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Comments
Make Your Own Way — Alma Katsu
A horse? Ugh. I guess i have to gird my loins for more animals.
I liked this story about a strong country girl. Kind, good and self-sufficient. She’s a great addition to Mother Abigail’s team.
I Love the Dead — by Josh Malerman
I enjoyed this opening to Part 2. Very apropos.
“I will walk alone by the black muddy river
And listen to the ripples as they moan
I will walk alone by the black muddy river.
And sing me a song of my own.”
Milagros — Cynthia Pelayo
I am trying really hard not to spoil stories. There is so much I want to say about all of them — which me babbling even more? Probably a good thing I keep my comments short. Anything I might write here is all spoilers so all I will say about this story is: fuck me.
Again, I did like reading the Spanish — yes, a few, easy things, but I still understood so I take that as a victory.
Good entry.
The Legion of Swine — S.A. Cosby
Snapshots, moments, memories, a quiet routine and a peaceful beauty in that — until the trash shows up.
We need more pigs, right here and now.
Going in, this better be good….
Keep the Devil Down — Rio Youers
GO! GO! GO! GO!
Was that a character from where I think it was from? Fantastic!
Niiiice.
Across the Pond — V. Castro
Pleasant addition to the continuing journey.
The Boatman — Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes
I can’t put my finger on this…. Maybe I slept poorly. Maybe I need coffee. All the stories I’ve read so far have given me fear, anxiety, loneliness, a tiny but of hope to varying degrees — this one caught my breath just this side of panic. I’m sitting here trying to figure it out, why this one? It’s a lot more quiet than others, and maybe that’s what makes it feel so dangerous.
Sorry not sorry guys, but this strong little girl gently, carefully micromanaging two walking wannabe alpha douchebags — I felt fear for her. She was doing an intricate dance with the devils in the pale moonlight.
So who comes away saying, “Look at me. Look at me. I’m the captain now.”
The Story I Tell is the Story of Some of Us — Paul Trembley
Should I start this out with, “It was a dark and stormy night”? (Snoopy would like this choice); Or, “Once upon a time”? Both work. Paul has packed a lot into this story that I can’t help but relate to life now. Right now.
Once upon a time, in the before days, this story would have been a tribute to a guy who wrote an epic tale. A safe not-my-life account of some poor schmucks in a shit-ton of danger coming in from all sides and me sitting safe and warm and fat and sassy.
For me — and I’ll speak only for me — this story is terrifying right here and now.
So, if you learn one fucking thing from this whole book learn this:
“One person, even this Walkin Dude guy, is powerless by themselves; they have to be GIVEN power or TAKE it from others.” And I would change that “or” to “to”.
Take down those moronic Live, Laugh, Love signs and put that quote up. The first you tuck away in your heart and mind, the second you embrace it and fight it in every way you can.
Good one.
The Mosque at the End of the World — Usman T. Malik
What a poetic, beautiful, dignified story and I loved that this part of the world was included.
We are all unique individuals shaped by where, when, how we exist in this life, but one event can magnify what we have in common and bond us. Good people collectively seek the same things that strengthen all of us pretty much. Bad people seek what benefits them alone.
A tale well told.
Abagail’s Gethsemane — by Wayne Brady and Maurice Broaddus
Arrrgghhhh%<*+!!!!hgghfdefcdfarrrgghh!!!!! God???)($97&&),;+>?
?~€€£cdfgfuuuuccjv yggfv!*%#i’mscreaming!!!!!!!!!!!
God, evil, history — rinse and repeat.
In case it’s not obvious, this one fired me up. This was tough to read but necessary.
The End….
He’s a Righteous Man — Ronald Malfi
Strong opening for Section 3.
Well done. Well done. Yep…well done. 🤔😇
Part of me thinks author Jacob Cree is loosely Stephen King and his book of prophecy, The Stand. Just me thinkin’.
Awaiting Orders in Flaggston — by Somer Canon
Scary, brutal and insane.
Somer delivered.
Grand Junction — Chuck Wendig
Interesting plot executed well.
Hunted to Extinction — Premee Mohamed
The Thing meets The Stand. Scary stuff.
Came the Last Night of Sadness — Catherynne M. Valente
I loved this story.
“My name was Kimberley Lynn McKiver….” I read this and cried.
And this, so much this:
“I dunno…sometimes , you know.. some people …some kinds of people… don’t want to die without saying some things”….”And they leave it somewhere it won’t get wrecked…” — Tears.
And me personally, I think some boxes can be labeled “remember me” as well as “I remembered you.” They can be both. I believe that. — Tears.
Thank you.
The Devil’s Children — by Sarah Langan
This will be an odd one, but go with me on this. I got a strong Dr. Seuss vibe here in relation to this:
“Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars.
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.
Those stars weren't so big. They were really so small. You might think such a thing wouldn't matter at all.”
It applies in that there is discrimination, prejudice and social inequality between The Chosen and the outcasts. I don’t want to elaborate, but ka is a wheel.
The Unfortunate Convalescence of the Superlawyer — by Nat Cassidy
Spitting my coffee across the room!
Oh. My. God.
“History is written by the victors.”
And it continues to be altered when one wants to change history. Pages go “missing” or “morph” into this barely recognizable thing as power moves through.
And somewhere in there is the truth we must pass down.
Thank you to the authors for your beautiful stories. I enjoyed every one and I gave your loving work my full attention; I invested myself in your world.
Forgive me as I jumped territories between The Stand then to today’s now. My running theme seemed to be “right here and now” as I commented. It was hard to not make comparisons to our world these days.
I am so looking forward to what other people feel and think — in that order. But I’m guessing I’ll have to go elsewhere than these hallowed halls to find out.
Thank you to anyone who paid the slightest bit of attention to all this (coughcough mark
Thank you Brian Keene for your patience and generosity here in your Keenedom: and thank you and Christopher Golden for putting this together. I would also like to thank the behind-the-scenes helpers also.
To Stephen King - See buddy? Good things can come out of a little trust.
Sometimes ya gotta just take a leap of faith.
With thanks and respect .