What Rough Beast

Cracks in the Sky #1

by Ryan Notch

In this terrifying tale of horror from the deep...

Professor Astiro, one of the world's top marine biologists, has just seen the impossible. A beached creature larger than the largest beast that has ever lived. Dealing with the decayed and mangled remains isn't enough for him, so he takes to the sea to capture a live one. But what he finds on the trail of horror is far more terrible and wondrous than his darkest dreams could ever have prepared him for...

Genres: Science Fiction, Horror

24 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 22, 2012

About the author

Ryan Notch lives in Centralia, Pennsylvania, a town evacuated by the Federal government due to a coal mine fire burning beneath it since 1962. The only town in America ever to have its zip code revoked. During the day he wanders the empty streets and houses as if in a dream, looking for something he lost but can't remember where or what it was. At night he writes his horror stories by lying down next to a burning fissure along main street and placing his ear to the ground, transcribing what he hears coming up from below.
Discover his photography as well at www.areographers.com
Or see a trailor for his feature length horror movie at www.lastnightofapril.com
Or read his comics at www.themsgoodcomics.com

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A horror story that is less scary and more bizarre and sort of creepy--just the way I like them.

[Robert B. Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Great story. It grabbed my attention immediately and held on until the last word. This is the first thing written by Ryan Notch that I've read, but it certainly won't be the last.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very unusual tale about something washed up on the beach, an eerie glow and bizarre mutations to anything that comes in contact with it.
Men of science trying to discover what it is and what it all means.
A very quick and intellectually terrifying short tale.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Call of Cthulhu meets The Kraken Wakes in this neat little sci-fi/horror yarn. A little bit too short, but still good.