Return to the Lost Level

Lost Level #2

by Brian Keene

War has come in this sequel to the best-selling novel THE LOST LEVEL. The snake-like Anunnaki have always been a blight for the people living in the hidden dimension known as the Lost Level, but now, the denizens are fighting back. After their community is decimated and their loved ones are enslaved in the aftermath of a devastating Anunnaki attack, Aaron Pace leads a diverse group of warriors — including the bowwoman Tolia, the mighty Karenk, a baby Triceratops, and a time-displaced Ambrose Bierce — on a trek through primordial jungles, dark forests, and a sun-blasted desert while battling pterodactyls, man-eating worms, and other dangers. Can their small band lay siege to the Anunnaki city and rescue their friends, or will they suffer the same cruel fate so many others have before them? Find out in Brian Keene’s RETURN TO THE LOST LEVEL. (Includes a bonus short story!)

Genres: Fantasy, Horror, Adventure, Dinosaurs, Science Fiction

209 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2017

About the author

BRIAN KEENE writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. He is the author of over forty books, mostly in the horror, crime, and dark fantasy genres. His 2003 novel, The Rising, is often credited (along with Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead comic and Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later film) with inspiring pop culture’s current interest in zombies. Keene’s novels have been translated into German, Spanish, Polish, Italian, French, Taiwanese, and many more. In addition to his own original work, Keene has written for media properties such as Doctor Who, Hellboy, Masters of the Universe, and Superman.

Several of Keene’s novels have been developed for film, including Ghoul, The Ties That Bind, and Fast Zombies Suck. Several more are in-development or under option. Keene also serves as Executive Producer for the independent film studio Drunken Tentacle Productions.

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. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the World Horror 2014 Grand Master Award, two Bram Stoker Awards, and a recognition from Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) for his outreach to U.S. troops serving both overseas and abroad. A prolific public speaker, Keene has delivered talks at conventions, college campuses, theaters, and inside Central Intelligence Agency headquarters in Langley, VA.

The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 5 out of 5]

With "Return to the Lost Level" Brian Keene has continued his ongoing series of adventure tales highly influenced by Edgar Rice Burroughs or Otis Adelbert Kline (1891-1946). In the Afterword of the "Return" book Mr. Keene expresses the influence of Burrough's "Pellucidar" (1923) series.

For those familure with the series, Mr. Keene summing up this book has stated "Aaron, Kasheena, the tribe, and their new friend Ambrose Bierce wage war with the Anunnaki, and take the fight right to the heart of the Reptilian's city." more of his comments can be found here:

http://www.briankeene.com/2017/03/28/...

For those unfamiliar with the series, things all began with (so far consisting of three books, with perhaps four or five more planned, with two in progress)

1. "The Lost Level"
2. "The Chinese Beetle" (also contained in "Return)
3. "Return To The Lost Level"
4. "Hole in the World" (appearing soon)
5. "Under The Lost Level" (appearing ?)

Brian Keene has stated that all of his books will tie together, and even though this series is not part of his horror output it is rolicking fun and a homage to those old adventure books

Contents:

009 - Acknowledgments
011 - Authors Note
013 - Return To The Lost Level
191 - Afterword
193 - The Chinese Beetle

Cover Art - Steve Gilberts

This hardcover is copy 14 of 168 copies signed and numbered by Brian Keene.

[Dan Schwent · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Kasheena is kidnapped by the snake men along with most of the tribe, Aaron Pace and the survivors go looking for her. Can Pace and company survive the hazards of the Lost Level long enough to find his lady love?

I enjoyed The Lost Level but apparently not enough for me to not let six years elapse before I picked up the second book in the series.

Return to the Lost Level is a found manuscript book, written by Aaron Pace at some future date. As such, some of the sense of jeopardy is lost. Still, when every damn thing in the jungle wants to kill the heroes, you know there will be casualties.

Pace and company fight dinosaurs and carnivorous plants before taking on the snake men I mentioned earlier. Aside from some hints at Keene's Labyrinth mythos, that's pretty much the book. Pace is a capable hero, as befits the protagonist of a Lost World type of book. It was a fun adventure and an engaging read but it was kind of linear for my taste.

