What do you think?
Rate this book
The Earthworm Gods #3
Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World
One day it started raining—and it never stopped...
So began Brian Keene’s The Conqueror Worms. Fans have long marveled over that post-apocalyptic landscape—a flooded earth filled with bizarre and terrifying monsters. Since its publication, readers have clamored for more.
Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes From The End Of The World features thirty-two all-new short stories set in the universe of The Conqueror Worms. From the first drop of rain to humanity’s last waterlogged stand, Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes From The End Of The World chronicles the fall of man against a horrifying, unstoppable evil. And as the waters rise over the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere—brand new monsters surface—along with some familiar old favorites—to wreak havoc on an already devastated mankind. Whether you’re a hardcore Keene enthusiast or just a fan of the original novel, this collection is a must-read.
So began Brian Keene’s The Conqueror Worms. Fans have long marveled over that post-apocalyptic landscape—a flooded earth filled with bizarre and terrifying monsters. Since its publication, readers have clamored for more.
Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes From The End Of The World features thirty-two all-new short stories set in the universe of The Conqueror Worms. From the first drop of rain to humanity’s last waterlogged stand, Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes From The End Of The World chronicles the fall of man against a horrifying, unstoppable evil. And as the waters rise over the United States, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and elsewhere—brand new monsters surface—along with some familiar old favorites—to wreak havoc on an already devastated mankind. Whether you’re a hardcore Keene enthusiast or just a fan of the original novel, this collection is a must-read.
180 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
16 people are currently reading
439 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 17, 2015
Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World is a tribute to Brian Keene's fans. People paid to have themselves as characters inserted in his Earthworm Gods mythos. Keene interviewed each person to get a feel for them and then created a short little story where they star in getting killed off in uniques ways inside his deluge. While I think it's a very cool thing for an author to do, it kind of loses steam about half way through the book.. What was once a cool read turned into a chore to get through. His writing style and characters are always interesting and well done. Unfortunately, by the time I got towards the end, I felt like I was seeing deleted outtakes from a movie that I had watched. Now while this is cool seeing a small handfull, it begins to get really tedious as it goes on...and on...and on...
So, Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World, is only for those that have read Keene's previous two wonderful Earthworm Gods stories and you may want to bite of a little at a time to keep from the indigestion that you will surely fall vicitim to if you try to eat all of this in one sitting.
3 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
So, Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World, is only for those that have read Keene's previous two wonderful Earthworm Gods stories and you may want to bite of a little at a time to keep from the indigestion that you will surely fall vicitim to if you try to eat all of this in one sitting.
3 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
February 28, 2024
Added to my TBR on May 2022
At 180 pages, this book took way longer to read than it should for a couple reasons. The first was these were less short stories and more like vignettes of the apocalypse. Almost every story is about a different group or individual survivors and almost every one ends in their death. That is a whole lot of death to swallow and I found I did better if I took little nibbles of these little nibbles.
The stories I loved the best seemed to fall into two different categories; The demise of families and stories that added to my understanding of the world of the Deluge.
In demise of families we have:
On The Beach. The last image of the family on the beach just made me cry openly like a big old baby! It made me cry like the movie "On the Beach" made me cry the first time I saw it. Probably because there was the same theme of whistling in the dark over the demise of the human race until forced to acknowledge it.
Load and Loads. I keep hoping that this father and son were somehow rescued by "the Ark"
One Last Breath. You would have to be some sort of heartless bastard not to feel emotions over this scene. I know I felt all the emotions and again found myself tearing up just a little.
In Adding to the Understanding:
The First Principle: Here is discussed the idea that the solid matter is being converted into liquid and possible reasons why.
The Magi: This is as close to proof as to how the Deluge started and what is happening. Yes, there is black magic and Lovecraftian Old Gods involved. I had ambivalent feelings about this story as a part of me sort of wished the "men in black" had been successful. They might have been able to save the world if they had. The other part just sat in a dark room glaring, shaking their head, and wondering how my parents had raised me so wrong to even think that.
The Final Principal: I liked this one because these two people did not give up hope and were trying to stop the "white fuzz" even when chances of success were low.
