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White Fire
From Grandmaster of Horror, Brian Keene, comes a pandemic tale of survival and terror. When a freak storm hits, time is the enemy as a government-created super virus gets loose and spreads through the quiet little town of Godfrey, Illinois. But the virus isn't the only threat. There are mysterious forces at play and disease is just one instrument of fear. Previously out of print and never before available as a stand-alone, this new edition of WHITE FIRE has been revised and expanded, and is considered the Author's Preferred Version.
79 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 20, 2018
33 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Brian Keene
384 books2,987 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 33 reviews
July 4, 2018
WHITE FIRE, by Brian Keene is the story of Captain Tom Collins, who--along with his friend Phil McLeod--are tasked with transporting a deadly cargo through a rural area. Unfortunately, a tornado touches down just as they are underway--altering the course of each man's destiny in ways unforeseen by either.
Keene weaves this spellbinding tale so well, that you won't want to stop until you reach the end. You may find yourself questioning your own beliefs by the time you reach the ultimate conclusion, for there are things in here that I never would have imagined coming into play!
A fantastic novella that would make a great addition to anyone's shelves!
Highly recommended!
**This is the Thunderstorm Black Voltage edition #86**
Keene weaves this spellbinding tale so well, that you won't want to stop until you reach the end. You may find yourself questioning your own beliefs by the time you reach the ultimate conclusion, for there are things in here that I never would have imagined coming into play!
A fantastic novella that would make a great addition to anyone's shelves!
Highly recommended!
**This is the Thunderstorm Black Voltage edition #86**
Want to read
June 1, 2018This hardcover edition is numbered 14 of 161 copies produced and is signed by Brian Keene.
November 27, 2018
This is an excellent single-sitting short novel about the accidental release of a doomsday plague. It's an extremely fast-paced piece, but features good characterization and a fine level of suspense. There's nothing really ground-breaking for fans of The Stand or Grant's Parasitology or even Crichton's Andromeda Strain, but there's a neat supernatural tie-in to Keene's multiverse and I enjoyed it a lot.
February 26, 2019
My review of White Fire can be found at High Fever Books.
White Fire, by Brian Keene, is a smooth, solid horror novella that, coming in at less than 100 pages in ebook format, moves along at a rapid clip but suffers a bit from its brevity.
Army Captain Tom Collins and Phil McLeod, a civilian contractor for the CDC, are transporting a bio-hazardous agent by van through a rural stretch of Illinois when a severe storm hits. The van is knocked over by a tornado ripping its way through Godfrey, and the top-secret cargo the men are hauling is unleashed — a deadly pathogen known as White Fire.
Keene delivers a pretty straight-forward story of viral contagion hitting a small Midwestern town but, oddly, it feels kind of sedate. Even though the plot has a built-in ticking time bomb in the form of a lethal virus, White Fire lacks the frantic, balls-to-the-wall feeling of unrelenting danger of other Keene works, like The Complex or The Rising. Instead, Keene takes a more deliberate approach, showcasing the strengths of trained professionals responding to a disaster, rather than focusing on the various ways in which society and its systems could collapse under apocalyptic pressures. People die, but that’s to be expected, and while the body count is particularly high, it’s mostly a numbers game to give scope to what otherwise feels like a strangely minor event. Most of the victims we do meet are short-shrifted in terms of development, and we don’t get to know them intimately enough to feel their losses, an unfortunate side-effect of the book’s slender page count.
While the conceit of the pathogen is welcome, the horror aspect feels a bit shoehorned in and didn’t quite work for me on the whole. Although I did enjoy the references made to Keene’s overarching mythos, placing White Fire within the context of Keene’s broader body of works, I couldn’t help but find the story itself a bit unbalanced with the competing threats demanding our attention. These elements might have worked in a longer form, but the veering between dual threats and victims felt a bit unwieldy. I did get a kick out of spotting familiar subjects like Black Lodge, Ob, the Thirteen, and the Labyrinth, though.
Keene’s at his best here introducing us to Collins and McLeod, and describing the trail of destruction caused by the tornado, giving us a God’s eye view over a ruined Godfrey that felt reminiscent of Stephen King in some ways. I couldn’t help but laugh at this particular passage, which struck me as being particularly King-inspired: “A stop sign became a torpedo, spearing through a smiling politician’s billboard, leaving a large, gaping hole in the politician’s face. Later, some residents would agree that it was an improvement.” I also appreciated the character of McLeod and his increasing panic and trepidation over the hand he and Collins are dealt in the wake of the tornado that has left them stranded.
Although it lacked the visceral horror, tension, and sense of dread found in many of Keene’s other works, I still found White Fire an entertaining way to burn off a few hours. Ultimately, I think I expected a fair bit more from the story than it delivered.
White Fire, by Brian Keene, is a smooth, solid horror novella that, coming in at less than 100 pages in ebook format, moves along at a rapid clip but suffers a bit from its brevity.
Army Captain Tom Collins and Phil McLeod, a civilian contractor for the CDC, are transporting a bio-hazardous agent by van through a rural stretch of Illinois when a severe storm hits. The van is knocked over by a tornado ripping its way through Godfrey, and the top-secret cargo the men are hauling is unleashed — a deadly pathogen known as White Fire.
Keene delivers a pretty straight-forward story of viral contagion hitting a small Midwestern town but, oddly, it feels kind of sedate. Even though the plot has a built-in ticking time bomb in the form of a lethal virus, White Fire lacks the frantic, balls-to-the-wall feeling of unrelenting danger of other Keene works, like The Complex or The Rising. Instead, Keene takes a more deliberate approach, showcasing the strengths of trained professionals responding to a disaster, rather than focusing on the various ways in which society and its systems could collapse under apocalyptic pressures. People die, but that’s to be expected, and while the body count is particularly high, it’s mostly a numbers game to give scope to what otherwise feels like a strangely minor event. Most of the victims we do meet are short-shrifted in terms of development, and we don’t get to know them intimately enough to feel their losses, an unfortunate side-effect of the book’s slender page count.
While the conceit of the pathogen is welcome, the horror aspect feels a bit shoehorned in and didn’t quite work for me on the whole. Although I did enjoy the references made to Keene’s overarching mythos, placing White Fire within the context of Keene’s broader body of works, I couldn’t help but find the story itself a bit unbalanced with the competing threats demanding our attention. These elements might have worked in a longer form, but the veering between dual threats and victims felt a bit unwieldy. I did get a kick out of spotting familiar subjects like Black Lodge, Ob, the Thirteen, and the Labyrinth, though.
Keene’s at his best here introducing us to Collins and McLeod, and describing the trail of destruction caused by the tornado, giving us a God’s eye view over a ruined Godfrey that felt reminiscent of Stephen King in some ways. I couldn’t help but laugh at this particular passage, which struck me as being particularly King-inspired: “A stop sign became a torpedo, spearing through a smiling politician’s billboard, leaving a large, gaping hole in the politician’s face. Later, some residents would agree that it was an improvement.” I also appreciated the character of McLeod and his increasing panic and trepidation over the hand he and Collins are dealt in the wake of the tornado that has left them stranded.
Although it lacked the visceral horror, tension, and sense of dread found in many of Keene’s other works, I still found White Fire an entertaining way to burn off a few hours. Ultimately, I think I expected a fair bit more from the story than it delivered.
June 9, 2018
After an Army Captain and a military contractor transporting highly sensitive and dangerous cargo thru a Midwestern town encounter a sudden tornado, all hell breaks loose. They manage to warn local authorities and begin quarantine procedures, but it's too late. The deadly virus begins to spread and containment may be the not the worst of it. Because Captain Tom Collins spied a mysterious figure right before the tornado struck. A tall thin figure with long white hair in an old raincoat...
Lean and mean, this novella doesn't let up until the terrifying and mind blowing conclusion, and once again displays why bestselling and award winning author Brian Keene is simply one of the best in the business!
Highly recommended!
Lean and mean, this novella doesn't let up until the terrifying and mind blowing conclusion, and once again displays why bestselling and award winning author Brian Keene is simply one of the best in the business!
Highly recommended!
December 13, 2018
A real fun bio-thriller! Brian's great with character and that shows here, even in the short space he's given himself to work.
