| Serial |  | Authors: Jack Kilborn, Blake Crouch
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Category: eBooks
In Stock
Rating:  252 reviews
Sales Rank: 5,448
Format: Kindle Book
Media: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B002AJ7X2C
Publication Date: May 7, 2009
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Product Description
Remember the twin golden rules of hitchhiking?
# 1: Don't go hitchhiking, because the driver who picks you up could be certifiably crazy.
# 2: Don't pick up hitchhikers, because the traveler you pick up could be raving nutcase.
So what if, on some dark, isolated road, Crazy #1 offered a ride to Nutcase #2?
When two of the most twisted minds in the world of horror fiction face off, the result is SERIAL, a terrifying tale of hitchhiking gone terribly wrong. Like a deeply twisted version of an "After School Special," SERIAL is the single most persuasive public service announcement on the hazards of free car rides. Beyond a thrilling piece of horrifying suspense, SERIAL is also a groundbreaking experiment in literary collaboration. Kilborn wrote the first part. Crouch wrote the second. And they wrote the third together over email in 100-word exchanges, not aware of each other's opening section. All bets were off, and may the best psycho win. (edited by author)
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 252
 Serial - Great short read! May 31, 2009
S. Lynn
23 out of 24 found this review helpful
I don't usually read horror so tghis was a new experience. It was way more graphic than I am used to, but the authors' distant/3rd person writing styles made it ok.
I can understand why some people disliked the story, but the blurb is pretty clear about th ekind of book it is. They received fair warning.
The story was exciting throughout and very well-paced. Towards the end, I was on te edge of my seat wondering who would win/how it would end. Perfect ending in my opinion. I hope the authors collaborate again.
From One of the Authors... May 21, 2009
J. A. KONRATH (Chicago, IL USA)
127 out of 152 found this review helpful
Amazon hasn't listed the complete description, so here it is:
Remember the twin golden rules of hitchhiking?
# 1: Don't go hitchhiking, because the driver who picks you up could be certifiably crazy.
# 2: Don't pick up hitchhikers, because the traveler you pick up could be a raving nutcase.
So what if, on some dark, isolated road, Crazy #1 offered a ride to Nutcase #2?
When Blake Crouch (DESERT PLACES, ABANDONED) and Jack Kilborn (AFRAID, TRAPPED), face off, the result is SERIAL, a terrifying tale of hitchhiking gone terribly wrong. Like a deeply twisted version of an "After School Special," SERIAL is the single most persuasive public service announcement on the hazards of free car rides.
Beyond a thrilling piece of horrifying suspense, SERIAL is also a groundbreaking experiment in literary collaboration. Kilborn wrote the first part. Crouch wrote the second. And they wrote the third together over email in 100-word exchanges, not aware of each other's opening section. All bets were off, and may the best psychopath win.
F. Paul Wilson says, "SERIAL reads just like a Crouch or Kilborn novel: Full speed ahead, no flinching, no blinking, no brakes."
SERIAL contains the 7500 word novella, SERIAL, a Q&A with Kilborn and Crouch, author bibliographies, and excerpts from their most recent and forthcoming works: Kilborn's AFRAID and Crouch's ABANDON.
And finally, a note/disclaimer from the authors:
SERIAL is a horror novella written by two of the most twisted minds in the world of horror fiction.
But just because it is 100% free doesn't mean you should automatically download it.
This is disturbing stuff. Perhaps too disturbing.
If you can handle horrific thrills, proceed at your own risk.
But if you suffer from anxiety attacks, nervous disorders, insomnia, nightmares or night terrors, heart palpitations, stomach problems, or are of an overly sensitive nature, you should read something else instead.
The authors are in no way responsible for any lost sleep, missed work, failed relationships, or difficulty in coping with life after you have read SERIAL. They will not pay for any therapy you may require as a result of reading SERIAL. They will not cradle you in their arms, rock you back and forth, and speak in soothing tones while you unsuccessfully try to forget SERIAL.
Yes, it's free. But free has its price.
You have been warned.
3/17/10 ADDITION: Based on a lot of the feedback we've been getting, both from readers wanting SERIAL to be longer, and readers thinking SERIAL is too graphic, we've recently released SERIAL UNCUT on Kindle.
SERIAL UNCUT contains 36,000 words of serial killer insanity. It's more descriptive, more intense, and features much more story than the free version.
If you enjoyed the free version of SERIAL and longed for more more, your wishes have been granted, for the low price of $1.99.
If you hated SERIAL, then avoid SERIAL UNCUT at all cost. You won't be able to handle it.
 Ironic ending makes this a great novella May 26, 2009
Amy Y. (FREMONT, CA USA)
17 out of 19 found this review helpful
This was a quick read- 3 chapters but had me riveted. Graphic content is probably not going to be for everyone. The story is about two serial killers and the tale is a cautionary one. Don't hitch a ride because the person who might pick you up could be a psychopath, and don't pick up hitchers because he/she might be a psychopath.
But what happens when one serial killer picks up another? An enticing freebie for the kindle!
I loved the collaboration effect- the two voices were distinct but not jarringly so and added interest to the writing. I wouldn't want to be in a car with EITHER of these serial killers!!
What it boils down to is if you like a bit of a thrill, can stomach the macabre and like to see a couple of very bad people get what's coming to them- you'll enjoy this quick and riveting read. If you have a weak stomach for mayhem and madness, don't bother downloading it.
One thing: I would love to see more from these authors as the characters really did come to life in a very short span of time and to me that signals good writing, even if the content isn't palatable to everyone.
 brilliant concept brilliantly poor execution August 8, 2009
31 out of 38 found this review helpful
I was attracted to this title solely because of the method of writing the authors employed. I was further intrigued by the story of dueling serial killers met on the road but sadly the promise of these two unique ideas utterly fail to be realized in this very short story. The plot runs so predictably after the initial introduction of the characters it could have been plucked from any 90's screamer film chosen randomly from your local blockbuster and the prose, while not completely wretched, seems underdeveloped and rushed. To top it off the authors spend almost as many words patting themselves on the back and shamelessly promoting their other works as they use on the entire story. The end result of which, for me, was a complete disregard of anything published by either author. In short, free is too high a price for this junior high level collaboration and I'd appreciate a refund on the minutes of my life I wasted hoping and waiting it would get better.
Not good. June 12, 2009
Ms. Tissy (Northwest Louisiana, USA)
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
Thank goodness I didn't pay for this pile.
This is the first book that I've felt so strongly against as to write a review.
I got it thinking it'd be a really good, gorey, horrifying, terrifying, scary story.
It was, in fact, no good at all. Besides the fact that this is not a "book" and being more like a short story, there was no plot. The two stories were very short and the third was even shorter. There was no suspense, there was no development, there was nothing. There was gore, but it wasn't "pointless and needless gore," as I saw in another review. It just had no place. There was no build-up to make the gore worthwile.
I would not recommend this book to anyone. Judging these two authors by this one book, I would say they are not very talented. I will not be purchasing another book by either of them.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 252
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