Synopsis
Ami awakes from years in stasis to find she’s at the edges of deep space, and the only surviving member of her crew. Utterly alone and unable to contact Earth, she sends out a distress beacon, not expecting a response. When she gets one from a being who calls himself Dorian, she’s welcomed onto his ship as he offers his assistance in any way he can. But nothing on Dorian’s ship is as it seems. And as Ami tries to navigate the maze of hallways and first contact with this alien being, a deep hum begins to resonate, haunting her, as if the ship itself is whispering to her.
Review
A haunting portrayal of madness and abandonment. Smitherman puts the reader in the main character’s mind, to experience first-contact in a most unsettling setting. Utilizing the characters’ senses and inner thoughts, the reader will be left uncomfortable and terrorized in the best way possible.
This was pitched as a “sci-horror-mantasy” and delivered as promised. Readers should know that the romantic aspect is very grim, not delivering it in a cozy way that others might associate with most fictional romance, but it blends well with the horror setting. Though I felt the twist coming, it was well delivered and wrapped up the story in a satisfying manner.
Despite its short length, Smitherman succeeded in crafting a dreadful tale that executed existential dread rich with terrifying imagery and descriptions that would make Lovecraft proud. If you want a dark science fiction novella to keep you awake at night, look no further.
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