Honorable mention should also go to the bookend stories of Locke's Ark and Exodus A.D. (Locke's Ark Reprise). These stories leave some hope for the future of humanity and it was nice to think there might be some sort of reprieve from the destruction of humanity if not the Earth.
At 180 pages, this book took way longer to read than it should for a couple reasons. The first was these were less short stories and more like vignettes of the apocalypse. Almost every story is about a different group or individual survivors and almost every one ends in their death. That is a whole lot of death to swallow and I found I did better if I took little nibbles of these little nibbles.
The stories I loved the best seemed to fall into two different categories; The demise of families and stories that added to my understanding of the world of the Deluge.
In demise of families we have:
On The Beach. The last image of the family on the beach just made me cry openly like a big old baby! It made me cry like the movie "On the Beach" made me cry the first time I saw it. Probably because there was the same theme of whistling in the dark over the demise of the human race until forced to acknowledge it.
Load and Loads. I keep hoping that this father and son were somehow rescued by "the Ark"
One Last Breath. You would have to be some sort of heartless bastard not to feel emotions over this scene. I know I felt all the emotions and again found myself tearing up just a little.
In Adding to the Understanding:
The First Principle: Here is discussed the idea that the solid matter is being converted into liquid and possible reasons why.
The Magi: This is as close to proof as to how the Deluge started and what is happening. Yes, there is black magic and Lovecraftian Old Gods involved. I had ambivalent feelings about this story as a part of me sort of wished the "men in black" had been successful. They might have been able to save the world if they had. The other part just sat in a dark room glaring, shaking their head, and wondering how my parents had raised me so wrong to even think that.
The Final Principal: I liked this one because these two people did not give up hope and were trying to stop the "white fuzz" even when chances of success were low.
Honorable mention should also go to the bookend stories of Locke's Ark and Exodus A.D. (Locke's Ark Reprise). These stories leave some hope for the future of humanity and it was nice to think there might be some sort of reprieve from the destruction of humanity if not the Earth.
January 23, 2022
Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World delivers exactly what it promises. Short vignettes taking place all along the timeline of the two Earthworm Gods novels. Many work as snapshots of characters facing some familiar monsters, as well as nasty humans. Typical apocalyptic fare. Many stories provide a smile or a chuckle, but then it's over and the reader is on to the next. A few transcend their runtime, however, and provide truly touching moments. The best examples of stories that fit this (white, fuzzy) mold are "On The Beach" and "One Last Breath". If you're a fan of the connected novels, these stories are worth a read.
June 28, 2016
I was going to write a lengthening review but with 32 stories it would be a bit fruitless.
I read this book before reading Earthworm Gods II. That will be my next Keene's book.
Most this stories add something to the mythology or at least add something to the previous novel.
The first and last story are just one story and interlinks with at least another two stories. The interesting part is that most of these stories interlinked with others making it a "Mosaic" novel (?).
Keene takes advantages of these small stories to add beasts to his Earthworm beasts but in my opinion with so many adversities it will be hard to anyone to survive (which isn't that bad because Keene is know to have bleak endings - to my liking I must add).
One minor thing I felt a bit annoying where some of the characters - I count at least ten characters (in the 32 tales) that loved books or had cats. I know Keene characters were drawn from real persons but... at the same time some characters from some tales looked too much alike.
In the end I enjoy the tales - expect most stories with grim endings, some with somewhat more happy (if you can call it that). If you follow Keene's work then you won't be disappointed. If you are new - this probably is no the best place to start. Start with Earthworm Gods or The Rising
I read this book before reading Earthworm Gods II. That will be my next Keene's book.
Most this stories add something to the mythology or at least add something to the previous novel.
The first and last story are just one story and interlinks with at least another two stories. The interesting part is that most of these stories interlinked with others making it a "Mosaic" novel (?).
Keene takes advantages of these small stories to add beasts to his Earthworm beasts but in my opinion with so many adversities it will be hard to anyone to survive (which isn't that bad because Keene is know to have bleak endings - to my liking I must add).
