Take the Long Way Home [Paperback]

Brian Keene (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 11, 2011

All across the world, people suddenly vanish in the blink of an eye. From their cars during the rush hour commute. From the shopping malls. Their homes. Their beds. Even from the arms of their loved ones. Airline pilots. World leaders. Teachers. Parents. Children. Gone.

Steve, Charlie and Frank were just trying to get home when it happened. Now they find themselves left behind, and wishing they'd disappeared, too. Trapped in the ultimate traffic jam, they watch as civilization collapses, claiming the souls of those around them. God has called his faithful home, but the invitations for Steve, Charlie and Frank got lost. Now they must set off on foot through a nightmarish post-apocalyptic landscape in search of answers. In search of God. In search of their loved ones. And in search of home.

Deadite Press is proud to make Brian Keene's long out-of-print critically-acclaimed Take The Long Way Home available to readers once again! Includes an introduction by New York Times-bestselling author John Skipp!

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Deadite Press (March 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1936383489
• ISBN-13: 978-1936383481
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.2 x 5.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,282 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.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#77 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Horror

#77 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Horror

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brian Keene's Left Behind April 3, 2011

By Steven R. Shroyer

Format:Paperback

I am not an Evangelical Christian(I am fine with my little Methodist Church in Coshocton, Ohio, thank you) yet I have read at least part of the "Left Behind" series and found them somewhat entertaining. When I read this book's description I thought "Great, a Left Behind rip off. I thought you were more original that that Brian?" but when I read this last Friday on one of my reading blitzes I was actually quite pleased, even more than that, I was enthralled.

To sum up Keene's plot in as few words and spoilers as possible, A Jewish man who is married into a born again Christian family makes a sojourn into the darkness of the human heart after "The Rapture" takes away millions of people around the world. In essence he "takes the long way home". Keene doesn't spend time with the semantics of the rapture as the "Left Behind" books do instead he takes you on a more cerebral journey looking at society and how it would react if such a thing happens. No preaching, no biblical quotes, he just hits you hard and fast and keeps the plot rolling for the 93 pages the story occupies. I was amazed on how fast it went and how he kept you involved with the characters not once stopping to let the reader catch their breath before piling on the terror again.

If you haven't read Keene's work this is a good place to start,then move on to other works such as Urban Gothic and Jack's Magic Beans.

A word to the wise before I go: DO NOT BUY ANY OF MR. KEENE'S BOOKS FROM LEISURE!!!!!!! I say this because Leisure has screwed their authors too many times and right now they need less money. Deadite Press will, however, be releasing much of Keene's back catalog throughout 2011. Many of these will be the authors preferred version so please support Mr.... Keene and his boycott of Dorchester(Leisure's parent company)Publishing. I know I am and Brian would say thank you as would I. So from my dorm in Kent, Ohio, Enjoy the book and keep horror alive.
PS: A certain author makes a cameo in this book can you guess who it is? I won't tell(Tee Hee) Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Another winner from a master storyteller! June 1, 2011

By charlie morgan

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ever since I read GHOUL, Brian Keene has been one of my favorite authors. He has always had the ability to hook me within the very first paragraph. I then spend the rest of the day burning through the pages and normally finish the book the same day.
The new edition of TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME from Deadite Press is no exception. A group of friends on their way home from work quickly find themselves in the middle of a horrible accident on the interstate. Upon further inspection they find that there have been multiple accidents going both directions, as well as planes falling from the sky and a massive amount of people suddenly vanish into thin air with no trace. Could it be the work of aliens? Or could it be the rapture?
Keene wastes no time delving into the good and the evil of humanity as the characters jouney deeper into the new world that lies before them and pulls it off with ease. There is also elements of Keene's pitch black humor which includes a small, but highly amusing, cameo by bizarro horror author Carlton Mellick III.
All in all TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME is classic Keene in all his glory and I highly recommend this and any of his work.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely awesome! December 22, 2011

By Vince Kramer

Format:Paperback

This is the first book I've read by Mr. Keene, and after this, I already want the complete Brian Keene collection. I went right online and looked at what else I could get. Gotta have more.
This book is just so good. I love the terrifying setting of a major car accident on the freeway; they're scary enough in the first place and I've been in enough accidents on them. The title "Take the Long Way Home" is great, because it's something I'd rather do sometimes when it comes to driving on freeways. (But in the book the title refers to walking home from the disaster, which is what the characters spend the rest of the book doing).

I was really sold on the grisley cover art when I saw it. It reminded me of the song "Shredded Humans", by Cannibal Corpse, which described in great detail a car accident involving a family of five. The cover (by Alan M. Clark) is wicked sick! I actually bought this based on the cover when I was looking at Brian Keene books.

And I really thought it was great how one of the main characters in the book is gay, but was written as just a normal main character that happens to be so. I thought it was awesome to see a gay character in something for once not being written as a big stereotype. That was cool.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The end of the world! October 1, 2011

By Nicolas Garceau

Format:Paperback

This if the first book I read from Keene. I chose this one because it seemed less distrubing than most of his work, and also because I love post-apocalyptic stories. I just hoped it wasn't going to be preachy about religion. Luckily for me, it wasn't. Even more, I found it very informational about what 'The Rapture' is. I'm also quite glad author Brian Keene takes the time to explain his views on religion in the afterword. The story isn't too violent, but always entertaining. Couldn't put it down, highly recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST READ September 8, 2011

By imacenagirl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of my favorite Keene books to date. I only wish it would have been longer- it's a novelella.
It had all the horror of Keene mixed with the horrors of what would happen if the end of times came right now.
It really made you think long and hard about your religous beliefs without being preachy at all.
What would happen if the Rapture occured and you were left behind but your loved ones weren't?
If you like Keene, you must read this!