Garth Marenghi's Incarcerat

TerrorTome #2

by Garth Marenghi

Garth Marenghi - Frightenerman, Darkscribe, Doomsage - is back with volume two of his TerrorTome . . .

Horror novelist Nick Steen is abducted and imprisoned at Nulltec, a shadowy technological research facility with excellent conference parking, concealed deep on the Stalkford Downs. There he is observed, tested and 'interfered with' (physically) by a team of scientific experts led by Dr Barbara Nullman, determined to probe and 'nullify' his escaping imagination . . .Will Nick regain control of his faculties, and crucially his particulars, before everyone, including his erstwhile editor Roz, dies horribly? To find out, you will need to read the book and, more importantly, purchase it.I can say this much on this blurb (and no more) - not before Nick Steen has faced the ultimate monster. (Don't read the last story first or you'll wreck the entire flow.)

From the word processor (that's correct) of the Archduke O'Darkness, Garth Marenghi - Chief Frightener, Quakerman and Lord High Petrifier - come three new dark tales. Will ye, too, become the...Incarcerat...

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Comedy, Audiobook, Humor, Apocalyptic, Science Fiction Fantasy

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 31, 2023

Reviews

[Lizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t write reviews.

And lately I don’t sleep in the dark due to the wracking fear induced by none other than the Highest Creator of Fear, Nightmaremaker and Shaman, Garth Marenghi.

“‘Don’t put that thing in my brain,’ screamed Nick. ‘Please!’
They put that thing in his brain.”

[Tom De Ville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliantly funny pastiche of 80s horror novels that also happens to be a set of three great horror stories in their own right.

It perhaps gets a little overstuffed with ideas in a couple of places, but its worth it for the middle novella, which is an astonishingly good (and very funny) gothic / folk horror pisstake.

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait for this.

Edit: This was absolutely hilarious, the perfect follow-up to TerrorTome. I'm very eagerly awaiting the next book!

[Vitalia · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I can see how people could find this hilarious (it is a great concept) the humour genre often doesn’t do it for me. This book did elicit a few chuckles out of me, but most of the time as I was listening to the audiobook I was just thinking, oh I get what he’s doing here, without it actually making me amused. A case of it’s not you it’s me, I think. The first one was my favourite and the one I found funniest.

[BurritoChris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audiobook is really the best way to experence these books. There's nothing quite like listening to Garth say 'nooooo'. And the number of times Mike Crisis' name is mentioned is both staggering and pleasing.

[Curtis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garth "So I Fuck Typewriters, So What?" Marenghi is back with another insane installment. The middle novella was surprisingly brilliant, it should get its own movie (it's a parody of House On Haunted Hill where Garth, I mean, Nick Stein moves into a house on a hill and locks his daughter in the attic to edit his manuscript 24/7). Docking a star because there were too many moments where the female characters were able to calm down and think rationally which, frankly, killed my suspension of disbelief.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This audiobook was a very fun listen, normally I'm terrible at paying attention to audiobooks but it was very well read by the author. Also appreciated the references dotted around to the previous book.

[B.J. Swann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A step down from the first volume but still entertaining. The second story is the strongest of the three. Amazing performance for the audio version - bring on book 3!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 but deserves 5 over 4.

Enjoyably mad bollocks with the fourth wall thoroughly kicked to pieces and rebuilt into a rockery used to both curse (for the effort involved in building the sodding rockery) and revere his daughters and publishers (because everyone deserves a rockery), all whilst the reader looks on at the madness and unseaming of reality through this literary puzzle of a universe.

Good humour and imagery and the premise of the stories is great, like a hammer horror of the 70s or 80s on acid.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

The next door neighbour is cooking something nice, it smells flippin great

[Rusty Ray Guns · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was incredible

[Theo Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10
Garth Marenghi’s Incarcerat is a flawless sequel. Some would say the best ever written, and they’d be right on. It dosen’t take an expert to ascertain (a word I learnt from this book, thanks Garth) the true gravitas of these tomes, and the impact that they’re going to have on society as a whole. Even more chilling than the first, and with more words. What more could you want? Full of stunning characters, settings, plots and genius foreshadowing, Incacerat escalates the adventures of our beloved Nick Steen to whole new levels, and introduces some much needed political commentary regarding a certain Carl (Sagan). Though obviously it is not better than the first, as that was already perfect; They are on par in raw quality and charm. Society was not ready for this book, it is too damned radical. It changed me as a person, and no doubt will go on to change many more. I am fearful and excited for the third, as I worry that my heart simply will not be able to take the sheer power of the book.

[William Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

With both Marenghi books now, I’ve found the 1st story to be something of a dud, only to be completely turned around by the end. But this one is really worth sticking with to get to both the stories that follow. The 2nd story is a near perfect pastiche of a writer determined to pen his gothic horror masterpiece, whilst the 3rd story boasts a lot of the same charm of the Dark Place itself.

I read a physical copy of TerrorTome but opted for the audiobook this time around, and that feels like the right choice. The clunky masterworks of Garth Marenghi are truly brought to life and offered several laughs that might well have fallen flat on the page. There’s a few gripes and groans for sure (and far too many iterations of repetitive humour, or drawn out countdowns) but otherwise I had a blast with 2 out of 3 of these.

If you liked TerrorTome, you’ll really like the more refined Incarcerat. If you’re new to Marenghi; the 2nd story is as good a litmus test as any in deciding if his humour is for you.

[D'Ailleurs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of Garth Marenghi's nightmarish visions, this time the protagonist, horror novelist Nick Steen, the one who unleased the demons of the Dark Lord of the Prolix is engulfed in Nulltech a mischievous scientific compartment where is submited to various experiments with disastrous results. In the second story, he must save his daugher from being possessed by a vengeful ghost while in the third story, back in Nulltech laboratories he must face the dream demon plunger Randyman.

Absolutely terrifing another novel, is adressed to those brave enough to read it.

[Matthew Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

More deep and visceral than the first. Feels a lot more like Darkplace, which is a good thing. The female lead in Part 3 was refreshing, however the book as a whole loses some steam with the Randyman

[Ross Maclean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable romp through purple prose and ludicrous scenarios, but taking itself seriously enough as a meta literary enterprise that it succeeds on its own terms. The three tales are joyously distinct this time around and Garth’s stabs at gothic horror and dream-infesting boogeymen (a priapic twist on Candyman and Freddy Krueger) are particularly fun experiences. And there’s an admirable boldness to sidelining the Marenghi analogue character for a vast swath of this, which allows for it to focus its lens a bit more sharply on both an emotional through-line about fatherly duty and also subverting at least some of the sexist tropes it’s homagjng. There’s plenty mileage in this concept yet.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books remind me of The Onion's political cartoons – their real subject is not to be found in the text of the work but in the carefully crafted fictional author character who is meant to be writing them. As you read you get a sense of Garth's vanities and insecurities, and especially his many petty grievances. The excellent and audiobook narration takes this effect up another notch.

It hits plenty of different horror tropes using the "interconnected novellas" structure, and doesn't linger on any of them for so long that the jokes wear thin.

[George Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was hilarious! I was laughing out loud from start to finish. It would’ve got 5 stars but I found it got a little convoluted towards the end. I particularly enjoyed the gothic story the most and found that brilliant. I recommend this and the first book to anyone who has a sense of humour.

[LizzleBizzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't quite enjoy this as much as Terrortome, I think it felt a bit back and forth with the plot but aside from that it reads as you would expect a Garth Marenghi book to, lots of over explaining and footnotes with heavy sarcasm directed towards the reader throughout.

[Donna Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming in ParSec Magazine!

[Matt Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

still just as horrible and just as funny as the first

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite part of a Garth Marenghi book is when he mentions what he thinks the contents of Roz’s ‘ladies handbag’, might include. This time we had; snorkel and diving mask, ice creams, slingbacks, undisclosed amounts of loose change, and a bald cap just in case. Also at one point Nick Steen whips out a revolver and opens fire on some children. Fantastic work.

[Adam Molzahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another thrilling tome from the pen of Garth. I found this to be an easy (and spooky) listen but ultimately perhaps it was a little too long.

[Chris Hagen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Middle story good, the rest quite hard work

[Chris Greensmith · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Nick stepped into the lift that would take him up into the Deadish Zone, and a world enclosed by the all-powerful Bowl."

[Martyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The master returns with more malevolent madness and macabre mishaps. Be afraid.

[Chez · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I hoped for, very funny. Not the same numbers of laughs per sentence as terrortome, but that's ok. I enjoyed the plot within a plot within a plot thing. Loved that roz got a leading role in the action, obviously until nick woke up and saved the world, which as he is a man is right and proper.

[Neil Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reiterate most of my comments from the previous volume, this is a very funny parody of the horror genre (King, Koontz, Herbert, et al) and is clearly written by someone who knows the lore inside out.

The narration by "Marenghi" elevates the story as he knows exactly how he wishes the dialogue to be delivered.

I laughed every time the "taffer" appeared, Gwendolyn was mistreated, and the explanation for the R-complex was given.

I felt like the third tale, "Randyman" was by far the weakest. I'm not sure why, but maybe it was the change in viewpoint that wasn't as funny as Nick's. I just hope it wasn't the series running out of steam, although in a way I guess this is how a parody of long running horror franchises has to end?

[Rebekah May · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than Garth Marenghi's TerrorTome . Incarcerat follows on from the events in Garth Marenghi's previous novel as Nick Stein's imaginata is leaking into the real world after his sexual liaisons with a cursed typewriter.

The writing is even better and the stories even funnier. I really enjoyed the take on these horror tropes and all stories were great. I hope more than anything that we get another book out of Nick Stein's adventures.

[Alex (The Bookubus)]

Following on from the events in TerrorTome, the one and only Doomsage Garth Marenghi takes us on a nightmarish journey involving scientific experiments, creepy dolls and dream demons. I didn't think anything could top previous offerings from his oeuvre such as Guygon vs Galgon and Randyman IV: Nightstench but Incarcerat is even more radical, risky and dangerous than them combined.