One minor thing I felt a bit annoying where some of the characters - I count at least ten characters (in the 32 tales) that loved books or had cats. I know Keene characters were drawn from real persons but... at the same time some characters from some tales looked too much alike.
In the end I enjoy the tales - expect most stories with grim endings, some with somewhat more happy (if you can call it that). If you follow Keene's work then you won't be disappointed. If you are new - this probably is no the best place to start. Start with Earthworm Gods or The Rising
January 17, 2020
This is a collection of short stories linked with Brian’s Earthworm Gods series, it’s a solid collection but I didn’t enjoy it as much as ‘The Rising: Selected Scenes from the End of the World’. It all became a bit repetitive by the end of the book, however to be fair the setting of these stories doesn’t allow for as much freedom as the rising does. If you’re a fan of Brian’s work I’d still recommend this as a quick and entertaining read.
July 23, 2016
A pretty good book full of short stories that tie in nicely with Earthworm Gods and Earthworm Gods 2.
Brian Keene writes these short stories about real people and gives an explanation about the people and the story at the end of the book.
If you have read the first two Earthworm Gods books, pick this one up too, it is an added bonus.
Brian Keene writes these short stories about real people and gives an explanation about the people and the story at the end of the book.
If you have read the first two Earthworm Gods books, pick this one up too, it is an added bonus.
February 15, 2013
Not Keene's greatest. A decent read but it quickly becomes repetitive. Great concept but Keene has painted himself in a corner with the idea....
July 10, 2018
A good companion to the Earthworms Gods saga where some key elements are revealed. I didn't find it the stories as consistent as in The Rising: Selected Scenes from the End of the World but nonetheless, it entertains and adds to the mythos, especially if you're into the whole Labyrinth business that Keene has been building throughout his work. Definitely check it out if you're in for the long haul.
December 27, 2012
I've been reading Brian Keene books for the past four years and am a big fan of his work; so was pleased to see that another book was being released - this time it's the short story collection Earthworm Gods: Select Scenes. This is a book which follows on from the full novels Earthworm Gods (previously The Conqueror Worms) and Earthworm Gods: Deluge, so it's best to have read them before starting this one.
As I mentioned above this is a short story collection which tells the ends of the world from several different points of view all around the world. The reason the world is ending is due to two beings, called Leviathan and Behemoth, who have made it rain all over the world causing apocalyptic flooding, as well as unleashing giant worms and other minions to kill people. Some of these short stories involve full scale monster attacks which sees the protagonists in a bad situation fighting off a variety of creatures ranging from shark-men to vampire mermaids. Other stories are much slower and more thought provoking, and in some cases sad and touching, especially when the characters realise there is no escape from such a threat and that their only release is death.
It's this mix of characters and situations which got me reading the book so fast, always wanting to know what the next story contained. As with all of Brian's work is is linked to a central mythos; so readers of his others books will pick up people, places and situations mentioned in other books. The book also contains author notes in the back on each of the stories, on the characters within them but how/where it was written - something which can be quite insightful and adds depth to the stories.
Overall if you enjoy Brian Keene's other books then you'll love this as it is a worthy addition to any horror collection.
The novel was received in exchange for an honest review
As I mentioned above this is a short story collection which tells the ends of the world from several different points of view all around the world. The reason the world is ending is due to two beings, called Leviathan and Behemoth, who have made it rain all over the world causing apocalyptic flooding, as well as unleashing giant worms and other minions to kill people. Some of these short stories involve full scale monster attacks which sees the protagonists in a bad situation fighting off a variety of creatures ranging from shark-men to vampire mermaids. Other stories are much slower and more thought provoking, and in some cases sad and touching, especially when the characters realise there is no escape from such a threat and that their only release is death.
It's this mix of characters and situations which got me reading the book so fast, always wanting to know what the next story contained. As with all of Brian's work is is linked to a central mythos; so readers of his others books will pick up people, places and situations mentioned in other books. The book also contains author notes in the back on each of the stories, on the characters within them but how/where it was written - something which can be quite insightful and adds depth to the stories.
Overall if you enjoy Brian Keene's other books then you'll love this as it is a worthy addition to any horror collection.