Three out of five stars. I'll read future Aaron Pace books but they're not a priority.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The return is just as good as the arrival.

As with The Lost Level, author Brian Keene has me once again geeking out over the fantastical creatures and dangerous plant life which inhabit this fanboy's delight; an extravagant form of escapism for the escape-driven enthusiast.

The dangers of The Lost Level are well documented, thanks to the journal-like method used in the original book, yet the element of surprise never fails as action/accidental hero Aaron Pace and co face off against some truly menacing foes. There's one particular scene in which Aaron is forced to fend off a pterodactyl at feeding time which really sticks out thanks to the sheer brutality and edge-of-your-seat action. Then there's the hunt through the Lost Level's ominously dangerous jungle towards the home of the snake-men Anunnaki...wow, I wont' spoil it but man, this book begs to be read.

There's a distinct sci-fi/fantasy/adventure pulp-ish feel to these books which makes them all the more readable; nothing is ever truly what it seems (a triceratops as a pet anyone?) and any element of comic-book imagery could materialise at any moment - and it does for a little extra gravy on top.

My rating: 5/5 stars. As you can tell, I love these books.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this follow up to THE LOST LEVEL, Aaron Pace, along with a ragtag group of villagers, now part of their group, pursue the lizardlike Annunaki, who had raided their village and taken prisoner dozens of their loved ones. One of those captives is the woman Aaron loves, fierce warrior Kasheena. But as they track the Annunaki, back to their mountain city, they encounter fresh new and potentially deadly threats, and will they survive the final encounter in this strange and dangerous world?

Reminiscent of lost world stories, especially the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs, Brian Keene weaves in yet another dimension to his ever growing Mythos.

Highly recommended!

[Paul (Life In The Slow Lane) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look! That pterodactyl just bit your leg off!
Bah. 'Tis just a flesh wound.

Yes Aaron Pace (or should it be "Aaron the Indestructible"?) is back for more lashings of punishment from various sci-fi nightmares and of course, more hot luvin' from his newfound partner Sheena Easton....wait...no...KASHEENA...that's it. You have to suspend that disbelief and send it on a holiday to Mars before you read this but if you do - it ain't half bad. Now I did yell out "WTF" a couple of times, only to be slapped on the head by wife. Once when Indestructible Aaron was dropped from a very great height by a cranky pterodactyl - and survived the inevitable SPLAT that you and me would have had. C'mon.

Action is aplenty, and is what kept me reading. It sure wasn't the gripping dialogue. I find Brian Keene's works quite polarizing. I gave a scathing one star to the last work of his I read, but I dooo hate zombie novels, probably because I'm zombie overdosed. This one is quite different to his usual fare and way better in my vegetative opinion. I also found this unnecessary and somewhat insulting, You don't have to be stupid to be a Christian, but it helps. Keene - leave your religious views in the cupboard please. One star off for that little barb.

One other funny thing,...my anus puckered, and it felt like my testicles were shrinking up inside of me. I often like to try out things that happen in the novels I read, so I tried that but I just can't get the plumbs to shrink up - nor can I ever remember them doing that - or my arsehole puckering either - no matter how scary my situation. Quite the opposite. Oh well. Maybe I'm too old for that sort of thing.

I'll read the next instalment when it gets writ.

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaron continues to fight on in another world for his wife and the rest of his tribe as he fights unearthly monsters. More fighting more blood enjoyed better than part 1.

[Darrell Grizzle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't read the first novel in this series, but I thoroughly enjoyed Return to the Lost Level. Adventure in a mysterious dimension where time loops in on itself and several alternate dimensions occur at once, a lost level where the historical character Ambrose Bierce is befriended by a baby triceratops. Ambrose Bierce (author of An Inhabitant of Carcosa, among other classics) has long been one of my favorite writers, and after reading this novel I can't help but wonder if Brian Keene is a reincarnation of Bierce. I'm looking forward to reading the next novel in this series. Lots of pulp-fiction action and fun!

