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mrfrank's review against another edition
4.0
Paul Michael Anderson is the the most original thing I've read this year. STANDALONE mashes horror and sci-fi and then blends it in with a healthy dose of astrophysics. The result is a twisted sci-fi horror story darker than Alien and more convoluted than the entire collection of 80's horror slashers.
In one of my updates while reading STANDALONE, I said it read as if Dr. Micho Kaku got together with Wes Craven and Clive Barker to write a book worthy of becoming an iconic movie. Instead it was written by one Paul Michael Anderson who just may have a penchant for the work of the three aforementioned gentlemen. The book feels like Alien. It feels like Friday the 13th. It feels like 2001 Space Odyssey and it feels like a treatise on String Theory and the Multiverse.
The concept is extremely original. STANDALONE uses horror for its characters, sci-fi for it backdrop and astrophysics to get where its going. And best of all, it is true to the scientific theory without being heavy handed or farcical with the subject. It doesn't use multiverse or time travel as a trap door to get out of a corner. Great execution by the writer!
There is a darkly morbid short story at the end of the book, seperate from STANDALONE. I thought it may have been unnecessary but it proved to be a nice little punctuation at the end of the book, apropos of nothing. I'd recommend this quirky sci-fi horror ditty to anyone looking for something just a tad heady but mostly just a fun homage to classic slasher films.
In one of my updates while reading STANDALONE, I said it read as if Dr. Micho Kaku got together with Wes Craven and Clive Barker to write a book worthy of becoming an iconic movie. Instead it was written by one Paul Michael Anderson who just may have a penchant for the work of the three aforementioned gentlemen. The book feels like Alien. It feels like Friday the 13th. It feels like 2001 Space Odyssey and it feels like a treatise on String Theory and the Multiverse.
The concept is extremely original. STANDALONE uses horror for its characters, sci-fi for it backdrop and astrophysics to get where its going. And best of all, it is true to the scientific theory without being heavy handed or farcical with the subject. It doesn't use multiverse or time travel as a trap door to get out of a corner. Great execution by the writer!
There is a darkly morbid short story at the end of the book, seperate from STANDALONE. I thought it may have been unnecessary but it proved to be a nice little punctuation at the end of the book, apropos of nothing. I'd recommend this quirky sci-fi horror ditty to anyone looking for something just a tad heady but mostly just a fun homage to classic slasher films.
crystal_staley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
4.0
I did not know what to expect going into this book, thinking it was a straight up slasher story. This is a slasher story, but so much more. I was not expecting the science fiction element and what a nice surprise! It asks the question, “what would you do to save your family”? Most would say they would do anything I’m sure. Even murder? Our main character was asked this question and made his decision. But then what happens when people want revenge? Will the multiverse be destroyed? This is such a unique story and I really enjoyed it. It really opened up a large world in a short amount of pages, and gives you pause about your own reality.
ardent_archivist's review against another edition
4.0
Sci-fi...AND horror? This short and sweet little book has such an interesting premise. I found myself getting a few good chills at the very beginning wondering why in the world a man in a spacesuit was Friday the 13th murdering a bunch of teenagers?!?! This book is very meta, but I found the interspersed gore and sci-fi bites a delightful mix. Sci-fi definitely needs more campy horror goodness like this- very enjoyable!
ericarobyn's review against another edition
3.0
Standalone by Paul Michael Anderson is a slasher read with a nod to other slashers, that will leave you feeling haunted.
In this sci-fi horror novel, our main character kills people in order to keep a balance in the multiverse. But of course, that balance is fickle, and it’s about to be tested.
Right on page one, the first kill occurs. From there, it’s an all out massacre. While reading, I thought that this situation seems pretty familiar… And then we meet the last kill, and I became very curious to see where things would go from there.
As a reader, we soon learn that our main character, who has just slaughtered a group of teenagers at a summer camp, does this a lot. But it’s not just him. There’s a group of four men that are each sent out on assignments where they kill people based on very specific assignments they are given.
They were told that they need to do this in order to keep the balance and protect their homes. But why do things have to be done this way? Well, that is something that one character is about to learn when everything doesn’t go quite as planned…
I really enjoyed that we were totally thrown into the predicament on the first page, but then take a step back to learn more about what was going on. I also really enjoyed the slasher element of this novel paired with our characters that were clearly struggling, but were just trying to do their jobs.
I didn’t read the book description before diving in, so the sci-fi elements threw me a bit. Some scenes also seemed to drag a bit for me and I found myself losing interest, and I just wanted to jump back into the action. (I think this could very well be due to the state of the world right now. I will be returning to this book again at a later date to see if I still feel that way.)
All in all, I thought that the premise of this book was really interesting and quite spooky when you let yourself think about this really happening! Paul Michael Anderson is definitely an author that I will be keeping an eye on. I’d love to read more of his work soon!
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy slashers paired with a heavy dose of science-fiction, then you’ve gotta check this one out!
