Jack's Magic Beans [Paperback]

Brian Keene (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 2011

It happens in a split-second...

One moment, customers are happily shopping in the Save-A-Lot grocery store. The next instant, they are transformed into bloodthirsty psychotics, interested only in slaughtering one another and committing unimaginably atrocious and frenzied acts of violent depravity. Only Jack, Sammi, Angie and Marcel seem immune to the insanity that has infected the rest of the town. But can they stay alive long enough - and trust each other long enough - to unravel the secret of Jack's magic beans...

Deadite Press is proud to bring one of Brian Keene's bleakest and most violent novellas back into print once more. This edition also includes four bonus short stories: "Without You", "I Am An Exit", "This Is Not An Exit", and "The King, in: YELLOW".

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Deadite Press (February 14, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1936383454
• ISBN-13: 978-1936383450
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 5.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #554,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

BRIAN KEENE is the author of over thirty books, including Darkness on the Edge of Town, Dead Sea, Urban Gothic, Ghoul and The Rising. He has also collaborated on novels with J.F. Gonzalez and Nick Mamatas. He also writes comic books such as The Last Zombie, Doom Patrol and Dead of Night: Devil Slayer. His work has been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French and Taiwanese. Two of his works -- Ghoul and The Ties That Bind -- have been adapted for film. Keene's work has been praised in such diverse places as The New York Times, The History Channel, The Howard Stern Show, CNN.com, Publisher's Weekly, Fangoria, and Rue Morgue Magazine.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Blood n' Guts n' Magic Beans April 10, 2011

By Robert Essig

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Excellent book! Jack's Magic Beans is a novella with four bonus stories, all of which are superb. You want blood and guts? You got it. You want great writing that pulls you in and doesn't let go? You got it. It's all here and I suggest this book to anyone who loves good, well written horror.

"Jack's Magic Beans" was my favorite of the five stories, though my only complaint would be that it was too short and the end was mildly unsatisfying (I think this was due to the fact that I was enjoying the story so much that I didn't want it to end). Of the four short stories "Without You" blew me away and was easily my favorite. Clever, poignant and vicious. Just the way I like it.

Do yourself a favor and get this book!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gory, B-rated fun June 30, 2011

By Shawn Acid

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Jack's Magic Beans definitely needs a sequel. Or at least an extended edition. I feel like it wouldn't end well, but whatever. Gotta have a hard copy of this if you're a Keene fan. Screw Kindle. The bonus stories are entertaining, as well. Yes, it's a relatively small book. Big deal, buy it anyway. Yes, Keene has better stuff out there. No, that doesn't justify skipping this purchase. Still better than most stuff allowed to be published (traditional or e-book).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Keene's More Violent, Gruesome Side October 5, 2011

By William M Miller

Format:Paperback

Readers should know I am reviewing this book based on quality not quantity, as every book should be based. This novella is actually closer to a novelette or long short story, but still manages to pack a hell of a punch. This Deadite Press version contains four other stories that are very much worth reading.

Jack's Magic Bean's has a simple, streamlined premise, and is one of Brian Keene's more violent stories. The little twist about the "beans" will keep you alert and nearly just as paranoid as the characters. This could have easily been expanded to a longer work, but I'm guessing the subject matter was a bit too close to Keene's zombies and he didn't want to travel down that road again.

The four short stories that follow "Jack's Magic Beans" are a great compliment to the main story. Every tale is viciously brutal in its own way, and although most readers will finish this book in one or two sittings, I highly recommend it. The author commentary and insight after each story was also a nice bonus to the collection. The cherry on top is the gory Deadite cover, by artist Alan M. Clark. Buy it.