Brian Keene Books In Order

Publication Order of The Rising Books

Publication Order of The Earthworm Gods Books

Publication Order of Clickers Books

Publication Order of Levi Stoltzfus Books

Publication Order of The Last Zombie Books

Publication Order of Lost Level Books

Publication Order of The Bastards Books

Publication Order of LeHorn's Hollow Books

Publication Order of The Labyrinth Books

Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Short Stories/Novellas

Publication Order of Short Story Collections

Publication Order of Standalone Plays

Publication Order of Graphic Novels

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Masters of the Universe: Origins of Eternia Books

Publication Order of The X-Files Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

An American writer who is primarily known for his horror and crime-fiction, along with his many comic books as well, the author Brian Keene has been writing for a number of years now, as his audience has been building steadily over the many years of his now highly regarded literary career. Winning various awards for his work, he is seen as being at the forefront of the recent trend in zombie fiction that has been enjoying mainstream appeal. Not only that, but he has also worked for a number of big name franchises as well, including such titles as Doctor Who, Superman and Hellboy.

Early and Personal Life

Born on the 22nd of September in 1967, the author Brian Keene was brought up in Pennsylvania in the United States, before moving on to West Virginia as well, both places featuring heavily in his work later on, as he became a writer of much repute, creating a name for himself. The places would not only help to inspire him and his settings, but they also managed to provide him with the many experiences needed to create the narratives and characters within as well. All of this led up to him becoming the writer that he is today, as he took in his surroundings, along with establishing his love of literature and the written word.

Graduating from high-school he went straight into work serving for some time in the United States Navy for sometime aboard a landing platform dock, or LPD, working as a radioman for a period of time there, taking in a variety of different experiences over the duration of his stint positioned there. This also helped him to gain a worldly sense to his material, as he traveled around, giving his material an even greater level of depth than it would have had otherwise. It was then after his enlistment into the US Navy had ended that he went on to undertake a variety of other jobs as well.

Working in a whole diverse range of different roles following his time in the army, he undertook a variety of different positions such as truck driver, telemarketer, custodian, salesman, disc jockey, data entry clerk, repo man, foundry worker, daycare instructor, dockworker, store manager and bouncer. All of this is what he himself accredits to his writing of unique and interesting characters that manage to populate his novels. It has also worked in his favor in that it provides him with a great degree of material for his writing as well, enabling him to provide situations that he may not otherwise have created.

All of this has led to him becoming the successful writer that he currently is today, as he lives in York, Pennsylvania. He also maintains a weekly podcast titled ‘The Horror Show With Brian Keene’ that keeps its listeners updated with all the latest in horror. Not only that, but he works for charity as well, advocating for a group that’s called ‘Scares That Care’, which he helps fund-raise to this day for, as he continues to write.

Writing Career

Bringing out his first novel in 2003 with The Rising, Brian Keene is credited with bringing in the latest pop-cultural fascination with zombie folklore. This is an honor he shares with Robert Kirkman who wrote ‘The Walking Dead’, as they both created comic books on the subject too. With this influence being credited to him, he’s now seen as an influential figure within the horror publishing industry.

Winning awards, such as the 2001 Bram Stoker Award, which was given to him for a non-fiction title of his, he’s gained a large amount of success over the years. Not only is he critically acclaimed, but he’s commercially successful as well, Brian Keene has the best of both worlds when it comes to his work. With plenty more titles set to be released on the horizon as well, it’s clear that he’s showing no signs of stopping anytime soon, as his writing career grows from strength-to-strength.

The Rising

First published in 2003 in April, it was the first in a long running series of novels which were brought out through the Delirium publishing label. Setting up the franchise for the many subsequent novels that were to follow, this was a zombie horror themed title that was credited for helping start the recent fascination with the genre. Inspiring a number of filmmakers afterwards, along with a new generation of horror fanatics, it worked to create a style and tone all of its very own that was dark and foreboding.

Starting out with Jim Thurmond as its leading protagonist, it sees him navigate his way across a now zombie infested post-apocalyptic wasteland as he sets off to find his young son. Traveling alongside him is the preacher Martin who is determined to hold onto his faith despite the odds being stacked against him, and Frankie a now recovering heroin addict who is equally determined to survive. Going from state to each subsequent state, the group come across unspeakable horrors not only from the undead, but from their fellow man as well. Will they make it? Where is his son and is he still alive? Do they have what it takes to face up to the rising?

Dead Sea

Whilst the The Rising may have reignited an interest in zombies and the undead, this sought to take it one step further with a new series titled ‘Dead Sea’. One of two so far, it was first brought out in 2007 through the Leisure Books publishing house, as it attempted to replicate the success of his previous novels, whilst also taking it up a level in terms of suspense and horror. Whilst it may hold much of the now signature style and suspense that Brian Keene is famous for, it also manages to hold its own standing on its own two feet as a separate entity from his past works.

Featuring the story of Lamar Reed this time, a group of survivors attempt to make their way out of the zombie infested city to board an old Coast Guard ship that is situated out to sea. This will help to put a lot of water between all of them and the undead, but it appears that it isn’t quite the safe-haven they had hoped for as the boat becomes a deathtrap. Faced with no way of getting back to land they must deal with the zombie threat if they have any hope of surviving in the face almost sure death. Will they be able to get off the boat? Can they get back to mainland? What will become of them all as they face the horrors of the dead sea?