The Rising series by Brian Keene (spoiler warnings)

[Mehmet]

Yep I did Jonathan
(view spoiler)[a reference was made to black lodge when a clipping on the wall was shown about Nuclear accelerator.<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

Lol, okay, I will keep that adorable episode running through my mind while I read The Rising! :)

[Pamellia]

(view spoiler)[ Mehmet, I too wondered what OB was...having some background in the medical field, I thought OB/GYN?? That didn't exactly make sense...lol...so it's good to know Ob is a god? From his other writings, correct? Jonathan, which came first? The earthgods or The Rising? Just curious. Thanks! (hide spoiler)]

[Jonathan]

Admit it. Everyone's favorite characters are T-Bone and Horn Dawg!

[Jonathan]

Pamellia wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

@ Pamellia

(view spoiler)[ I believe The Rising was the first novel he ever wrote. So his other gods were slowly revealed in other stories like Earthworm Gods next.

Ob is one of the Thirteen Entities that existed in the Universe before they were exiled by the Christian God that mankind worships. The names of them are as follows:

1. Ob (appears in The Rising and The Resurrection and the Life)
2. Ab (mentioned in City of the Dead)
3. Api (mentioned in City of the Dead)
4. Leviathan (appears in Earthworm Gods)
5. Behemoth (appears in Earthworm Gods)
6. Kandara (appears in Bablyon Falls)
7. Meeble (appears in Tequila's Sunrise)
8. Puturabo (appears in Caught in a Mosh.)
9. Nodens (Appears in A Gathering of Crows)
10. Shtar (Appears in The Cage)
11. Kat (Appears in the Last of the Albatwitches)
12. Apu
13. Unknown (to the readers at this time)

So far number 12 and 13 have yet to make a appearance yet. ..

Bablyon Falls and Caught in a Mosh both appear in the short story collection called Blood on the Page: The Complete Short Fiction of Brian Keene, Volume 1 (hide spoiler)]

Also the Black Lodge appears in the Cage as well!

[Pamellia]

THANKS, Jonathan!

[Jonathan]

Pamellia wrote: "THANKS, Jonathan!"

(view spoiler)[

No problem! Ob commands the Siqqusim which is like his own personal army. As far as I know each of the Thirteen have their own little personal armies. Behemoth in Earthworm Gods commands over various ginormous worm like creatures. Some the size of a bus.

It's my understand that the universe before our own was their home. When "God" wiped out their universe to create our universe, these thirteen were the only ones powerful enough to survive the annihilation of their home universe.
(hide spoiler)]

[Pamellia]

I have read up to 40%. I think I mentioned the unwelcomed visitor we received here about 10 days ago. A nasty URI from Iowa that my husband brought home. This has certainly slowed down my reading.

(view spoiler)[ What I am about to say, I would like to make clear that I have read well over 75 zombie books and sometimes they all start to sound a lot. I realize this book was written before these other books I have read, so I take that into consideration, but still want to be honest with my discussion and review

I like the minister and that's about it for the remainder of the characters. Glad the heroin attack kicked the habit. I suppose I want to see if Jim (?) I think, gets to his son Danny in New Jersey. I'm interested to see if I begin to like Frankie a bit, now that she has kicked the habit. How loving her underground friend was to risk all for her. That says so much. His whole life is a testament to something.

I'm finding this book to have too long of a set up for what is going to happen. Perhaps it is because it was one of the first, modern day, zombie books. I feel something is going to happen and predictable things keep getting in the way.

I don't care for the animals, birds, reptiles all becoming zombies. That's a little too far fetched, because, there would be no one left, would there? Birds could easily attack you while a mouse ran up your leg and bit you. A little mouse can go just about any where. I suppose I wish we'd get to whatever we are going to get to and settle in and start a good story with some character development.

Again, perhaps it is because I've read so many zombie books and most of them are probably copying Mr. Keene in some way or another. Wish I had read this one prior to all the other zombie books I have read. I think I would have never thought about the evil marauders human eating hill people attaching zombies to save their supper!! LOL.

I will continue to read and enjoy the story. I have a feeling something is going to happen soon that will help bring me into the story. (hide spoiler)]

How many books are in this series?

[Jonathan]

I get what you mean Pamellia.

(view spoiler)[ To really get behind the Labyrinth mythology it takes a lot of suspension of disbelief. Almost everything regarding the Thirteen and the powers they command are rooted in dark magic. For example in Earthworm Gods the rain continues to always fall despite that not being scientifically possible. Everything floods and the world is doomed to drown in a ocean full of horrible monstrosities. I know some of the more scientific oriented readers might not be able to move pass that, so I respect that and understand how that might be a hindrance on ones enjoyment of this novel.

