An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley
Written by: Brian Keene
Published by: Deadite Press
Published in 2012, 108 pages
ISBN: 978-1621050483
Brian Keene is one of the biggest names in horror fiction. Scratch that; he’s one of the biggest names in fiction. Keene publishes novels in several genres and his work has been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French, Taiwanese, and many more languages. Several of his books have been turned into films and more are in that process now. He’s also known as one of the writers responsible for the current zombie explosion and one of the best purveyors of literature featuring the undead. But scary, dark, gory novels are not Keene’s only forte; he’s also a household name when it comes to short stories, comic books, public speaking, and writing for popular media properties. However, the most impressive thing about Keene is not what he’s done in the past, but the fact that he consistently delivers unique and entertaining material.
An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley is classic Keene in the sense that it’s horror with a healthy dose of action, gore, and great dialogue, but it’s also a nice surprise because it’s the author’s first clear incursion into the bizarro genre. The narrative follows Morgan and his gang, a group of rough outlaws on the run from the posse riding hot on their heels with plans of putting an end to their crimes via death by hanging. The men take refuge in Crazy Bear Valley, but instead of finding safe haven, they step right into a violent, uncanny nightmare. Holed up in an abandoned house with a woman they just rescued and making plans to escape, the gang’s focus shifts from escape to survival when they have to battle a legendary race of monstrous hominids with deadly intentions and even a few dinosaurs. With danger literally pummeling their hiding place to the ground and uncertainty hanging over their heads, Morgan and his clique soon learn that escaping the noose lead them into an even worse fate…
Keene can write horror, crime, bizarro, and even westerns, but the beauty of An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley, which Deadite Press is making available in paperback for the first time, is that he mixes all those genres together into a fast-paced tale that?s as relentless as it is entertaining. The story starts out fast and never slows down. While the same premise would’ve been good if the characters were regular people, the fact that it happens to a group of tough, brave men who have guns and know how to use them makes it remarkable. Fear is one thing, but terror in the heart of a group of killers is a beautiful thing to read about, so much so that readers will even end up sympathizing with the bandits.
An Occurrence in Crazy Bear Valley is a short, entertaining read full of danger, tension, and weirdness. As a bonus, this first paperback edition also includes the bonus short story Lost Canyon of the Damned, which brings together the same classic western atmosphere as the main novella and adds a healthy dose of what Keene helped put on the map: zombies. Anyone looking to be entertained, as well as anyone with an interest in horror and/or cryptozoology, should definitely give this one a try.
Written by: Gabino Iglesias
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