Book Review; STAR WARS: SHADOW FALL (Book 2), Alexander Freed

 

STAR WARS: SHADOW FALL (Book 2)
Alexander Freed
Del Rey / Disney
June 2020
416 Pages
Scifi / Fantasy

The series starts with Alphabet Squadron, where we meet a team of assembled rebel pilots with the purpose locating, and destroying the Imperial TIE fighter squad known as Shadow Wing. Shadow Fall picks up where Alphabet Squadron left off. (To recap the characters, and review of Alphabet Squadron, see my earlier review).

A quick recap: This is shortly after the battle on Endor. General Hera Syndulla and Caern Adan put together a team of five pilots. Imperial defector Yrica Quell is posted as the point person for the squadron. Her cohorts are Nath, Wyl, Chass, and Kairos. While the first mission for an attack was ruled a victory, two things must be noted. They didn't destroy the Shadow Wing, and they nearly blew up an entire planet. Hardly a victory.

Regrouped, and ready for a new attempt, a plan is forged. An out of the way planet loyal to the Imperials (because their planet is on a trajectory course with an all-consuming black hole, and Palpatine promised the world support before his death). Alphabet Squadron believes they can overtake the scarred planet, making a big enough fuss, to attrack the Shadow Wing. 

It sounds like a simple enough plan. However, nothing ever goes as planned. Instead, a quick coup becomes a viscous battle for survival!

In this second installment we get more deep and personal with all of the members of the cast. The insight is often disturbing, and troubling. We get to see how each member got to where they are. We also meet some new people. (With a slight flavor from Freed's Battlefront) We are introduced to the ground troops for the New Republic. And, eventually, the squadron and the ground troops get the chance to fight more side-by-side rather than by air and land.

I struggle with the shifting of one character between books. Soran Keize is mentioned a lot in the first book. He was Quell's Imperial superior--he was the one who insisted she flee after the destruction ofa planet because he knew she did not have the stomach to carry on. He also indicated he was going to flee. As he creates a new identity for himself in book one, all indicators point toward a better fit with the New Republic, and not the Empire. However, the character does a complete 180. And while some of the reasoning is explained, it didn't sit right with me.

Aside from that -- we have some personification of droids that is spectacular. Especially the relationship between Nath and his T5 unit, and Quell with Adan's IT-O torturer droid turned psychologist. But Nath and the T5 are reminiscent of Skywalker with his R2 when in the cockpit during a space dogfight against enemy TIEs.

To say a lot happens is so vague and unworthy of a review, but to get into it would clearly spoil the surprises that Freed has unfold in the tale. There are peaceful cults, angry characters, back stabbing allies, and the unexpected shift when trusted people in the know suddenly about-face and switch sides.

Overall, an un-put-down-able read! I was glued to the pages (except when I had to turn them). I am anxious for the third installment expected out later this year.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the scifi horror novel, ABSOLUTE ZERO

Book Review: STAR WARS: ALPHABET SQUADRON

 

 STAR WARS: Alphabet Squadron (Book 1)
Alexander Freed
Del Rey / Disney
416 Pages

June 2019
Fantasy / Scifi

For starters, this book, the first in the Alphabet Squadron series is crossover with the Marvel comic, TIE FIGHTER. In the hardcover edition, the center of the book contains several full-color comic book pages (with amazing illustrations by Roge Antonio). 

I am a huge fan of Alexander Freed. Was first introduced to his writing when I devoured the Star Wars novel, BATTLEFRONT: Twilight Company. So, when I learned he was doing a new series with a whole new cast of characters, I was super-psyched.

Alphabet Squadron does not disappoint! The Empire lost at the battle on Endor. The Death Star has been destroyed. The Emperor is dead. But those loyal to the Empire have not surrendered! Hera Syndulla is putting together a team. Caern Adan is spearheading the campaign. 

The goal is to assemble a team of pilots who can outmaneuver, and destroy the Empire's elite 204th TIE Squadron. The ruthless leader, Colonel Shakara Nuress, of the Starship Destroyer Pursuer dispatches what has become commonly known as Shadow Wing.

The Shadow Wing are known for heartless runs against often defenseless separatists, but also for engaging in battles --and winning them-- against the Rebel Alliance. They are a talented pool of pilots with the seemingly only agenda of decimating their enemy.

Alphabet Squadron is led by Empire defector, Yrica Quill. She flies an X-Wing. The remaining four on the squad are Karios, who wears a face covering helmet, and talks very little (and smells of iron and spice), flies a U-Wing. Wyl Lark, an A-Wing, Nath Tensent (Y-Wing) -- his entire squad was killed by the Shadow Wing. He was the lone survivor. And last, but absolutely not least, is Chass na Chadic (B-Wing).

Quill, partially charged with getting the squad prepared for battle, must also help Adan with figuring out where the 204th are in hiding. Tracking them down in the reaches of the galaxy is an issue. Beating them in a space dog fight is a near impossibility.

The book is explosive with action, wrought with character tension, and nail-bitingly intense as the stories of each of the members of the Alphabet Squadron come into play! Freed has started an amazing series. I love the time frame -- Just after Episode VI. There is a lot of name dropping, mentioning of the Rebel Alliance heroes and legends, such as Jyn Erso from Rogue One (novelization by Alexander Freed).

I hear constant complaints about the newer Star Wars movies, but you know what I rarely hear? Complaints about the books that stem from the universe. If you haven't read Alexander Freed before, Alphabet Squadron might be the perfect place to begin! Or Rogue One. Or Twilight Company . . .

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the scifi horror novel ABSOLUTE ZERO

Movie Review: PLEDGE

 

PLEDGE
Director: Daniel Robbins
Writer: Zack Weiner
Staring: Zachery Byrd, Phillip Andre Botello, Zack Wieiner, Aaron Dalla Villa
78 mins / March 2019

Horror / Thriller
Streaming: Hulu 

"Few Get In. None Get Out."

This movie is like what might happen if Revenge of the Nerds met Friday the 13th. It is Pledge-Week on a college campus. Three friends make their way from one fraternity to the next, certain they will get into one of the Greek frats.What they learn, instead, is that they are annoying, and creepy, and that the people at the houses they visit would rather make fun of them rather than let them pledge.

When a stunningly beautiful young woman invites them to a party, they decide to go. They have more than exhausted the campus opportunities. In a tucked away mansion, the three find themselves in the center of an amazing party. They are surrounded by loud music, hot chicks, and the group of guys running the house have taken a special liking in the trio.

When they come back the next day, they learn they are only 10 members ever in the "club," the three of them are the only pledges being considered. And then ... the hazing begins. The nightmare begins.

Trapped inside the mansion tucked in the middle of nowhere, the three friends realize their dream of joining a fraternity, of acceptance, inclusion -- are rocked to the core as the hazing turns to torture, One problem with escape. There is no way out . . . very little chance of getting away.

For a low budget horror film, the cinematography is top notch. Every single one of the actors does a great job, You can't help but like the three nerds (Byrd, Botello, Weiner), and Aaron Dalla Villa is a pretty cool villain.

The twist at the end, about the pledges, that was the kicker. That was what made a potential 6 Star review into an 8 Star review. In my opinion.

