боклуци с жаргон, музика, мотивация и прочие.
Книгата е компот от „Глутница кучета”на Тарантино , „Ланголиерите” на Кинг и „Клетката” на самият Кийн, но на няколко пъти авторът изпуска юздите.
Томи е типичен бачкатор, живеещ в каравана в замиращо индустриално градче. Животът му поднася кофите с лайна една след друга – Няма пари да си изплати ипотеката на караваната, съкращават го от фабриката, а за капак му откриват агресивен рак с разсейки. В отчаянието си се хваща за идеята да обере банка с двама верни приятели. – Много, мнооого мелодрама в първата част на книгата, чак ме заболяха зъбите, иначе Кийн е чудесен разказвач, ама на места се отнася със страници.
Нещата се подобриха, когато ситуацията в банката много бързо ескалира и стана много зле. Затворени в трезора с шепа необичайни заложници и прострелян шофьор, Томи и Шърм трябва да направят всичко възможно да се измъкнат. Шърм обаче, показва една тъмна своя страна, за която приятелят му не е подозирал. Тръгна перфектно. Изперкал обирджия, заложници – ветеран от Виетнам, хлапе с паранормални способности, влюбена застаряваща двойка, религиозна баба фанатичка – все предразполагащи за здрав екшън образи. Ама, авторът го обръща на изповеди тип лична драма и тъпа шаблонна развръзка.
Накрая епилога ми оправи малко настроението, но не стигна за оправдаване на цялата книга.
Главният герой прави няколко доста нелогични завоя в идеологията си. Има и няколко груби нестиковки в повествованието. Иначе Кийн много добре вкарва цялостната атмосфера при белите боклуци с жаргон, музика, мотивация и прочие.
August 3, 2022
“The guy who said that ‘money isn’t everything’ was obviously never poor. Money is everything. The root of all happiness.”
First read by Brian Keene. I was intrigued by “Breaking Bad”—esque premise and thought it would be a fun, quick-paced book. I was correct. I genuinely liked the MC, Tommy. He was relatable, likeable, and Keene did a decent job with the narration a 25yr old would probably have if caught in such a dire situation. By the time the bank robbery got underway though… it’s nothing short of a chaotic shitshow that you just cannot look away from. Enjoyable, predictable, but you don’t come across in-depth character development (apart from MC) so there is no real attachment to inspire too much of an emotive response.
I personally liked Keene’s voice in this and I would be intrigued to read more of his horror books. Terminal wasn’t so much of a horror, IMO.
First read by Brian Keene. I was intrigued by “Breaking Bad”—esque premise and thought it would be a fun, quick-paced book. I was correct. I genuinely liked the MC, Tommy. He was relatable, likeable, and Keene did a decent job with the narration a 25yr old would probably have if caught in such a dire situation. By the time the bank robbery got underway though… it’s nothing short of a chaotic shitshow that you just cannot look away from. Enjoyable, predictable, but you don’t come across in-depth character development (apart from MC) so there is no real attachment to inspire too much of an emotive response.
I personally liked Keene’s voice in this and I would be intrigued to read more of his horror books. Terminal wasn’t so much of a horror, IMO.
May 23, 2019
Clásico gafado que no llega a fin de mes. Con 30 años le detectan un cáncer terminal y se queda en el paro. Su mujer e hijo lo van a pasar muy mal cuando el muero. No pasa nada, la solución es atracar un banco y darle todo el dinero a ellos, total, va a morir en nada. La pena es que nada es lo que parece ni lo que se imagina uno.
July 24, 2014
Brian Keene needs no introduction. Needless to say, I've read much of his work, novels and novellas, short stories, and eloquently written, informative, and sometimes in-your-face postings on his website. The man can fucking write, period. I will admit to having this novel for years in my collection, and knowing a little about it, and somehow not getting around to reading it. Talk about hidden gem. A very dark one, at that.
Twenty five year-old, Tommy O'Brien, married and father to a little boy, finds out he has inoperable, terminal cancer, with only a month to live. Then, as fate would have it, he gets laid off at his foundry job, and keeps both of this from his wife. While drinking one night with his best buddies (also laid off), Sherm and John, he tells them he's dying and why. Wanting to not leave his wife and son penniless, as they're already not even scraping by, Tommy and his friends decide to rob a bank in a nearby town. And Sherm, who's always been a little crazy, seems to know a lot about this type of thing, almost too much. But they plan for the robbery, as best they can...but you know that old saying about best laid plans.
This novel is part crime story, part suspense, and yes, has a bit of a supernatural angle, too, to satisfy us horror diehards. But what resonated with me was how well Keene makes his characters live, whether it be someone you love and relate to, feel pity and remorse for, or even someone you feel loathing and hatred for. This book just breathed life, while at times being sad, heartbreaking, and terrifying. Highest possible recommendation.
Twenty five year-old, Tommy O'Brien, married and father to a little boy, finds out he has inoperable, terminal cancer, with only a month to live. Then, as fate would have it, he gets laid off at his foundry job, and keeps both of this from his wife. While drinking one night with his best buddies (also laid off), Sherm and John, he tells them he's dying and why. Wanting to not leave his wife and son penniless, as they're already not even scraping by, Tommy and his friends decide to rob a bank in a nearby town. And Sherm, who's always been a little crazy, seems to know a lot about this type of thing, almost too much. But they plan for the robbery, as best they can...but you know that old saying about best laid plans.
This novel is part crime story, part suspense, and yes, has a bit of a supernatural angle, too, to satisfy us horror diehards. But what resonated with me was how well Keene makes his characters live, whether it be someone you love and relate to, feel pity and remorse for, or even someone you feel loathing and hatred for. This book just breathed life, while at times being sad, heartbreaking, and terrifying. Highest possible recommendation.
April 3, 2012
3 1/2
La comparación con Stephen King resulta, en este caso, de lo más acertada. Uno de los personajes (secundarios) es claramente deudor de uno de los del de Maine en 'La Niebla', lo cual tengo que decir que fue uno de los aspectos que más me desagradó, pues el paralelismo resultaba, aunque tal vez no intencionado, demasiado evidente.
No obstante, en conjunto es una buena novela, de rápida lectura.
La comparación con Stephen King resulta, en este caso, de lo más acertada. Uno de los personajes (secundarios) es claramente deudor de uno de los del de Maine en 'La Niebla', lo cual tengo que decir que fue uno de los aspectos que más me desagradó, pues el paralelismo resultaba, aunque tal vez no intencionado, demasiado evidente.
No obstante, en conjunto es una buena novela, de rápida lectura.
July 8, 2022
What starts out as a pretty decent crime caper, ends up getting bogged down by supernatural overtones and negative commentary on religion.
There's a place for all that, I just wasn't expecting so much of it in a book about a bank robbery. It gets pretty stereotypical, and made me cringe more than a few times.
It's a shame, as I was expecting big things from Brian Keene. Hope the next one will be better.
2 Stars.
There's a place for all that, I just wasn't expecting so much of it in a book about a bank robbery. It gets pretty stereotypical, and made me cringe more than a few times.
It's a shame, as I was expecting big things from Brian Keene. Hope the next one will be better.
2 Stars.
May 21, 2014
A thriller that initially packs an emotional punch, before giving way to more typical Keene fair, Terminal is a thought-provoking exploration of the lengths one everyday man will go to when he is told he has less than a month to live. Keene does a fantastic job of making the reader empathise with protagonist Tommy O'Brien, so that when he decides to rob a bank, he remains a sympathetic character and one most will root for. Of course, when a boy with healing abilities is unveiled and heads start disintegrating into red mist courtesy of the bullets that inevitably fly, it's fair to suggest the tonal shift is abrupt. This is Keene's stock trade, however, and he writes it better than, well, just about everybody.
My only significant issue was the overly convenient way the bank patrons talk about their histories so openly when not forced or cajoled to do so.
But otherwise, Sherm as the friend who is more than he seems becomes a fantastic foil for Tommy, and it's the ratcheting of tension between these two that propels the story to its fitting conclusion.
4 Monster People in the Head for Terminal.
My only significant issue was the overly convenient way the bank patrons talk about their histories so openly when not forced or cajoled to do so.
But otherwise, Sherm as the friend who is more than he seems becomes a fantastic foil for Tommy, and it's the ratcheting of tension between these two that propels the story to its fitting conclusion.
4 Monster People in the Head for Terminal.
May 14, 2009
I only got a few pages into this... I can't stand the narrator. Too many 90s hip-hop culture name drops and "Yo dawgs." Maybe I'll pick it back up when I have more patience.
***Update***
What. A. Disappointment.
The characters annoyed the hell outta me, the constant hip-hop/pop culture references made me cringe, and the storyline was tiresome. I enjoy Keene's horror, but this was lame.
***Update***
What. A. Disappointment.
The characters annoyed the hell outta me, the constant hip-hop/pop culture references made me cringe, and the storyline was tiresome. I enjoy Keene's horror, but this was lame.
January 14, 2008
Possibly the most depressing book I've ever read, but also one of the best. You really put yourself in Tommy's shoes, and wonder what you would do. I can't recommend this one enough
October 14, 2009
A good novel that appears to be about dead-end life and a bank heist but is actually something much, much more.
December 13, 2020
What would you do if you only had a few weeks/months to live? How would you take care of your family? How far would you go to ensure your family would be taken care of? Those are the questions that I pondered during the first 25-30% of this book. Tommy, the MC, made some different choices than I would but that’s okay, because this was Tommy’s story. Tommy hasn’t had an easy life, started out with not a lot of opportunities but he loves his wife and his son and his two best buds. This part of the story was emotional and I loved it. And because of the foreshadowing you knew all wasn’t going to be okay so it was tense. My kind of story and I would give it 4-5 stars.
When we get to the actual grand scheme of things I felt like it was a little long. But we get introduced to a character that changes the tone of the novel from crime noir to supernatural. I would have loved to have seen more of it. I would give this part of the book 3-3.5 stars. Overall, a really good book, a solid 4 stars. I’m pretty new to Keene but love his writing and can’t wait to read more.
When we get to the actual grand scheme of things I felt like it was a little long. But we get introduced to a character that changes the tone of the novel from crime noir to supernatural. I would have loved to have seen more of it. I would give this part of the book 3-3.5 stars. Overall, a really good book, a solid 4 stars. I’m pretty new to Keene but love his writing and can’t wait to read more.
September 3, 2021
Very fun, sad read. Fast paced and keeps moving along nicely. Very well written. I do often enjoy Keene books. This one was much different than any other I have read of his though.
Spoilers below
If you were dying, what would you do to help your family after? Rob a bank and set them up for life, sure why not lol. It goes all wrong of course though. Lots of "thinking" in the book, about religion mostly. Does get a bit deep at times, and makes you think. Liked the twist with the kid who could heal people. Sadly, the kid dies in the end and loved that the twist ending is that anyone he healed now dies of what was killing them in the 1st place. Reminded me of the ending of Kings Thinner.
Spoilers below
If you were dying, what would you do to help your family after? Rob a bank and set them up for life, sure why not lol. It goes all wrong of course though. Lots of "thinking" in the book, about religion mostly. Does get a bit deep at times, and makes you think. Liked the twist with the kid who could heal people. Sadly, the kid dies in the end and loved that the twist ending is that anyone he healed now dies of what was killing them in the 1st place. Reminded me of the ending of Kings Thinner.
July 25, 2008
Now this.
This is the excellent book.
I was drawn into this book of Keene's with all of the skill he could muster, like a rat to the peanut butter.
Or in his parlance, like the crack whore to the pipe.
Wonderfully written, engaging and twisty.
This book will give you the taste of his self-described "gangsta' style" horror the best.
I believe well worth the time investment for the fan of new horror.
This is the excellent book.
I was drawn into this book of Keene's with all of the skill he could muster, like a rat to the peanut butter.
Or in his parlance, like the crack whore to the pipe.
Wonderfully written, engaging and twisty.
This book will give you the taste of his self-described "gangsta' style" horror the best.
I believe well worth the time investment for the fan of new horror.
April 3, 2019
This sort of derailed after the first 150 pages or so. This is clearly not the novel Keene wanted to write as he has stated that he was pressured by an editor to change a key aspect of the story. Much of the supernatural stuff felt crow barred into the plot and only hurt the story in my opinion. A good crime thriller echoing the voice of the Breaking Bad generation that gets overshadowed by the oddly forced Green Mile twist. 2.8/5
October 23, 2018
Debo confesar que el motivo principal por el que decidí leer ese libro fue por el parecido inicial con Breaking bad: un hombre con cáncer esta dispuesto a romper la ley para dejar un patrimonio a su familia. Breaking bad es mi serie favorita así que no me lo pensé dos veces y comencé a leerlo.
¿Qué me encontré? Una grata sorpresa. Era obvio que no podía tratarse de un químico que comienza a cocinar metanfetamina pero la idea de robar un banco con toma de rehenes incluida también es interesante.
Antes de adentrarme en eso, quisiera destacar el enorme parecido que tiene Brian Keene con Stephen King, la manera de pensar de los personajes y cómo una situación va deteriorando sus mentes hasta convertirlos en monstruos, su capacidad de hacernos ver que lo que verdaderamente asusta no son fantasmas ni cosas paranormales, sino algo tan común como el cáncer y la miseria que vuelve la vida de un ser humano en algo realmente espeluznante.
La escena en la iglesia es brutal, el reclamo de Tommy hacia Dios es crudo y realista, realmente te pone en los zapatos del protagonista: moribundo, pobre y despedido. El relato de su vida en general es tan cruel que es muy fácil tener empatía con él, realmente me dolía cuando leía que tosía y escupía partes de su propio cuerpo que se estaba pudriendo o cuando vomitó sus propias heces. Es aterrador y triste.
En el robo del banco es donde descubrí la mayor similitud con King, pues Sherm se va transformando gradualmente en un ser malo y despiadado, es como una metamórfosis que transcurre dentro de su cabeza y lo carcome poco a poco dejándonos ver al final a su verdadero yo. El personaje de Martha me recordó a la mujer religiosa de “La niebla” que no paraba de hablar de que todo era culpa del demonio. Y finalmente Benjy con sus poderes de curación, fue ahí cuando sentí que estaba leyendo a King. Sin embargo no me pareció plagio ni falta de originalidad, pues es tan natural que realmente se disfruta.
El final me dejó sorprendida, ¡vaya ironía! Por más que lo piensas no hay manera de que existiera un final feliz. Me deja un poco triste porque a pesar de lo que hizo, actuó por desesperación y no porque realmente fuera una mala persona, desde mi punto de vista no merecía ese final. Pero de eso se trata ¿no? “La vida es una mierda y luego te mueres”.
Mi única queja es que sentí que en ocasiones hablaba mucha paja y se ponía un poco lento, había partes que bien pudieron no existir sin afectar al libro, de cualquier forma es una excelente historia.
¿Qué me encontré? Una grata sorpresa. Era obvio que no podía tratarse de un químico que comienza a cocinar metanfetamina pero la idea de robar un banco con toma de rehenes incluida también es interesante.
Antes de adentrarme en eso, quisiera destacar el enorme parecido que tiene Brian Keene con Stephen King, la manera de pensar de los personajes y cómo una situación va deteriorando sus mentes hasta convertirlos en monstruos, su capacidad de hacernos ver que lo que verdaderamente asusta no son fantasmas ni cosas paranormales, sino algo tan común como el cáncer y la miseria que vuelve la vida de un ser humano en algo realmente espeluznante.
La escena en la iglesia es brutal, el reclamo de Tommy hacia Dios es crudo y realista, realmente te pone en los zapatos del protagonista: moribundo, pobre y despedido. El relato de su vida en general es tan cruel que es muy fácil tener empatía con él, realmente me dolía cuando leía que tosía y escupía partes de su propio cuerpo que se estaba pudriendo o cuando vomitó sus propias heces. Es aterrador y triste.
En el robo del banco es donde descubrí la mayor similitud con King, pues Sherm se va transformando gradualmente en un ser malo y despiadado, es como una metamórfosis que transcurre dentro de su cabeza y lo carcome poco a poco dejándonos ver al final a su verdadero yo. El personaje de Martha me recordó a la mujer religiosa de “La niebla” que no paraba de hablar de que todo era culpa del demonio. Y finalmente Benjy con sus poderes de curación, fue ahí cuando sentí que estaba leyendo a King. Sin embargo no me pareció plagio ni falta de originalidad, pues es tan natural que realmente se disfruta.
El final me dejó sorprendida, ¡vaya ironía! Por más que lo piensas no hay manera de que existiera un final feliz. Me deja un poco triste porque a pesar de lo que hizo, actuó por desesperación y no porque realmente fuera una mala persona, desde mi punto de vista no merecía ese final. Pero de eso se trata ¿no? “La vida es una mierda y luego te mueres”.
Mi única queja es que sentí que en ocasiones hablaba mucha paja y se ponía un poco lento, había partes que bien pudieron no existir sin afectar al libro, de cualquier forma es una excelente historia.
October 23, 2017
***spoiler alert***
This book has sat for awhile on my shelf and I've always picked over it, for some reason it just didn't grab my attention.
Having finished the rest of my Keene collection and realizing I only had this book and Pressure left by Keene, I decided to finally crack it open.
My initial impression surprise that I actually got pulled right into this story rather quickly. I was really intrigued by Tommy, his family and the horrible blow he had been dealt.
Unfortunately, I quickly became a little put off by the unbelievability. I realize that horror stories themselves are the very definition of fiction and fantasy and much like with any good horror movie, I'm willing to give up a little reality for great effects. But, the characters and their actions need to seem believable.
Tommys entire plight, and his reactions to it, seemed a bit far fetched, but acceptable for the sake of the story.
The entire bank seen, however, was just a bit much to swallow. That it would take him so long to realize Benjis abilities and that he never asked for his help seemed silly. That he wouldn't have responded to Sherms obvious mental insanity much more quickly, that he would not have done more to safe guard a child with special abilities that he was apparently fond of, these things annoyed me.
Lastly, I feel that Keenes fondness for destructive conclusions with no happy endings perhaps should have been vetoed here.
I'm not really sure why these things aggrivated me so much in this story, I've read some extremely out there stories and loved them, but for some reason, they did.
I did enjoy the book overall and found the storyline intriguing. But it certainly wasn't one of my favorites.
This book has sat for awhile on my shelf and I've always picked over it, for some reason it just didn't grab my attention.
Having finished the rest of my Keene collection and realizing I only had this book and Pressure left by Keene, I decided to finally crack it open.
My initial impression surprise that I actually got pulled right into this story rather quickly. I was really intrigued by Tommy, his family and the horrible blow he had been dealt.
Unfortunately, I quickly became a little put off by the unbelievability. I realize that horror stories themselves are the very definition of fiction and fantasy and much like with any good horror movie, I'm willing to give up a little reality for great effects. But, the characters and their actions need to seem believable.
Tommys entire plight, and his reactions to it, seemed a bit far fetched, but acceptable for the sake of the story.
The entire bank seen, however, was just a bit much to swallow. That it would take him so long to realize Benjis abilities and that he never asked for his help seemed silly. That he wouldn't have responded to Sherms obvious mental insanity much more quickly, that he would not have done more to safe guard a child with special abilities that he was apparently fond of, these things annoyed me.
Lastly, I feel that Keenes fondness for destructive conclusions with no happy endings perhaps should have been vetoed here.
I'm not really sure why these things aggrivated me so much in this story, I've read some extremely out there stories and loved them, but for some reason, they did.
I did enjoy the book overall and found the storyline intriguing. But it certainly wasn't one of my favorites.
April 20, 2021
Es una historia muy interesante, muy gráfica en cuanto a la descripción de la enfermedad de Tommy, te hace sentir como se siente él, no solo en el estado anímico y emocional por todo lo que conlleva su situación sino físicamente. Es claramente una critica a la sociedad en general, a la vida, al sistema financiero, al sistema de salud.
Aunque siempre vivimos en la mente del protagonista y no vemos como afecta desde adentro a los demás personajes o sus motivaciones, no se vuelve aburrida o repetitiva, por el contrario vas entendiendo la desesperación, la soledad y la impotencia que debía sentir en ese momento. La parte religiosa y milagrosa de la historia, no me gusto mucho la sentí forzado y al momento que se descubre este personaje milagroso, vas agarrando el hilo del que se va a tirar más adelante. Hubo partes del libro que me resultaron innecesarias como solo para alargar más la trama y ahí si me aburrí un poco, como cuando los personajes secundarios comienzan a contar un poco de su historia no trae nada relevante a la trama, no es interesante siquiera. Ahora el final, si era lo que nos habían prometido desde el inicio con las consecuencias que se veían desde el inicio, así que ninguna sorpresa en ese sentido.
Aunque siempre vivimos en la mente del protagonista y no vemos como afecta desde adentro a los demás personajes o sus motivaciones, no se vuelve aburrida o repetitiva, por el contrario vas entendiendo la desesperación, la soledad y la impotencia que debía sentir en ese momento. La parte religiosa y milagrosa de la historia, no me gusto mucho la sentí forzado y al momento que se descubre este personaje milagroso, vas agarrando el hilo del que se va a tirar más adelante. Hubo partes del libro que me resultaron innecesarias como solo para alargar más la trama y ahí si me aburrí un poco, como cuando los personajes secundarios comienzan a contar un poco de su historia no trae nada relevante a la trama, no es interesante siquiera. Ahora el final, si era lo que nos habían prometido desde el inicio con las consecuencias que se veían desde el inicio, así que ninguna sorpresa en ese sentido.
September 24, 2018
My first Brian Keene book. I've heard his name before as a major contemporary horror writer, and I started listening to his podcast The Horror Show a few months ago to keep in the loop about horror fiction. So figured I should check out one of his books. His zombie apocalypse series, The Rising, seems to be his most popular, but upon some brief research, Terminal seemed to be one of his most critically acclaimed.
The book seems more like a thriller than horror, but that's not a bad thing. It's still pretty dark, it just doesn't seem meant to be "scary." I appreciated the working class focus, and showing characters who would be typically labeled as "white trash" or "trailer trash" (the protagonist does, in fact, live in a trailer) as multi-faceted and sympathetic.
While the plot isn't especially original, it's also not as formulaic as a lot of modern horror/thriller. It's more focused on character than plot, though there's plenty of action, too - a winning combination in my view. It's a sad, tragic story, but not meanly nihilistic. There's a lot of heart behind it.
The book seems more like a thriller than horror, but that's not a bad thing. It's still pretty dark, it just doesn't seem meant to be "scary." I appreciated the working class focus, and showing characters who would be typically labeled as "white trash" or "trailer trash" (the protagonist does, in fact, live in a trailer) as multi-faceted and sympathetic.
While the plot isn't especially original, it's also not as formulaic as a lot of modern horror/thriller. It's more focused on character than plot, though there's plenty of action, too - a winning combination in my view. It's a sad, tragic story, but not meanly nihilistic. There's a lot of heart behind it.
May 5, 2024
This was a really interesting book, almost like 2, maybe 3 books. The first half (book 1) was pretty good and interesting, but really only served to set up what was to come. Some of the stuff seemed thrown in there and all I could think was, well, that’s going to come into play later because why else would it be in here. The second half (book 2), the bank robbery part, was excellent, full of emotion and intrigue. I enjoyed it much more than the first half, even though some of the more supernatural stuff was never really explained. Then there was the last chapter, the epilogue (book 3), which was just a quick conclusion and kind of hammered home the premise of the first half, basically, lifes a bitch and then you die, which sort of feels like it invalidates all the character growth and good stuff that happened in the second half. I would have liked a bit more of a positive resolution in the end, but then again, thats not really the message of the book, and a bit of more of an explanation for the supernatural stuff…but thats just me.
January 24, 2021
Different from Keene's usual horror novels, this one was more crime thriller with a fantasy/supernatural element. The first half was really well-written, although carried on a bit long for the main character's backstory. When the bank robbery began the second half, the story got away from Keene at times. In an effort to make things interesting and give background details for all the bank hostages, it also made for an unrealistic banter considering the situation. And the character of Sherm just went ridiculously off the rails. Maybe the aspect of forcing something supernatural into a crime story just made it feel off, kind of like the movie From Dusk Till Dawn - the first half was a more solid, gritty story, while the second half filled with the fantastical, though entertaining, wasn't as strong.
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