Book Review: Ghost Station

S.A. Barnes, Ghost Station. New York: Nightfire/TOR Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9781250884923.

Genre: horror, science fiction

Subgenre: space horror, psychological thriller

Format: e-book galley

Source: Edelweiss Plus 

I read horror, and I do like space horror stories, so when I read the description for this book it sounded interesting. A space crew investigating an abandoned station in a distant planet with horrors to follow. Sounded great, but in the end, it fell flat. 

The main character, Dr. Ophelia Bray, is a psychologist assigned to a crew of explorers who lost one of their own. They don't want her there, and they make that very clear from their asshole behavior towards her. In a horror story, that asshole crew are the people you want the upcoming horror to kill, but we don't really even get that satisfaction in this book. To complicate matters, the crew is hiding something, and they're not telling. 

Dr. Bray herself is quite the basket case with a dysfunctional family and a whole lot of baggage. She probably needs therapy more than the crew. She is constantly overthinking and seriously insecure to the point of being annoying. 

As for the plot, some may describe it as a slow burn. About five chapters in, and all we get is the doctor's insecurities and the bitchy unwelcoming crew. By the time the one murder that triggers events happens, you want the book to be over. This novel, which reads more like a psychological thriller than horror, just drags on and on. At various points I just wished the author would get to the point already. As for the ending, where they escape, go to cryogenic sleep, get cured and rescued in the future, it is a way too neat and tidy ending. I guess the author wanted a happy ending, or at least a tidy one. It just seems trite. 

To be honest, this type of plot is not new, and it has been done better elsewhere. I did some research after reading the book, and some readers mention the author's previous book Dead Silence. Reviews on that book are mixed, but some say that if you did not like that one you probably would not like Ghost Station. Well, I did not like Ghost Station, so I won't be looking for Dead Silence or any other book by this author. I will note that, again based on description, I had requested a review copy of their later book, but it is likely I will not read nor review it based on having read Ghost Station. 

I do not recommend this, and I would not order it for our library. 

1 out of 5 stars,, which is a rating I rarely give, but I was just annoyed that I plowed through this to review it when I should have dropped it. 

This book qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: 

 

 

 

Book Review: Bury Your Gays

Chuck Tingle, Bury Your Gays. New York: Nightfire (Tor), 2024. ISBN: 9781250874658.

Genre: horror fiction, LGBTQIA

Subgenre: pop culture, movies, films, media

Format: e-book galley

Source: Edelweiss Plus  

I wanted to like this book more, but in the end it had a few issues that made me like it, but not love it. We'll get to that. I am keeping this review as free of spoilers as I can. 

Misha is the writer of a television series. When his bosses tell him to "bury his gays," i.e. either he makes his gay characters straight or kills them off, he refuses to do it. Soon strange and horrifying things start happening as other horror monsters that Misha created in his writings come to life. When they put Misha and those he loves in danger, he has to take action. Will his friends and him survive?

This novel does some things very well. The main story overall is entertaining, and it is thrilling at times. It is a bit of a monster horror with other horror tropes blended in. The author clearly knows his horror tropes and concepts, and he freely plays around with them, taking them in new directions, yet keep keeping a certain familiar feel that a horror reader expects. The novel also features various twists that add to the thrills and at times subvert conventions. Just when you think you are figuring things out, the author does a new twist or surprise. Part of why you keep reading is to see what twists will come. You also keep reading just to see if Misha and his friends make it. 

The novel also plays a lot with popular culture. You don't have to be fully in tune with popular culture, but if you are you may appreciate the subtle and not so subtle references and jabs the author presents. 

The novels does have some moments when the author gets on his soapbox to comment and preach on issues ranging from LGBTQIA issues to capitalism to copyright to exploitation, etc. The issue for some readers is that those small treatises seriously slow down the narrative pace. You are getting deep into the story, worried about Misha and the others, and here comes some commentary on the evils of capitalism. Given the novel's plot, setting, and imagery, I think readers can get the message just fine without the extra telling. Some of those passages could be skimmed. 

A strength of the novel is in the representation. It really is an inclusive novel, and it does it in a natural way. It is not trying to just check boxes. It is inclusive because it is natural. Love is love as the author often tells us, and it is just fine. All kinds of folks can find themselves in this book. 

In the end, another strength is in the appeal factors. All kinds of readers in various genres will likely be happy reading this. Horror fans? Check. LGBTQIA? Check? Thrillers? Check, and so on. This book covers a lot of ground and elements, not always perfectly, but does have something for many types of readers. It also has some heart. 

If you have never read a Chuck Tingle book, this may be a good entry point. If you are like me, seen the covers of his absurdist hot erotica on social media but never read it and are curious,  you may want to go check it out too. I probably will when I get a chance. If you just want some horror, queer or otherwise, this can be for you. Looking for that new writer on his way up? This may be it, take a chance, and you'll be able to say I read Chuck Tingle just as he was rising. 

I do recommend this book for libraries, especially for public libraries. This is also one to feature on Pride Month displays as well as horror displays. I'd consider acquiring it for our library, especially if a patron requests it. 

For me, I liked it, but I did not really like it. However, I think a lot of readers will enjoy it if they take a chance on it. I am still recommending it in reader's advisory, and I am curious enough I will try to find his previous novel, Camp Damascus. 

On a final note, this book does feel like it is made for film, so I would not be surprised if a streamer picks it up for a film adaptation down the road. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

Book qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenges: 

Book Review: Artificial Condition

Martha Wells, Artificial Condition. New York: Tor Books, 2018. ISBN: 9781250186928.

Genre: science fiction

Subgenre: A.I., robots, mystery

Series: Murderbot Diaries, Book 2

Format: hardcover

Source: Berea branch, Madison County (KY) Public Library

 

This is the second book in the Murderbot Diaries series, and it was a great and fun read. In this novel, the former SecUnit that identifies itself as Murderbot delves into its past. It knows it was present and/or involved in an incident that caused human deaths. Was Murderbot responsible? Was it some other cause? Murderbot goes back to the mining facility where it went rogue to seek answer. However, it needs a work permit. To get it, it gets hired as a "security consultant" to a group of researchers involved in a labor dispute with their former employer. This seems like a simple job, but it soon turns out to be less than simple. Murderbot, luckily or not, has assistance from a research transport vessel with its own intelligence, ART. Murderbot will need all the help it can get to unravel this mystery, keep the researchers safe, and stay ahead of anyone seeking to capture it. 

The novel is a well written and well paced adventure. The author presents a good action science fiction story with very good humor. ART and Murderbot  are great together as they get to know each other and learn to work together. The plot gets more complex as it moves forward, so it keeps you reading to find out how it ends. Along the way we learn with Murderbot the truth about its past. 

The novel is fun, entertaining, and keeps you reading once you start. The writing is concise. I do appreciate that so far the novels are short, fun, and to the point. The writing is good. The setting is interesting. The humor is good also, which add to the entertainment value. Overall, this is an excellent novel I highly recommend. 

5 out of 5 stars.

Short Book Review: Hagar the Horrible: Motley Crew

Dik Browne, Hagar the Horrible: Motley Crew. New York: Tor Books, 1992. ISBN: 0812515447.

This is a nice collection of Hagar the Horrible comics. The book contains a series of short comic stories, 41 in total. The stories can be two to four pages in length. The comics look at Hagar's travails as a viking and a family man. Highlights in this volume include: Hagar and Helga watching a sunset, celebrating Christmas (I always like Christmas comics), Hagar visiting a wise man for wisdom, and Hamlet, Hagar's son, reading with Hernia, a girl friend. 

Overall, this is a fun and easy read that can make you smile. The strips are in black and white, but they are still fun to read. If you need something light to cheer you up, this is pretty good. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

Book qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: 

Short book review: Hagar the Horrible: Sacking Paris on a Budget

Dik Browne, Hagar the Horrible: Sacking Paris on a Budget. New York: TOR Books, 1982. ISBN: 0523490453.

Genre: comics

Subgenre: vikings, Middle Ages

Format: paperback

Source: I own this one.

 

This is a short paperback collecting Hagar the Horrible comics. This volume is a bit different than the previous one I read. The strips here present short stories instead of random strips. A highlight for me is Hagar's son, Hamlet, who is a bit more gentle, and to Hagar's chagrin, reads books. It's amusing how Hagar does not wish to read, yet he gets curious about the books his son reads. Other strips feature family humor and lessons in life such as in business it really is who you know. The book overall is a quick and amusing read. I liked it. 

3 out of 5 stars. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This book qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: 

Booknote: Hell House

Richard Matheson, Hell House. New York: Tor Books, 1999.  ISBN: 978-0-312-86885-7.

Genre: horror fiction
Subgenre: haunted houses
Format: trade paperback
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

I picked this up to read for the Horror Reading Challenge I am doing this year, but I was just not really impressed by the book.

Belasco House is considered the Mount Everest of haunted houses. It has sat empty for 20 years. The last investigative team that went into it lost all members but one. Now years later, that survivor along with another team made up of a psychic, a scientist, and the scientist's assistant and wife, return to Hell House to attempt to solve its mysteries.

The novel had some frights, but for all the build up, the horror felt relatively tame. The novel read more like a slow mystery with a few happenings here and there to keep the horror label. I just did not find it that horrifying. In addition, the characters were not exactly sympathetic, so as they start dying, I really did not care that much over them or the ones who survive in the end. Some of the lore and history of the house was interesting, but it was not enough to carry the book neither.

In the end, it was just a slightly slow and barely scary horror novel. There is a movie based on the book, The Legend of Hell House, which I may or not try to find mostly out of curiosity.

2 out of 5 stars.

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Update note (6/20/16). I managed to watch the 1973 film made based on the book. Here are some brief thoughts on the film:

The movie opens with an epigraph:

"Although the story of this film is fictitious, the events depicted involving psychic phenomena are not only very much within the bounds of possibility, but could well be true." -- Tom Corbett, Clairvoyant and Psychic Consultant to European Royalty.

I thought that was a cute touch to try to add some "authenticity" to the film. . . as if. From what little I could find, Tom Corbett was a fairly well known British psychic, in his time at least. I could find very little about him online. He passed away in 1999 according to this obituary.

• The film starts right away. You get just enough exposition. The premise is the same as in the book. 
• The female psychic is a bit  younger than I envisioned from reading the book. 
• The physicist is not as frail of health initially as he is portrayed in the book. 
• Overall, the film is very atmospheric. It is also very monotonous, much like the book. It seems more tame than the book, which is already quite tame.

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This book qualifies for the following 2016 Reading Challenges: