An anthology of Sci-Fi and Cosmic Horror, each story interlinked with the next. Follow Shiea as she navigates the Amalgam Engineers who can manipulate destiny. Watch a mother's desperate attempt to protect her son, leading to unforeseen consequences. And, follow a man's chilling pursuit of forbidden technology to save his daughter.
Abraham expends minimal detail to spin these tales, creating a foggy and dreamlike atmosphere where anything is possible. Readers are granted nibbles of repeated information that allow them to parse the violent and surreal surroundings here, extrapolating the history of Abraham's written world, bookended by the repeated, unsettling mantra “long live the new flesh.” In “57 Minutes,” a group navigates the treachery and intensity of stolen endings, as one of them croons Latin maxims—“Remember that you have to die. Remember that you have to live.” “Served Cold” trails protagonist Robert, on a deathly mission, as he whispers “there’s no light at the end of the tunnel” both to himself and his victim, in a ghastly attempt to outrun his assignment.
This collection will resonate with readers who cherish buried clues and inconspicuous metaphors but may hobble those who prefer more description and exposition. As far out as the tales may reach, readers will connect with the very human experiences Abraham fashions at their core—a malicious mother-in-law, the danger of a person who feels trapped, a father who will risk everything for his daughter. Abraham offers a new perspective of a terrifying world here, where horror, foreboding, and the prickle of the unknown ignite a hair-raising frenzy.
Takeaway: Existential cosmic horror grounds deeply human experiences.
Comparable Titles: Nathan Ballingrud’s Wounds, Adam L.G. Nevill’s Some Will Not Sleep.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B-