I found myself holding my breath more than once, and a few times, I even cringed and thought about looking away. (I was raised on horror, so looking away is never an option). This thrilling tale is far from perfect (as are most movies, even big budget films), but I really enjoyed this one! Know how I know it was compelling and entertaining? I didn't play with my phone once. (That right there is a good sign).

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the crime novel, YOU CHOOSE

Movie Review: THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER

 

THE CLOVEHITCH KILLER
Director: Duncan Skiles 
Writer: Christopher Ford
Staring: Dylan McDermott, Charlie Plummer, Madisen Beaty, Samantha Mathis 
Thriller / Crime / Drama  
109 mins / November 2018
Streaming: Hulu 

Are you in the mood for a slow-burn thriller, complete with creepiness, skin crawling, hair raising elements? The Clovehitch Killer just might be the movie you have been looking for. It was for me. Calling this film creepy just doesn't cut it. Maybe if I use a capital C? No. Nope. Still doesn't cover it.

Tyler (Plummer / Looking for Alaska) is living what he perceives as a normal teenager life. Tyler likes girls. Driving. And occasionally, sneaking out of the house to meet girls with his dad's truck. He is very involved in Boy-scouts, and his church. As are his parents. In fact his father, Don (McDermott / American Horror Story, The Practice), is the leader for Tyler's troop.

When a girl finds a bondage image ripped from the pages of a smutty magazine in the truck Tyler is driving, she spreads the roomer that Tyler is a pervert. Cindy (Beaty / Once Upon A Time in Hollywood), who hangs around outside the church, is rumored to be something of a little tramp with a fetish for the macabre. 

Tyler turns to Cindy for help, but not just because his reputation is being dragged through the mud, but because he can't shake the realization his father just might be the local serial killer. The two pair up and begin sharing clues and evidence.

As they leave no rock overturned, their search for answers alerts the Clovehitch Killer. Their own investigation has not gone unnoticed. The closer they get, the more desperate the killer becomes.

This is a fantastic film. I have no other way of putting it. Fantastic. Man, was it creepy -- did I already mention that? Somewhere at the beginning of the review? I think I did. Because, you know what? It was creepy!

Ford (Spider-man: Homecoming) carefully plots out the entire story. It is a thorough. He makes sure there are no questions left unanswered. While I found the action a bit surprising, maybe a little disappointing, I got it. I understand why Tyler does what he does, even if I don't agree with . . . how it all turns out.

It all comes down to the acting. Plummer and Beaty are good together. A little sexual tension, and plenty of awkward moments. However, McDermott's performance is absolutely unnerving (and, might I add, creepy?). 

Like I said at the beginning, if you want to kick back and watch a flick that immediately pulls you, twists your stomach into a knot, and doesn't let up until the final credits roll . . . The Clovehitch Killer is what you should be watching!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the crime novel YOU CHOOSE 

Movie Review: PIECES OF A WOMAN

PIECES OF A WOMAN
Director: Kornel Mundruczo 
Writer: Kata Weber
Staring: Shia LaBeouf, Vanessa Kirby, Ellen Burstyn, Molly Parker
Drama / 126 mins
January 2021
Streaming: Netflix 

In this dramatic, heartbreaking film, Sean (LaBeouf), and Martha (Kirby) have decided on a home delivery for their first child. When she goes into labor, Martha doesn't feel right. When the midwife shows up their hopes of becoming new parents are destroyed.

Grieving, the couple decides to file criminal charges against the midwife, Eva (Parker).

The movie shows how the two attempt dealing with grief in their own ways. The ways are not exactly compatible. The differences make each seem less sympathetic toward the other. It makes the scenes more complex and compelling, and heartbreaking.

There isn't much more I can do to summarize the film, as it is a traumatic drama with only a glimpse --a small glimmer-- of hope at the very end.

The opening thirty minutes of the film, prior to even the screen Title appearing, is nothing short of intense. (It does carry-on a bit), but it shows the relationship between the couple, and teases at the expected hopes and dreams of a future family.

I love Shia LaBeouf. When I first saw him on Even Stevens, I knew the kid was going to grow up into a big star. He may have hit some rough mental patches. Isn't that almost expected with childhood actors as they grow up? Regardless, he is back and making some fantastic dramatic films. (An example would be The Peanut Butter Falcon). In this role he plays to the best of his ability a supportive husband who tries to deal with the anguish of loss and crushed dreams.

Not knowing much about Vanessa Kirby (The Crown), I wasn't sure what to expect from her performance. However, the actress blew me away. Her performance was authentic, and gut-wrenching. She impressed me with her obvious on-screen talent. I have the feeling Kirby will continue to land lead roles, as she clearly carried the film.

Interestingly, and sadly, the movie (and the play) are based loosely based on the true story, as experienced by the director (Mundruczo) and the writer (Weber), who in real life are married to one another.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Contemporary Drama, BEFORE THE SUN SETS  

Movie Review: FROZEN

FROZEN
Director / Writer: Adam Green
Starring: Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell, Kevin Zegers
Adventure / Drama / Thriller
March 2010 / 93 mins
Streaming: Hulu, Tubi

I was a bit pessimistic about watching a movie that takes place on a ski lift. I wondered how intense, how interesting, could such a film be?

Let me tell you what, FROZEN is very intense. Very interesting. It was actually frightening. I found myself almost immediately on the edge of my seat. I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

The plot is simple. Three skiers convince a ski lift operator to let them make one last run down the mountain. Thing is a storm is on the way in. The resort is shutting down for the next few days. The lift operator thinks he sees the last three skiers make their way down the mountain and past him, and shuts the lift.

Only problem is, they were the wrong three skiers. Our three were still on the lift, halfway up the mountain. With the storm making its way in, they are trapped a few hundred feet above the ground. There is no cell service in the remote area (of course). The elements, wolves, and a need to survive cause the three to make difficult decisions.

They have to make difficult decisions because if they just sit stagnate for the weekend they will surely freeze to death.

This is NOT Disney's FROZEN. This is a mighty taut thriller that no one should miss!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the crime thriller YOU CHOOSE

 

Movie Review: BLACK OPS

 

BLACK OPS
Writer / Director: Tom Patton 

Staring: Shayne Ward, Bentley Kalu, Samantha Schnitzler
June 2020 / 102 min
Horror / Sci-fi
Streaming: HULU

The movie tagline grabs you: The Only Way Out Is Up

A Black Ops team, known as Hell's Bastards, is sent on a mission. There is a civil war happening around them. They are on some kind of recon assignment. One of the orders they have to follow is that on their way in, they are not to let anyone live ...When they breach a camp and take out the enemy, they also find civilians, prisoners. Following orders is not always easy. However, there is no way around following orders.

They are warned, however. The only way out is up.

The military team finds a doorway that leads to a staircase. And this is where the story unfolds. On a staircase. The staircase is never ending. Whether climbing up or down. It seems like an eternal "circle" of the same stairs. The same steps.

As the unnerved group continues to search for a way out, they are -- one by one -- forced to face and, in a sense, admit or atone for the sins they'd committed. The horrors of war, the horrors of their past, the crimes that their lives have become!

There are posted Exits on the stairwell. Crossing through the door is not the way to freedom. It is not a way out. There is only one way out. The way out is up.