January 26, 2019
So good, must read more Keene
Every time I read something written by Keene, I always think I need to read more, more, more. White Fire is a short, sharp read. It manages to give a “The Stand” like feel, but boil it down to a quick read. Loved it!
Every time I read something written by Keene, I always think I need to read more, more, more. White Fire is a short, sharp read. It manages to give a “The Stand” like feel, but boil it down to a quick read. Loved it!
November 7, 2024
Never read anything by this author and honestly just picked it up to read over lunch and was instantly hooked. The premise of this was right up my alley with a deadly virus and some spooky happenings.
While I did enjoy it and the characters I wanted more, I wanted to see how it was eventually resolved and contained. The 2 year jump didn’t feel needed as again it doesn’t really resolve anything.
But overall I really enjoyed this and will look into more of this authors works!
While I did enjoy it and the characters I wanted more, I wanted to see how it was eventually resolved and contained. The 2 year jump didn’t feel needed as again it doesn’t really resolve anything.
But overall I really enjoyed this and will look into more of this authors works!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 2, 2019Crisp and taut - - this short novel really moves forward rapidly from the beginning chapter.
It's a frightening tale of what-if that seems very real and pertinent: what if a freak tornado rampaged through a small Illinois town just when a bio-weapon was being secretly transported to a new location, and the ensuing accident unleashes the odorless invisible virus upon the populace?
What would happen, how would emergency services respond, and could the virus ever be contained? Keene answers all those questions and more and manages to build enough information about the central characters to make us care. Everything seems very real in this book, until Keene introduces an eerie supernatural element that takes it to another level of fear.
It's a frightening tale of what-if that seems very real and pertinent: what if a freak tornado rampaged through a small Illinois town just when a bio-weapon was being secretly transported to a new location, and the ensuing accident unleashes the odorless invisible virus upon the populace?
What would happen, how would emergency services respond, and could the virus ever be contained? Keene answers all those questions and more and manages to build enough information about the central characters to make us care. Everything seems very real in this book, until Keene introduces an eerie supernatural element that takes it to another level of fear.
July 9, 2021
I didn’t like this one. There were numerous typos and the story was not Keene’s best. I enjoyed the links and hints to his larger mythos, but that’s about all I enjoyed of this book.
June 17, 2018
Excellent novella involving a biohazard truck carrying bioweapons that gets hit by a tornado and the deadly epidemic that follows. Another thought provoking horror tale from a master storyteller. Very highly recommended.
October 28, 2021
I would like to address three topics
The first is that I love Brian Keene Labyrinth. I believe it's very interesting one since all stories are connected (sometimes only a glimpse , sometimes are the same characters and so on). So after reading 16 of his novels / novellas (besides Agatha Christie , Dan Abnett and Stephen King and RA Salvatore that's the highest one).
I bought this book this month with the intend of reading in October Horror Fest and I've read in one day - 106 pages in under 80m that's pretty good for me.
I was pondering buying some more of his books (although most of the remaining ones are expensive and now, just because of one thing I am on the fence) - Let me explain...
This is a retelling and expanded version. I cannot tell what is on the first edition of course but one thing I know he added in this version and so let me put it here
"...all the equipment Delaroz used to record his Alt-Right podcast. A Replica Nazi Swastika banner with a leering frog emblazoned upon it, which had hung from a the garage wall..."
This part here was added. How do I know? Well, first of alt-right is something new that didn't exist back in 2006 and the frog on swastika is far-left democrafts assholes who made the frog a alt-right symbol. NOBODY HAS A NAZI SWASTIKA WITH A FROG! That's absurd. BUT, alas people think there is - so there must be. BUT the frog was considered a alt-right thing (LOL) only a couple of years ago not in 2006. Strange this character wasn't doing the OK sign!
Why did Brian Keene had to do this? WHY had he to include this image here? Was it to appease his far-left fan base (Which probably there aren't)? Was it like some wet dream seeing the "alt-right" suffering? Absurd
What more did you change? Did you change McCleod sex orientation as well making him gay to cross all dots of your agenda? Enfin...
I have nothing against McLeod being gay - he was probably in the beginning my favorite of the duo.
Oh well, apart from this rant that will keep me from buying more of his books because I 'm afraid he drops his political agenda like this - since it has no purpose at all. That depiction was one chapter where he was telling what a tornado did. It served no purpose but it made bluntly real that it was added in 2019 - probably in one of his fits against Trump and the frog.
What about the story you ask?
It's very short. Two guys are transporting some dicease through a place when a tornado hits releasing the virus. Then you've got the army and cdc response against the virus. The last 20 pages or so, it's where we connect the dots with his Labyrinth Mythos plus the "Purple Gas" incident which made me wonder what book was that. I remember Darkness on the Edge of Town but that a darkness that fallen not purple. I have Ghoul, Dark Hollow and Ghost Walk with me to read but I don't think any of them deal with it.
So we come to the end of the story. I will not spoil the ending BUT it was cool.
I hope this story was a bit bigger and dwelt more on - well everything. IT was rushed - OKAY VIRUS IS OUT - OKAY IS CONTAIN - ANCIENT MYTHICAL STUFF HERE - OKAY IS FINISH - OKAY the end...
About the writing and critics on the missing dots - it's true. There are a couple of instances where dots are missing and some words don't feel correct but I am not english native so probably not the best person to talk.
There are couple books I would love to read because I know they dwell more on the Mythos like the Complex, The Lost Level but I don't want to spend 20€ on a book which besides trying to tell a story is trying to insult our intelligence. All writers give their personal beliefs when telling tales and to me that's good and of course interesting- another is insulting a group of people or doing to just pandering and not be cancelled...
The first is that I love Brian Keene Labyrinth. I believe it's very interesting one since all stories are connected (sometimes only a glimpse , sometimes are the same characters and so on). So after reading 16 of his novels / novellas (besides Agatha Christie , Dan Abnett and Stephen King and RA Salvatore that's the highest one).
I bought this book this month with the intend of reading in October Horror Fest and I've read in one day - 106 pages in under 80m that's pretty good for me.
I was pondering buying some more of his books (although most of the remaining ones are expensive and now, just because of one thing I am on the fence) - Let me explain...
This is a retelling and expanded version. I cannot tell what is on the first edition of course but one thing I know he added in this version and so let me put it here
"...all the equipment Delaroz used to record his Alt-Right podcast. A Replica Nazi Swastika banner with a leering frog emblazoned upon it, which had hung from a the garage wall..."
This part here was added. How do I know? Well, first of alt-right is something new that didn't exist back in 2006 and the frog on swastika is far-left democrafts assholes who made the frog a alt-right symbol. NOBODY HAS A NAZI SWASTIKA WITH A FROG! That's absurd. BUT, alas people think there is - so there must be. BUT the frog was considered a alt-right thing (LOL) only a couple of years ago not in 2006. Strange this character wasn't doing the OK sign!
Why did Brian Keene had to do this? WHY had he to include this image here? Was it to appease his far-left fan base (Which probably there aren't)? Was it like some wet dream seeing the "alt-right" suffering? Absurd
What more did you change? Did you change McCleod sex orientation as well making him gay to cross all dots of your agenda? Enfin...
I have nothing against McLeod being gay - he was probably in the beginning my favorite of the duo.
Oh well, apart from this rant that will keep me from buying more of his books because I 'm afraid he drops his political agenda like this - since it has no purpose at all. That depiction was one chapter where he was telling what a tornado did. It served no purpose but it made bluntly real that it was added in 2019 - probably in one of his fits against Trump and the frog.
What about the story you ask?
It's very short. Two guys are transporting some dicease through a place when a tornado hits releasing the virus. Then you've got the army and cdc response against the virus. The last 20 pages or so, it's where we connect the dots with his Labyrinth Mythos plus the "Purple Gas" incident which made me wonder what book was that. I remember Darkness on the Edge of Town but that a darkness that fallen not purple. I have Ghoul, Dark Hollow and Ghost Walk with me to read but I don't think any of them deal with it.
So we come to the end of the story. I will not spoil the ending BUT it was cool.
I hope this story was a bit bigger and dwelt more on - well everything. IT was rushed - OKAY VIRUS IS OUT - OKAY IS CONTAIN - ANCIENT MYTHICAL STUFF HERE - OKAY IS FINISH - OKAY the end...
