Jacks Magic Beans is the first Brian Keene book I have read since he left Dorchester Publishing and signed with Deadite Press. Now, I don’t want to get deep into why Keene decided to leave Dorchester, it’s a long story and if you need to know why, you can visit his website and read his past blog entries. Let’s just say that if you want to get your hands on any of Keene’s backlog you’re going to have to buy it though Deadite Press now.
I was looking forward to reading Jack Magic Beans which I found out while reading the book that it consists of five short stories. The first being Jacks Magic Beans. While reading the book however, I came to realize that I read a few of the stories in previous short story collections released by Keene in the past. Yet, that does not mean they needed a little bit of revisiting, and so I did just that. There is no law saying you can’t read a good story twice.
The book consists of five stories, “Jacks Magic Beans”, “Without You”, “I Am an Exit”, “This Is Not an Exit”, and “The King, in: YELLOW”. Jacks Magic Beans has nothing to do with beanstalks and giants. It is about the human race going crazy with the exception of a few people that are trapped in a grocery store meat freezer and soon find out why they have not turned mad. Without You is a story about a guy who hates his life. Most married men can relate to this one in one way or another. “I Am an Exit”, “This Is Not an Exit” are two stories that involve the same character. These stories involve a killer that you’re not really sure if he’s a serial killer or a supernatural killer. You have to read them. As noted by Keene himself; you can look forward to this character popping up in a future Keene book. Last but not least, one of my favorite Keene short stories The King, in: YELLOW. This short is about a couple going out on their anniversary in the city of Baltimore when they run into a homeless man that tells them about this great, yet disturbing play. The play is playing at an old theater at midnight. Needless to say if you want to know how this story ends you’re just going to have to read it. It’s just ones of those stories that freaks you out at the end. The tone of the story really gets under my skin. Its one that won’t disappoint.
I know I’m only repeating myself when I say that Brian Keene is one of the best horror writers out there. I’ll be saying it well after the man stops writing. There are just some writers whose work you can relate too. I relate to most of Keene’s stories in one way or another and a lot of that has to do with the messages Keene leaves for his fans at the end of some of his books. In this one, we get a personal message with each story as to why Keene wrote the story, where the idea came from and how it relates to his life. He is the working man’s writer and loves his fans. He wants us to know everything about his stories and how they came to be, and that what separates him from other writers.
Jacks Magic Beans is a great collection of stories from Brian Keene. It is a must own for all fans of Keene’s work. Brian Keene is a writer whose work should be read by all fans of horror. He is a man that keeps in touch with his fans via his message board and does not let the popularity of his writing get to his head. He has publicly stated he does not want to be the next great horror writer. That he just wants to be a mid-level writer that can make a living off his work. To me he has already achieved the greatness it takes to be the next great one. However Keene is like that underground punk band that never signs with a major label. I’m sure any major publisher would of gobbled up his back titles for distribution, but Keene decided to sign with Deadite, and along with guys like Edward Lee and Bryan Smith help build the next great horror publishing company. In my opinion it looks like that’s going to happen. So, with that said, go get yourself a copy of Jacks Magic Beans, and why your at it pick up some of Keene’s other titles and check out all the great books that Deadite has to offer.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