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sequel to The Lost Level is just as much good fun as the first volume was. It's by no means a horror novel, but a lost-world fantasy adventure in the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs with some influence from Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld and perhaps a touch of the flavor of Talbot Mundy. This one picks up right where the previous volume ends and again leaves room for many further adventures. I didn't think the cover was very good; it's a much better book than one would be led to believe from the packaging. This edition also includes a nice short piece with the same setting called The Chinese Beetle.

[Paulo "paper books only" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finish this one. This is the second novel on the series of three (so far) . I do think there will be more but I don't know.
In this novel we follow the same characters as the previous novel (The Lost Level) and we get a glimpse of what they've been doing.

We know that Anunnaki (snake people) have attacked the village where aaron now lives with sweetheart and her family and they have kidnapped by them. So Aaron with the some survivors members gather a party to get them back and get revenge.

So basically the vast majority of this novel is about, the first half is interaction and introduction of new characters. Aaron is still an outsider and he tries to be the leader of the tribe now that his partner is gone and her father (the leader) is dead. Those moments were interesting and also the appearing of Ambrose pierce. Don't know if you know but was a writer who disappear mysterious after the 1800 something (after the war). So you now know where he went. I really enjoy that character and the interaction between him and aaron.

Then there is final confrontation and as the last one it ends in a open ended scenario which was kind of odd.

There was some stuff I didn't enjoy.. First of all was Aaron itself. Everything it happens because plot demands. He is grabbed by a flying dinossaur (on the cover) and he is brought to the nest where he escapes albeit with some injuries then he fells somewhere where he can't even move and also more wounds) but after one day - he is good. The author specifically says he is suffering and so on yet he do stunts he should not be able to do. In the end the snake people are as strong as plot demands. So a bunch of them enter the village and kill and kidnapped others (including his partner as he calls her) but in other scene they can kill dozens of snake people by themselves. There is a battle where he has slayed more than 10 with barely an inconvenience. Even her partnet which in the last book killed half of them single handly , in this village attack she couldn't do anything when they are dozens of humans? I find it strange and odd...

I know this is sword and sorcery. Is not to take as seriously as other fantasy stuff out there but it's a book written with a purpose and probably linked to everything Keene wrote (the labyrinth) so I expected more... oh well, one more to go for now...

[Alex Bough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven’t written a review in quite sometime but felt like I had to come off of my hiatus for this wonderful piece of literature. I remember reading the first book and thinking, wow!

Such vivid imagery and crazy goings on it’s unreal. Never thought it could be topped but alas, Mr Keene has done it again in Return to the Lost Level. The story is riveting, characters well fleshed out and I was left wanting more after every chapter. Bit of a break from the norm from his usual horror (of which I’m a massive fan) novels and as someone who reads the horror genre almost exclusively, it’s opened my eyes to discover a whole new genre.

Left me feeling much the same as I did after reading Clive Barker’s Weaveworld. Lost for words! Not much of a review reading this back but only because I wouldn’t know where to start and when to stop talking about this book! In short, reading this was like watching a motion picture on a 40ft screen in my head. I can’t wait for the next and in the meantime I think I’m definitely going to be checking out King of the Bastards by Brian Keene which is also a step away(ish) from his horror norm.

Well done Mr Keene, 5 stars all the way!!

[Paul McNamee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keene returns to THE LOST LEVEL with a worthy sequel!

Picking up where THE LOST LEVEL left off, Aaron Pace's adopted tribe has been raided by Anunnaki snake-men. Pace and the surviving villagers set off on a rescue mission, enduring hazards, danger, and hardship all along the way. Pterodactyls, Anunnaki, deadly flora, and other lost world features all hinder their efforts. Along the way they adopt a baby triceratops, and encounter Ambrose Bierce, too.

Keene sprinkles tantalizing bits of his own mythos throughout the story. The framing device also leaves a reader wondering about Pace's final fate in the Lost Level.

RETURN TO THE LOST LEVEL leaves the reader on a tantalizing cliffhanger promising more. I eagerly anticipate the next entry in the saga of Aaron Pace in the Lost Level.

[Bob Reiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second book in the series, Brian Keene cranks up the pulpy goodness to 11. Return to the Lost Levels offers a quest, some “new” characters, death defying (and not-quite-defying) action and just enough interdimensial weirdness to through me into full on squee mode. The Lost Level series is the perfect blend of modern science fiction concepts, classic pulpiness and Keene’s own special mythology. Yet must importantly, it’s pure joy to read. While I love the novel as a whole, the little side peeks into some of the alternate realities was the highlight for me, as well as the cool little short story attached to the end. The Lost Level series is the most fun I have had reading a print novel since Joe Lansdale’s Drive In series, and I can’t wait to see which roads Keene takes us down next.

[Thaydra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got about a quarter of the way through this book before realizing for certain that I had not actually read the first one! That said, it was no problem for me to continue on and read the book as a stand-alone. I'm sure if I had read the Lost Level first, things would have been clearer, or I would have noticed more references, etc... but I had no trouble not doing so.

I love the cadence of the book, the simple language, the pace. It was easy to read, and I finished it rather quickly. I will definitely be going back to read the first one before the next couple come out.

[Ollie-Lee Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brian Keene has great skill in every genre that he writes. I loved this book even more than the first book, "The Lost Level," and can hardly wait for the next installment in this series. Aaron Pace is a great character, manly and also a new age gentleman. The other characters and world he built around them are some of my newest favorites.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**NOTE***I received a free copy of this e-book from the publisher for an honest review***NOTE**
With Return to the Lost Level, we are plunged once again into the world of the Lost Level, right at the point where the first book left off.
Aaron Pace's woman warrior Kasheena has been taken by the lizard men, along with a bunch of others from their village. The lizard men also killed a bunch of people from the village and left their home a smoldering ruin.
With a small group of villagers, Aaron sets off after the lizard men to rescue the captives.
The Lost Level is a dangerous place, though, and the small group of rescuers must face many deadly challenges along the way.

I liked this sequel more than the first. I think because I already knew what I was in for - a fast paced action and adventure tale. Once again, this story is just fun. I'm looking forward to continuing the journey in the next several books.
What I don't like, though, is that our narrator rehashes everything from the first book. There was an extra short story added to the end of this book "The Chinese Beetle," and the rehashing of what went on before was also in the beginning of that story as well. I understand that the author is trying to make sure the readers remember what happened, and also it lets those who didn't read the first book jump in and not be confused, but I found it a bit tedious.
However, this complaint is quite minor - as I did find the rest of the story quite engaging.

[Donald Armfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another smashing tour of the Lost Level. This time a rescue mission and some new characters take the fields of carnivore grass, German spacecrafts, and a clan of lizard men.
The pterodactyl bait scene is memorable down to the last word, as if you were grasped under the claws yourself.

And Keene leaves us literally right on the edge.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Continues the story of Aaron Pace as he takes the fight to the lizard people who have kidnapped his love, Kasheena. He is accompanied by a group from her tribe, Ambrose Bierce and his pet baby triceratops, Fern. Plenty of jungle action and pterodactyls. Can't wait for the next installment. Highly recommended.

[James R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable pulp rpg inspired novel.

This enjoyable sequel draws a great deal
from old pulp magazines and rpg’s. It’s a fun combination of horror, sci-fi and other pop culture elements that really feels like it could go anywhere.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid outing into the Lost Level by Keene. Better than the first I think. Loved how he has weaved a tonne of conspiracy theories into this series. As a long time conspiracy nerd myself it definitely makes me smile.

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fantastic return to the lost level, a place where anything can and will happen. The adventure carries on keeps up the pace and excitement set by the first book. This series is perfect for a bit of escapism in trying times.

[alex munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

I’m a big fan! Got many of your books! Lost level is great because anything can happen and the character are awesome! Can’t wait for the next journey!

[John R. Dailey Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

LAND OF THE LOST IT IS...

Hello, this is a great series. I just wish that the episodes would come out before a forgot what happened in the past episode. Great stuff. Thanks.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid sequel to THE LOST LEVEL in the tradition of Edgar Rice Burroughs and other pulp-era authors.

[christopher riojas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome!

I enjoyed reading this book, tell you one thing it was a page turner for sure.pleade buy this book you won't regret it! Wait buy the series!!!

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it but I jibed with the first book more.