This is a read that I would like to return to again down the road. While I enjoyed it very much, I think some of the sci-fi elements just threw me for a loop.
In this sci-fi horror novel, our main character kills people in order to keep a balance in the multiverse. But of course, that balance is fickle, and it’s about to be tested.
Right on page one, the first kill occurs. From there, it’s an all out massacre. While reading, I thought that this situation seems pretty familiar… And then we meet the last kill, and I became very curious to see where things would go from there.
As a reader, we soon learn that our main character, who has just slaughtered a group of teenagers at a summer camp, does this a lot. But it’s not just him. There’s a group of four men that are each sent out on assignments where they kill people based on very specific assignments they are given.
They were told that they need to do this in order to keep the balance and protect their homes. But why do things have to be done this way? Well, that is something that one character is about to learn when everything doesn’t go quite as planned…
I really enjoyed that we were totally thrown into the predicament on the first page, but then take a step back to learn more about what was going on. I also really enjoyed the slasher element of this novel paired with our characters that were clearly struggling, but were just trying to do their jobs.
I didn’t read the book description before diving in, so the sci-fi elements threw me a bit. Some scenes also seemed to drag a bit for me and I found myself losing interest, and I just wanted to jump back into the action. (I think this could very well be due to the state of the world right now. I will be returning to this book again at a later date to see if I still feel that way.)
All in all, I thought that the premise of this book was really interesting and quite spooky when you let yourself think about this really happening! Paul Michael Anderson is definitely an author that I will be keeping an eye on. I’d love to read more of his work soon!
My Final Thoughts
If you enjoy slashers paired with a heavy dose of science-fiction, then you’ve gotta check this one out!
This is a read that I would like to return to again down the road. While I enjoyed it very much, I think some of the sci-fi elements just threw me for a loop.
exorcismofemilyreed's review against another edition
4.0
3.5⭐
I loved the premise of Standalone! This book is a blend of slasher and sci-fi, and it was fun to read. The opening chapter was fascinating to me. I enjoyed the gore, and I wish we could have spent more time seeing how the worked. The job was so intriguing, but then most of the book ends up being about the job not working properly. I would love to read a prequel one day if it ever exists!
There's a short story at the end of this book called The One Thing I Wished for You, and it was emotional and haunting.
CW - child abuse
I loved the premise of Standalone! This book is a blend of slasher and sci-fi, and it was fun to read. The opening chapter was fascinating to me. I enjoyed the gore, and I wish we could have spent more time seeing how the worked. The job was so intriguing, but then most of the book ends up being about the job not working properly. I would love to read a prequel one day if it ever exists!
There's a short story at the end of this book called The One Thing I Wished for You, and it was emotional and haunting.
CW - child abuse
tracyreads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As an introduction to an author’s work, I can’t ask for anything better than this. This horror/Sci Fi slasher is a heck of a good read. I want more - more detail, more books, more Jenkins. I sit in awe of Anderson’s brain as there is no way I would be able to suss out something like the Multiverse and explain it to others in such a way that they understand.
This book is full of gory murders and entertains as much as it disgusts. The author clearly takes the time to put out quality material - the writing is clear, sparse when needed, and the time taken pays off in a big way. I also loved the little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout plus nods to the Mandela effect. “What if...”, indeed.
I’m normally not one to read extra short stories in the back of a book, but I wasn’t ready to let go of Anderson’s writing just yet so I carried on to “The One Thing I Wished For You”. I appreciate the Introduction and Justification that precedes it; it’s another example of the care that was taken to make the reading experience a good one. This story continues on with another father and another choice. I’m not saying anything else other than this one broke me a little bit and it’s one I’m sure I’ll continue to think of long after today.
This book is full of gory murders and entertains as much as it disgusts. The author clearly takes the time to put out quality material - the writing is clear, sparse when needed, and the time taken pays off in a big way. I also loved the little Easter eggs sprinkled throughout plus nods to the Mandela effect. “What if...”, indeed.
I’m normally not one to read extra short stories in the back of a book, but I wasn’t ready to let go of Anderson’s writing just yet so I carried on to “The One Thing I Wished For You”. I appreciate the Introduction and Justification that precedes it; it’s another example of the care that was taken to make the reading experience a good one. This story continues on with another father and another choice. I’m not saying anything else other than this one broke me a little bit and it’s one I’m sure I’ll continue to think of long after today.
brennanlafaro's review against another edition
4.0
Ladies and gentlemen, here comes Paul Michael Anderson with easily one of the most unique and original concepts you'll read in a horror book this year. Mixing horror with science fiction, Standalone also acts as a love letter of sorts to the slasher genre. There’s some fun shout outs to our favorite villains and movies throughout the span of horror cinema as the plot rolls along and unravels. This is one of those stories that reveals bits and pieces as it goes, never really showing all its cards until the end. And even then, the reader has room to add some of their own interpretations.
The first chapter is such a draw-in, following our lead, Jenkins, as he ravages a very familiar summer camp. Anderson drops in odd little bits here and there to take the reader out of familiarity. We're pretty much asked to make a mental note of strange happenings to return to later. Come chapter two, we start to see what's really going on. If you read my reviews, you know I like to go light on synopsis. Honestly, I don't even read the back cover most of the time. This book has a Christopher Nolan-movie vibe, where if you go in knowing little to nothing, you're bound to enjoy it more.
One of the more impressive elements pulled off here is the seemingly effortless balance of deep existential questions with gore-laden fun with familial drama elements. At first glance, it seems like too much to squish into one book, and at times I did find myself with a bit of whiplash. Perhaps wishing I had more action during exposition or even hoping for a more detailed explanation of the concepts that make up the foundation of the story. As I mentioned before, a lot of that is intentionally left, or at least that was my interpretation.
Standalone also comes with a bonus short story at the end - “The One Thing I Wished For You”, and as much as the book worked for me, I liked the story even better. The book and story share a common theme of a father making sacrifices for their child, and though the book pulls it off, the story is even more effective at those heartstring tugs. Standalone put Paul Michael Anderson on my radar, but "The One Thing..." made his collection of short fiction - Bones Are Made to be Broken - a must-have book.
If you're looking for something that's not going to echo books you've already read, or if you're simply looking for a new twist on the tried and true slasher, that makes plenty of room for blood and guts, Standalone is very likely up your alley.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration.
The first chapter is such a draw-in, following our lead, Jenkins, as he ravages a very familiar summer camp. Anderson drops in odd little bits here and there to take the reader out of familiarity. We're pretty much asked to make a mental note of strange happenings to return to later. Come chapter two, we start to see what's really going on. If you read my reviews, you know I like to go light on synopsis. Honestly, I don't even read the back cover most of the time. This book has a Christopher Nolan-movie vibe, where if you go in knowing little to nothing, you're bound to enjoy it more.
One of the more impressive elements pulled off here is the seemingly effortless balance of deep existential questions with gore-laden fun with familial drama elements. At first glance, it seems like too much to squish into one book, and at times I did find myself with a bit of whiplash. Perhaps wishing I had more action during exposition or even hoping for a more detailed explanation of the concepts that make up the foundation of the story. As I mentioned before, a lot of that is intentionally left, or at least that was my interpretation.
Standalone also comes with a bonus short story at the end - “The One Thing I Wished For You”, and as much as the book worked for me, I liked the story even better. The book and story share a common theme of a father making sacrifices for their child, and though the book pulls it off, the story is even more effective at those heartstring tugs. Standalone put Paul Michael Anderson on my radar, but "The One Thing..." made his collection of short fiction - Bones Are Made to be Broken - a must-have book.
If you're looking for something that's not going to echo books you've already read, or if you're simply looking for a new twist on the tried and true slasher, that makes plenty of room for blood and guts, Standalone is very likely up your alley.
I received a copy from the publisher for review consideration.
readwithaimee's review
3.0
"What you want and what existence needs are sometimes two different things."
I had so much fun reading Standalone! I would recommend going into this one as blind as possible - there are some fun little Easter eggs here that will delight horror movie fans. There's a LOT of plot and action packed into such a short little book, but it makes for a fun, quick read. This is definitely more sci-fi than it is horror (at least in my humble opinion) but there's definitely some creepy, gory imagery that will shock and delight readers.
It's worth noting: there's a bonus story at the end of this book that expands on what the reader learns while reading Standalone. Don't skip it!
I had so much fun reading Standalone! I would recommend going into this one as blind as possible - there are some fun little Easter eggs here that will delight horror movie fans. There's a LOT of plot and action packed into such a short little book, but it makes for a fun, quick read. This is definitely more sci-fi than it is horror (at least in my humble opinion) but there's definitely some creepy, gory imagery that will shock and delight readers.
It's worth noting: there's a bonus story at the end of this book that expands on what the reader learns while reading Standalone. Don't skip it!
bozzi1's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
3.0
🪓Spoiler Free Book Review🪓
•
I loved the concept and first half of this novella. It got a little confusing just past halfway and there were a couple chapters that felt a little monotonous toward the end. Overall, a fun quick read that has definite promise; it was just missing a couple things connecting that could be fixed with a prequel...hint, hint😂
•
Really enjoyed the Stephen King Easter eggs and of course all the nods to 80’s slasher horror. Another good pick from @nightworms
•
I loved the concept and first half of this novella. It got a little confusing just past halfway and there were a couple chapters that felt a little monotonous toward the end. Overall, a fun quick read that has definite promise; it was just missing a couple things connecting that could be fixed with a prequel...hint, hint😂
•
Really enjoyed the Stephen King Easter eggs and of course all the nods to 80’s slasher horror. Another good pick from @nightworms
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