Walking the Dusk by Mike Robinson

Mike Robinson

Author

Walking the Dusk

“Hey.” With that one word, uttered in the dead of night, young Charlie's life veers down a dark and unbelievable road. Some thirty years later, Dr. Charles Barry teaches physics at a small California college. Only in dreams do those childhood events reach him: the strange presence in the house, the otherworldly visits and the shadow over his beloved older sister, Megan, whose troubled inward life he could only glimpse. That is, until his father dies, and Megan, now an artistic wanderer, comes back into his life. With her come memories of unearthly creatures, a predatory entity and a harrowing trek behind the walls of the known cosmos, in order to save the very essence of his sister. Now, caught once more by the same forces, Charles returns to those places in the hopes of setting certain things right—and to keep Megan from slipping away forever.

Semi Finalist

Plot/Idea: 10 out of 10

Originality: 10 out of 10

Prose: 9 out of 10

Character/Execution: 9 out of 10

Overall: 9.50 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Robinson's twisty, suspense-filled novel grips readers as the story swells to include Charlie's night time visitor, a horror-laced scene that reverberates throughout the Barry family. The plot is layered, rich with detail, and satisfyingly complex.

Prose: Robinson is a strong writer and storyteller, particularly adept at creating living, breathing tension. The narrative, which jumps back and forth from a younger to older Charlie, is extremely effective at not only advancing the story but also in keeping readers guessing as to what is actually happening.

Originality: Walking the Dusk is rich with the pressure of uncertainty, creating insidious danger that lurks just beneath the surface. Readers will be left unsettled long after the last page is finished.

Character/Execution: During the story's flashbacks to childhood, Charlie's voice feels too mature for his age at times, though that adds an element of erratic disquiet to the more terrifying scenes. As an adult, Charlie's ongoing battles with nightmares add a chilling clarity to his experiences.

Date Submitted: August 20, 2024

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