About the writing and critics on the missing dots - it's true. There are a couple of instances where dots are missing and some words don't feel correct but I am not english native so probably not the best person to talk.
There are couple books I would love to read because I know they dwell more on the Mythos like the Complex, The Lost Level but I don't want to spend 20€ on a book which besides trying to tell a story is trying to insult our intelligence. All writers give their personal beliefs when telling tales and to me that's good and of course interesting- another is insulting a group of people or doing to just pandering and not be cancelled...
November 11, 2018
Captain Tom Collins and Phil McLeod were transporting a deadly weaponized disease across Illinois when a freak tornado devastates the town of Godfrey and topples over their van. The accident unleashes the pathogen into the air and immediately infects those who come in contact with it. Collins and McLeod call in the army and the CDC to handle containment and quarantine, but it is already too late. With many of the townsfolk gathered at the makeshift shelter at the elementary school, the pathogen can infect an accelerated rate. However, the virus is not the only threat to Godfrey. There are supernatural forces at work here from beyond time and understanding influencing the events in Godfrey.
White Fire is a fast-paced novella which highlights the best of Brian Keene's skills as an author. Characters are diverse and exhibit their unique voices and personalities. The plot moves along at a brisk pace while also taking its time to highlight the devastation the tornado unleashes on Godfrey and showing the effects of the virus on those who are unlucky enough to contract it. While this novella could have easily been a full-blown novel, White Fire is satisfying and doesn't overstay its welcome.
However, while I usually don't take off stars for typos and grammatical mistakes, a short novella like this should not have too many errors. I was thrown off several times by typos where words were missing or grammatically incorrect. For example, Collins at one point wanted to make "peace" with another character, but the text says "piece." There is another part where a character says "I helped you guys out Did my duty." There is a period missing in the text. There were a couple more errors like this in the text, but I think it is clear it could have been proofread a bit more before publication.
Overall, White Fire is a bite-sized disaster natural disaster piece with a virus and supernatural elements involved, which tie in with Keene's Labyrinth mythos. If you have never read anything by Keene before, I believe this is an excellent and comfortable place to start and sample his work. If you enjoyed this novella, I suggest going back into Keene's previous work like The Rising or Earthworm God's which are novels and a much higher apocalyptical scale.
White Fire is a fast-paced novella which highlights the best of Brian Keene's skills as an author. Characters are diverse and exhibit their unique voices and personalities. The plot moves along at a brisk pace while also taking its time to highlight the devastation the tornado unleashes on Godfrey and showing the effects of the virus on those who are unlucky enough to contract it. While this novella could have easily been a full-blown novel, White Fire is satisfying and doesn't overstay its welcome.
However, while I usually don't take off stars for typos and grammatical mistakes, a short novella like this should not have too many errors. I was thrown off several times by typos where words were missing or grammatically incorrect. For example, Collins at one point wanted to make "peace" with another character, but the text says "piece." There is another part where a character says "I helped you guys out Did my duty." There is a period missing in the text. There were a couple more errors like this in the text, but I think it is clear it could have been proofread a bit more before publication.
Overall, White Fire is a bite-sized disaster natural disaster piece with a virus and supernatural elements involved, which tie in with Keene's Labyrinth mythos. If you have never read anything by Keene before, I believe this is an excellent and comfortable place to start and sample his work. If you enjoyed this novella, I suggest going back into Keene's previous work like The Rising or Earthworm God's which are novels and a much higher apocalyptical scale.
June 5, 2020
Confession time: I know Brian Keene is a Big Deal in the horror community, so I figured I should read some of his books. I read two of them, and felt very disappointed. People whose tastes I really trust spoke so highly of his work, yet neither book appealed to me, and I found some of the material in one of them to be kind of problematic. But again, a lot of people I trust love his work and anyone can have an “off” book or two in between masterpieces, so eventually I came back to read another novella: White Fire. This time, I get it. I’m glad I persisted.