In the Rising sequel it is revealed that the Siqqusim don't eat the humans because they are physically hungry. They eat to absorb energy to keep the physical bodies moving. Much to the horror of one scientist (operating are a corpse possessed by the Siqqusim) the food never passes through the digestive system. It just vanishes into energy which the Siqqusim need. It sounds silly I know but so does zombie goldfish.

The explanation of the power that defies science and physics is that there were ancient laws written before the creation of the planet Earth. These ancient ways were formed in magic, which is the teachings that the majority of humans have forgotten. There are a few who remember like Levi from Ghost Walk who knows how to fight them, but those who rely on science and physical battle will always lose to the Thirteen and their minions.

It does indeed sound hopeless but there is hope there. The various stories featuring the Thirteen show the different possibilities involving them. Sometimes the good guys win like in Ghost Walk. Sometimes their is a stalemate like in Earthworm Gods. And sometimes they could win like in other stories Brian Keene has written. In all of them though there is always some kind of hope.

There are many different Earths and alternate realities. If the Siqqusim win then they will just move onto another Earth and it will be up to those inhabitants to try to stop them.

That is the beauty of horror, there is so many scary things that a talented author can come up with, so there is something for everyone in the horror genre. For me stories rooted in unexplainable magic based horrors have always been a fear of mine.

(hide spoiler)]

After The Rising the sequel is City of the Dead: Author's Preferred Edition





Oh btw there is no zombie virus in this story. If they get bitten they don't turn infected unless they don't clean the bite. Normal viruses can be spread from the corpses decaying but that is about it. As far as I am aware the first book takes place over a one week time span.

[Pamellia]

Hi, Jonathan. Thank you so much for this explanation. I absolutely love what you had to say. It's so nice to be able to talk about these books and be honest with our impressions.

I got to 57% this afternoon

(view spoiler)[ I was certainly wrong about the bite of the zombie. My thought was that if someone were bitten, then they would die from the bite (no matter how small) and then the Siqqusim would take possession. I was wrong, after Jim and the preacher met the farmer and son, I realized I was wrong. I'm glad I was wrong, because I sure do like the pastor, but I can't think of his name.

This story at the farm is a beautiful story. The 4 characters certainly cared about each other. I love how Keene is including so much about our conquering God, even bringing up accepting Jesus as his Lord and King. This was so important to the pastor and for me showed a lot of true Christian love. For the pastor that was the most important thing. I just love that Mr. Keene had the knowledge and courage to include these thing. I think there are people who would frown upon it. Does that make sense to any of you? This pastor not only talks the talk, but he seems to walk the walk. A good loving Christian man. It's refreshing. (watch him change to a real arse-hole here in a couple of chapters!! LOL)

Yes, Jonathan, I have already read about the magic "digestion" of energy from the food. I, too, found that interesting.

As far as being grounded in science...well, good grief, we are reading about zombies!! Let's face it, zombies in the first place are pretty far fetched! So it doesn't bother me how they are possessed or what they need for nourishment...what didn't make sense to me was it all living things are possessed, then how could any one have any hope. But now I understand that I was wrong about how the virus is spread, BECAUSE as you so eloquently put it, Jonathan, there really is not a virus. Duh, Pamellia! Get with the program!

Thanks for your help! (hide spoiler)]

Probably won't read any more tonight because The Walking Dead is coming on in a few...:-)

[Sean]

Did we already start the buddy read? I've been hooked on American Gods.

[Jonathan]

Sean wrote: "Did we already start the buddy read? I've been hooked on American Gods."

Yes! We started last last week! You aren't that far behind! =)

[Ange]

Aaah perfect zombie day yesterday. Planning my zombie outfit for halloween and then watching Walking Dead which was freaking awesome then a bit of The Rising before bed.

[Pamellia]

I'm about 70% into the book. I can see where it's going now and for me that make the read much more interesting.

An enjoyable read

[Jonathan]

Ange wrote: "Aaah perfect zombie day yesterday. Planning my zombie outfit for halloween and then watching Walking Dead which was freaking awesome then a bit of The Rising before bed."

I'm glad everyone seems to like the book so far.

Let's try not to forget to feed Tim the zombie. I haven't checked on him in awhile.

[Pamellia]

OMG, is that what you do to those who do not check in?? Glad I've been adding my comments.

[Jonathan]

Pamellia wrote: "OMG, is that what you do to those who do not check in?? Glad I've been adding my comments."

It is not what you think!

Tim volunteered to be a zombie! It wasn't like I lured him into a room and injected him with a experimental virus! Don't be silly!

[Pamellia]

WOW, did I totally misread that post. Lol, sorry about that.

I have completed the first book.

(view spoiler)[ I am impressed with the character development of Frankie and Jim. Frankie is intelligent, street wise and is a natural leader. I don't like books when they end with such a cliffhanger. I like for the main stories to be completed. I must admit, I am glad the next book is ready available.

One thing I misunderstood or something. Frankie's baby. Was her baby still born or did Frankie have a therapeutic abortion? I read that different ways at different times.

WOW, can you believe what happened to Barker?? I suppose he deserved it in many ways. When the author talked about his soul screaming out and finally was silent...does that mean his soul is trapped in his body? Are all the zombies like that, Do you think? If so that could be man's salvation. (hide spoiler)]

Not certain when I can start on the next book.

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

Hi! Don't turn me into a zombie! I am checking in! :D

Liking the book so far, and I am 65% in. Hopefully I can finish it tomorrow! Did you like it, Pamellia? I don't want to read your spoiler before I finish the book, but I want to know if you enjoyed yourself. :)

[Eden]

I have less than 100 pages to read yet. I am really enjoying it.

[Jonathan]

@ Pamellia

(view spoiler)[ It is never clearly stated in any of the Rising books, but my gut suspicion is that the souls move on to Heaven or Hell. Similar to other characters mentioned in the next two books. I think Baker's soul disappeared and faded because it wasn't tied to the realm of the living anymore. He was screaming because he didn't want Ob to possess him. At least that is how I interpreted it.

As for Frankie I believe her baby was born stillborn, then the baby came back to life after the doctors removed it. I believe that dream she had with the doctors claiming not to be surprised was what led me to believe this conclusion. The other times she had a nightmare about her infant in the nursery was just a nightmare reflecting her guilt and the horrors she suffered through.

Some of this information might be in the authors preferred edition I read, which is why I might have a little bit more information to go on.

You can start the next book when you are ready! (hide spoiler)]

It really puts a smile on my face to know most of us enjoyed the first book. =)

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

Finished! :D

[Zac]

I've just started today, but DAMN if it's not enthralling.

[Eden]

Finished The Rising and now I'm reading City of the Dead.

[Jonathan]

Zac wrote: "I've just started today, but DAMN if it's not enthralling."

Hey Zac! I thought we fed you to the zombies?!

Err. I mean it's good to see you!

[Mehmet]

Think there been a mix up with the paperwork Jonathan ! Seems we have been giving vegetables to them by mistake :-/

[Jonathan]

Oh no! Ob is not going to like this mix up!

[Mehmet]

Yikes ! Jonathan we better escape, you got your space ship ready ?

[Jonathan]

Yep! Tally~Ho !! Away we go!

*inserts quarter into machine*

[Mehmet]

Hey Jonathan I only got English pennies will they work in space ship ?

[Pamellia]

♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Hi! Don't turn me into a zombie! I am checking in! :D

Liking the book so far, and I am 65% in. Hopefully I can finish it tomorrow! Did you like it, Pamellia? I don't want to read your spoiler befo..."

Oh yes, Cookie, I enjoyed the book...but it will be a while before I can start on the next book. Well, actually I sort of started, I wanted to see what actually happened there at the end of the first book.

Jonathan, I am reading the author's preferred edition...the one with the added words that the original publisher wanted him to remove.

[Jonathan]

Mehmet wrote: "Hey Jonathan I only got English pennies will they work in space ship ?"

Maybe. As long as they are shiny they should work!

Quick we have no time to lose!



Pamellia wrote: "Jonathan, I am reading the author's preferred edition...the one with the added words that the original publisher wanted him to remove. ."

*High Fives!*

We have converted you to become one of our loyal Keene Zombies!

[Jonathan]

Eden wrote: "I have less than 100 pages to read yet. I am really enjoying it."

As Kaisersoze and Eden both already know, sometimes Brian Keene opens up contests to allow some of his fans to be killed off in his books. Both The Rising: Selected Scenes from the End of the World and Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes From the End of the World were books that were part of that contest. Those two books are a collection of short stories, most of them star a fellow reader who is fighting for his or her life.



As silly as that might sound, the set up works surprisingly well. Each story offers something that couldn't be possible in the two main books. We are given expansions on the mythology and sometimes the novellas work so well I wished they were a full length novel. The third Rising books is exactly just this, it's like a delicious treat that went perfectly with a filling meal.

I got the chance to talk with one of his long time fans over on his forum located here: http://briankeene.com/forum/index.php...

I seem like I know a lot about Brian Keene, but I'm always learning a lot more from his fans on that board. You have to register in order to be able to view the topics unfortunately. But if you are ever curious to browse his work in more detail you should check it out.

