Brian Keene ‘Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World’ Review
Written by: Matthew J. Barbour
In Brian Keene’s setting of Earthworm Gods, it has begun to rain all over the globe. It rains nonstop without an end in sight. For believers, it is the flood intended to sweep away the sin of man. Coming in man’s wake, new life is emerging from an ancient slumber. This new life and the havoc it wreaks upon the world of man is largely inspired by the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft, specifically “The Call of Cthulhu.”
Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World is the third book in the Earthworm Gods series. It is a collection of thirty short stories, most of which border along the lines of what is considered flash fiction. The stories were inspired by fans that paid to have Keene write them into his universe. Each is accompanied by an explanation in the story notes appended to the back of the book. Stories include:
Locke’s Ark
Night Crawlers
Up a Pole, Without a Paddle
On the Beach
Last Drop of Sorrow in a Blue Bottle
Swept Away
Run to the Hills
Floating Home
The First Principle
In the Shadow of Taranaki
Riding the Storm Out
Bad Fish
Loads and Loads
Message in a Bottle
The Magi
Take me to the River
The End of Solitude
Best Laid Plans
The Sky is Crying
Dawn of the Dorsals
Date Night
Death by Cookies
Serenade
The Final Principle
Liquid Noose
The Chase
One Last Breath
The Last Ghost of Mary
At the Mountains of Melting
Exodus A.D. (Locke’s Ark: Reprise)
Each story focuses on a survivor (or survivors) as they suffer through the end of the world. Some of the stories, such as the snow worms of “At the Mountains of Melting” and the creation of the Ark in “Locke’s Ark,” expand upon the setting and storylines developed in Earthworm Gods and Earthworm Gods II. Two, “Riding the Storm Out” and “The Last Ghost of Mary,” are even traditional ghost stories.
One of the strongest stories is “The Magi.” It tells the tale of three magicians seeking to sacrifice a baby to stop the end of the world. This is easier said than done. What is more important, the world or your unborn child?
The majority of tales simply offer cheap thrills from established monsters. Expect the shark and starfish men to make an appearance, along with the worms, white fuzz, and carnivorous fish. There is even a mermaid. If you enjoyed the other books in the series, this is more the same.
If there is a downside to the collection, it is that all of the stories are too short. By the time the reader falls in love with the narrative, it is over. Moreover, if you have not read Earthworm Gods and Earthworm Gods II, the stories are not big and/or detailed enough to stand alone. To understand the setting, you really need to have read the other books in the series. Still, the positives far outweigh the negatives. For fans of the series, Earthworm Gods: Selected Scenes from the End of the World is absolutely a must read.
Rating: 3/5
Horror Novel Reviews 
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