The Rising: Selected Scenes From the End of the World Read online

  “Other Worlds than These”

  Confused? Don’t be. All will be explained in time. Consider this an introduction to my planned thirteen-volume Labyrinth series (as I write this, I’m halfway through the first draft of the first book). As you read the story, you probably caught references to not only The Rising, but to The Conqueror Worms and many of my short stories. Don’t panic. There is a reason for this. The Labyrinth connects everything I’ve ever written, but I’ve been purposely subtle about it in my other novels and short stories. Why?

  Because, truthfully—it won’t be for everybody. Many of my readers will prefer to read the novels and stories as stand-alone works, the way I intended them to be. And I’m fine with that. You shouldn’t need to know what happened in The Rising to enjoy Terminal, or who the characters were in City of the Dead to understand the stories in Fear of Gravity. But the hardcore fans; the fans who want a peek behind the curtains; the fans who love a vast, rich mythos; the fans who enjoyed epics like Marvel Comics’

  Secret Wars crossover series or Stephen King’s Dark Tower; will probably enjoy that walk through the maze. Bob Lewis is one of those people, and I thought it appropriate to make his story, the final story in this book, the bridge between the two.

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  BRIAN KEENE is the best-selling author of many books, including Ghoul, Terminal, The Conqueror Worms, Dead Sea, The Rising, City of the Dead, and many more. Several of his short stories have been adapted into graphic novels and several of his novels are slated for film and video game adaptations. The winner of two Bram Stoker awards, Keene’s work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, the History Channel, CNN.com, Fangoria, and Rue Morgue. Keene lives in Pennsylvania with his wife, Cassi, and his dog, Sam. He communicates with his readers online at: www.briankeene.com.

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  Table of Contents

  ALSO BY BRIAN KEENE

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  INTRODUCTION

  DON’S LAST MOSH

  FAMILY REUNION

  AS ABOVE (Sisters, Part One)

  SO BELOW (Sisters, Part Two)

  LAST CHANCE FOR LA CHANCE

  WATCHING THE WORLD END

  THE FALL OF ROME

  WALKABOUT (Part One)

  HELLHOUNDS ON MY TRAIL

  SPOILERS

  THE MAN COMES AROUND

  THE SUMMONING

  POCKET APOCALYPSE

  THE VIKING PLAYS PATTY CAKE

  IF YOU CAN SEE THE MOUNTAIN…

  YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE

  AND HELL FOLLOWED WITH HIM

  THE HIGH POINT

  WHERE THE DOWN BOYS GO

  WALKABOUT (Part Two)

  1 CORINTHIANS 15:51

  ALL FALL DOWN

  THROUGH THE GLASS DARKLY

  A MAN’S HOME IS HIS CASKET

  ZOMBIE WORM

  THE NIGHT THE DEAD DIED

  THE MORNING AFTER

  MARCH OF THE ELILUM

  BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE

  AMERICAN PIE

  TWO SUNS IN THE SUNSET

  OTHER WORLDS THAN THESE

  THE END

  AFTERWORD:

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR