The Lost Level (27 page)

At the end of the day, despite this clearly being a pastiche, and
despite all the influences the series proudly wears on its sleeve, I hope to
add something new to the sub–genre, and to keep you, as always, entertained. I
fully intend to do both as the series progresses.

Long–time readers know that all of my novels and stories share a
singular continuity—something many of them refer to as the Labyrinth mythos. I’ve
known since around the year 2000 that the Lost Level existed and was a part of
this mythos. Still, as much as I enjoy the sub–genre, it has taken me fourteen
years to finally get around to writing this book. There are several reasons for
that, but the primary reason is that it’s different from most of my other work.
I’m known primarily as a horror writer, and any time I’ve ventured outside that
sphere—be it a crime novel or a collection of political commentary—my efforts
have been met with mixed reactions by readers and retailers alike. This happens
to me in comic books, as well. I’ve pitched story ideas for characters such as
Captain America or Batman, only to be told “You’re a horror writer. Those aren’t
horror characters. Don’t you want to pitch something else?”

Because of this,
The Lost Level
languished inside my head
for a decade and a half (as have many other stories that I may or may not get
time to write before I die). It wasn’t until I re–read Joe R. Lansdale’s
gloriously pulpy
Under the Warrior Star
(itself a pastiche of both
Burrough’s
Pellucidar
and
John Carter of Mars
material) that I
was finally inspired enough to say, “Who cares if nobody else likes it? I like
it, so I’m going to write it anyway.”

So, I did.

But hopefully, you’ll like it, too. If so, I’ll see you back here
for the sequel.

Brian Keene

Somewhere along the Susquehanna River bottoms

May 2014

BRIAN KEENE
is
the Bram Stoker and Grand Master award–winning, bestselling author of over
forty books, including
Darkness on the Edge of Town, Take the Long Way Home,
Urban Gothic, Castaways
,
Kill Whitey
,
Dark Hollow
,
Dead
Sea,
and
The Rising
trilogy. He’s also written comic books such as
The
Last Zombie, Doom Patrol,
and
Dead of Night: Devil Slayer
. His work
has been translated into many foreign languages. Several of his novels and
stories have been developed for film, including
Ghoul
and
The Ties
That Bind
. In addition to writing, Keene also oversees Maelstrom, his own
small press publishing imprint specializing in collectible limited editions via
Thunderstorm Books. 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,
Media Bistro,
Fangoria Magazine
, and
Rue Morgue Magazine
.
Keene lives in Pennsylvania. You can communicate with him online at
www.briankeene.com
or on Twitter at
@BrianKeene
.

KIRSI SALONEN
is a 32–year–old freelancing digital artist
from Finland. She’s also a professional make–up artist and a writer who’s had
the passion for poetry, nature, and art ever since she’s been able to grab a
pencil in her hand from the age of two.

Many of her works are (dark) fantasy art. She hopes to find that
unique touch in every work she makes, to give something new to familiar
subjects, but more so not so familiar ones. Blazing and rich stories and heart–breaking
fates and creatures are all out there waiting to be painted and told. In other
words; telling a story within one frame is her key method.

She’s worked in various fields of digital art (all except with
3D), including concept art, comics, poster art for the London Olympics 2012,
several book cover illustrations, album art, character designing, card art and
graphic design, and a tremendous amount of personal artworks and practice. Her
latest personal project has concluded after seven years of developing a dark
fantasy book saga
Ordera
, an epic adventure consisting of four parts she’s
written and illustrated herself.

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