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The World He Once Knew
Jay has been uploaded into a new body to investigate why the transporter ship Candlemass went dark fourteen days ago. After the ship's owner gives him the rundown of the assignment, he's quickly ushered on board.In the halls of the derelict vessel, Jay discovers black sludge coating the inner hull, leading him to a container in the Cargo Bay.If only he could have stopped there.As Jay digs further, he's thrown into a psychological maelstrom of the ship's and, more importantly, his own history and what led him to be uploaded in the first place.The World He Once Knew is a transcendental, sci-fi horror novel set in the distant future. Here, the deceased's consciousness can be bought and uploaded and forced into labor. They can't quit, even if their new lives make them wish they were dead again.
186 pages, Paperback
Published January 26, 2024
11 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Micah Castle
42 books119 followersMicah Castle is a weird fiction and horror writer. He's an author of multiple books, and his stories have appeared in various magazines, websites, and anthologies.
While away from the keyboard, he enjoys spending time with his wife, playing with his animals, spending hours in the woods, and can typically be found reading a book or writing somewhere in his Pennsylvania home.
While away from the keyboard, he enjoys spending time with his wife, playing with his animals, spending hours in the woods, and can typically be found reading a book or writing somewhere in his Pennsylvania home.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 5, 2024
I really liked this one, the way Castle blended different types of horror into his sci-fi horror was really fantastic. I also enjoyed that I wasn't at all sure where all of it was going until the end and then that ending? Loved it!
January 4, 2024
Honestly, there were a few times where I wasn’t sure where this story was heading.
“The World He Once Knew” is set in futuristic space, following a “Husk” detective who is hired to find out what happened to a spaceship that’s gone dead. It contains some viscerally frightening moments, dream-esque scenes, and has “Alien”/“Event Horizon” vibes. There were some epic sections, and also some parts where things got a little too surreal (I had to skim a couple times to get to what was actually going on).
The ending definitely blew me away and the last scene was so intense- probably one of the biggest twists that I didn’t see coming.
I did struggle with some of the descriptions- I just couldn’t picture what the author was trying to describe in my mind. For example, what the spaceships looked like, what was in the waste container, etc. that might just be a “me” problem though. I also got a bit exhausted reading about Jay literally running back and forth all over the “Candlewood”.
All in all, definitely a book I’d recommend to readers who enjoy scifi thriller/horror books.
“The World He Once Knew” is set in futuristic space, following a “Husk” detective who is hired to find out what happened to a spaceship that’s gone dead. It contains some viscerally frightening moments, dream-esque scenes, and has “Alien”/“Event Horizon” vibes. There were some epic sections, and also some parts where things got a little too surreal (I had to skim a couple times to get to what was actually going on).
The ending definitely blew me away and the last scene was so intense- probably one of the biggest twists that I didn’t see coming.
I did struggle with some of the descriptions- I just couldn’t picture what the author was trying to describe in my mind. For example, what the spaceships looked like, what was in the waste container, etc. that might just be a “me” problem though. I also got a bit exhausted reading about Jay literally running back and forth all over the “Candlewood”.
All in all, definitely a book I’d recommend to readers who enjoy scifi thriller/horror books.
January 6, 2024
Altered Carbon Meets Alien!
Micah Castle's new book took me by surprise, since sci-fi horror in the deep future/space horror mode, did feel like a giant leap from 'Reconstructing a Relationship.' It soon became clear that Castle had a lot of surprises up his sleeve, turning a story reminiscent of those good sci-fi movies of the '90s (a wild card exploring an abandoned spaceship) into a creepy, at times horrific tale all of his own! The imagery is stunning and the pacing very well done.
Although we get just a glimpse of 28th century humanity, Castle's perception of society in this future did trouble me a bit: the social structure is not so much different from ours, but, mentally and emotionally, these people came across like cold-hearted monsters right from the first page. They have learned to treat everybody (even their memories!) as a commodity or a weapon.
Don't expect any romance or warm friendship here: the plot is very specific, the main character has a job to do and that's it. The book deploys every trick in the trade to tamper both with readers' expectations and the main character's mental weaknesses. Even the end follows this pattern, upsetting everything we've been told before and at the same putting the main character's plight into a new light.
This is a brilliant, tense space horror/thriller that will keep you guessing to the end!
Micah Castle's new book took me by surprise, since sci-fi horror in the deep future/space horror mode, did feel like a giant leap from 'Reconstructing a Relationship.' It soon became clear that Castle had a lot of surprises up his sleeve, turning a story reminiscent of those good sci-fi movies of the '90s (a wild card exploring an abandoned spaceship) into a creepy, at times horrific tale all of his own! The imagery is stunning and the pacing very well done.
Although we get just a glimpse of 28th century humanity, Castle's perception of society in this future did trouble me a bit: the social structure is not so much different from ours, but, mentally and emotionally, these people came across like cold-hearted monsters right from the first page. They have learned to treat everybody (even their memories!) as a commodity or a weapon.
Don't expect any romance or warm friendship here: the plot is very specific, the main character has a job to do and that's it. The book deploys every trick in the trade to tamper both with readers' expectations and the main character's mental weaknesses. Even the end follows this pattern, upsetting everything we've been told before and at the same putting the main character's plight into a new light.
This is a brilliant, tense space horror/thriller that will keep you guessing to the end!
January 14, 2024
So FREAKING GOOD!!!
Cosmic horror is usually hit or miss for me, but this knocked it out of the park. I was immediately drawn in by its gorgeous cover, but this story doesn't disappoint. This book beautifully blends vivid imagery and non-stop action into a movie worthy novel. I was hooked all the way till the end! I will definitely be on the lookout for more titles from Castle.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Cosmic horror is usually hit or miss for me, but this knocked it out of the park. I was immediately drawn in by its gorgeous cover, but this story doesn't disappoint. This book beautifully blends vivid imagery and non-stop action into a movie worthy novel. I was hooked all the way till the end! I will definitely be on the lookout for more titles from Castle.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2024
I can’t recall how long ago, but at some point, Micah and I connected over on Twitter/X and I’ve been keen to see what he was going to release when he teased about a sci-fi/horror novella in the works. I learned more about his writing when he kindly appeared in my 3Q’s author interview series and when ‘The World He Once Knew’ was announced, I was all over it. Sci-fi/horror is such a phenomenal genre. There’s so much the writer can do and there’s always a heavy sense of dread throughout.
Once the cover was revealed and the synopsis shared, I was hooked. Look at this opening line of the synopsis – ‘Jay has been uploaded into a new body to investigate why the transporter ship Candlemass went dark fourteen days ago.’ WHAT!!! Hell yes!
What I liked: So, that line I just shared is EXACTLY what this story is about. In the future, the year 2700, humans are occupying the solar system and ships travel around, delivering everything. Jay had died, but now, new abilities, allow people to buy the souls of previously dead people to upload into robotic devices known as HUSKS, so that they can have them do things, such as what Jay has been hired to do – investigate a ship that mysteriously went dark.
Castle does a great job of setting the stage and giving us a lot of tech background of the ‘how’ without making it overwhelming. We don’t get pages and pages of engineering speech that details everything down to the smallest detail. No, we get a few summary paragraphs that had me completely understanding and away we went.
Once on the ship, Jay soon discovers an odd black sludge that seems to be creeping across the ship. Soon enough, Jay is fighting memories of his past life he shouldn’t have as well as dealing with the final words of the various crew members when he finds their memory cards.
Castle deftly amps up the chaos, confusion and we see Jay mentally spiral as he understands more and more about what is happening. But not everything, which Castle does a great job of keeping close to his chest.
Oh, and did I mention that the story is based around how much oxygen Jay has? Yup. That’s the common element we see often in ‘sci-fi exploration’ stories and that countdown completely ramps up the tension, especially when technical difficulties arise.
The ending was a great sleight-of-hand that did a wonderful job of making me gasp and say ‘son of a bitch’ out loud. That’s all I’ll say about that to ensure we stay spoiler free!
What I didn’t like: Now, I had a BLAST with this one, but I will say, even though Castle does a solid job of bringing us from A to B to C, if you’re looking for a sci-fi/horror story that rewrites the wheel about how the story is told, this might not be for you.
Why you should buy this: If I didn’t have a number of other books on the go, this would’ve been an easy, single sitting read. The writing, the story and the character of Jay specifically, were all compulsively engaging. I wanted to know, I wanted to see and I desperately wanted the reveal to come. Castle had me hooked and this one was great from start to finish.
Once the cover was revealed and the synopsis shared, I was hooked. Look at this opening line of the synopsis – ‘Jay has been uploaded into a new body to investigate why the transporter ship Candlemass went dark fourteen days ago.’ WHAT!!! Hell yes!
What I liked: So, that line I just shared is EXACTLY what this story is about. In the future, the year 2700, humans are occupying the solar system and ships travel around, delivering everything. Jay had died, but now, new abilities, allow people to buy the souls of previously dead people to upload into robotic devices known as HUSKS, so that they can have them do things, such as what Jay has been hired to do – investigate a ship that mysteriously went dark.
Castle does a great job of setting the stage and giving us a lot of tech background of the ‘how’ without making it overwhelming. We don’t get pages and pages of engineering speech that details everything down to the smallest detail. No, we get a few summary paragraphs that had me completely understanding and away we went.
Once on the ship, Jay soon discovers an odd black sludge that seems to be creeping across the ship. Soon enough, Jay is fighting memories of his past life he shouldn’t have as well as dealing with the final words of the various crew members when he finds their memory cards.
Castle deftly amps up the chaos, confusion and we see Jay mentally spiral as he understands more and more about what is happening. But not everything, which Castle does a great job of keeping close to his chest.
Oh, and did I mention that the story is based around how much oxygen Jay has? Yup. That’s the common element we see often in ‘sci-fi exploration’ stories and that countdown completely ramps up the tension, especially when technical difficulties arise.
The ending was a great sleight-of-hand that did a wonderful job of making me gasp and say ‘son of a bitch’ out loud. That’s all I’ll say about that to ensure we stay spoiler free!
What I didn’t like: Now, I had a BLAST with this one, but I will say, even though Castle does a solid job of bringing us from A to B to C, if you’re looking for a sci-fi/horror story that rewrites the wheel about how the story is told, this might not be for you.
