Letters From the Labyrinth 408

Those Zombies You Like Are Going To Come Back In Style

Was thinking back this past week to 2003 and 2004, and how — independently of one another — my novel THE RISING, Danny Boyle’s film 28 Days Later, and Robert Kirkman’s comic book The Walking Dead all came out within a short span, one after the other.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Much has been written by critics, academics, and reviewers much smarter than me about that moment, so I don’t feel the need to rehash that here. Nor will I write a lengthy essay about the uncanny similarities that all three share, again independently of one another (because none of us knew each other and we certainly didn’t compare notes and say “Hey, let’s each make one of our main protagonists a woman of color, and let’s each make our other protagonists a parent-child dynamic…” and so forth and so on). Suffice to say, I believe very strongly in Alan Moore’s theory of Idea Space and how it impacts the zeitgeist. I think THE RISING, 28 Days Later, and The Walking Dead are visible proof of that.

I will also say that it is a very peculiar kind of fame and notoriety to have impacted pop culture in such a way.

Anyway, more than twenty years later, there’s a new book set in the world of THE RISING coming out, and there’s a new film set in the world of 28 Days Later coming out, and I wonder if Kirkman is secretly working on dropping a new Walking Dead comic at some point next year.

THE RISING: MORE SELECTED SCENES FROM THE END OF THE WORLD was originally meant to just be a slim, limited edition chapbook to raise money for author Kristopher Triana’s dog. Somewhere along the way, it morphed from that original idea and plan, adding illustrations by Anthrax and Pantera’s Charlie Benante, and getting a mainstream release.

I’m told the paperback will be out by the end of January. The eBook is available now.

Paperback: Amazon - B&N - BAM

eBook: Kindle - Nook - Apple

Again… this is a slim collection. I hadn’t intended for it to have a mass market release. That was the publisher’s decision. But it will hold you over until the sixth and final book in the series, which is titled THE FALL, and which — when finished — will be the longest novel I have ever written, similar in size to hefty tomes like Stephen King’s The Stand or Robert R. McCammon’s Swan Song. Given that length, it will be a bit before you see it.

Good morning. I’m Brian Keene, and this is Letters From the Labyrinth, a long-running weekly newsletter for fans, friends, and family.

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My pal — author and fellow Scares That Care board member Sonora Taylor — is now available for digital consulting, including building author websites. If you’re an author, you need a website. It’s as simple as that. Social media is not a viable alternative, particularly in this day and age. For more information on what Sonora can do to help you out, click here.

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I spent some time this past week updating the storefront on my website. Please note — I’m talking about the online storefront for Brian Keene, the writer, rather than the online store for Vortex Books & Comics (the store that I own). It offers handy shopping links from multiple retail sources for every book, comic, and movie of mine that is currently available. Check it out here.

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My new lengthy short story, “Notes Toward A History of LeHorn’s Hollow” appears in the new anthology THE MAP OF LOST PLACES, which you can preorder here.

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Over on YouTube, I’ve added a video about TALKING SMACK to the Secret Histories series. Watch it here. (Subscribers to my Patreon got early access).

On this past week’s episode of HOW TO SURVIVE 2025, Dacia, Jim and I took a break a break from the serious stuff to discuss and recommend our favorite prepper-related books, movies, and television shows. Listen free via: Web Browser ~ Spotify ~ iHeartRadio ~ Apple ~ Amazon/Audible ~ YouTube ~ Podbean ~ Player FM

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Currently Watching: Survivor Season 47 (Paramount Plus), What We Do In The Shadows season 6 (Hulu), and Deadwood Season 3 (Max)

Currently Reading: Dignity by Ken Layne, Walk On The Wildside by Karl Edward Wagner, and Wolves of the Calla: The Dark Tower V by Stephen King.

Currently Listening: This evening (Saturday evening as I type this) it’s Charlie Pride’s Greatest Hits.

Great Survivor season finale, although it was pretty clear who the winner was going to be going into it.

I was disappointed with the series finale to What We Do in The Shadows. A rare misstep in an otherwise perfect show.

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And that does it for this week. Thanks, as always, for reading. I’ll see you back here again next Sunday.

— Brian Keene