The novel was received in exchange for an honest review
December 25, 2013
After reading The Conqueror Worms, I had to read this. This collection of short stories was riveting. Short peeks into the desperate and hopeless situations involving the giant man-eating worms introduced in The Conqueror Worms made for a quick read. The one that stood out involved snow. Particularly, since it was the one situation where I thought the worms could be eluded. Hmmmm. Maybe not.
I enjoyed this as much and maybe even a bit more than the Conqueror Worms. It really helped to fill out some backstory and give depth to the whole situation.
I enjoyed this as much and maybe even a bit more than the Conqueror Worms. It really helped to fill out some backstory and give depth to the whole situation.
March 26, 2013
This is a collection of very short stories set in the EARTHWORM GODS world. They're mostly more vignettes than story for the most part, a few pages retelling a single event or illustrating a short scene. Most are pretty well done, but become somewhat repetetive. I believe they would have worked better had they been included in the longer volumes, printed between chapters of the novels.
Want to read
October 26, 2016This book is copy number 462 of 500 hardcover copies printed, signed and numbered by Brian Keene.
April 29, 2020
The two Earthworm Gods novels are the perfect reading for the stormy days of April showers. So this season, while my yard floods up the numerous limp bodies of drowned nightcrawlers and the dead leaves that I could not get up last winter remain too soggy to suck up with my new John Deere high lift blades, I decided to pick up this collection of short stories featuring the Lovecraftian universe of the Conqueror Worms, one of Brian Keene's coolest creations.
I recommend this book only for pre-established fans of the novels. The short stories do not stand well on their own as a horror collection. The main reason is that the stories are not really stories. They are snippets of the last moments of various "characters" during the deluge that ends the world in the novels. The characters are well-fleshed out in a few pages because they are based off the interviews of real people who paid to have their personal profiles featured in this collection. It's a nifty idea, a marketing campaign that was repeated with Keene's "Rising" series. But story after story about the fates of characters you can't really invest in because you know they will be gone in just a few pages gets a bit tedious. Also, the scenarios that these characters face are very repetitive: rising flood waters, floating on an endless sea that was once their homeland, being pursued by giant farting earthworms. There are a few stories that attempt to break up the monotony, like the first snippet which replays the Noah story in a comical modern-day setting, and another tale of a guy being "rescued" from drowning by the crew of the "Flying Dutchman."
And though I love getting some extra doses of Earthworm God monster mayhem, this only works as fan service, not as a stand-alone work of horror.
If you haven't read the Earthworm God series, do it now. I think they are the work of genius, and are highly recommended for fans of subgenres as diverse as creature features, the apocalypse, survival horror, animals amok literature, shark movies, or Lovecraftian eldritch evil. Save this collection for after you have done that, but even then it is not entirely worth the bother.
I recommend this book only for pre-established fans of the novels. The short stories do not stand well on their own as a horror collection. The main reason is that the stories are not really stories. They are snippets of the last moments of various "characters" during the deluge that ends the world in the novels. The characters are well-fleshed out in a few pages because they are based off the interviews of real people who paid to have their personal profiles featured in this collection. It's a nifty idea, a marketing campaign that was repeated with Keene's "Rising" series. But story after story about the fates of characters you can't really invest in because you know they will be gone in just a few pages gets a bit tedious. Also, the scenarios that these characters face are very repetitive: rising flood waters, floating on an endless sea that was once their homeland, being pursued by giant farting earthworms. There are a few stories that attempt to break up the monotony, like the first snippet which replays the Noah story in a comical modern-day setting, and another tale of a guy being "rescued" from drowning by the crew of the "Flying Dutchman."
And though I love getting some extra doses of Earthworm God monster mayhem, this only works as fan service, not as a stand-alone work of horror.
If you haven't read the Earthworm God series, do it now. I think they are the work of genius, and are highly recommended for fans of subgenres as diverse as creature features, the apocalypse, survival horror, animals amok literature, shark movies, or Lovecraftian eldritch evil. Save this collection for after you have done that, but even then it is not entirely worth the bother.
June 19, 2020
This is a companion book to the other 2 books in the Earthworm God series where, for money, people had Brian Keene write them into short stories. Even cooler is that he talked to them so that their character was more than a name. I will admit it does at times feel a little bit tedious. How many times can you kill someone with a worm or a half man half shark creature? My favorite stories included the one about the quadriplegic whose end made me feel like it was Valentines Day with hearts bursting out of my chest. There was one that made me cry after 4 pages because it was about a dad taking his family to the beach in England. There were a couple on fatherhood that squeezed my heart. And for those and a couple of others, it made this book more than worth it.
October 10, 2021
Brian Keene's "Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes...." is a collection of short stories about the end of the world. It is a series of vignettes by people experiencing horrid endings by various monsters (shark men hybrids, etc.), fungus, and extra dimensional beings (or gods) of the Lovecraftian variety. This book is for readers who enjoy horror of the HPL variety. It is well written and is not a further expansion of the universe set forth in the previous two novels. He writes well and is worth a bedtime read for a few nights.
February 15, 2022
If you liked the first two Earthworm books than this will certainly “itch” that craving for some more stories in that dark, depressing and violent world!
I really enjoyed how there was continuity with characters and themes brought over from the first two books and I think adding these in short story form worked.
If anything, this makes me want to see what else Brain Keene can come up with in this world. I know there’s only so much you can do but I’m hoping for another, loooong page turner kinda book!
I really enjoyed how there was continuity with characters and themes brought over from the first two books and I think adding these in short story form worked.
If anything, this makes me want to see what else Brain Keene can come up with in this world. I know there’s only so much you can do but I’m hoping for another, loooong page turner kinda book!
March 6, 2023
Occasionally entertaining, but overall repetitive and uninspired. It's a shame, because I do love Brian Keene, but this collection of stories was disappointing. We didn't see much that wasn't already covered in the first two Earthworm Gods books. We didn't see much of any of the world before/during the major flooding, which felt like a lost opportunity. No rain-drenched communities grappling with cannibalism. No dregs of the government floating on an aircraft carrier. Just a bunch of solo acts on boats and buildings. The lack of variety ultimately made this a chore to read.
September 21, 2020
Conclusion of the end of the world. A couple dozen very short stories some only 2 pages describing their events as they struggle to survive. Author claimed this book has to be read last but I think you can read this first.
July 18, 2021
My hardcover limited edition copy of this collection is in storage so I purchased this reading copy and boy was I glad. Great short stories set in the Earthworm Gods universe featuring many of the people who I've interacted with or read about online. Highly recommended.
May 23, 2017
Meh. 2.5 stars. See Ken McKinley's review.
June 15, 2018
I really enjoyed this. For some reason knowing that most of the people are real made the stories more impactful. I can say this now. I enjoyed the Earthworm series way more than the Rising.
June 13, 2020
Such an amazing series and quite sad that it's end!
December 6, 2021
Some of these were really good. Some of them weren't as capitivating.
December 23, 2022
All these stories are good with a couple fantastic ones in there. My only issue is that since these are very short, self contained stories, that you frequently come across the same plot devices.
December 26, 2022
One of the best series I have ever read!!
November 26, 2025
I'm not a huge fan of short stories, simply because, often, when a story is entertaining, you end up wanting more.. Brian's two books set in this world are well worth thet trouble.
November 23, 2025
Dementia symbolism packaged in the kind of horror novel where the outset is completely obvious: the title is Earthworm Gods. We begin in medias res in a rainstorm that has lasted for 41 days. The forced writing is from the voice of the widower, Teddy Garnett, who is scribbling the book in a notebook on the floor of his home. He’s seen “most of his good friends get old and die. Most of them before the rain started, except for Carl. One by one, they succumbed to Alzheimer’s, cancer, loneliness, and just plain old age.” (17) He writes about Vietnam, about getting old, about feeling overly saccharine about his lost world and overly tragic about his late wife. He recounts the rash of suicides and dissappearances during the flooding that has come with monthlong rainstorm— “Like I said earlier, I am not a writer…” (93). The middle section of book takes on a different, more youthful voice, set in a completely flooded Baltimore. Teddy is based on Keene’s grandfather and the Baltimore section a dedication to one of Keene’s late friends.