Why you should buy this: If I didn’t have a number of other books on the go, this would’ve been an easy, single sitting read. The writing, the story and the character of Jay specifically, were all compulsively engaging. I wanted to know, I wanted to see and I desperately wanted the reveal to come. Castle had me hooked and this one was great from start to finish.
January 25, 2024
This was an awesome sci-fi horror story. Imagine waking up and realizing everything you once knew no longer… is. Your whole life changes and suddenly you find yourself searching for reasons behind a seemingly abandoned and broken down spaceship. We are brought room to room in the spaceship, sometimes finding nothing, but still incredibly creeped out by the overall sense of foreboding… sometimes we find something, and the element of surprise, not knowing what’s around the corner, makes for an enjoyable experience throughout. Being hunted by something dark and sludgy on a ransacked and bloody spaceship makes for an eerie tale.
June 2, 2024
I think it's time to create a takes-place-in-outer-space shelf here. I've been reading more and more space fiction over the years and the genre definitely deserves it.
This was a book I was keeping an eye out for and when I noticed it was pretty cheap on kindle, I snagged it. And then once I had it, I couldn't wait to read it, LOL.
It's the 2700's and Jay is a digital clone of himself, awakened from rest and thrust into a humanoid-ish body called a HUSK by the owner of transport spaceship that's gone dark. He's chosen Jay specifically for his previous work as a detective way back in his original life on Earth, and is paying Jay to board his ship and determine why it fell off the grid.
When Jay enters the ship, he discovers dried black ooze everywhere and the dead bodies he locates are also covered in the stuff. Even more disturbing, during his search of the cargo hold, he finds the sole surviving crew member. She's leaking the viscous fluids from her eyes, nose, and mouth, already on the edge of death and not talking any sense, and worse yet, in there with them is the thing that's laid claim to the ship.
From there, it's a race against time - Jay has only so many hours of oxygen in his tanks, and now he's being hunted by an alien lifeform that is somehow causing the entire ship, inside and out, to become overgrown with strange and pollenating plant life. Can he escape the claws of the monster he's trapped in there with? Does he have what it takes to survive? Or will he withdraw too deeply into the memories he's not supposed to have retained that appear to be triggered by the dust of the inky dried goop...?
What a great little eco horror space novel! Even with the obvious foreshadowing throughout, I didn't fully figure out the ending until the jaw dropping reveal. The only complaint I have revolves around my inability to clearly picture some of what was going on. The descriptions didn't always work for me and I struggled to visualize what Jay was looking at or experiencing within the confines of the ship.
Viral alien takeover for the win!
This was a book I was keeping an eye out for and when I noticed it was pretty cheap on kindle, I snagged it. And then once I had it, I couldn't wait to read it, LOL.
It's the 2700's and Jay is a digital clone of himself, awakened from rest and thrust into a humanoid-ish body called a HUSK by the owner of transport spaceship that's gone dark. He's chosen Jay specifically for his previous work as a detective way back in his original life on Earth, and is paying Jay to board his ship and determine why it fell off the grid.
When Jay enters the ship, he discovers dried black ooze everywhere and the dead bodies he locates are also covered in the stuff. Even more disturbing, during his search of the cargo hold, he finds the sole surviving crew member. She's leaking the viscous fluids from her eyes, nose, and mouth, already on the edge of death and not talking any sense, and worse yet, in there with them is the thing that's laid claim to the ship.
From there, it's a race against time - Jay has only so many hours of oxygen in his tanks, and now he's being hunted by an alien lifeform that is somehow causing the entire ship, inside and out, to become overgrown with strange and pollenating plant life. Can he escape the claws of the monster he's trapped in there with? Does he have what it takes to survive? Or will he withdraw too deeply into the memories he's not supposed to have retained that appear to be triggered by the dust of the inky dried goop...?
What a great little eco horror space novel! Even with the obvious foreshadowing throughout, I didn't fully figure out the ending until the jaw dropping reveal. The only complaint I have revolves around my inability to clearly picture some of what was going on. The descriptions didn't always work for me and I struggled to visualize what Jay was looking at or experiencing within the confines of the ship.
Viral alien takeover for the win!
February 6, 2024
The World He Once Knew is a great mix of sci-fi and horror. Castle does a wonderful job creating a claustrophobic environment on the ship. You feel like you’re stuck on it with Jay. As he starts to discover exactly what happened on the ship, suspense builds as well as dread. Jay tries to focus on his job and is tested throughout as he is tormented by past memories and unsettling terror. The unknown can be terrifying, and Jay has no choice but to face it head on.
Castle’s vivid writing sees to it that the reader experiences every bit of darkness that Candlewood has to offer. The buildup will leave you on edge and the ending gives a jolt you won’t forget. If you enjoy sci-fi horror and a gripping story with several twists, don’t pass on this one.
“No sounds, no air, no damn answers for anything...”
Castle’s vivid writing sees to it that the reader experiences every bit of darkness that Candlewood has to offer. The buildup will leave you on edge and the ending gives a jolt you won’t forget. If you enjoy sci-fi horror and a gripping story with several twists, don’t pass on this one.
“No sounds, no air, no damn answers for anything...”
January 18, 2024
A stunning mix of cosmic and sci-fi horror, this book delves into not only situational horror but also psychological in a unique mix.
Jay is a HUSK, a human that has been reborn into an artificial body to be used as a detective to investigate a ship that is drifting in space after contact was lost.
What follows is a journey full of beautifully descriptive visuals and horrific encounters that bring Jay to both physical and psychological limits.
There are twists and turns that I didn’t see coming at all and the ending packs a punch.
A fantastic tale for any horror fan to enjoy.
Jay is a HUSK, a human that has been reborn into an artificial body to be used as a detective to investigate a ship that is drifting in space after contact was lost.
What follows is a journey full of beautifully descriptive visuals and horrific encounters that bring Jay to both physical and psychological limits.
There are twists and turns that I didn’t see coming at all and the ending packs a punch.
A fantastic tale for any horror fan to enjoy.
January 13, 2024
I loved this book. At turns gorgeous and chilling, hopeful and bleak. I was hooked from the premise and nothing about it disappointed me. What an absolute ride!
As a side note, I would also recommend this book to anyone who wished they could play Dead Space but were terrible at video games. It gave me everything I ever wanted from that type of story, plus so much more...and I didn't even have to use a controller.
As a side note, I would also recommend this book to anyone who wished they could play Dead Space but were terrible at video games. It gave me everything I ever wanted from that type of story, plus so much more...and I didn't even have to use a controller.
January 18, 2024
I finished reading Micah Castle's forthcoming book, The World He Once Knew, and I am once again impressed with his writing. This is an edge of your seat, sci-fi/horror thriller that's like a mix of Alien and Event Horizon.
Jay wakes up in the distant future, uploaded into a new body with no memories and told he's there for a job. That job is to walk the darkened corridors of a seemingly abandoned ship in deep space. We learn about the ship, the crew, and Jay himself as he explores the mystery of what happened to the Candlemass.
The prose is crisp and filled with lavish and wild descriptions. At times claustrophobic, the story is rich with imaginative futuristic scenarios, and compelling characters. This was a highly entertaining read that will keep you guessing until the very end knocks you out with the unexpected.
Jay wakes up in the distant future, uploaded into a new body with no memories and told he's there for a job. That job is to walk the darkened corridors of a seemingly abandoned ship in deep space. We learn about the ship, the crew, and Jay himself as he explores the mystery of what happened to the Candlemass.
The prose is crisp and filled with lavish and wild descriptions. At times claustrophobic, the story is rich with imaginative futuristic scenarios, and compelling characters. This was a highly entertaining read that will keep you guessing until the very end knocks you out with the unexpected.
September 15, 2025
Plants: the final frontier.
A freaky space horror, new on Audible. The Alastair Reynolds vibes were strong with this one.
A freaky space horror, new on Audible. The Alastair Reynolds vibes were strong with this one.
February 3, 2024
I haven't really tried cosmic horror before. However, I heard good things about this book. So I decided to give it a read. Let's say I don't regret it.
This was a crazy read about a man who is in a futuristic world with only memories from a past life. However, is his past a total lie? It gets pretty dark while incorporating classic science fiction tropes. The only thing that got me was the social structure of the world. I have to say, it's not much different than ours. Call it a sour dose of reality, but it works for this story.
Imagine trying to search and find your past which might never have existed in the first place. This was my first introduction to cosmic horror and this was one heck of a first impression. The ending left me breathless. So many good things about this story. Well done!
This was a crazy read about a man who is in a futuristic world with only memories from a past life. However, is his past a total lie? It gets pretty dark while incorporating classic science fiction tropes. The only thing that got me was the social structure of the world. I have to say, it's not much different than ours. Call it a sour dose of reality, but it works for this story.
Imagine trying to search and find your past which might never have existed in the first place. This was my first introduction to cosmic horror and this was one heck of a first impression. The ending left me breathless. So many good things about this story. Well done!
May 14, 2024
Sci-fi/horror with a blend of mystery, eco, and creature horror... I would love to see Castle return to the universe he's touched upon here in THE WORLD HE ONCE KNEW; there are a lot of elements that deserve to be expanded upon, especially those that fabricate the explosive ending (which I did not see coming). The atmosphere is a bit suffocating and cold, the setting familiar but full of potential, and the characters shrouded in darkness and sorrow. For fans of ALIENS, LIFE, ANNIHILATION, DEAD SPACE, and the like, then look no further than THE WORLD HE ONCE KNEW. Castle paints a bleak picture with a dangerous and evolving transport shuttle that is just as alive as that asshole Crews...and again, what a surprising and satisfying ending from hell!
January 1, 2024
Taking place in a far distant future, the story focuses on Jay, a former detective who is effectively uploaded into a new body, hundreds of years after his actual life ended. His task? Use those detective powers to find out why the ship Candlemass stopped communicating: what happened to it and the crew, essentially.
What follows is a swift, punchy, sci-fi horror story with a lot of excellent imagery, plot twisty-ness, and a great many moments of pure unsettling terror as it dawns on the reader, along with Jay, that there is far more than meets the eye on Candlemass.
Weaving visceral horror with a more than believable look at the future, Castle has constructed a short novel that packs a hell of a punch and, honestly, would have been even better if it was longer, because the execution on what we have here was fantastic. The only thing I didn’t like was how quickly it seemed to end: I would have loved a few more chapters to close things out but, even as is, the ending was well crafted and sits with the reader well after finishing.
