After the Burn

[HorrorScribe]

Even though I was in the middle of another book, I just had to put it aside and begin Kelly's After the Burn after reading through this section of the Forum yesterday. I read the Intro and the first two stories. My initial reaction: Wow!!! This is my first time reading anything by Kelly, and I am amazed and impressed. He is definitely an author I intend to follow for the foreseeable future. Luckily, I have a copy of Hell Hollow on my shelf and a copy of Midnight Grinding on order.

His characters are alive, and though I've never visited the locales discussed in the stories, I felt as if I'd lived there my entire life. The subject matter (post-apocalypse) has fascinated me since I first read King's The Stand. (Dare I say it? Yes, I will.) So far, After the Burn has exceeded my expectations, and as long as the other six tales are as strong as the first two, I will enjoy this collection much more than I did The Stand.

And although I'm sure that the rest of Kelly's published works are of the same quality as After the Burn, any suggestions on what book(s) to track down first?

[ChrisWood]

Thunderstorm Books will be releasing the Ronald Kelly Essential Collection under the Supercell imprint > http://thunderstormbooks.com/books.html

They will be done like the Black Voltage line, so if you liked the look and quality of the After the Burn HC, they will be the same. But they will come with added content, like short stories/novellas with links to the main story. Needless to say the Supercell series will be must haves!

[bsaenz24]

Depending on what you want to spend.....Thunderstorm Books is releasing his 8 novels that originally came out in massmarket from Zebra. The first two out eill be Undertaker's Moon and Fear. I believe they are slated for late Sept. or early Oct. Both GREAT novels!!!

[HorrorScribe]

Thank you for the suggestions so far. I'd love to add Undertaker's Moon to my growing Ronald Kelly limited edition collection. Otherwise, I may see about finding the others online in used mass market paperback format. Now that I think of it, I found a copy of Something Out There a while back. So that's one more of his novels on my "To Read Soon" list.

[srboone]

I'm slowly aqcuiring his Zebra paperbacks (I've got Moon of the Werewolf and The Possession--there are 9 and they will be reprinted in the Thunderstorm "Essentials" Collection). He also has The Sick Stuff, another short story anthology from Thunderstorm.)

[gsconquest]

After hearing all of this I will definitely be on the lookout for some of Mr. Kelly's stuff. It seems to all be pretty well received. Any ideas on where to start?

[srboone]

I don't know a specific "good place." I started with Midnight Grinding, then Hell Hollow followed by the "Fleshwelder" chapbook. Any title should do.

[adamjames]

I would say Fear is one of his best, and I have it on good authority that he would say the same (because I've seen him say it.)

He does have a wide selection of titles for your Kindle (and I'm assuming Nook as well), from his 'second' career as an author.

[Ronald Kelly]

To familiarize yourself with my short fiction, I'd say MIDNIGHT GRINDING, CUMBERLAND FURNACE, and THE SICK STUFF are your best bets. As far as novels are concerned, FEAR is my personal favorite (and the favorite among my fans), followed by UNDERTAKER'S MOON (MOON OF THE WEREWOLF), BLOOD KIN, and my first novel, HINDSIGHT. HINDSIGHT was based on a triple murder in my family during the Great Depression, as well as my mother's psychic experiences during her childhood in the 1930's (believe me, the things she sensed and predicted would scare the crap out of you!).

[Ben Staad]

To familiarize yourself with my short fiction, I'd say MIDNIGHT GRINDING, CUMBERLAND FURNACE, and THE SICK STUFF are your best bets. As far as novels are concerned, FEAR is my personal favorite (and the favorite among my fans), followed by UNDERTAKER'S MOON (MOON OF THE WEREWOLF), BLOOD KIN, and my first novel, HINDSIGHT. HINDSIGHT was based on a triple murder in my family during the Great Depression, as well as my mother's psychic experiences during her childhood in the 1930's (believe me, the things she sensed and predicted would scare the crap out of you!).

Very cool and thanks for the "Ronald Kelly" tutorial. To be honest the only book I've read of yours is Hell Hollow. I will check out some of your other stuff especially Fear and Hindsight. Hindsight sounds very interesting and I really like the period it's written in.

[Endless Horror Tale]

My copy of Midnight Grinding arrived last night. I'll be diving into it pretty soon (not sure I'll have much reading time over the next two or three days), and I plan on picking up After the Burn after I next get paid. I'm keeping an eye on the Thunderstorm website. I really want to check out Undertaker's Moon when it's made available.

[HorrorScribe]

I finished reading After the Burn about three hours ago, and I'm still breathless. In this collection of exceptional stories, Ronald Kelly presents a grim and fascinating version of life after nuclear devastation. At times darkly humorous (who wouldn't want a certain aged celebrity by their side while fighting off a vicious herd of mutated cattle?) and at other times heart-breaking (the lengths a father must go to spare his family from further torment), After the Burn encapsulates the best and the worst of humanity. Neither good nor evil necessarily becomes the victor because there are winners and losers all around. Yet the main characters in each tale dig deep into themselves in order to overcome adversity in the radiation-infused aftermath of random nuclear explosions focused on urban centers around the globe.

Without going into great detail so as to avoid spoilers (one of my pet peeves), Kelly reveals our worst fears and darkest desires and greatest hopes throughout these 228 pages of poignant prose. He also examines the inner strength some folks tap into while they struggle to survive against the depravity humans are capable of toward one another. Questions of faith are explored. Once safe-guarded ideals are annihilated. Rules, reason, and relationships are twisted by a world where those concepts now lack any real meaning.

From the opening story of an old man who refuses to back down to the tear-inducing closing passage of the last story, you will be amazed, sickened, terrified, and--ultimately--inspired. I urge you to read After the Burn as an introduction to an amazing author riding high on a new wave of his writing career. Or if this will continue your journey with an established master of the craft, you will not be disappointed by this entertaining and edifying book.

[Endless Horror Tale]

I broke down last night and ordered a copy (rather than waiting until after I got paid like I told myself I was going to! ). I'm looking forward to checking it out. I really enjoyed Hell Hollow, and plan on starting Midnight Grinding after I finish reading through the CD Signature Series.

On another, slightly-related note - does anyone know if Thunderstorm has announced a release date for Undertaker's Moon? I'm a sucker for a well-written (and so often that's the rub) werewolf tale, so I'm excited about that one too!

I'm thinking that before long I'm going to have to join the support group thread...

[bsaenz24]

I believe the last date for Undertaker's Moon is late September.

[Ben Staad]

Damn! I wish the reviews for After the Burn weren't so freaking good. I love end of the world stuff but I just can't spend $60 for a book right now. This is really eating at me and I may be forced to use the srboome made sign in the addiction thread...however and probably for the best I don't think anyone will take me up on the "offer".