This is a wet, foggy book built on a vast foundation of the surface of the Earth, that features horrors our imaginations and our habits have conjured up. Leviathans, Behemoths, sea myths, coal mining, climate change, Satanists. It all befalls the most vulnerable, bread-and-butter of our society: Teddy and Carl Seaton, his best friend, are vietnam vets living in Punkin’ Center, WV. Nowhere USA flyover country that has become a the only dry, high ground. A sinkhole takes Carl’s house and he hides out with Teddy, and Sarah and Kevin join them after fleeing from Baltimore.
Groping for explanations for the slithering forms and smells bursting through the mud and devouring tentacles and white fungus, the characters loose a grip on reality. For the older men, it is questioned as an aspect of dementia— for Earl, Teddy’s neighbor and town outcast, it is a result of “HARP project, a weather control device,” (66); but all the characters keep pining for a consumerist normalcy, which is itself a kind of consumption. They talk about Andy Griffith and The Outlaw Josey Wales; they long for cigarettes and chewing tobacco; they wonder about how the neighbors are getting along; they check in on the livestock (including cows with gruesomely ruptured udders), hum Skeeter Davis’s The End of the World, argue the merits of new country versus old, play Pantera CDs at makeshift burials in makeshift seas and then complain they only have access to hard rock and would much prefer some jazz and blues to listen to, and they discuss all the movies which were supposed to come out, if only they weren't flooded in some hollywood studio basement. Great horror takes this quotidian, banal conversation and then spits a massive gob of spit at the window and gives everyone a few bullets. This is suffering in all its ordinariness; we just want the rain to stop because the weather makes your bones ache, but then these characters will go on consuming the way they always have, giving double meaning to the Bible Verse “The things which grow out of the dust of the earth and destroy the hope of man,” (45).
This is a wet, foggy book built on a vast foundation of the surface of the Earth, that features horrors our imaginations and our habits have conjured up. Leviathans, Behemoths, sea myths, coal mining, climate change, Satanists. It all befalls the most vulnerable, bread-and-butter of our society: Teddy and Carl Seaton, his best friend, are vietnam vets living in Punkin’ Center, WV. Nowhere USA flyover country that has become a the only dry, high ground. A sinkhole takes Carl’s house and he hides out with Teddy, and Sarah and Kevin join them after fleeing from Baltimore.
Groping for explanations for the slithering forms and smells bursting through the mud and devouring tentacles and white fungus, the characters loose a grip on reality. For the older men, it is questioned as an aspect of dementia— for Earl, Teddy’s neighbor and town outcast, it is a result of “HARP project, a weather control device,” (66); but all the characters keep pining for a consumerist normalcy, which is itself a kind of consumption. They talk about Andy Griffith and The Outlaw Josey Wales; they long for cigarettes and chewing tobacco; they wonder about how the neighbors are getting along; they check in on the livestock (including cows with gruesomely ruptured udders), hum Skeeter Davis’s The End of the World, argue the merits of new country versus old, play Pantera CDs at makeshift burials in makeshift seas and then complain they only have access to hard rock and would much prefer some jazz and blues to listen to, and they discuss all the movies which were supposed to come out, if only they weren't flooded in some hollywood studio basement. Great horror takes this quotidian, banal conversation and then spits a massive gob of spit at the window and gives everyone a few bullets. This is suffering in all its ordinariness; we just want the rain to stop because the weather makes your bones ache, but then these characters will go on consuming the way they always have, giving double meaning to the Bible Verse “The things which grow out of the dust of the earth and destroy the hope of man,” (45).
October 20, 2014
This is the third and final book of the Earthworm Gods trilogy. The third book is not really a continuation of where the story left off in the second book, this is more of a companion book that showcases various other survivors through separate short stories. Some of these characters do show up in the second book, but they played very minor roles and only the sharpest of readers will pick up on it. (Or big fans of Keene's work like myself.) To me if felt almost like a fun set of extras or bonuses for fans of the first two books. It really doesn't stand on it's own two feet very well, you should really read the first two books first.