For a movie I am assuming was made on a shoe-string budget, (I mean it literally takes place in a stairwell), I liked it! The filming is interesting. Blue, green, and red lenses are used. The effect gives the movie an overall cold feel. Icy. The acting is pretty darn good. The characters are developed enough that you care what happens to them.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the sci-fi / horror novel ABSOLUTE ZERO

Book Review: SEE ME, by Nicholas Sparks

 

SEE ME
Nicholas Sparks
Grand Central Publishing

496 Pages / October 2015
Thriller / Romance 

As a fan of Nicholas Sparks movies, I have recently started reading the books. I recently read Every Breath, and have just now finished See Me.

See Me was definitely more my speed. It is a taut thriller about revenge. Vengeance.

Maria used to work for the District Attorney's office. She landed the job when she graduated from law school. Prosecuting criminals was intense. Sometimes the work got to her. After one particular case went south, she decided it might be best to shift her specialty.

Colin spent some time in jail. He was arrested countless times for fights. Thankfully, he had a best friend who always had his back. Evan and Lily help Colin as best they can. For the last few years, Colin has kept out of trouble. He is enrolled in school with aspirations of becoming an elementary teacher. Keeping himself in line, Colin also fights for money. Mixed martial arts, MMA. He is also on five years probation. One wrong move and he knows he will be sent directly to prison.

Maria's sister, Serena, knows Colin and Maria might be perfect together. Playing matchmaker, she attempts to pull off the seemingly impossible. Just as things start to go good for everyone, Maria's past explodes on scene.

She has a stalker. Her life is clearly in danger. Colin is not one to sit by and do nothing. His involvement in trying to get to the bottom of the matter could get him in trouble, could land him in prison. Caring more about Maria than his own future, Colin is determined to find out who is bothering his girlfriend.

The problem is there are far too many potential suspects. Between the male lawyers at the law firm, and the old cases Maria worked on in her past, it could be any number of people after her, wanting to extol retribution for someone once done wrong.

Fast. Tense. And with great characters, See Me was a fantastic read. Gripping, and romantic, while also tender, and gritty! I highly recommend this book from readers who enjoy drama tales with romance and thrilling suspense!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the legal thriller, ADVERSE IMPACT

Book Review: Every Breath, by Nicholas Sparks

 

EVERY BREATH
Nicholas Sparks
Grand Central Publishing 
306 pages / June 2018
Drama / Romance 

I have always loved Nicholas Sparks movies, with the exception of  The Notebook. (Don't shoot me, just being honest). That was my least favorite film of his. In all these years, I have never read a Sparks novel. My good friend lent me a copy of Every Breath. Said it is a fast read. I would enjoy it.

And I did read it fast, and I did enjoy it. At 300 pages, the first 2/3s are fantastic, and fast. The last third is a bit dry, but necessary. 

Truitt "Tru" Wells is a safari guide in Africa. Born and raised. He has a son, and an ex-wife. He receives a mysterious letter from a father he never met. The man wanted to meet his son and provided a plane ticket to the states. Always searching for more information about his mother, who died when Tru was very young, Tru flies to North Carolina and stays at his father's beach house not sure what to expect from the upcoming meeting.

Hope is staying at the family beach house for two reasons. Her friend from college is getting married, and she is a bride's maid, and because her father has been diagnosed with ALS, sometimes known as Lou Gherig's Disease. The family needs money, and selling the beach house might put them in a more stable financial situation.

Hope is not thrilled about the wedding. Seems like all of her friends are getting married, or married already, and her six-year relationship is moving backwards instead of forward. In walks Tru.

There are immediate sparks when the two meet. The love is almost instantaneous. The problem they face is simple. He is from Africa. She is from the US. She has a boyfriend, and he has a son back home. Add to the drama of the obvious, some wine, romantic dinners, and a whole lotta opening up . . .

But see, it all started with a mail box. the Kindred Spirit. This is where the last third of the book comes into play. that is all I will say.

My summation? Love waits for no one, unless it does.

A great novel. Glad I read it. I will be reading more!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the romance novel BEFORE THE SUN SETS 

Movie Review: AFTER DARKNESS

AFTER DARKNESS
Starring: Natalia Dyer, Kyra Sedgwick, Tim Daly, John Patrick Amedori 
Director: Batan Silva
Writers: Fernado Diez Barroso
138 minues / Drama / Sci-fi / Thriller
2019
Streaming: HULU 

The sun is dying. The effect on the planet is detrimental. Cold. Darkness. Hunger. Earth is in danger (as would be the entire solar system). The movie focuses on the Beaty family. On the first day of spring, and the sun does not rise, The Beatys are trying to make the best of things. They have a big house, heat, and food.

It is Clara's birthday. Clara is portrayed by Stranger Things' Natalia Dyer. Her father is the head of the family. He is trying to take care of everyone. Raymond Beaty (Tim Daly - Wings) is beyond eccentric. His helicopter means of parenting is done with an iron fist. His pressure to keep the family safe becomes more intense when he realizes his family isn't taking the situation they are in more seriously.

The Beatys struggle keeping it together. They deal with real, every-family-type situations. Including the death of a loved one, and a baby on the way. There are plenty of secrets. The thing is everyone knows them, but no one will admit them. No one will talk about them.

Siblings. Children. Parents. In-laws. Considering they are all stuck living together under one roof during the end of the world, the making for intense family drama is all right there. The ingredients are poured, and the father is always churning away at them.

The family is waiting for help. Someone is supposed to come and rescue them. There is supposed to be sanctuary in some caves, somewhere. It seems like no one is coming to help. Their relatively safe life amidst the apocalypse is threatened. But is it by the world falling apart outside, or the family falling apart from within?

While science fiction, this is more of a family drama. Dysfunctional with a capital D. The dying planet seems almost secondary to the story of death, and loss, and love. The actors do a great job, and the dialogue is on point. Is there hope? Redemption? Or just the sun hurrying up and being dead so the misery can end?

I hate assigning a number rating to a film. But out of 10, I would give this film a well-earned 7 Stars.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the science fiction novella EXTINCTION 

Movie Review: The Owners

THE OWNERS

Staring: Maisie Williams, Sylvester McCoy, Rita Tushingham, Jake Curan and Ian Kenny

Director: Julius Berg

Writers: Mathieu Gompel, Julius Berg

92 minutes / Horror / Thriller / Suspense
2020

Streaming: Hulu

Three friends have a horrible idea. They heard about a safe in the basement of an old retired doctor, and his nurse. When the couple goes out for the evening it seems like the perfect time for a burglary. There are only two problems with the plan. Mary (Maisie Williams - GOT) is Nathan's girlfriend. They borrowed her car, and she is not leaving until she gets it back.

The second problem is much, much worse. The innocent old couple is not what they seem.

This is an almost fun thriller. While you have zero sympathy for the thieves, you soon learn feeling bad for the old couple is pointless. They may be old, and they may be retired, but you soon find yourself rooting fore them.

As a fan of Maisie Williams, I decided to give this new horror flick a shot. It is fast and at times a bit intense. The ending, a bit over the top, is horrific and scary. There is an Alice-in-Wonderland bizarre sense to the way the plot unfolds. I also got a little taste of Texas Chainsaw Massacre vibe. Remember the scene at the dinner table. "Hit her, grandpa! Hit her." Yeah - weird like that.

The movie is perfectly timed at just over an hour and a half. Any longer and the film would lose its bite. 

I enjoyed the suspense, and the calm, cool, and collective Dr. Huggins (Sylvester McCoy - Hobbit / Dr. Who). He was creepy as hell!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the supernatural horror novel, Woman in the Woods

Movie Review: SOUL (2020)

 

SOUL
Disney / Pixar
Writer: Peter Docter, Mike Jones
Director: Peter Docter, Kemp Powers
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey, Graham Norton 
100 Minutes
Animation
Adventure / Comedy

Streaming: Disney Plus / Disney+

In your pursuit of happiness, don't forget to be happy!

I have to start my review by saying, I am not sure this movie will be a big hit with kids. The premise is complex, intricate, and deep. With that said, this was a wonderful movie for adults. Up top with some of my other Disney favorites.

Writer / Director, Peter Docter (UP, INSIDE OUT, MONSTERS INC. WALL-E, TOY STORY, TOY STORY 2), is clearly talented. He knows how to craft stories that impact the heart and demand emotional responses from the viewer. SOUL is no different.

Jamie Foxx portrays Joe. Joe's father was a jazz musician. They shared a love for music. Joe knows his purpose in life is to be a crowd sell-out jazz pianist. Unfortunately, the timing is never right. To pay bills, Joe teaches. Just as he lands a break to perform at a club with a saxophone legend, Joe is badly injured in a freak accident.

Joe resists going to Heaven. He isn't ready to die. Not when his earthly dreams are so close to realization. He finds a way to escape his path. He winds up in a place where souls are being prepped for birth, and their life on earth.

Slated as a Mentor, Joe is assigned 22 (Tina Fey). She has not found her spark. A soul needs a spark before it can be sent to earth as an infant human. Joe knows all about purpose. His purpose is to be a famous jazz pianist. However, purpose and spark are two different things.

As Joe and 22 take off on an unsanctioned adventure, both of them learn something about life. The question is will they discover the truth about sparks and purpose in time to make a difference, or will they be lost souls for all eternity?

22 tells Joe at one time, "Don't worry, they're fine. You can't crush a soul here. That's what life on earth is for."

The movie would have broke records at the box office if the pandemic wasn't interfering so much with fun. The colors, the animation, and the music kill! At times I forgot I was even watching a cartoon. Joe was as real as Jamie Foxx.

SOUL is about life, about Today. It is about stopping and smelling the roses. It is about perspective. It is about selflessness (and not getting so caught up in your own goals that you forget about the more important things in life).

The dialogue is peppered with a liberal amount of Live For Today. You Never Know What Tomorrow May Bring. It is far from subtle, but neither is it preachy. Docter knows how to deliver a purposeful message in a way that will resonate with viewers. It forces one to reflect. I know I did.

An absolutely fantastic film. Fantastic.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the young adult fantasy novel, Wizards Rise 

Book Review: MISERICORDE (Mercy Series, Book 1), by Cynthia A. Morgan

 

Cynthia A. Morgan
MISERICORDE (Mercy Series Book One)
Shadow City - Next Chapter Imprint
249 Pages
April 2020
Fantasy / Romance

It is the distant future. 2446 and the first three Horsemen of the apocalypse have arrived. Pestilence, War, Famine. Death has agreed to wait 100 years, allowing Archangel of Mercy, Tzadkiel, the chance to find one person of true compassion. If he fails, then the human race fails and Death will ride!

This is how MISERICORDE opens. Tension from the start.

What is known as the Great Cataclysm started in 2060, as the first of the riders crossed the globe. The population dwindled after each Horseman rode. Lourdes, a scullery maid, with chestnut-red hair, found herself in a somewhat lucky predicament. In her late teens, she landed the maid job in the Bastion of Resolution, in France, a castle taken over by the Eminent Protectorate faction.

Tzadkiel, taken somewhat by surprise, is captured by the officers of the Eminent Protectorate. They realize what they have, when they have him. So begins a year-long reign of torture. The goal is to find out what makes the heavenly man tick. They know he cannot die. In human form, though, they want to learn just how much pain the man can withstand!

Her nightmare begins when she can no longer stand the screams from a man being tortured night after night. His crying out in pain can be heard from the nearby tower all night long. Every night. In a desperate attempt to help the man, she finds away to work in the same tower. The new job is far more than she bargained for, however.

Tzadkiel recognizes Lourde as a kind, and compassionate young woman. Weakened by the months of brutality, he is of little use. While normally he can heal from any wound within hours, the sustained abuse has left him close to incapable of recuperating fully. Lourde has one goal. Saving Tzadkiel at any expense. She forfeits her own safety and peace of mind to ensure the Archangel is all right.

Locked in an impregnable tower (for either getting into or out of), the two must figure out a way to escape, to survive, and to triumph!

MISERICORDE is non-stop tension. Reading the book I was compelled, enthralled, and infuriated! Morgan writes clean, crisp prose. The dialogue is taut, authentic. Her description places the reader on scene for every scene as if standing in a corner witnessing each and every horror as they unfold.

This may be the first book I read by Morgan, but it will not be my last. She has hooked me on the Mercy Series and I cannot wait to dive into the other installments!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of Wizard's Rise 

Movie Review: JUNGLE

 JUNGLE
Staring Daniel Radcliffe, Alex Russell
Director: Greg McLean
Writers: Justin Monjo (Screenplay), 
Based on a True Story
Action / Adventure
115 Minutes 
2017

It is the early 1980s. Yossi Ghninsberg (portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe) meets Karl Rupretcher (Thomas Kretschmann). Karl convinces Yossi that there is greater adventure than the normal tourist traps.He claims he can lead Yossi through the Amazon rain forest where they will encounter rare Indigenous tribes no other tourists ever see, but that he is friends with. Karl also promises that the stream beds are filled with gold.

Yossi convinces his "friends," guys he recently met, to join him. Kevin Gale (Alex Russell) is a professional hiker and photographer, and Marcus Stamm (Joel Jackson) is a school teacher. They are mildly reluctant, but agree.

Despite Karl being a total stranger, they Yossi knows this will be the adventure of a lifetime. Yossi has dreamed of this kind of journey all of his life. A chance to do something different. His father never understood his free-spirited lifestyle. Something like this would change things. And he so wants to believe Karl is on the up and up.

The school teacher is struggling. The days of hiking takes a toll. His feet are covered in blisters. The jungle is an unforgiving place for those not prepared for several rounds with nature, poisonous insects, and deadly beasts.

Quickly the three friends discover hidden truths about their guide, and their chance for survival in the jungle is cut in half. Tension. Suspense.

The acting is very good (although I am not a fan of Radcliffe's Israeli accent). The dialogue is crisp. You grow to like the three friends, and you just are never sure about Karl. For a nearly two-hour movie, the time goes be fast. There is a lot happening, even when it doesn't seem like a lot is going on.

Radcliffe carries the movie. When his character, Yossi, is separated from the others, he wanders through the jungle looking for a way out. Plagued by delusional visions, faced with harsh weather, and tasked with surviving in the wild. Pretty intense!