[Zac]

18%: Oh man - this is GREAT so far!
Loving how it blends the struggles and tropes I love most about other classic zombie pieces, some parallels to Stephen King's The Mist, zombies reminiscent of Peter F Hamilton's The Reality Dysfunction, but totally unique to itself.

This is clearly going to be fun.

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

Pamellia wrote: "♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Hi! Don't turn me into a zombie! I am checking in! :D

Liking the book so far, and I am 65% in. Hopefully I can finish it tomorrow! Did you like it, Pamellia? I don't want to rea..."

Glad you had fun and are going to read the next book!

Did you already buy a copy? I could lend you mine when I finish reading it if you want. :)

[Pamellia]

♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Pamellia wrote: "♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Hi! Don't turn me into a zombie! I am checking in! :D

Liking the book so far, and I am 65% in. Hopefully I can finish it tomorrow! Did you like it, Pamellia? I ..."

I did purchase a copy. Natasa was kind enough to lend me a copy, however, it was not the preferred author's and there were a few formatting issues and no chapter numbers. So when I realized how much I wanted to read and finish the book, I decided to purchase the one Jonathan had suggested. There were differences. However, I greatly appreciate Natasa's willingness to share her books with me. That was very nice.

[Sean]

Flying through "The Rising" got our start date mixed up. But having a great time reading it. I see most of you have already finished so no real chance of catching up. But oh well, still enjoying the ride.

[Mehmet]

Hey Sean I am still reading, just over the halfway mark, so no worries. You still got company :-) I been busy, so not as much time to read as I would like to.

[Sean]

'ppreciate the company, Mehmet.

[Jonathan]

Zac wrote: "18%: Oh man - this is GREAT so far!
Loving how it blends the struggles and tropes I love most about other classic zombie pieces, some parallels to Stephen King's The Mist,.."


I am so happy you are enjoying it Zac! I thought your absence from this topic was due to a tragic unforeseen zombie accident!

[Kaisersoze]

Jonathan wrote: "Eden wrote: "I have less than 100 pages to read yet. I am really enjoying it."

As Kaisersoze and Eden both already know, sometimes Brian Keene opens up contests to allow some of his fans to be kil..."

Yep! It was quite the creative way to get his already rabib fan base that much mnore involved.

Looking forward to reading the Selected Scenes when you guys get to it. I have to remember to check back on this thread to make sure I don't miss the start :-)

[Zac]

Jonathan wrote: "I am so happy you are enjoying it Zac! I thought your absence from this topic was due to a tragic unforeseen zombie accident! "

Narrowest of escapes - I'll spare you the harrowing details for now. Almost caught up to the rest of you survivors (34%), but the miles still separating us seem treacherous indeed. We can catch up when I... well... catch up. Until then - stay safe and aim for the head.

-z

[Jonathan]

Zac wrote: "
This is clearly going to be fun.
."

Clearly everything is going according to my master plan.......

[Sean]

mwa ha ha.

[Ange]

Mehmet wrote: "Hey Sean I am still reading, just over the halfway mark, so no worries. You still got company :-) I been busy, so not as much time to read as I would like to."

Me too I'm also just over half way, not much reading time for me the last week but that's no reflection on the book I'm loving it, it's so different than other z books I've read. There are some nasty badass characters, the humans are the worst!

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

Ange wrote: "Mehmet wrote: "Hey Sean I am still reading, just over the halfway mark, so no worries. You still got company :-) I been busy, so not as much time to read as I would like to."

Me too I'm also just ..."

Glad you are enjoying it! I haven't read too many zombie books, but I really appreciated the originality of this story. It was a lot of fun to read. :)

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle)]

Pamellia wrote: "♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Pamellia wrote: "♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Hi! Don't turn me into a zombie! I am checking in! :D

Liking the book so far, and I am 65% in. Hopefully I can finish it tomorrow! Did you li..."

Oh, good! I'm glad you liked the first book enough to purchase the second. :)

[Eden]

I've read about 124 pages of City of the Dead and I'm enjoying it just as much as The Rising.

(view spoiler)[I'm so sad about Martin. He was a great character and one of my favorites. (hide spoiler)]

[Pamellia]

♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Pamellia wrote: "♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Pamellia wrote: "♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ wrote: "Hi! Don't turn me into a zombie! I am checking in! :D

Liking the book so far, and I am 65% in. Hopefully I can finish it tom..."

I don't think I purchased the second. I was just reading the first part that is free from amazon.con

I'll have to see how the discussion goes

[Jonathan]

I really liked the second as much as the first. It's hard to say one is a lot better then the other.