What follows is a swift, punchy, sci-fi horror story with a lot of excellent imagery, plot twisty-ness, and a great many moments of pure unsettling terror as it dawns on the reader, along with Jay, that there is far more than meets the eye on Candlemass.
Weaving visceral horror with a more than believable look at the future, Castle has constructed a short novel that packs a hell of a punch and, honestly, would have been even better if it was longer, because the execution on what we have here was fantastic. The only thing I didn’t like was how quickly it seemed to end: I would have loved a few more chapters to close things out but, even as is, the ending was well crafted and sits with the reader well after finishing.
December 30, 2023
The World He Once Knew is a gripping sci-fi horror experience that delivers a unique, atmospheric ride full of body horror, gothic vibes and unsettling terror. The story follows our main character, Jay as he awakens in a new body years after his death and is immediately thrust into a terrifying scenario; explore a spaceship that’s gone dark and find out what happened to its crew.
Reminiscent of Dead Space, Altered Carbon and Event Horizon, this short and fast-paced read is worth checking out. The story explores themes of identity, existence, technological advancement and delivers on its promise of psychological maelstrom. The author writes so vividly, it felt like I was alongside Jay as he traversed the derelict ship. The World He Once Knew will leave you with a creepy unsettled feeling after you finish the book.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of this book.
Reminiscent of Dead Space, Altered Carbon and Event Horizon, this short and fast-paced read is worth checking out. The story explores themes of identity, existence, technological advancement and delivers on its promise of psychological maelstrom. The author writes so vividly, it felt like I was alongside Jay as he traversed the derelict ship. The World He Once Knew will leave you with a creepy unsettled feeling after you finish the book.
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy of this book.
March 2, 2024
Interesting take on the combined tropes of amnesia, a derelict space ship where an unknown disaster has eliminated the crew, and an unwitting detective becoming slowly entangled in an inescapable trap. Some really great psychedelic stuff in the second half that I hoped was pushing into more philosophical territory than it did, but I think most readers will appreciate the author's choice of clarity over complexity and enjoy the story more for it. For me, the conclusion felt a bit abrupt, and I'd liked to have been made to spend more time feeling uncomfortable with the question of exactly what world was worth saving or destroying in this future scenario, how we make choices without adequate insight or information, and what the consequences of those choices turn out to be.
March 9, 2024
A very excellent blend of sci-fi and cosmic horror. Our MC is a "HUSK," essentially a mostly memory wiped consciousness in a new body, who has the singular task of finding out what the heck happened to a now derelict spaceship.
What he finds makes him have memories he shouldn't have and senses he's told the HUSK is not equipped with. We watch as he battles both the cause and effects of this.
Then the ending.... I found it to be a poignant interpretation of reality today, which is altogether not happily ever after and quite dark.
Micah Castle is becoming a new favorite.
What he finds makes him have memories he shouldn't have and senses he's told the HUSK is not equipped with. We watch as he battles both the cause and effects of this.
Then the ending.... I found it to be a poignant interpretation of reality today, which is altogether not happily ever after and quite dark.
Micah Castle is becoming a new favorite.
February 4, 2024
The World He Once Knew takes place in the far-distant future where Jay, married and a police detective in his old life, is uploaded into a new body and is now a HUSK, someone who was bought and created in this future world for a specific purpose. On the shorter side at under 200 pages, the story follows Jay as he is sent to the ship Candlemass to discover why it went dark and what happened to the crew. Full of twists and turns, this short story definitely packed a lot into it and left me with a lot of questions, especially in terms of ethical ones and what the future may actually hold for us as humans.
Jay is pretty much the only character in this book that we get to know. There are a couple of secondary characters, but Jay's interaction with them is so brief we don't really get to know them well or discover much about them. Jay was downloaded for his skill-set as a detective in his old life; combine that with the fact that his current body doesn't need rest, food, or does any of the other bodily functions of a normal human being, he is the perfect person to send into something that could be dangerous. I loved his inner monologue as he explored the ship and thought the flashbacks to his former life blended seamlessly into the story. I kept hoping those flashbacks would allow him to regain his humanity and lead a normal life once he got off the ship, but as the story progressed, you learned the true horror behind all of it.
The world building was my favourite part of this book, and it took me a while to realize how subtle and amazing it actually was. As Jay roamed around the ship, I developed this inner map of what the ship looked like, something I do for any sci-fi book I read, as I need to visualize the setting, especially for something so alien. However, I realized as the book progressed the ship was sort of...changing, depending on what was happening to Jay. It was so subtle I didn't even realize it was happening until a certain episode happened, and then I was thinking how cool that was, how I was manipulated without even realizing it. Then I wondered what else I missed because the writing style and the horror are not in your face bloodshed, rather it's a subtle horror that just creeps up on you as you read.
The World He Once Knew is a fantastic title and definitely has a double-meaning behind it now that I have finished this book. I thought it was creepy in a deceptive kind of way, the horror sort of enveloping you without you realizing what was happening. It's not a campy, bloody type of horror, but a psychological one, one that I loved as I appreciated the subtlety of the writing. The twists and turns were definitely there and as such, I didn't know what to expect, but the same thing happening in the previous book I read by this author as well. The biggest horror element in this book though, is the thought that this could be our future, our reality, and that scares me the most of all.
