Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
inspiring
mysterious
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Although I did prefer Rebecca, this story is interesting too. Although this seems to be a slightly different genre, it did peak my interest.
Stephen Saunders is sent to work as an electronics engineer to an isolated facility in Saxmere, located on the west coast of England. There, scientist James MacLean ‘Mac’ is carrying out secret experiments for the military. Saunders is quite reticent about the assignment, since MacLean has a reputation for being quite an eccentric man.
When he arrives to the facility, he meets Ken Ryan, a young boy who is quite cheerful; Robbie, who is a doctor; and Janus, who does the cooking and housework. After he settles down, we make the first horrifying discovery about Mac: he is carrying out a secret experiment that the people who are funding the facility know nothing about. Mac follows the long line of ‘Mad Scientists’ who have no problem crossing ethical boundaries in pursuit of knowledge, such as Marlowe’s own Dr.Faustus, Mary Shelley’s Dr.Frankenstein, and H.G. Wells’ Dr.Moreau, amongst others. He intends on harnessing psychic energy (Force Six) using Janus’ daughter to help him.
“Children, like dogs, are particularly easy to train,’ he said. ‘Or put it this way – their sixth sense, the one that picks up these signals, is highly developed. Niki has her own call-note, just as Cerberus does, and the fact that she suffers from retarded development makes her an excellent subject.”
After a few days working on the project, Saunders starts being OK with it, until he finds out that his predecessor was so appalled by the experiment that he opted out before it was carried out.
After that, we find out what Ken’s function is. Ken has leukaemia and only has a few weeks left to live, which is a key part of Mac’s experiment. Unlike Niki, Ken is a willing participant, as he already knows his time on Earth is nearing its end. Saunders, in spite of being horrified by the situation, convinces himself that ends justify the means and fully immerses himself in the experiment.
Needless to say, things go horribly wrong.
Overall, the plot is quite thin and the outcomes and twists are quite predictable, but we have to bear in mind that the story is only 58 pages long. Du Maurier even included some character development and she managed to include her signature chilling atmosphere of suspense and eeriness.
I quite enjoyed this read and will probably read it again and use it for future projects :)
(3.75)
When he arrives to the facility, he meets Ken Ryan, a young boy who is quite cheerful; Robbie, who is a doctor; and Janus, who does the cooking and housework. After he settles down, we make the first horrifying discovery about Mac: he is carrying out a secret experiment that the people who are funding the facility know nothing about. Mac follows the long line of ‘Mad Scientists’ who have no problem crossing ethical boundaries in pursuit of knowledge, such as Marlowe’s own Dr.Faustus, Mary Shelley’s Dr.Frankenstein, and H.G. Wells’ Dr.Moreau, amongst others. He intends on harnessing psychic energy (Force Six) using Janus’ daughter to help him.
“Children, like dogs, are particularly easy to train,’ he said. ‘Or put it this way – their sixth sense, the one that picks up these signals, is highly developed. Niki has her own call-note, just as Cerberus does, and the fact that she suffers from retarded development makes her an excellent subject.”
After a few days working on the project, Saunders starts being OK with it, until he finds out that his predecessor was so appalled by the experiment that he opted out before it was carried out.
After that, we find out what Ken’s function is. Ken has leukaemia and only has a few weeks left to live, which is a key part of Mac’s experiment. Unlike Niki, Ken is a willing participant, as he already knows his time on Earth is nearing its end. Saunders, in spite of being horrified by the situation, convinces himself that ends justify the means and fully immerses himself in the experiment.
Needless to say, things go horribly wrong.
Overall, the plot is quite thin and the outcomes and twists are quite predictable, but we have to bear in mind that the story is only 58 pages long. Du Maurier even included some character development and she managed to include her signature chilling atmosphere of suspense and eeriness.
I quite enjoyed this read and will probably read it again and use it for future projects :)
(3.75)
An immersive story, but my interest waned as it went on. The pacing rushes a little in the third act. I think it’s a story that might have worked better with an obscured ending.