I have a deep love of pandemic stories (oh, the irony right now), and this book delivers. Army Captain Tom Collins and civilian contractor Phil McLeod are transporting a viral sample for the CDC. The weather is supposed to be clear, but they get caught out in a massive thunderstorm followed by a tornado warning. Before everything goes to hell, Collins spots a mysterious man standing next to a Jeep; for a moment he swears he sees the skull beneath the man’s face, and wings in the air behind him. Their truck isn’t designed to withstand the kind of things a tornado can toss at them, and soon the town of Godfrey has been quarantined.
The relentless tornado drives an incredibly tense opening to the novella. I was riveted before the virus ever got loose. And eventually, Collins spots the mysterious man again in his light-colored overcoat, with his long white hair (I kept picturing him as an anime character). This man is what really made the story for me. Even though I guessed who he was, he was still presented in a way that was wholly unexpected and absolutely fascinating.
All in all this is a riveting story, guaranteed to get your mind off of the real-world pandemic for an hour or two.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/06/s...
I have a deep love of pandemic stories (oh, the irony right now), and this book delivers. Army Captain Tom Collins and civilian contractor Phil McLeod are transporting a viral sample for the CDC. The weather is supposed to be clear, but they get caught out in a massive thunderstorm followed by a tornado warning. Before everything goes to hell, Collins spots a mysterious man standing next to a Jeep; for a moment he swears he sees the skull beneath the man’s face, and wings in the air behind him. Their truck isn’t designed to withstand the kind of things a tornado can toss at them, and soon the town of Godfrey has been quarantined.
The relentless tornado drives an incredibly tense opening to the novella. I was riveted before the virus ever got loose. And eventually, Collins spots the mysterious man again in his light-colored overcoat, with his long white hair (I kept picturing him as an anime character). This man is what really made the story for me. Even though I guessed who he was, he was still presented in a way that was wholly unexpected and absolutely fascinating.
All in all this is a riveting story, guaranteed to get your mind off of the real-world pandemic for an hour or two.
Original review posted on my blog: http://www.errantdreams.com/2020/06/s...
November 27, 2019
This is yet another awesome book by a very reliable author. I usually save Brian Keene books for when I'm stuck on an airplane because he has consistently never bored me. However, it's been years since I've been on an airplane, and the next book I'm going to read was at the bottom of a stack of books that I just didn't want to deal with. So I picked this one off the top of the same stack. I read it in a day, and it entertained me the whole way through. I have to wonder if naming his protagonist Collins was a nod toward Lansdale, especially since they were driving on Pine Rd. Anyway, Collins and McLeod are driving a barrel full of virus to a CDC location near Morris, IL, when a tornado interrupts them and releases said virus all over Godfrey, IL. (Which is a real place, by the way. It's on the Mississippi near Alton, where the bullet that went through Lincoln's head was made.) I love the way the story unfolds as the virus spreads because this is not your average pestilence. The tornado may have been used as a catalyst by a higher power . . . Read this book. You can't go wrong.
March 18, 2022
oh that pesky Pestilence
First thing I want to say, is that this is not a long meandering story. Once the virus gets out, there is nobody going across country trying to save their daughter and her friend, or getting kidnapped by a group of mutants. This is a straight on virus (and Pestilence, can't forget about him) and boom there it is. It is not long, I think it could have been better if a bit longer. I would have liked some more added about what the virus was doing to people, and how it was stopped, the story kind of yadda yadda'd over that part, which is my only negative comment, but it did have a surprise at the end which was good. I did like the characters, and enjoyed the book a lot.
First thing I want to say, is that this is not a long meandering story. Once the virus gets out, there is nobody going across country trying to save their daughter and her friend, or getting kidnapped by a group of mutants. This is a straight on virus (and Pestilence, can't forget about him) and boom there it is. It is not long, I think it could have been better if a bit longer. I would have liked some more added about what the virus was doing to people, and how it was stopped, the story kind of yadda yadda'd over that part, which is my only negative comment, but it did have a surprise at the end which was good. I did like the characters, and enjoyed the book a lot.
July 16, 2023
I purposefully went into this tale without even reading the description. There are loose tie-ins to Keene’s overall myths, but the story is not one of his typical vein. This is very focused on a virus/contagion (a more realistic medical one, not anything supernatural).