That being said it did remind me a lot of Autumn: The Human Condition in which the same book focused on various minor characters who were merely hinted at in the main series. This does help enrich the overall universe the main books helped set up. There is however a nice little set of reference notes that helps new readers become more aware of the shared multi-verse of Brian Keene's various short stories and novels. For those not familiar with Brian's other work, his stories are often connected in some shape or form. This is hinted at briefly in the second Earthworm Gods book.
Overall if you are a fan of Brian Keene's work or enjoyed the first two Earthworm Gods books, then this is a fun little collection to check out. I should also note that some of these short stories were very hard to find previous to this collections release!
That being said it did remind me a lot of Autumn: The Human Condition in which the same book focused on various minor characters who were merely hinted at in the main series. This does help enrich the overall universe the main books helped set up. There is however a nice little set of reference notes that helps new readers become more aware of the shared multi-verse of Brian Keene's various short stories and novels. For those not familiar with Brian's other work, his stories are often connected in some shape or form. This is hinted at briefly in the second Earthworm Gods book.
Overall if you are a fan of Brian Keene's work or enjoyed the first two Earthworm Gods books, then this is a fun little collection to check out. I should also note that some of these short stories were very hard to find previous to this collections release!
January 28, 2015
Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World explores the fallout from Brian Keene's Earthworm Gods series. In those books we learn that it started to rain one day and never stopped. A cult performed a ritual, opening a door into another dimension, releasing all manner of monsters upon the Earth. Soon, not only is humanity trying to survive the worst flooding ever seen on Earth, but they also have to contend with bloodthirsty mermaids and giant earthworms, among other horrifying creatures.
I'd advise you to read Earthworm Gods 1 and 2 before you read this. It'll help you appreciate what the various characters in this book face as the world floods and the monsters emerge.
As with any anthology, some stories are more enjoyable then others. But with the fact that the stories are written by Brian Keene, even the not-so-good ones are better than most of what is published today. The really great stories do more than just scare you, they make you root for the characters and wonder what you would do in a similar situation. If I were to recommend one story, it would be One Last Breath, concerning what a father would do to save his son. It hits all the right notes and makes you feel as if you were right in the thick of things.
Even if the individual stories aren't all of the same high quality, they all add to Brian Keene's overall mythology quite nicely. If you're a fan of Keene's work, you won't regret adding this book to your collection.
I'd advise you to read Earthworm Gods 1 and 2 before you read this. It'll help you appreciate what the various characters in this book face as the world floods and the monsters emerge.
As with any anthology, some stories are more enjoyable then others. But with the fact that the stories are written by Brian Keene, even the not-so-good ones are better than most of what is published today. The really great stories do more than just scare you, they make you root for the characters and wonder what you would do in a similar situation. If I were to recommend one story, it would be One Last Breath, concerning what a father would do to save his son. It hits all the right notes and makes you feel as if you were right in the thick of things.
Even if the individual stories aren't all of the same high quality, they all add to Brian Keene's overall mythology quite nicely. If you're a fan of Keene's work, you won't regret adding this book to your collection.
March 23, 2016
If you haven't read Earthworm Gods or Earthworm Gods 2: Deluge, make you sure read them before digging into this short story collection. It makes for an incredibly good reading experience as it references characters and other little bits and pieces from these books and other Brian Keene novels. As far as this individual installment in the series, it fleshes out an already amazing story of the end of the world in a flood. Two of the Thirteen, Behemoth and Leviathan have torn apart the world and their minions are picking off the last individuals left on submerged planet. There is a lot to be said for the imagination and world building done by Keene in these stories and managing to keep the stories fresh while sticking to the central theme of death and destruction with no hope of survival. My only complaint is that a certain time the writing becomes repetitive. Especially the mentioning of the white fuzz in almost every single chapter. It is important to the story but seems to be beating a dead horse. This isn't a deal breaker however. Once you get passed this, its an amazing thrill ride. Looking forward to learning more about the Labyrinth, the Thirteen, and other figures from the rest of Keene's novels.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews