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Infested
A novella, with spiders.
Knowing it would be his final trip down the river, he wished upon a star to be left alone.
He didn't realise the stars would answer.
Knowing it would be his final trip down the river, he wished upon a star to be left alone.
He didn't realise the stars would answer.
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 7, 2014
12 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Mark R. Faulkner
6 books19 followersMark is a British horror author, who in 2011, published Flux. This was rapidly followed up by The Dark Stone, and the novella, Infested.
Picker's Bleed was published in September 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 14, 2015
This tale starts off all calm and collected with a nice canoe trip down the river. Everything is cool until the narrator starts to wonder...something spoilery...and the reader does a double take.
I enjoyed the manner in which this story was related. The reader starts off thinking this man is some type of nature photographer or something and then with that sentence, everything changes. Then, everything changes yet again.
I don't like spiders. I don't like them at all. Let me be more specific....I'm okay with small spiders and I'm okay with Daddy Long-leg type spiders. I am NOT okay with big spiders that have hair on them. *shudder*
Now that we have that straight, I thought I would be okay with this novella because the spiders featured are sort of small. Alright, I can deal with that, I thought. But then, the size of the spider doesn't really matter that much when we start talking numbers in the millions, or billions, does it?
To summarize, this short novella was fun, took off in unexpected directions, and it surprised me. I also thought the quality of the writing was rather good. So, Bravo! to Mr. Faulkner. I will be seeking out more of his work in the future.
Recommended for fans of creature features and good writing!
I enjoyed the manner in which this story was related. The reader starts off thinking this man is some type of nature photographer or something and then with that sentence, everything changes. Then, everything changes yet again.
I don't like spiders. I don't like them at all. Let me be more specific....I'm okay with small spiders and I'm okay with Daddy Long-leg type spiders. I am NOT okay with big spiders that have hair on them. *shudder*
Now that we have that straight, I thought I would be okay with this novella because the spiders featured are sort of small. Alright, I can deal with that, I thought. But then, the size of the spider doesn't really matter that much when we start talking numbers in the millions, or billions, does it?
To summarize, this short novella was fun, took off in unexpected directions, and it surprised me. I also thought the quality of the writing was rather good. So, Bravo! to Mr. Faulkner. I will be seeking out more of his work in the future.
Recommended for fans of creature features and good writing!
June 5, 2015
3.5 stars.
A great, atmospheric story that I really got into. I would say a solid 4 star read for me, right up until the end.
A great, atmospheric story that I really got into. I would say a solid 4 star read for me, right up until the end.
October 15, 2015
A quick and good read with great storytelling feel. Uses the common, but sometimes awkward, first person past tense perspective (awkward because if you start to question how it comes that the storyteller for example remembers (and tells!) about which sock he put on first a certain morning and that he then cut himself shaving and burned his lip a bit on the coffee - and then goes on telling a story about how the rest of humanity was exterminated by zombies and that he is now sitting in a tree and the zombies have just learned how to use a saw, some of the authenticity feeling is kind of lost...).
This approach, however, works better in some cases and this is one of them. The stark contrast between the start - with the detailed, nicely flowing and low-key narrative (interspersed with some allusions to violence and 'bodies' and more) - and the later developments actually enhances the impact of the events. The apparent randomly coinciding happenings also brought a bit of 'reality' feel.
This approach, however, works better in some cases and this is one of them. The stark contrast between the start - with the detailed, nicely flowing and low-key narrative (interspersed with some allusions to violence and 'bodies' and more) - and the later developments actually enhances the impact of the events. The apparent randomly coinciding happenings also brought a bit of 'reality' feel.
June 4, 2015
Great lyrical writing....felt I was floating down the river right along with our protagonist. Good story, well written, organized and scary in a thought provoking way. A fast read. First part is the gentleness of a laid back ride down the river yet written in a way that was not slow. Wonderful book, highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a good story.
June 7, 2015
"A light mist was gathered over the river, causing the willows which overhung the opposite bank to appear ghostlike. Above it, the sky was watery blue as the sun, not yet risen above the rolling hills brightened the eastern horizon. A bittern boomed into the silllness of the morning and for the first time in as long as I could remember, I smiled......" What a marvelous and relaxed way to start a short novella about the invasion of alien spiders! I loved it, it is a well balanced story that sets the mood perfectly, our hero is on a canoe trip a time to relax and enjoy the lazy sunshine but then the author introduces a little teaser...."I wondered whether they'd found the bodies yet, how life can change in such a short time; one small lapse in self-control overriding what we know as right and civilized"...and we have not got to the spiders yet!...in short a super balanced, fun, exciting read and I heartily recommend :)))
February 9, 2022
I really liked this one, but I've always loved a good spider horror story. This follows the usual spider blueprint with spiders everywhere, people being devoured in cocoons, etc. This is really as much a post apocalyptic tale as it is a horror story. This story also has a murderer as the main character, but he's a likable murderer, and I think some people will even sympathize with him. I won't spoil it with any further details, but I liked the twist on the MC.
The story also starts out as almost enchanting, as you have someone taking a leisurely canoe trip down an idyllic river. But as you can expect, things go bad quickly.
Overall this was fun. It's a classic horror tale that doesn't really surprise but at the same time doesn't disappoint. If you think you'll enjoy this one, you probably will.
The story also starts out as almost enchanting, as you have someone taking a leisurely canoe trip down an idyllic river. But as you can expect, things go bad quickly.
Overall this was fun. It's a classic horror tale that doesn't really surprise but at the same time doesn't disappoint. If you think you'll enjoy this one, you probably will.
April 16, 2014
Liked this very much. Elegantly constructed, a creepy scenario with graceful reveals and a creeping horror created with a pleasingly classic style. Enjoyed it a lot and will be reading more by the author!
June 9, 2015
I enjoyed this book. The atmosphere and the main character were were very well described. However, it didn't have the creep factor that I like in a horror story. Maybe it's because I like spiders ;) !
June 24, 2018
3 Stars
Pretty good short story about an infestation of alien spiders. It took half the story to get to the infestation, though. Also, with the story so short, not much detail as to what happened with the infestation, just the result of it.
Not too shabby. A good 30 minutes to an hour of entertainment.
Pretty good short story about an infestation of alien spiders. It took half the story to get to the infestation, though. Also, with the story so short, not much detail as to what happened with the infestation, just the result of it.
Not too shabby. A good 30 minutes to an hour of entertainment.
November 6, 2014
What an unusual story! It began so nice and peaceful in a kayak on the river. "Bobby Jones" is the man in the kayak. He rests for the first night and witnesses a meteor storm much larger than he has ever seen before. The next morning he is back in kayak, floating peaceful in the river. He begins to notice there are no people visible in any of the towns he passes. It isn't long until he sees some people freaking out along and in the river. He begins to see several "herds ( my word) of small black spider and in some places he finds bodies completely covered in spiders webs.
Take it from here and read the story-- it is worth your time and won't take too long to read the novella.
Take it from here and read the story-- it is worth your time and won't take too long to read the novella.
June 9, 2015
The story starts off with a man taking a trip in a canoe on a river ...nice and peaceful, lovely day, all seems right with the world. The first tip you get that something is not quite right is when he wonders 'if they found the bodies yet?' Little does he know, that will be the least of his worries as this day progresses.
A novella, but with enough going on to keep me interested to the end. Well written, and recommended..... even if you don't like spiders .....
A novella, but with enough going on to keep me interested to the end. Well written, and recommended..... even if you don't like spiders .....
October 29, 2014
The man did a really bad thing. It was in the heat of passion, and many would say the victims had it coming, but it was still a bad thing.
Now on the run, he takes to his canoe, revisiting the river one last time. The man doesn’t expect he’ll elude the authorities for long, but at least he’ll find some peace until he’s captured.
Making camp for the night, he lies back and gazes to the stars. So many up there. An ever expanding galaxy.
Then there’s a spectacular display of shooting stars, more than he can count. Must be a meteor shower.
As the man drifted off to sleep, he had no idea it wasn’t an ordinary meteor shower. They didn’t burn up when they entered our atmosphere. They are here.
They came from outer space. Sorry, had to say that. By the cover you’ve guessed what they are.
Spiders. Just normal looking, creepy, crawling spiders. They’re not huge. They look normal. But they are endless. They are hungry. And we are food.
In the beginning, I was hoping the man would get eaten by the spiders. Then, as events transpired, as another side of him emerged, as I discovered the bad thing he did, I started to pull for him. I started to hope for him.
But. Yep, the but comes next. This is a horror story. There are no promises made that a character you care about will survive.
Does the man survive? You’ll have to take a ride. A boat ride to where? To what end? Then you’ll know.
Now on the run, he takes to his canoe, revisiting the river one last time. The man doesn’t expect he’ll elude the authorities for long, but at least he’ll find some peace until he’s captured.
Making camp for the night, he lies back and gazes to the stars. So many up there. An ever expanding galaxy.
Then there’s a spectacular display of shooting stars, more than he can count. Must be a meteor shower.
As the man drifted off to sleep, he had no idea it wasn’t an ordinary meteor shower. They didn’t burn up when they entered our atmosphere. They are here.
They came from outer space. Sorry, had to say that. By the cover you’ve guessed what they are.
Spiders. Just normal looking, creepy, crawling spiders. They’re not huge. They look normal. But they are endless. They are hungry. And we are food.
In the beginning, I was hoping the man would get eaten by the spiders. Then, as events transpired, as another side of him emerged, as I discovered the bad thing he did, I started to pull for him. I started to hope for him.
But. Yep, the but comes next. This is a horror story. There are no promises made that a character you care about will survive.
Does the man survive? You’ll have to take a ride. A boat ride to where? To what end? Then you’ll know.
February 5, 2014
What made this book memorable for me was the excellent pacing. It starts off with the main character setting out on a canoe trip (that he is running from his past is gradually revealed) but events take a turn for the worse after he experiences a meteorite shower .
The tension then ramps up to such an extent just to describe it as action packed would be an understatement. I was conscious of catching my breath as I willed the wee boat and big character on in his fight for survival and freedom. ‘Be careful what you wish for’ .
The tension then ramps up to such an extent just to describe it as action packed would be an understatement. I was conscious of catching my breath as I willed the wee boat and big character on in his fight for survival and freedom. ‘Be careful what you wish for’ .
November 13, 2014
Unfulfilled
I do realize this is a novella but it left me longing for more. Some fleshing out of the murder and it's victims, their story, the narrator's life prior to that day. A more detailed description of the storm and a longer lead-in to the time at the pub. And, of course, an ending! I guess what I'm looking for, what I was hoping for, was a full-fledged novel, instead of a short story. Faulkner has a great outline here for what could potentially become a great book. Wish he would run with it.
I do realize this is a novella but it left me longing for more. Some fleshing out of the murder and it's victims, their story, the narrator's life prior to that day. A more detailed description of the storm and a longer lead-in to the time at the pub. And, of course, an ending! I guess what I'm looking for, what I was hoping for, was a full-fledged novel, instead of a short story. Faulkner has a great outline here for what could potentially become a great book. Wish he would run with it.
January 24, 2015
The tale of one man's struggle to survive when the countryside is invaded by spiders. The world comes to its knees and it appears very few humans survive an incursion from space. We watch Michael's struggle to reach London, then the coast, hoping to find he isn't the only survivor. Quite a good read.
March 19, 2014
A really good short book that I read in one go, I do however think the author could have with more detail wrote what I would call a proper book. Will add this author to my wanna read more list
June 17, 2014
This is a very short and easy read, but beware if you have a real spider phobia!
November 8, 2014
Enjoyed the read
Enjoyed reading this book. it was very entertaining
short, just right for an evening read. creepy and good. thank you.
Enjoyed reading this book. it was very entertaining
short, just right for an evening read. creepy and good. thank you.
January 26, 2015
Spectacular writing in this squirmy story. Well done.
August 9, 2015
3.5 stars.
This book was actually recommended to a friend by another of my friends and when I saw the recommendation even having a fear bordering on terror of spiders I had to give it ago.
Infested is a very well written novelette which reads at quite a steady pace. Though some parts of the story I could imagine being quite scary I do tend to think Infested would be better on the screen to get the true horror of what is described in the books.
I really do not like spiders but the fear that I feel when I see one just didn't come out in this book as even though spiders are mentioned, the author didn't really seem to go into any great detail or description of them.
The main character is certainly intriguing and there is certainly more to him than we first think. The author in his descriptions of the main character and his travels on the river were certainly a lot more descriptive than the spiders and it almost felt like we are on the same journey as him.
Overall a well written and enjoyable read but wasn't as horrific as I thought it would be, still worth a read though.
This book was actually recommended to a friend by another of my friends and when I saw the recommendation even having a fear bordering on terror of spiders I had to give it ago.
Infested is a very well written novelette which reads at quite a steady pace. Though some parts of the story I could imagine being quite scary I do tend to think Infested would be better on the screen to get the true horror of what is described in the books.
I really do not like spiders but the fear that I feel when I see one just didn't come out in this book as even though spiders are mentioned, the author didn't really seem to go into any great detail or description of them.
The main character is certainly intriguing and there is certainly more to him than we first think. The author in his descriptions of the main character and his travels on the river were certainly a lot more descriptive than the spiders and it almost felt like we are on the same journey as him.
Overall a well written and enjoyable read but wasn't as horrific as I thought it would be, still worth a read though.
July 27, 2016
I started reading this without paying attention to the blurb as I like this author and will read whatever he writes. The title is Infested and he writes horror. That was all the information I had.
The story starts off quite slow and meandering as the storyteller relates his canoe trip. I did think this went on a bit, but that just lulled me into a false sense of security as when the action started, bam, there was no stopping it. I was practically reading this behind a cushion. If it was a film, I'd be peeking through my fingers.
I thought this was a great little story, set in an idyllic English countryside that you just don't want to visit any more.
The story starts off quite slow and meandering as the storyteller relates his canoe trip. I did think this went on a bit, but that just lulled me into a false sense of security as when the action started, bam, there was no stopping it. I was practically reading this behind a cushion. If it was a film, I'd be peeking through my fingers.
I thought this was a great little story, set in an idyllic English countryside that you just don't want to visit any more.
February 5, 2014
This book begins with an idyllic canoeing holiday starting in the early morning when the world is yours alone. The writing here is observant, beautiful, and the reader floats along with it. The reason the man is there comes as a shock. The world comes to its knees and it appears very few humans survive an incursion from space. We watch Michael's struggle to reach London, then the coast, hoping to find he isn't the only survivor.
This book is to all intents a classic apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic story but it differs in that it is concerned with an individual and not the whole of humanity. I found it beautifully written and I enjoyed it very much.
This book is to all intents a classic apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic story but it differs in that it is concerned with an individual and not the whole of humanity. I found it beautifully written and I enjoyed it very much.
June 3, 2014
Not a bad little monster story, though very short, very British, and very unresolved. Okay characterization and writing, but I come away thinking I've read this tale before. It is pretty derivative of a number of sci-fi stories.
August 3, 2020
I enjoyed this story immensely!
I read this story straight through. Could not put it down! It started out a bit slow, but once it got started: Wow! Thanks Mark for a great thrill ride!
I read this story straight through. Could not put it down! It started out a bit slow, but once it got started: Wow! Thanks Mark for a great thrill ride!
December 9, 2019
A Very entertaining story!
May 27, 2020
What's not to like? It's fast and fun. And has spiders, which always puts me in a good mood. A nice short read!
December 1, 2020
My thoughts on infested
The story kept me guessing until the last page. Read it in one settling
as I wanted to see what was coming next. Good tale, I recommend this
author.
The story kept me guessing until the last page. Read it in one settling
as I wanted to see what was coming next. Good tale, I recommend this
author.
May 30, 2020
Not bad, just boring.
Nothing wrong with the writing. I considered giving it two stars as nothing really worked against it. However, due to the short lenght nothing really worked for it either.
It didn't engage me, I didn't find it exciting, characters didn't do it for me and sideplot was irrelevant in my opinion.
Very boring.
Nothing wrong with the writing. I considered giving it two stars as nothing really worked against it. However, due to the short lenght nothing really worked for it either.
It didn't engage me, I didn't find it exciting, characters didn't do it for me and sideplot was irrelevant in my opinion.
Very boring.
July 19, 2020
Spiders Anyone?
Creepy, creepy short story about a man paddling his canoe on the run from the law.
His first night out,he sees a starry sky full of what he thinks could be a meteorite shower.
He soon realizes this might not be the case ,but finds no one to confirm his theory.
Oh,what can the matter be?
Read this short thriller to find out.
Creepy, creepy short story about a man paddling his canoe on the run from the law.
His first night out,he sees a starry sky full of what he thinks could be a meteorite shower.
He soon realizes this might not be the case ,but finds no one to confirm his theory.
Oh,what can the matter be?
Read this short thriller to find out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2022
Oddly relaxing book
I realise this may have been a nightmare book for some, but as a lover of spiders I was oddly relaxed.
It was a good enough storyline to make a decent book and I'll certainly look into the author 's other books.
I'm glad it's read though after having it say on my library for months!
I realise this may have been a nightmare book for some, but as a lover of spiders I was oddly relaxed.
It was a good enough storyline to make a decent book and I'll certainly look into the author 's other books.
I'm glad it's read though after having it say on my library for months!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews