The Rising series by Brian Keene (spoiler warnings)

[Jonathan]

I have been doing the happy dance all day. Lots of good things being announced at the same time. But the David Lynch news is the biggest news I heard all year. So freaking happy!

[Mehmet]

A happy Jonathan makes a happy Mehmet and a happy buddy read :-)

[Ange]

I always wake up in the morning to a lot of interesting things to read on this thread. I guess Im living on the other side of the world from everyone and while Im sleeping you're all playing :)

Ive got a halloween party to go to this year which I am soooo excited about. We dont really celebrate halloween in New Zealand although it is getting more popular than when i was a kid. Im going as a .... zombie haha have been wanting to dress up as one forever. Ive got a colleague who is an amazing face paint artist so she is going to do that for me. Think Im going to go for a more cartoonish zombie rather than flesh falling off face zombie. Ill be sure to post a pic on here, party is on the 1st November.

[Ange]

I always wake up in the morning to a lot of interesting things to read on this thread. I guess Im living on the other side of the world from everyone and while Im sleeping you're all playing :)

Ive got a halloween party to go to this year which I am soooo excited about. We dont really celebrate halloween in New Zealand although it is getting more popular than when i was a kid. Im going as a .... zombie haha have been wanting to dress up as one forever. Ive got a colleague who is an amazing face paint artist so she is going to do that for me. Think Im going to go for a more cartoonish zombie rather than flesh falling off face zombie. Ill be sure to post a pic on here, party is on the 1st November.

[Eden]

Jonathan wrote: "Ha ha ha! I apologize! I am clueless when it comes to picking up humor sometimes.

Anyone dressing up for Halloween this year?"

I'm dressing up and going to Gettysburg on Halloween. I'm going to be Stormer from Jem and the Holograms cartoon.

[Mehmet]

Usually on Halloween I am working so we just give out little small sweets that we sell to children that trick or treat.
I tell customers I am dressed as shop keeper for Halloween ;-)

[Pamellia]

I started The Elementals early this afternoon and will read Bay's End here in a few minutes and probably finish that tonight or tomorrow sometime. Then on to The Rising. I'm a little ahead because The Elementals too me less than 48 hours to read...so I had time to go to Costco and pick up some goodies for dinner! Yes!!

Another season of TWIN PEAKS?? I'm not so sure what that will mean...hmm...

[Jonathan]

I think the zombies ate Tim...

We should wear our zombie protective gear when entering and leaving this thread. I tried contacting him about the buddy read and nothing!

I think Ob Lord of the Siqqusim has.... *Gasped* Dare I say it..... Possessed him!!

[Jonathan]

Mehmet wrote: "A happy Jonathan makes a happy Mehmet and a happy buddy read :-)"

Look what finally came out today!

Link: http://www.briankeene.com/2014/10/07/...

Description:

LIBRA NIGRUM SCIENTIA SECRETA is a fictional treatise examining the back-story behind the mythos of Brian Keene and J.F. Gonzalez. Drawing inspiration from sources as varied as H.P. Lovecraft’s Necronomicon to J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, this profusely-illustrated work of art is a dream come true for devotees of both author’s works. Part spell-book, part history, and part religious text, Libra Nigrum Scientia Secreta reveals the secrets behind Hanpa, the Thirteen, the Dark Ones, the Labyrinth, and much more.

[Mehmet]

Wow a ultimate collectors edition !

[Jonathan]

I already pre-ordered mine! :)

It is limited to 400 copies, so I was nervous I would miss my chance!

[Mehmet]

Ahhh well done Jonathan :-) only one day to go before our buddy read :-)

[Jonathan]

I put the cover to the 10th anniversary of the Rising as my desktop wallpaper. :) it is badass!

[Mehmet]

I seen that cover, yeah it is great Jonathan my friend !!!

[Jonathan]

The Rising: 10th Anniversary Edition





Link to the full image: http://www.deviantart.com/art/The-Ris...

Just in case you want to add the wallpaper buddy! ;)

[Mehmet]

Thanks now I have that picture as my lock screen wallpaper. Some great other pics there also.

[Jonathan]

I am glad I could be of assistance my good friend!

:)

Are we going to go straight through to City of The Dead as soon as the Rising is finished?

Here is a fun fact! The Rising was never meant to have a sequel! The fans pressured him into making it!

[Natasa]

I started reading it. I'm totally loving it so far. This is the first time I'm reading a zombie book where (view spoiler)[the zombies talk and are self aware! (hide spoiler)]

[Jonathan]

It only gets better and more intense Natasa! We are in for a gory Halloween treat! Like a blood filled pumpkin carved like Freddy and Jason!

[Mehmet]

If everyone is happy we could just continue straight away, think everyone is so excited that back to back would be best option. What you think Jonathan ? Pls give your thoughts everyone ?

[Jonathan]

I think that is a cool idea. What do you think Pam, Lisa, Cookie, and everyone else? :)

[Lisa]

I am doing the 2014 Fall Fear Challenge, so need at least two more books for that by Nov. 1. But it is doable. I will be ok.

[Jonathan]

Not sure I know about the Fall Fear Challenge. Are you not able to use these books for that challenge?

[Lisa]

There is a list of books to read.

[Ange]

yep keen to do back to back

[Eden]

I'm fine with reading City of the Dead right after The Rising.

[Natasa]

I'm at 11% and I have to mention the scene where the (view spoiler)[unborn baby from Carrie's tummy waves to Jim! Horrible! (hide spoiler)]

And it's great to have Mr author pass by here :)

P.S. I'd love to experience at least one Halloween, so officially I envy you!

[Pamellia]

I am still hopeful that someone will let me borrow their copy of the book. I was going to wait until tomorrow and see. If no one will lend me their book, I will purchase it.

I am concerned that I will not really like this book because of the blood and gore, but I want to at least try. If I purchase the book from amazon.com and really do not care for it I can return it.

I just need to finish Bay's End and then I shall download our read. If I sit down and get busy, I should be ready to start our read by this pm.

So, in another words....YES, I will start reading within the next 24 hours and I'm a fast reader.

[Mehmet]

Cool as every one happy, just continue after The Rising on to City of Dead. Please everyone remember to read at your own pace and enjoy :-)

[Jonathan]

Natasa has a copy you can borrow but I believe it is the mass market one with spelling errors Pamela. I would lend you my authors preferred edition but I have a hard copy not a digital one. :(

[Pamellia]

Jonathan wrote: "Natasa has a copy you can borrow but I believe it is the mass market one with spelling errors Pamela. I would lend you my authors preferred edition but I have a hard copy not a digital one. :("

Thanks, Jonathan. Is Natasa in this group. I'm just going over to amazon later today to purchase it. I'm a little behind, as my husband brought me home a loaded virus from Iowa 5 days ago and I keep falling asleep when I read. I think it might cause a 24 hours delay for me.

[Jonathan]

I hope you feel better! I am sorry you got sick!

[Ange]

Pamellia I got the amazon digital kindle copy but just had a look and not sure if i can share it although I may be looking in the wrong place?

[Jonathan]

Yeah. I don't know how to share or receive digital copies either. I had a author try to share with me once, but the email address I had wasn't receiving it.

[Natasa]

Pamellia wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Natasa has a copy you can borrow but I believe it is the mass market one with spelling errors Pamela. I would lend you my authors preferred edition but I have a hard copy not a dig..."

Pamelia, I sent you a private message just now, I hope you haven't spent the money for nothing as I have the book...and the second part as well...and another The rising which i have no idea what it is...Jonathan would know better if I send it to him ;)

I'm loving the book totally!!! I'm at 28%. How's everyone else liking it?
It's an easy and quick read, the story flows great, I love the idea about the zombies and some scenes are just unforgettable.

I laughed out loud when (view spoiler)[Barton (was it him, the guy who was behind the accelerator experiment/mess up), when he finally escaped the compound from that horrible ex-colleague zombie...even though he had encountered a crazy dead fish, he forgot about animals...first some squirrels attacked him and when he got rid of them he had to run for his life from rabbits...I pictured the scene in my head, totally funny lol (hide spoiler)]

Oh btw, I noticed that Mr author passed by here and said a few words and that is totally awesome!!! Can I guess that you are totally happy and out of your mind Jonathan considering you're such a hardcore fan...:)))

As well, Frankie is some character...I like it that not all the characters are black and white, there is a total mixed salad of everything.

[Natasa]

Ange wrote: "Pamellia I got the amazon digital kindle copy but just had a look and not sure if i can share it although I may be looking in the wrong place?"

Ange, you've got to go to 'manage your kindle content', find the book you are looking for to lend, click on the available options and if it is lendable it will say, to lend or something like that...I noticed a lot of freebies (or all probably) are not possible to be lent :(
As well, some books that you buy and pay for are not lendable. I don't know what the determinant is but it's just like that. I have some experience as some of my friends have lent me some books...but not all books were they able to lend because of the reason I mentioned, they were not marked as being able to be lent.

And oh, I had 2-3 GR friends lend me books here through Amazon. After the 2nd or 3rd person, Amazon just denied accepting the books they lent me. This is because I had to manually add their email address as allowed email address from which I'm allowed to get lendable books.
This screwed up one of my reads...my friend sent it to me. I didn't get it as I didn't add her first on the allowed list (didn't know I had to since I received books before that normally) and we got stuck for 2-3 weeks in a limbo because the book in my friend's library was marked as out/lended and I didn't even get the link to accept the lending, she didn't have an option to cancel the lending....really crazy. Since you have 7 days to accept whether you will take the book and borrow it, when you do accept it, then you have extra 14 days to read it. After that it just becomes unresponsive in your library, you can't open it after 14 days.

Sorry if this is too complicated, but I know I had no idea of any of this and it's good to know stuff like this.

And lat thing, has anyone here read Tim Curran? he is an awesome author and totally crazy, i think everyone would love to read him here! he has some zombie books as well, so maybe we could do some buddy reads in the future if you're up to?
I totally enjoyed his Dead Sea! That was an intense book!
And I just noticed Brian Keene has a book with a completely the same title!!! What a coincidence! We should do both lol

[Jonathan]

There you go Pam! If you haven't already purchased the book, just send Natasa or Ange your information and you can have one loaned to your Kindle.

Has everyone else started the first book? =)

Also thanks for explaining all of this Natasa. I am really glad you are liking the book so far. And yes I did freak out when Brian Keene visited. It was a awe inspiring moment! =)

[Mehmet]

Yep I started reading The Rising Last night :-)

[Mehmet]

Not read Tim Curran Natasa :-(

[Jonathan]

I have to look into Tim Curran, but I will definitely take you up on that offer to read Brian Keene's Dead Sea.

[Mehmet]

I join in for that Jonathan, as I got Dead Sea on my Kindle :-)

[Jonathan]

Mehmet wrote: "I join in for that Jonathan, as I got Dead Sea on my Kindle :-)"

Heck yeah! The two of us are going to read every Brian Keene book ever made!

Maybe for Christmas you should get Blood on the Page: The Complete Short Fiction of Brian Keene, Volume 1! It is a nice companion story to all of the books we are reading my friend!

[Mehmet]

I will Jonathan I will :-)
The great quest of Mehmet and Jonathan will now begin, to buddy read as many Brian Keene as humanly possible.

[Ange]

Thanks Natasa had a look and dont think the rising is lendable.

I havent read any Tim Curran but have a few of his books on my TBR pile.

Started The Rising last night must say its right up my alley and loving it - didnt get too far in though before the sandman came, its been a long week!

[Jonathan]

Mehmet and I are Labyrinth fanatics.

In case those who don't know what the Labyrinth is, it is the mythology that connects all of Brian Keene's work together.

Every single series that Keene writes takes place on a alternate Earth. The Rising, Earthworm Gods, Clickers and Dead Sea all take place in one shared multiverse. This means sharped eyes readers who read Earthworm Gods might see a familiar alternate version of a important character in The Rising and vice versa. A character who was a good guy in Clickers, might show up as a bad guy in Dead Sea.

This makes reading all of his books a fun enjoyment, especially since lately he has has been showing a lot of Easter Eggs for his dedicated fans. Each story can be read by itself, but this is a fun treat for people who have read more then one of his stories.

[Pamellia]

Thanks everyone. My husband is the one who is really sick.

I finally started reading earlier today thanks to Natasa. I'm about 10% in and greatly enjoying the story.

I have read a lot of Tim Curran. He is a Dark Fuse author, so I received a couple of his novels a month or so early to read.

My first T Curran was Fear Me. Simply a wonderful story set in a prison. Unfortunately it is no longer available by itself, but you can purchase it in a book along with a few other novellas...FEAR ME is a novella and my favorite Curran story.

Zombie Pulp is interestingly different. I would recommend it.

Really loved Long Black Coffin and I wrote a song about it!! LOL

I thought Sow was absolutely gross and I did not like it!! However, it is one of Tim's most popular novellas...he's just a fantastic writer...you can see and almost smell the scenes when he writes.

Leviathan was a lot of fun, I thought.

Nightcrawlers (my review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...) and Blackout were good reads and I think both were released this year??

I've written reviews on most of these, but I haven't copied them over here on Greads.

I'm sure everyone has read loads of Robert McCammon. Boy's Life is my favorite of all his books and one of my top 3 books.

If I might be so bold as to ask each of you to take a quick internet trip to this blog and see my latest review. The first two books of BLACKWATER: The Complete Caskey Family Saga (not listed on Greads) https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks a lot, guys!! Looking forward to discussing The Rising...(:

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

Just started the book today, I am only in chapter 4 but I like it so far. It is pretty gory though! I loved Earthworm Gods and it was violent too, but this book kicked it up a notch.

Spoilers for chapters one and two.

(view spoiler)[ I really liked the scene with the zombie goldfish, it had a dark humor to it. The opening chapter made me a little teary. That call from his son was heart breaking. (hide spoiler)]

[Jonathan]

Sorry to say the humor in this story is very dark. It mostly comes from the Siqqusim taunting the human survivors. Though Martin is pretty funny sometimes too. He has that old grandpa feel that Teddy Garnett had in Earthworm Gods. Whenever it gets to dark for you, just remember a episode of Kare Kano: His and Her Circumstances, Vol. 1!!

[Mehmet]

A question for Jonathan :-)
(view spoiler)[I am at 8% on kindle and Bill is asking his former work mate, who is dead questions. Timothy Powell. The zombie mentions Ob, this is a reference to one of the Thirteen I believe ?<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Jonathan]

Yes sir.

(view spoiler)[Ob is one of the Thirteen Gods that appears in a lot of Brian Keene's stories. Earthworm Gods, Dark Hollow, A Gathering of Crows and The Cage are some examples of the other books that the Thirteen appear in.

I love answering these types of questions. Did you see mention of The Black Lodge yet? (hide spoiler)]



If you have any more questions on the book let me know! =)