For reference, even though it is truly scary in real life, the movie Contagion is one of the most boring theater experiences of my life. I was never an Andromeda Strain fan either.
Given those facts, 3 stars is generous from me, but it is Keene. The read was still fun, this just isn’t something I would have sought out had I actually looked more into what it was.
For reference, even though it is truly scary in real life, the movie Contagion is one of the most boring theater experiences of my life. I was never an Andromeda Strain fan either.
Given those facts, 3 stars is generous from me, but it is Keene. The read was still fun, this just isn’t something I would have sought out had I actually looked more into what it was.
August 28, 2019
Can't believe I paid for this.
This book is just dumb. Sorry I hate to leave bad reviews but really, it's like the author tried for a Robert Mccammon or Stephen King style apocalypse story without the story. Just a silly, hurried outline that was poorly done. I don't treat myself to books that often. I feel like I've been ripped off.
This book is just dumb. Sorry I hate to leave bad reviews but really, it's like the author tried for a Robert Mccammon or Stephen King style apocalypse story without the story. Just a silly, hurried outline that was poorly done. I don't treat myself to books that often. I feel like I've been ripped off.
May 26, 2020
Loved ittt!!!
It doesn't matter what Brian Keene writes! They are all exceptional. In their own ways. I've ready every book of Brian's! And I am so upset you're retiring???!!! Whyyyy? Maybe you'll rethink. AND come back to us! One can only hope so! Xoxo Thx for being amazing at scaring PEOPLE! You are a fascinating Author! I will treasure you always! Bye!!!
It doesn't matter what Brian Keene writes! They are all exceptional. In their own ways. I've ready every book of Brian's! And I am so upset you're retiring???!!! Whyyyy? Maybe you'll rethink. AND come back to us! One can only hope so! Xoxo Thx for being amazing at scaring PEOPLE! You are a fascinating Author! I will treasure you always! Bye!!!
December 8, 2018
With this being the author's preferred edition, it is also a novella that rewards readers of Keene's other works (The Rising, The Conqueror Worms, etc.) with teases and little tidbits from other books. This one is actually very literary until the last twenty-five pages. Interesting read.
January 19, 2019
White Fire
Solid novella which plays well around the edges of Keene’s universe while being self contained. I love how Keene incorporates multiple mythologies into his tales while keeping it basically straight forward science-horror.
Solid novella which plays well around the edges of Keene’s universe while being self contained. I love how Keene incorporates multiple mythologies into his tales while keeping it basically straight forward science-horror.
December 27, 2019
Nice quick ride...
This review contains spoilers...
Weaponized viruses, a perfectly aimed tornado at just the right time, a military cover up, who or what could be behind this series of tragic events? A highly enjoyable short story from Brian Keene.
This review contains spoilers...
Weaponized viruses, a perfectly aimed tornado at just the right time, a military cover up, who or what could be behind this series of tragic events? A highly enjoyable short story from Brian Keene.
July 11, 2021
Good novella that combines a medical thriller with the supernatural. Not Keene's usual work that includes the undead, but one of the better of his more recent. Keene's step back from overly describing the gruesome, gives this story a chance to have space to draw you in.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2021
A self contained short story in pamphlet form from horror legend Brain Keene. The virus scenario is too close to reality at the moment, but the supernatural elements make it a worthwhile, if slightly jaded, reading experience.
December 4, 2021
A very decent read especially in today's current climate. Keene got ALOT of things correct with his mini "outbreak". The supernatural twist seemed a bit shoe horned in but that was to tie it into his overarching narrative/universe. A page turner for sure that I reccomend.
November 7, 2018
As expected
Another great Novella by Keene. The authors preferred version is great and in particular any Keene mythos lover will appreciate the additions.
Another great Novella by Keene. The authors preferred version is great and in particular any Keene mythos lover will appreciate the additions.
October 29, 2019
This was a very fast read.
March 2, 2020
A short, but compelling ride.
February 28, 2021
Pretty crazy Novella to read about a pandemic while we are in a pandemic.
February 2, 2022
Awesome pandemic story reminds me of covid. Or even Capt Tripps. I'm glad this never happened.
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