Adam Aresty

The only negative I have about The Communication Room is that it's too short. I think it would be an even better story if it were closer to novel length rather than only a novella. Other than that, it's a terrific example of the Science Fiction genre and would fit perfectly into an anthology, perhaps between two much shorter pieces.

For anyone interested in trying out some Sci-Fi, this would be an excellent choice. It only takes an hour or so to read, so it's not a huge investment. Besides, I think this story just might get anyone new to Sci-Fi hooked and wanting more.… (mere)

Missed the Mark- 1.5 stars...

"Leonard Ackerman works at a remote army base trying to solve the greatest threat facing mankind. An alien invasion that has eroded our species down to very few numbers as far as Ackerman can tell. His base is compromised and Ackerman retreats to a laboratory he has never been inside, locking himself there with the enemy right outside his door. Inside the lab are thirteen telephones—from the American civil war through to Ackerman’s present day, about 100 years from now."
 
"This laboratory seems to be some sort of closed experiment and Ackerman discovers that he cannot exit the lab until the experiment has run its course. The method and ultimate goal of the test is beyond his reach for now... but the first telephone rings and the only thing Ackerman can do is answer..."
 

I'll admit I was intrigued when I read the blurb for this book but I honestly did not enjoy the story like I thought I would. I understand what the author was trying to do but it just missed the mark for me, especially at the end. The ending just didn't gel with the actual closed experiment story line. I was left wondering if the ending was actually written for a totally different story. I also didn't feel any attachment to the characters so I had a hard time even staying interested in their outcome.  

 
*I received this ARC from NetGalley & Strange Fictions Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!




… (mere)

I’ve never done drugs. Not even a single bit of youthful experimentation. They have always seemed so squalid, seedy, and scary to me, and not at all appealing. But I have known several addicts – close friends and family members – so I have a little first-hand experience dealing with the kind of people depicted in RECOVERY. Of course I have no idea what Adam Aresty’s experiences with drugs, addiction, and addicts are, but I have to say that he does an impressive job of depicting them in horrifying and effective fashion.

Mild plot spoilers follow.

Because RECOVERY is so short, I hesitate to say too much about it. On the surface, this is the story of a man who has lost everything because of drugs: his wife, his son, a job, the chance at a normal life, etc. At the outset of the novella, he is on his way to a rehab center, though it’s clear that he doesn’t have a strong desire to give up drugs permanently, since he visits his dealer to make a purchase just before being picked up for the trip to the rehab clinic. That certainly doesn’t bode well for his recovery. And that visit to his dealer sets the stage for all the rest that happens, since the pills he receives aren’t ordinary drugs…they are much more than that. But to say much more would ruin the tale. In many ways this is an apocalyptic story on a small scale, set in an isolated location, but it is also a character study of addicts wrestling with their inner demons while battling the horrors that are made manifest in the clinic and, eventually, within their own bodies.

RECOVERY has a great premise, and while Aresty tells the tale well, I’d actually have liked to see a slightly more fleshed out version of RECOVERY to explore all the issues at work here. It’s short and gets wrapped up quickly, and while I certainly wanted more, I liked it a lot. Aresty could do much more with RECOVERY’s concept though, so I hope he might enlarge on the story we see here. I recommend RECOVERY as a short, quick read, and because of the strength of Aresty’s writing. This is a great example of taut, effective wordsmithing, and I look forward to reading more from him. I’ve read comparisons between RECOVERY and the films The Shining, The Thing, or Jacob’s Ladder; that’s high praise indeed, but I can certainly see the elements that RECOVERY shares with each of those classic films. This was the first publication by the new Kraken Books. Based on the strength of RECOVERY (and the coolness of their logo), I expect great things from Kraken.

Review copyright © 2013 J. Andrew Byers… (mere)