I want to thank the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jay is pretty much the only character in this book that we get to know. There are a couple of secondary characters, but Jay's interaction with them is so brief we don't really get to know them well or discover much about them. Jay was downloaded for his skill-set as a detective in his old life; combine that with the fact that his current body doesn't need rest, food, or does any of the other bodily functions of a normal human being, he is the perfect person to send into something that could be dangerous. I loved his inner monologue as he explored the ship and thought the flashbacks to his former life blended seamlessly into the story. I kept hoping those flashbacks would allow him to regain his humanity and lead a normal life once he got off the ship, but as the story progressed, you learned the true horror behind all of it.
The world building was my favourite part of this book, and it took me a while to realize how subtle and amazing it actually was. As Jay roamed around the ship, I developed this inner map of what the ship looked like, something I do for any sci-fi book I read, as I need to visualize the setting, especially for something so alien. However, I realized as the book progressed the ship was sort of...changing, depending on what was happening to Jay. It was so subtle I didn't even realize it was happening until a certain episode happened, and then I was thinking how cool that was, how I was manipulated without even realizing it. Then I wondered what else I missed because the writing style and the horror are not in your face bloodshed, rather it's a subtle horror that just creeps up on you as you read.
The World He Once Knew is a fantastic title and definitely has a double-meaning behind it now that I have finished this book. I thought it was creepy in a deceptive kind of way, the horror sort of enveloping you without you realizing what was happening. It's not a campy, bloody type of horror, but a psychological one, one that I loved as I appreciated the subtlety of the writing. The twists and turns were definitely there and as such, I didn't know what to expect, but the same thing happening in the previous book I read by this author as well. The biggest horror element in this book though, is the thought that this could be our future, our reality, and that scares me the most of all.
I want to thank the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 6, 2024
An excellent sci-fi horror, highly recommended for those interested in the sub-genre.
I read Castle's Reconstructing A Relationship last year, and thoroughly enjoyed it. When the author offered me an ARC of his new book, The World He Once Knew, the description sucked me in immediately and I couldn't wait to get started.
The premise, and the story itself, hits a lot of the touchstones of the genre that I love so much - Alien, Event Horizon, even a little Annihilation in places. The main character we follow throughout is Jay, a deceased police detective who's consciousness is uploaded to a HUSK host body hundreds of years after he had passed, has been 'hired' by to investigate why contact has been lost with the Candlemass cargo transporter ship. What follows is part cop procedural, part thrilling survival horror, and part cosmic/Lovecraftian weirdness - and if that combination appeals to you the same in the same way it did to me, I highly recommend that you stop reading reviews and pick a copy up immediately. Going in blind here is the best option.
Jay is only used for his skillset, and his HUSK doesn't possess anything useless to his mission, such as the ability to eat or sleep, or to remember his past. As he explores and unravels the truth of what has happened on the Candlemass, he slowly starts getting flashbacks to his previous life - memories that may help him to recover his humanity, but may just as well threaten to unravel the man he is now.
The world building here is subtle and effective, and I quickly built a mental map of the ship. The language used is so evocative and the descriptions so vivid that I could picture the environment, which only made it more disarming when I realised it was changing and evolving around our protagonist.
I found The World He Once Knew to be a claustrophobic, creepy read that effectively ramped up the tension, and frequently went in directions I didn't expect. I found myself spotting clichés that felt too predictable, only to see them turned on their head soon after. It all culminates in one of the best endings I've read recently, reframing the story, as well as Jay's struggle to discover who he truly is.
Combining teeth-clenching moments of tension, gruesome body horror and some horrific implications at the way human consciousness could be used in the future, this is a book that I find easy to recommend to any fan of the sub-genre, or even anyone intrigued by the synopsis.
I read Castle's Reconstructing A Relationship last year, and thoroughly enjoyed it. When the author offered me an ARC of his new book, The World He Once Knew, the description sucked me in immediately and I couldn't wait to get started.
The premise, and the story itself, hits a lot of the touchstones of the genre that I love so much - Alien, Event Horizon, even a little Annihilation in places. The main character we follow throughout is Jay, a deceased police detective who's consciousness is uploaded to a HUSK host body hundreds of years after he had passed, has been 'hired' by to investigate why contact has been lost with the Candlemass cargo transporter ship. What follows is part cop procedural, part thrilling survival horror, and part cosmic/Lovecraftian weirdness - and if that combination appeals to you the same in the same way it did to me, I highly recommend that you stop reading reviews and pick a copy up immediately. Going in blind here is the best option.
Jay is only used for his skillset, and his HUSK doesn't possess anything useless to his mission, such as the ability to eat or sleep, or to remember his past. As he explores and unravels the truth of what has happened on the Candlemass, he slowly starts getting flashbacks to his previous life - memories that may help him to recover his humanity, but may just as well threaten to unravel the man he is now.
The world building here is subtle and effective, and I quickly built a mental map of the ship. The language used is so evocative and the descriptions so vivid that I could picture the environment, which only made it more disarming when I realised it was changing and evolving around our protagonist.
I found The World He Once Knew to be a claustrophobic, creepy read that effectively ramped up the tension, and frequently went in directions I didn't expect. I found myself spotting clichés that felt too predictable, only to see them turned on their head soon after. It all culminates in one of the best endings I've read recently, reframing the story, as well as Jay's struggle to discover who he truly is.
Combining teeth-clenching moments of tension, gruesome body horror and some horrific implications at the way human consciousness could be used in the future, this is a book that I find easy to recommend to any fan of the sub-genre, or even anyone intrigued by the synopsis.
June 28, 2024
2.5/5
I liked the idea of this book, but it wasn't my favorite execution. I found the descriptions very difficult to picture, and a lot of this book involves describing what Jay is seeing. In the end, that really made the book fall flat for me. I love horror sci-fi and this one didn't do it for me. I enjoyed the ending, but it wasn't enough to make up for the pages and pages of Jay running around the ship.
Also--and this is just a pet peeve of mine--there seemed to be a confusion about lack of gravity and how it worked. When the gravity turned off, things would often be "heaped against the ceiling" which does not make sense. They would simply float around if there was suddenly no gravity. I'm not sure if the main character had an intentional misunderstanding of gravity, but there was no reason for him to worry about "how difficult it would be to climb the ladder without gravity." What do you mean? It would be incredibly easy. Just barely push off the bottom and fly towards the top. And the main character at one point worried that shooting a gun without gravity might "affect the bullets trajectory." What???? If anything it would fly perfectly true. This error in logic was consistent throughout the entire book and drove me crazy while reading.
I liked the idea of this book, but it wasn't my favorite execution. I found the descriptions very difficult to picture, and a lot of this book involves describing what Jay is seeing. In the end, that really made the book fall flat for me. I love horror sci-fi and this one didn't do it for me. I enjoyed the ending, but it wasn't enough to make up for the pages and pages of Jay running around the ship.
Also--and this is just a pet peeve of mine--there seemed to be a confusion about lack of gravity and how it worked. When the gravity turned off, things would often be "heaped against the ceiling" which does not make sense. They would simply float around if there was suddenly no gravity. I'm not sure if the main character had an intentional misunderstanding of gravity, but there was no reason for him to worry about "how difficult it would be to climb the ladder without gravity." What do you mean? It would be incredibly easy. Just barely push off the bottom and fly towards the top. And the main character at one point worried that shooting a gun without gravity might "affect the bullets trajectory." What???? If anything it would fly perfectly true. This error in logic was consistent throughout the entire book and drove me crazy while reading.
August 8, 2024
We join our MC, normally from the present day, as he wakes up in the future. He just had a memory transfer to a robot-type body, now is brought in as a private investigator to figure out why a cargo spacecraft went dark.
Gooey organic shenanigans occur.
I enjoyed it enough. It was kind of like an okay Phillip K Dick story. But considering how prolific PKD was, the law of averages says that there will be tons of the genuine articles that are better.
I was a bit frustrated because in the central story there were two dudes who were the only characters. The author continually used their shared pronoun to refer to both characters. It was so frequently that I regularly struggled to try to figure out which “he” was being referred to or who was speaking.
There was the foundation of a solid concept. My issue was that it seemed like so much of the book was filled with expository plot development that dragged the MC along. It felt more like a linear sequence of video game cutscenes rather than a story reliant on a character making decisions for himself. He was just led by the nose from one scenario to the next.
All the environment stuff was cool, but I wanted more from the rest of the novel. It was never bad, it just could have been better.
Gooey organic shenanigans occur.
I enjoyed it enough. It was kind of like an okay Phillip K Dick story. But considering how prolific PKD was, the law of averages says that there will be tons of the genuine articles that are better.
I was a bit frustrated because in the central story there were two dudes who were the only characters. The author continually used their shared pronoun to refer to both characters. It was so frequently that I regularly struggled to try to figure out which “he” was being referred to or who was speaking.
There was the foundation of a solid concept. My issue was that it seemed like so much of the book was filled with expository plot development that dragged the MC along. It felt more like a linear sequence of video game cutscenes rather than a story reliant on a character making decisions for himself. He was just led by the nose from one scenario to the next.
All the environment stuff was cool, but I wanted more from the rest of the novel. It was never bad, it just could have been better.
December 30, 2024
I enjoyed the Alien vibes with the combination of sci-fi and horror (and the transition to something more like Annihilation as the plot progresses), though I do wish it were just a little bit weirder overall. There's some interesting sci-fi existential conundrums that are introduced, though they end up taking a backseat for most of the book. The writing style didn't always do it for me, and I had a hard time following some of the descriptions, but there were some really good moments of tension and horror, particularly later in the book.
I was hoping more of the setting would be explored, as the worldbuilding is largely relegated to a few info-dumps early on, which would also have helped the final twist land just a little bit better for me. That twist did take me by surprise, and the last scene is very good, but I did think it was a little sudden despite having some foreshadowing beforehand. So much of the book is a slow burn that I had a bit of whiplash at the end when things actually pop off (though this is probably the point, since Jay is equally disoriented).
Overall, I did enjoy this as a fast read to get in before the end of the year, even if it wasn't necessarily my favorite.
I was hoping more of the setting would be explored, as the worldbuilding is largely relegated to a few info-dumps early on, which would also have helped the final twist land just a little bit better for me. That twist did take me by surprise, and the last scene is very good, but I did think it was a little sudden despite having some foreshadowing beforehand. So much of the book is a slow burn that I had a bit of whiplash at the end when things actually pop off (though this is probably the point, since Jay is equally disoriented).
Overall, I did enjoy this as a fast read to get in before the end of the year, even if it wasn't necessarily my favorite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2024
This book was the perfect little cosmic horror, sci-fi thriller. Set in the distant future where death doesn't mean what it used to we meet Jay a detective from the past who has been uploaded into an artificial body to investigate what went wrong on a missing cargo ship. As soon as he is on the ship everything goes down hill from there as he peices together the horror that befell the crew as he tries to avoid the same fate. Does he get off the ship? Does he stop what has plagued the ship? Or will he go the same way the rest of the crew went? Does he find out about is troubled past? Or is everything he has been told a lie? You will have to read it to find out.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.
January 20, 2024
Jay died hundreds of years ago. His consciousness has been downloaded into an artificial human body called a HUSK. In his previous life, Jay was a detective and his skills are needed now to figure out why the cargo ship the “Candlewood” has gone silent. When Jay enters the abandoned ship he walks into a nightmare that makes him wish he was never brought back.
“The World He Once Knew” is a fast paced- fun science fiction horror adventure. If you enjoy the Alien movies or enjoyed Parasite by Darcy Coates, this novel is worth checking out. The creature design is super intriguing and Jay’s existential dilemma of his new life as a HUSK ads to the horror and anxiety of his predicament.
“The World He Once Knew” is a fast paced- fun science fiction horror adventure. If you enjoy the Alien movies or enjoyed Parasite by Darcy Coates, this novel is worth checking out. The creature design is super intriguing and Jay’s existential dilemma of his new life as a HUSK ads to the horror and anxiety of his predicament.
January 12, 2025
This was a really interesting take on future body harvesting. Weird sentence, I know but hear me out -- the main character is a Husk. That means he is just a body, with a consciousness inputted into the body. He knows this from the get go, but as he experiences more more, he realizes that things are still terrifying, even if you can't die.
Micah Castle did a great job in building tension and story. His characters are fully fleshed out, and he shares just enough to keep you wanting to find out more. There's definitely gore and body horror but it's all done appropriately for the story.
Great read!
Micah Castle did a great job in building tension and story. His characters are fully fleshed out, and he shares just enough to keep you wanting to find out more. There's definitely gore and body horror but it's all done appropriately for the story.
Great read!
February 13, 2024
Let's start by saying I'm a sucker for space horor and the cover of this book made me NEED to buy this. Jay is a likeable character - you end up really feeling for him especially with the hardcore feelings of existential dread. Crews, on the other hand, comes off as a jackass (to me) very early on in the book. While this was a quick read, some parts in the second half lost me a little and I had to reread to fully understand what was going on, hence four stars rather than five. Solid read, overall! I bought another book by this author and am looking forward to it!
April 24, 2024
A slow burn that rewards the patient reader
This book reminded me in part of Alien, and Altered Carbon. The pace is slower than a usual horror, but the world created by Micah in this story immerses the patient reader. Intense throughout, a curveball is thrown which turns everything on its head, and I found myself saying “WTF?” out loud upon reaching said point. A great read, but maybe a slight pacing issue in my opinion which prevents this from being a 5 star read for me. Saying that, I will read other works by this author.
This book reminded me in part of Alien, and Altered Carbon. The pace is slower than a usual horror, but the world created by Micah in this story immerses the patient reader. Intense throughout, a curveball is thrown which turns everything on its head, and I found myself saying “WTF?” out loud upon reaching said point. A great read, but maybe a slight pacing issue in my opinion which prevents this from being a 5 star read for me. Saying that, I will read other works by this author.
January 17, 2025
I really struggled to picture what the author was describing most of the time.
The protagonists journey throughout the ship felt pointless and like page filler a bit.
Very light on the horror elements, strong in the sci-fi.
There were some interesting parts, but overall at the end of the book I felt like I read more than was necessary. Part of that is due to key plot points I won’t reveal, and the aforementioned filler.
It was an interesting book to scratch the itch of derelict spacecraft and non-human lifeforms.
The protagonists journey throughout the ship felt pointless and like page filler a bit.
Very light on the horror elements, strong in the sci-fi.
There were some interesting parts, but overall at the end of the book I felt like I read more than was necessary. Part of that is due to key plot points I won’t reveal, and the aforementioned filler.
It was an interesting book to scratch the itch of derelict spacecraft and non-human lifeforms.
May 7, 2025
This book wasn't exactly scary by any means. Generally, I just felt despair while reading this. It was just really heavy and dark. I felt exhausted after. Most of the time, I was like, "what the hell am I even reading, man??"
I need to read a comedy or a romance after this one. I'm not even joking.
P.S.
An entirely separate page should have been dedicated to trigger warnings at the beginning of this book and not at the end of it. Who fucking puts trigger warnings at the end of a book??
I need to read a comedy or a romance after this one. I'm not even joking.
P.S.
An entirely separate page should have been dedicated to trigger warnings at the beginning of this book and not at the end of it. Who fucking puts trigger warnings at the end of a book??
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