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  • The Rising

  • By: Brian Keene
  • Narrated by: Joe Hempel
  • Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins
  • 4.1 out of 5 stars (71 ratings)
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The Rising cover art

The Rising

By: Brian Keene
Narrated by: Joe Hempel
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Summary

Since its 2003 debut, Brian Keene's The Rising is one of the best-selling zombie novels of all-time. It has been translated into over a dozen languages, inspired the works of other authors and filmmakers, and has become a cultural touchstone for an entire generation of horror fans.

The Rising is the story of Jim Thurmond, a determined father battling his way across a post-apocalyptic zombie landscape, to find his young son. Accompanied by Martin, a preacher still holding to his faith, and Frankie, a recovering heroin addict with an indomitable will to survive, Jim travels from state to state and town to town facing an endless onslaught of undead hordes and the evils perpetrated by his fellow man.

©2003 Brian Keene (P)2017 David N. Wilson

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What listeners say about The Rising

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Listener received this title free

1st Book in a series.

For reasons I won't go into I stopped reading books back in the late 1990's and resumed reading them in 2017, the stresses of life during those twenty-seven or so years giving me little time to sit back and disappear into a book.

When I did start reading again (after buying one of those little eletronic book-type thingies) I started researching on what I had missed, and this I did by the obligatory internet seach-engines with something like “the best horror novels of the 90's”.

Eventually I came across a writer called Brian Keene, apparently a famous fella, and I selected a book pretty much at random from the cheaper end of the e-book spectrum; which turned out to be called “The Rising”, later I found the book in an audio format (narrated by Joe Hempel) and took the plunge.

Okay. I thought, lets give it a go; and so I did.

Now I'm a horror fan, and I have been since a nine year old me watching zombie movies and a ten year old me watched slahser flicks. By the time I was fifteen I had thousands of videocassettes (remember those?) and I have probably seen a fair few hundred zombie movies, so I'm pretty much zombied-out; or at least I thought I was.

The Rising sets the walking dead amidst a decidedly religious themed apocalypse that effectively changes all the rules we've been used to regarding the living dead.

Which for me was a welcome change.

These zombies talk and drive, work in teams and hatch plans that hint at an even darker truth behind it all that our heroes can barely guess at. Through this story we follow pockets of survivors, each with thier own mission, as they gradually converge on a rogue military base and the mad commander that runs it.

Theres a good amount of action on-hand and more than a little gore that spurs the reader on into a densely packed world that moves at an enviable pace across half of middle America; but thankfully we are in good hands with Joe Hempel as our narrator, who keeps things snappy and does not impede the books pacing.

As I hit the final minutes of the book I was already seaching for the second book in the series, purchasing it and downloading it as the final seconds of the first story rolled by and I'm certain that this sequel, City of the Dead, will not be the last Brian Keene book I'll be working through over the coming months.

Even if you're zombied-out as I was, this one might just make you revisit those lovable cadavers and their overly enthusiatic hickey's; really, all they want is some affection.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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You can't beat a good Zombie Apocalypse

This is good; it grabs hold of you from the start and doesn't let go. The story is well balanced and proceeds without boring passages or unexplained jumps. The narrator does a good job of keeping you on board. I really enjoyed this; the follow-up is next in my Library to listen to and I really can't wait to get stuck in.

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3 people found this helpful

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A fantastic novel

This has to be one of the best books I have heard in the genre it deals with the brutal end of anything human but yet still shines a torch of hope for mankind,I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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A zombie apocalypse with a twist

I read this book back when it was first published in paperback in 2004 and loved it. 17 years later and I've rediscovered just how much I truly enjoy Brian Keene's writing style. Out of the myriad zombie novels I've read/listened to over the decades this one really stood out (along with the sequel). Joe Hempel's narration is exemplary and his characterisations wonderful.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

foul mouthed book

Couldn't continue due to the racism and levels of swearing. like an open sewer. ouch

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Love the genre but this book is awful

I have listened to most of the book but I can't finish it. At several points I've had to turn it off because I've felt incredibly cringed listening to it.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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a decent zombie book

I did enjoy this different take on zombies. Nothing creeps me out more than fast or clever zombies, and this story had it both.
The story is not without its issues, stereotypical characters and a lot of deus ex machina to save the main characters. 2 deaths i struggle to forgive the author.
The ending threw me, it finishes mid-action, forcing you to find out the rest in the second book. Not cool.
But i did enjoy listening to it, so will probably have to suck it up and continue.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Breathes new life into the walking dead

The horror fiction market has a plethora of books about zombies, most of which follow the now tired old tropes established by the genius George A. Romero in his ‘Living Dead’ films (RIP George, you are much missed). However, I think this audiobook ranks just below Max Brooks’ ‘World War Z’ as a fine example of original, inventive, well-written zombie literature.

The thing that sets this book apart from others in the genre is Keene’s unique take on the zombies themselves. I mean, zombies that are intelligent? Can talk? Drive? Use weapons? Count me in! And I’m sorry but coming up with the idea of zombie birds and even zombie goldfish is utter genius. Beware the flying dead and the swimming dead!

Alongside these different and dangerous zombies is a large cast of engaging, interesting and (mostly) likeable characters who you root for and want to survive. Although character description and development do not appear to be Keene’s major concerns in this book, I did like that he switched between different viewpoints to give the reader at least some depth and insight into each character.

I do have some reservations about the book. This is a zombie novel and so some blood, guts and brain munching are obviously expected. However, Keene does not hold back on the violence and gore. It was almost too much for me, so readers with weak stomachs should approach with care. Even more disturbing were the extremely violent and intense scenes with female characters. These were unpleasant, gratuitous and very uncomfortable to listen to.

The pace never flagged and it was gripping throughout. This was in part due to Keene’s writing, but also because of the effective narration. The narrator never once pulled me out of the story, so I have no hesitation in giving the performance five stars.

Finally, the book ends on a rather abrupt cliff-hanger, which is frustrating as it means I have no choice but to buy the next in the series to find out what happens next…

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

disappointing

only read when you are into demonic possesed super zombies. i bought it as it has really good reviews but never finished the book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Ieft me thinking how would you survive.

Normally would not go for a book with low ratings, however I really enjoyed it. I got a bit of a King vibe from the book so that did help.
However I do feel that it could have been twice as long to flesh out the story and characters.the book got me thinking and I am left wondering how would I survive this with a few more questions on the current situation they are in.

All in worth a listen if you are a zombie fan.

I don't understand people commenting about the foul and racist language from the characters, it's more than likely how the world would revert in that situation.

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