I did some research on the actual adventure. Yossi has been through a lot. I am glad they made this journey into a film. I liked it very much, unsettling as it was. 

TRAILER for JUNGLE

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Amazon Best-Selling adventure novel, BLOOD RIVER

THE STAND (Episode 1: The End) Review

 

THE STAND
Episode 1
Director: Josh Boone 
About an Hour Long
CBS ALL ACCESS (2020)

In preparation for the new mini-series of Stephen King's THE STAND, I decided to re-read the 1,200 page book. Glad I did. I first read it in the late 1980s. While I remember the story, I certainly forgot a lot of the details.

I am going to do my best NOT to compare this mini-series to the 1994 mini-series (which I loved), or to the book (as I am used to deviations in screen adaptations of Stephen King's work).

*** This Review Will Have Spoilers *** Read at Your Own Risk ***

Episode Recap

The show opens somewhere in the middle of the virus, also nicknamed Captain Trips. The story, at this point, revolves around three of the main characters. Stu Redman (James Marsden), Franny Goldsmith (Odessa Young), and Harold Lauder (Owen Teague).

Harold is working with corpse crews, collecting up the dead and dumping them into mass graves. Stu is a locked down facility. Sitting against a wall. He has (off screen) refused to comply with further medical requests until someone can give him some answers.Then the show bounces back to Franny in the backyard at her parents' house. She wants to talk with her dad, but he is not feeling well. (Straying from the book, as far as we know, she never does tell her father what is on her mind).

Focusing on Stu. We find out that a terrible virus, with about a 99% mortality rate, has quickly swept across the country. Stu's hometown of Arnett, Texas is not just under quarantine, they have been cut off from the world. No cell service. No internet. No in. No out. (Reminds me of what happens in Under the Dome).

We get a glimpse into what happened to get him locked up. Playing cards at Bill Hapscomb's Texaco Station, a car careens down the road and into the gas tanks. Inside the vehicle is Charlie Campion. He is near-dead. Pus and phlegm covering his face. Stu and his buddies drag the man safely out of the car. (In case the gas pumps decide to blow up).

Once he realizes he is somehow immune to the disease, (and that his deceased wife was a nurse), he agrees to testing. If the CDC can find a cure from taking his blood, and exams, he is all in. Unfortunately, things get worse. There was a breach in the facility where he is being held. They whisk him away to Atlanta, where the CDC has a secret location buried miles below ground. The virus has possibly penetrated the un-penetrable.

Additionally, he has weird corn-maze (or maize) dreams. There is a wolf in the dreams. They broach on the cusp of nightmares!

Harold is an oddity. A failing writer, and a high-school-ish loser. He has a thing for Franny. She was his babysitter at one point. Always encouraged him to never give up (when it comes to his writing). When the virus hits it is almost a blessing in his mind. He, apparently, is immune, as is Frannie. In his mind, the two of them should embark on a journey. Together. He convinces her that if there are people in Atlanta working on the Flu, then they had an obligation to get there. Maybe their bodies held the cure.

Both Franny and Harold also have bizarre dreams. Harold sees Sin City (Vegas), and the shadowy figure of a man (Randell Flagg - portrayed by Alexander Skarsgard). Franny has a different kind of dream. She sees the maze of corn like Stu, but instead of a wolf she meets Mother Abagail (Whoopi Goldberg). I am not a fan of Goldberg. It is my own personal opinion. In a way she ruins the character for me. She is the exact opposite of what Mother Abagail. I have a hard time getting her The Voice behavior out of my mind when I see her on screen. Admittedly, I was close to passing on watching the series just because of her. Her and Amber Heard (who plays Nadine Cross). That is all I'll say. I got it (mostly) out of my system.

Anywho, Mother Abagail wants Franny to take a journey as well. A trek. She wants Frannie to come see her in Colorado.

At the very end of the episode, we go back to the beginning (of the book), where we see Charlie Campion very much alive. He is working on a military base. A vial is broken. A virus escapes. The compound is supposed to immediately lock down in that kind of situation, but (we find out how) Campion manages to get off the base, pick up his family and start his drive from California to Arnett. (Infecting people he comes in contact with along the way - and them then infecting those they come in contact with, and so on, and so forth).

That is the re-cap. More or less.

Episode Review
Here comes Captain Trips

Not as Impacting as I would have liked, however, I am still excited. The acting was good. Very good, The pacing is also good. There was something missing by way of suspense, horror. I don't know exactly what it is, but it is missing. It is not as scary. Could it be because we are so immersed in Covid-19 that it just doesn't have the same 1994 and novel impact? Or does it fall on the direction of the scenes?

There are some cool songs played at the right times. Ozzy's Going Through Changes when Frannie and Harold plot their trip to Atlanta, and Billy Joel's The Stranger at the end leading up to Fade Out for the episode. 

Overall, the series is off to a good start, and I am anxious for the rest of the tale to unfold! I feel it could have been more compelling. The original series (and the book) had a different feel. There were less Sunny Days during the scenes, (it seemed). Less light. 

I am enjoying Marsden as Stu. He is a solid actor. He fits the role . . . right. He is not far from what I imagined for "Stu." Additionally, Teague is also perfectly cast as a creepy Harold. From his oily hair, to his skinny-skeletal body frame. I am most anxious to see Nick Andros hit the stage, as it were. I have never heard of "Henry Zaga." He is no Rob Lowe, but has, perhaps, the right look. (Rob Lowe portrayed Nick in the 1994 series and did a great job as a deaf-mute). Stu and Nick are perhaps my two favorite characters from the novel. No. They are.

As I re-read the book I envision grey. Not just grey skies, but grey everything. It is almost as if the words on the page only paint grey pictures. This is what I would expect to "feel" with such a horrific tale. But that is missing from this remake. That is what I best remember from the 1994 series as well. However, the last thing I want to do is spend 9 weeks comparing the three. And yet, here I am.

Also, I prefer chronological. The story starts in the not-so-distant future. Bounces back five months. It goes here. It goes there. It seems needlessly complicated. King wrote with two points, one in front of the other. It told a better story. Less room for confusion.

It may be because I am now re-reading the book again. The actuality is more fresh compared to the newest adaptation. 

Overall this review sounds as if I am disappointed. In some ways I am. In others, I am still happy and excited for the re-visitation. I guess my fingers are crossed. Squeezing tight. (I know I want to love this show. I just hope my desire doesn't blind me from seeing the show ... if that makes sense).

Please, leave your comments below, and subscribe to the blog so you don't miss a Recap / Review.

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Amazon best selling horror novel, VACCINATION

Book Review: A TIME FOR MERCY, John Grisham

 

John Grisham
A TIME FOR MERCY (Jake Brigance #3)
464 pages
Doubleday / October 2020
Crime / Legal / Thriller

Grisham returns to Ford County in Mississippi for the third (novel length) time! Attorney Jake Brigance is back. (While you do not need to read the first two in the "series"- I do highly recommend both: A Time to Kill [Grisham's first novel], and Sycamore Row. Both cases from these books are referenced throughout A Time for Mercy, but explained enough so readers who have not read them will not feel lost).

This time things are going good for Jake and Harry Rex. They have a case about to go to trial, and the money they plan to make (knowing it will settle) will be the largest settlement sum ever paid in Ford County. Case is pretty open and shut. A truck was struck by a train when the flashing lights were not properly working. Kids died. Injuries sustained . . .

But then things get turned upside down. Drew, a sixteen year old boy, shoots and kills a police officer. Jake wants nothing to do with the case. Killing a cop is bad news in Mississippi. Judge Noose, hearing the case, assigns Jake as the "public" defender. It couldn't be worse timing.

Jake has a reputation in Ford County: Getting people out of trouble who most people think should have served time. And this case was sure to garner unwanted attention. The citizens were crying for the death penalty. The gas chamber. No one could understand how or why Jake would be defending a cop killer.

The twist, the officer was a violent drunk. He beat his girlfriend, and her kids. As the case moves forward, other dark secrets are unearthed. The secrets can either hurt or help Jake's case. To make matters worse, a secret from Jake's own past creeps up and threatens the possible multi-million dollar pay out on his other case.

With everything on the line, zero money to try cases, and the town against him, Jake must do his best to not only win the case, but deliver justice in a courtroom drama to rival all of his other works.

Loved seeing Jake and the family again! Hope there will be more cases in Ford County in the future.

Another fantastic novel by one of the best legal thriller writers!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of YOU CHOOSE

Movie Review: SOUND OF METAL

 

Sound of Metal

Amazon Prime
Directer: Darius Marder
Writer: Darius Marder (Screenplay), Derek Cianfrance (Story by), Darius Marder / Abraham Marder (Written by)
1 Hour 41 Minutes / Drama

Riz Ahmed portrays Ruben -a recovering addict, and the drummer of a two-person metal band. His girlfriend, Lou (Olivia Cooke - Bates Motel), is the singer and guitar player in the band. Moments into the movie, Ruben discovers that his hearing is going.

The realization something is wrong with his hearing has him freaking out. He seeks medical advice. The doctor tells him regardless of how the issue started, the thing he needed to realize was that he would not be getting his hearing back.

In denial, Ruben searches for a solution. However, his old cravings begin returning. He has been clean four years. This news could be a major setback. Thankfully Lou makes some calls. She gets him into a program for deaf addicts. The treatment center is an old farm house in rural America, set away from the city. In this program, Joe (Paul Raci -Goliath) tells Ruben:

"As you know, everybody here shares in the belief that being deaf is not a handicap. Not something to fix."

The programs has Ruben in class with children. They are all learning sign language. At first he is embarrassed, and frustrated. He appears isolated, and in need of doing something more.

The progression of dinner scenes in the program are heartwarming, as Ruben slowly accepts his deafness and works at learning more about sign language and Deaf Culture.

One of the teachers, Diane (Lauren Ridloff -We Are the Walking Dead)  

Just as Ruben begins moving forward, connecting with the kids, the others in the program, he finds himself still faced with a very different future from the one he'd planned. The only person who can decide the road he can now go down is ... Ruben.

The movie was suggested to me by a friend. He knows I study American Sign Language and thought it would be a movie I would like. He was absolutely right. It pulled me right in. You immediately connect with Ruben. He is a flawed character forced to face readjusting dreams, relationships, and his future. You find yourself both annoyed with him, but also rooting for him. When Ruben realizes the outside world is moving ahead without him, Ruben disappoints me. Although I fully understand the WHY behind his decisions, it made the movie more  . . . real, but parts still left me feeling somewhat empty. Like Ruben says, "It's life. It's just life."

The movie tackles serious society issues when it comes to Deaf Culture, the deaf, the hearing, and the idea of Cochlear implants. Implants are a widely controversial procedure within the Deaf Community. Ruben missed the point of the treatment center, of the program. His expectations were too great. His hopes too strong. His disappointment too real. 

The very end of the film was what made it go from a good movie, to a Great movie. Ruben has to hit his own rock bottom before he can truly begin his climb. I suspect the path won't be easy. He will be faced with constant challenges. I like to believe Joe DID reach him, that his connection with the kids at the center did impact him. Fantastic film!

With 7 award nominations, and 5 winning Sunset Film Circle  awards, SOUND OF METAL is an emotionally complex film! The acting is authentic. (There is no actual music playing throughout the film, which made me think of Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler (2008). 

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the YA deaf sports novel, SOUNDS OF SILENCE

APRIL 18th GIVEAWAY!

ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 1 of 3 Hardcover Copies

On A Dark Stormy Review Will Be Awarding Three (3) Random Winners a Hardcover Copy of Kent Lester's debut novel THE SEVENTH SUN -- Read the Sample Chapter below, and leave a comment on this blog for your chance to win!

A big Thank you to FORGE BOOKS for sponsoring this event!

If you do not win (Winners selected on April 18, 2017. Books will be mailed directly from Forge Books) you can click on the book cover, or highlighted links and be taken directly to Amazon.com.

Read the below chapter -- and Don't Forget to Leave a Comment!

Kent Lester
THE SEVENTH SUN
Forge Books, 2017
411 Pages
Suspense / Thriller

1


CARL JAMESON’S GEOLOGY career took a sudden turn when the unimaginable knocked at his door: an event as unlikely as a snowflake in summer.

It seemed an apt analogy for the moment, Carl thought, as he sat sweltering in the languid heat of his cubicle, stuffed into a dusty corner of the Central American Core Repository. He had arrived at the sleepy fishing village of La Ceiba, Honduras, two months earlier to complete research on his doctoral thesis. The slow pace of Latin American life and the friendliness of the locals provided him a respite from the hectic inner-city life of Columbia University. But one thing he could never get used to was the heat, the oppressive heat that sucked the energy from his bones. Carl leaned forward to harvest a meager stream of air flowing from an old oscillating fan he’d purchased at the local market. It provided scant relief for his racing heart.

When he first arrived at the core repository, Carl could have scarcely imagined the bizarre twist that would upend all of his research into mass extinction events. His meticulous studies of ocean sediments would need to be updated, along with his thesis title: “Mass Extinction: Sedimentary Evidence of Comet Impact at the Cretaceous/Tertiary Boundary.”

It was a huge adjustment, but Carl didn’t mind. His implausible discovery offered him an opportunity of a lifetime. That’s what made science so compelling, he decided: the occasional surprise that turned scientific convention on its head.

Carl checked his antique pocket watch. Time to get moving. Exiting the cubicle, Carl entered the building’s long central hallway, his footsteps reverberating in the cavernous enclosure. The structure was old, constructed in the late fifties, and large, over a football field in length, having been expanded numerous times. Dust motes danced in shafts of light streaming from windows set high on the crumbling brick walls. Their beams illuminated row upon row of metal tubes stacked on tall shelves, like the scrolls of a primordial library.

The Central American Core Repository contained the largest collection of sedimentary drilling cores in Latin America, an archive of geological history created and maintained by several mining conglomerates. For the most part, the cores languished in obscurity, their secrets mute and unappreciated. In fact, during the entire two-month span of his research grant, Carl Jameson had not seen a single other visiting scientist or surveyor.

He knew the reason for the lack of interest: to a mining company, these archived cores were symbols of failure. The drilling of an exploratory sediment core was the mining equivalent of a stab in the dark, a pinprick through the skin of Mother Earth, made in hopes of finding a vein of mineral wealth. Any promising core samples would never make their way into the repository. They would be far too valuable and would be whisked away to another location … like the shiny new laboratory next door, for instance.

Someone had found something of extreme value, Carl concluded, judging from the frenzied activity taking place just a few steps away from his current location. He wanted to learn more, but … first things first.

As he ambled along, Carl extended his hand, letting it hover inches above one shelf, like a ship floating through time. It sailed past the geological periods—Quaternary, Neogene, Paleogene … 

By row’s end, he’d journeyed back sixty million years into the past, an eyeblink in geological time. Carl turned right and headed toward the age of the dinosaurs, the focus of his research.

The scientific debate on mass extinctions had raged for years. During the Earth’s four-billion-year history, five mass extinction events had ravaged the planet’s species, none more famous than the last: the extinction of the dinosaurs. Every scientific discipline had its own pet theory for the cause.

The biologists focused on pandemics and evolutionary pressure. The meteorologists believed in climate change. The astrophysicists proposed an invisible sister-star to the sun called “Nemesis” that supposedly disrupted the solar system every 26 million years or so. Paleogeologists preferred volcanism at the Deccan Traps in India. There was even an extinction theory based on dark matter.

Carl had always believed in the most obvious and simple theory: meteor impacts.

Occam’s razor.

His research had seemed to bear that out … until a week ago. That’s when extinction “theory” became something else entirely.

Carl stopped suddenly at a familiar berth.

For two months, he had been studying the sediment cores surrounding the “KT boundary” between the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, where the last evidence of the dinosaurs could be found. Each core was like a chapter of geological history, its individual sediment layers like pages from the book of life. They had always told a familiar story, until … 

That.

Carl’s eyes locked on a microscope slide tray that had been placed on a narrow clearing on one of the shelves. He needed one last look. His hand trembling slightly, Carl removed a gossamer-thin slice of stone from its holder and placed it into the microscope.

The chance of spotting such a miniscule detail was one in a trillion, he thought, staring at the tiny smattering of colors. Fossilized minerals that had long since replaced the original material sparkled like jewels from an age long departed.

The sight sent a shiver down his spine. It felt as if he had torn the veil from a sacred act, entombed in a wash of sediment, like two mating flies trapped in amber. This tiny discovery, as big as the Earth itself, would rewrite the history books on mass extinctions and surely earn him a Nobel Prize.

After getting his fill, Carl placed the slide back into its plastic sleeve and slipped it into his pocket, patting it gently. Keep the Nobel close. No one here would miss it, or understand its significance.

Carl checked his watch again. It was time to get into position for his second task of the day. For weeks, he’d been watching the heightened security, the strange equipment, the jealously guarded core samples ushered into a lab constructed on a new wing of the decrepit old warehouse. One day, during a core delivery, Carl had noticed the GPS coordinates scribbled on the side of one of the drilling tubes. Their origin piqued his curiosity, drilled only a few hundred miles from the location of his discovery.

In a few days, he’d be meeting up with Rachel Sullivan in La Ceiba for their reunion. Sharing his Nobel-worthy discovery with her would be epic. In all likelihood, she would be shocked, but pleased. Carl felt a tinge of pride at the prospect of showing off his latest achievement.

But, if he could find out the secret to the new mystery cores delivered next door, he could sweeten the pot even more at their reunion.

Two for the price of one.

His next move would be particularly bold, or foolish, depending on how you looked at it. He would be trespassing in a secured area. The slight risk seemed worth it. Besides, what could they do about it now? His residency was almost over. This was his last chance to satisfy his curiosity. Just a quick glance for a minute or two—easy peasy.

Carl knew the guards’ routine and delivery schedule. Toiling under the weight of the cores, they had formed the habit of propping the security door open with an old trash can. With proper timing, Carl could slip inside, take a quick look around, and be out before anyone noticed. He moved to position himself behind a nearby shelf and waited.

Within minutes, the guards arrived, lugging their first load of drill tubes. The lead guard swiped his security card and the team entered the high-security area. A few minutes later, they reappeared and headed for another load, leaving the door ajar in predictable fashion. At the sound of the far exit door slamming shut, Carl made his move.

Slipping through the unsecured door, he found himself standing in the center of an inner foyer. Straight ahead, a vinyl-strip curtain door formed a rudimentary air lock between the foyer and the main lab. To his right, a circular staircase spiraled up into darkness. Treading softly, he eased up the metal stairs to a small observation room that overlooked the lab below.

This was going to be easier than he thought.

Carl backed into the shadows and studied the room below. At first, it looked like any other assay lab: microscopes along one wall; a large table half-filled with exposed cores, pushed out of their containers like Popsicles from their wrappers. The lab had even been equipped with a gas chromatograph and spectroscope. No expense had been spared.

But the far wall perplexed him: it was housing a row of stainless steel fermenting tanks like those found in any microbrewery. Titration racks, a vented hood, incubation chamber, genetic sequencing machine, and stacks of agar plates—items more at home in a biology classroom than a geological assay lab. What is going on here?

Biology was not Carl’s strong suit, but Rachel could probably explain what he was seeing. He reached for his cell phone to take a picture, and cursed. He’d left it back in his cubicle. He’d just have to note every detail so he could share the information later.

The security team reappeared with their second delivery. Carl watched as two lab technicians, dressed in rubber aprons and full-face visors, joined the guards, helping to extract the new cores, which contained a mixture of crystalline rock and mud.

Their job done, the security team said their goodbyes. The two lab techs moved deliberately, one switching off the bright overhead lights and the other activating a bank of UV black lights.

Bathed in the lamp’s purple glow, the sample cores suddenly lit up like a Christmas tree, their crystalline minerals fluorescing under the energy of ultraviolet radiation. Using the glowing minerals as a guide, the technicians extracted a collection of slices, placing them into assaying trays. When they were done, the overheads were

flipped back on, illuminating a ruin of mud and rock littered across the table.

One lab tech carried the assay trays to the microscopes. The other technician moved to the nearest fermentation tank and opened the hatch, releasing a cloud of steam. Then, he dumped the core remnants from the table into the fermenter and shut the lid.

The unfamiliar procedure left Carl completely baffled. Core samples were like divining rods. Their mineral values would be tested, quantified, and charted on a map. By following the gradients of higher mineral concentrations, mining operations could zero in on the most promising claims. Core samples were always archived for further testing. They were never destroyed.

Now, more curious than ever, he scrutinized the lab techs as they turned their attention to the assay trays: making microslices, collecting small quantities of material for spectrographic analysis, studying the slices under the microscope.

He stood there watching for an hour, mesmerized, until another unimaginable event caught his attention.

The hatch on the nearest fermenter began to change color—to an unnaturally bright color. A deep Prussian-blue foam began to ooze out around the hatch’s seal. It grew into a great steaming mound that advanced down the front side of the fermentation tank with a bubbling ferocity that could be heard from his perch in the observation room.

The lab workers turned and stared, frozen. One worker finally leapt up and rushed toward the fermenter’s controls. His forward motion carried him past his destination as the slick foam betrayed his purchase. He landed on his backside with a loud splat.

A guttural gasp exploded from his mouth as he seemed to launch himself up from the floor. He writhed and contorted as the blue ooze sloughed off his back, along with large patches of lab coat and skin. A mist of white smoke streamed from the raw flesh as his cries morphed into a gurgling whimper.

The second worker slammed his hand onto a large red button, shattering the silence with a chorus of sirens. Seconds later, both men were contorting in agony. White foam spewed from their mouths, mixing with the cerulean mass that inched its way across the room.

Frozen in place, Carl Jameson was unsure what to do next, until the faint aroma of burnt almonds reached his nostrils and shocked him into action.

Hydrogen cyanide.

He bounded down the stairs three steps at a time, falling the last four feet onto the floor. Underneath the vinyl curtain, he could see blue foam advancing toward him. He jumped up and punched through the security door into the stillness of the warehouse.

The distant clamor of footsteps prompted him to turn down the left hallway toward the exit. He shot around the corner at the far end and collided with a wall of flesh, stinking of sweat and booze. A large, dark object descended from above, landing with a brilliant burst of pain.

* * *

CARL PRESSED HIS hands against the iron deck and felt the shudder of a ship’s engine.

His mind was still swimming as he fingered a large welt behind his ear. A wave of dizziness flowed over him as he struggled to his feet, hands probing the darkness. His fingers found a dangling chain and pulled. The world turned white as a swinging bulb threw shadows across a cramped room containing a door, porthole, and stained toilet.

The stench of rust and urine assaulted his nostrils, churned his stomach. He leaned over the toilet and tore open the porthole, thrusting his face into the narrow opening to drink in gulps of humid night air.

Far in the distance, the lights of La Ceiba flickered on a long, dark jut of Honduran coastline. Above, the moon hung low and oval, firing the crests of ocean swells. It was a scene he had experienced a thousand times before as a geology undergraduate, from the decks of arctic cruisers and sloops whispering through Caribbean foam. The sea had always been as reassuring to him as a familiar mural, its nuances fresh with each viewing.

But now, the waters grew dark and malevolent. With each passing moment, the shoreline receded, and with it, his chance for survival. They had imprisoned him on this puke-stained ship for a reason. He had seen too much.

Carl strained to reassemble the past few hours. How long had he been out? Dim visions of bright-colored foam, smoking flesh, horrific screams, and dark shapes played across his mind. With sudden desperation, he groped in his pocket for the precious slide, the ticket to his Nobel Prize.

Pulling the plastic holder from his pocket, Carl stared down at … sand. The thin shard of stone had returned to the dust of the Earth.

Self-revulsion shuddered through his frame as he slumped to the toilet. This should have been a day to celebrate, but instead he’d destroyed his Nobel with a foolish act of bravado. He felt sick, the nausea worsening as he relived the horrific tragedy in the lab.

Two for the price of one.

Carl sat there, hump shouldered, for several minutes, thinking. Both tragedies seemed to converge into a single thread of thought. Slowly, deliberately, the divergent threads began to weave a tapestry in his mind, connecting the past to the present. He thought about the location of the closely guarded core samples and his shattered Nobel. A coincidence? Surely, it couldn’t still be there, could it? After seventy million years?

Revulsion gave way to an elemental fear.

The tapestry in his mind’s eye held the vision of a monstrous certainty. His own well-being seemed to fade into insignificance. He had to warn someone … everyone.

Reaching inside his other pocket, Carl pulled out his antique pocket watch and popped open the ornate cover. 9:13 P.M. Judging from the cargo crowding the ship’s deck, they were headed to deep water. He didn’t have much time.

He scrutinized the room. Behind the toilet, a plunger rested in a pool of fetid water. Above it, a rickety bookshelf held a stack of pornographic magazines and a tattered Bible. He jerked at the locked door repeatedly, to no avail. The porthole was far too small to wriggle through, the walls, solid steel.

No way out, nothing to write with, no way to leave a message.

The finality of his plight began to sink in. Carl dropped his head and stared down at the image on his T-shirt. He experienced a flash of inspiration and began ripping at the shirt’s fibers, trying to tear away a vital portion of the shirt’s image. Initially, the tear followed the weave of the cotton. He cursed through several attempts and finally raised the shirt to his mouth to gnaw out the requisite shape.

Then he pulled the old Bible from the room’s shelf and flipped through the pages. The text was in Spanish, making it difficult to find the correct passage. After several minutes of searching, he tore out the bottom half of one page and folded it neatly several times. Opening a secret compartment in his watch, Carl removed the portrait inside and replaced it with the packet, pausing to stare at the woman in the photograph. She stared back with a radiant smile, as if to comfort him. His eyes filled as he said softly, “Looks like you won the bet.”

Voices.

The first two were conciliatory, the third deeper and more commanding. Snapping the watch shut, Carl ripped it from the chain and stuffed it under the tongue of his sneaker.

Keys rattled.

He tore the handle from the plunger, stood, and braced himself. There would only be one chance. If he could force them away from the door, make a mad dash … the feral sea would swallow him up. A long swim to shore, certainly, but he could make it.

The door swung open and his heart sank. A familiar hulk of a man filled the opening. Leaning over to fit his enormous bulk inside, the man grabbed Carl’s shirt and jerked him through the doorway.

“Hold him down!” he barked to the other men.

“Sí, Capitán!”

An instant later, Carl found himself sprawled facedown across the deck, his arms drawn painfully behind his back. A pair of hands rifled through his pockets as bindings tightened around both wrists. He squirmed frantically and twisted his face toward the huge figure. “Listen, for God’s sake, don’t do this! You don’t know what you’re doing!”

The captain leaned in, his breath thick with tequila. Dark eyes studied him from deep recesses. “You should have kept your nose out of our business, gringo.”

“I won’t tell anyone, I swear!”

The captain flashed a row of grimy teeth. “Sí, you won’t.”

Carl racked his brain for something to say, something that could describe the gravity of the situation. But how could he explain the history of the Earth in a few sentences? Straining closer, he hissed into the captain’s ear.

“If you kill me—you kill us all.”

The finality of the words caught the large man by surprise and the captain backed away nervously, a hint of doubt clouding his face. Carl felt a stab of hope as the captain wavered at the edge of indecision.

Finally, he straightened. “Finish him.”

& SSSSS 

Something hard and cylindrical jammed against Carl’s back. The men lashed it tightly and dragged him across the deck like a sack. He was hoisted to the gunwale. One heave, a cooling breeze, then a hard slap. The chaos at the water’s surface soon dissolved into a dark stillness.

Carl jerked against the bindings, shreds of skin peeling away from the jute ropes. Neither hand budged. Water raced past. With two loud pops, both eardrums ruptured in an explosion of pain and dizziness. A faint metallic flavor washed over his tongue. His heart heaved against a chest cavity collapsing from the pressure. The urge to breathe welled up from his gut with a sudden vengeance. Carl struggled again, more feebly this time, but the knots were tied with a sailor’s skill and only grew tighter.

Suddenly, a wall of cool water enveloped him. Unable to hold out any longer, Carl Jameson relaxed and let the salty liquid rush in.… 

There was a loud ringing, and then—nothing.

A curious barracuda swam by, paused momentarily, then darted off into the void.


Copyright © 2017 by Kent Lester