Selected scenes from the.., p.16
Selected Scenes from the End of the World, page 16
Her candy apples kick ass, too.
SERENADE
When people read The Conqueror Worms (and “The Garden Where My Rain Grows”) they had one of two reactions to the mermaid-love or hate. There are no neutral reactions to her character. The siren in this story isn’t the same one from the novel. I always figured there were more of them spread across the ocean-each a bride of Leviathan.
Don Koish runs Necessary Evil, a fine small press publishing outfit. While writing this story, I grinned at the image of him riding around on a Jet Ski. If you ever meet Don in person, you’ll know why. Dude looks like a pro-wrestler (but he’s got the heart of a puppy).
THE FINAL PRINCIPLE
As I said earlier, if Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes From the End of the World has a core story, it is this one (along with its sister story, “The First Principle”). Originally, the two stories weren’t supposed to link. But when Steven told me what he did for a living, and requested that his tale take place in Boston, everything clicked. I’m really grateful to him for giving my muse the opportunity.
LIQUID NOOSE
Paul’s one of my long-time readers, meaning he’s been there since before the first book, back when my work appeared in small fanzines and webzines. We first met when Paul was running a newsletter for fans of Brian Hodge (whom we both rank right above Jesus, Mohammad, and David Lee Roth). Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to hang out with him and Shannon, and I’m very fond of them both. Like his story in The Rising: Selected Scenes From the End of the World, the title for this tale comes from one of Paul’s favorite heavy metal songs.
THE CHASE
This story’s title serves double duty-it’s the name of the skyscraper the story takes place in, and it’s also the thrust of the plot. Most of The Conqueror Worms’ various creatures, both old and new, make an appearance here- the man-sharks, flying fish, White Fuzz zombies, etc. Writing it was a fun little adrenalin rush.
ONE LAST BREATH
I wrote earlier about how fatherhood and parenthood are recurring themes in much of my work. Here they are again-a dark counterpoint to “Loads and Loads.” This story is obviously continued in “Exodus A.D. (Locke’s Ark: Reprise).” Roman’s daughters were both featured in The Rising: Selected Scenes From the End of the World. It was his son’s turn this time around. Of all the stories in this collection, this one was by far the hardest to write-especially as a father. I’d like to think that Roman’s heroic final act is one I’d repeat if I were in a similar situation.
THE LAST GHOST OF MARY
The tricky part was making this story different from “Riding the Storm Out.” After all, both stories deal with ghost ships and nautical lore. This story, along with the two that follow it, make up the end of the Earth-or perhaps a new beginning. The clues are all there. I leave it to you to find them.
AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MELTING
The title is a play on the title of one of my favorite H.P. Lovecraft stories, “At the Mountains of Madness.” The story itself ties into what was revealed in “The First Principle” and “The Final Principle.” The world is liquefying. A friend of mine, who happened to be visiting while I was working on this, said it sounded like one big acid trip. I think that’s pretty apt. It’s certainly more surreal than my usual work.
EXODUS A.D. (LOCKE’S ARK: REPRISE)
In which all of our plotlines are wrapped up once and for all, and Roman’s heroic last act bears fruit, and the promise God made to Kevin at the beginning of the book comes to pass. And unlike Jamie LaChance, these cast-aways are not ghosts, but alive. What will become of Earth’s last survivors as they sail off into the sunset? Well, I know. I’m just not ready to tell yet. Suffice it to say, there is one more story to be told, and I’ll write it one of these days.
I’ll let you see it when I’m done…
THE END
Brian Keene, Selected Scenes from the End of the World
