Starman After Midnight: A Novel-in-Stories

by Scott Semegran

In suburban Wells Port, things are not what they seem: wild animals appear unexpectedly in backyards, raised garden beds produce fruit in days, not weeks, and a mysterious figure lurks across sidewalks late at night.

The stories in Starman After Midnight weave an often hilarious and sometimes melancholy spell. Four young boys are terrorized by a wiener dog on their walk to school, but strategize for a safer route. A beer-loving man befriends a likeminded neighbor, only to discover his jovial new acquaintance is a registered sex offender. An elderly Uber driver suspects a young rider is being lured by a night stalker and debates whether he should help her or mind his own business.

Connecting these stories are two next-door neighbors--Seff and Big Dave--who couldn't be more different: one a progressive-minded writer, the other a conservative plumber. Their love of beer drinking, backyard philosophizing, and gossiping brings them together. When several pets in the neighborhood wind up missing or worse--dead--Seff and Big Dave monitor their security cameras for the culprit. When they discover a naked man roaming their street late at night, suspicions are raised while hysteria spreads through the neighborhood social media app. What is the connection between the missing pets and this naked man? Seff and Big Dave form a posse of neighbors to find out.

Moving between humor and surrealism, friendship and grief, Starman After Midnight is a novel told in stories, a collection that adds up to something greater than the sum of its parts. From the quirky imagination of Scott Semegran, Starman After Midnight packs a comedic punch and uncovers the magic that seems possible in ordinary places.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Ebooks

238 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2025

About the author

Scott Semegran is an award-winning writer of ten books. BlueInk Review described him best as “a gifted writer, with a wry sense of humor.” His latest book, Starman After Midnight, is a quirky novel-in-stories about two beer-drinking neighbors who team-up to track down a mysterious late-night interloper terrorizing their middle-class neighborhood. His nine previous books include The Codger and the Sparrow (Discovery Prize winner for Fiction in the 2024 Writers’ League of Texas Book Awards), The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island (first-place winner for Middle-Grade/Young Adult fiction in the 2021 Writer’s Digest Book Awards), and To Squeeze a Prairie Dog (winner of the 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Gold Medal for Humor and winner of the 2019 Texas Author Project for Adult Fiction). He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English.

Scott Semegran is co-host of the web series Austin Liti Limits along with fellow award-winning writer Larry Brill and Ron Seybold. He is also the co-ambassador of the Austin chapter of the Authors Guild.

Rep: Mark Falkin at Falkin Literary.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to Reedsy Discovery and Scott Semegran for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Whenever Scott Semegran reaches out with a new novel, I know that I am in for a treat. His latest piece, a quirky novel tied together by a number of stories, offers the reader a great tale with quirky perspectives, about two men and their mission to catch a late-night prowler. What begins as a piece about these two neighbours, soon morphs into something larger and yet still disconnected in its own way. Semegran does well with this piece and had me hooked from the opening pages until the final reveal!

Wells Port, Texas is home not only to a bucolic suburban area, but also collection of people with unique circumstances. A number of odd events have taken place over the last few months, seemingly random in nature. However, there is something tying them all together, which will take time to uncover.

Neighbours Seff and Big Dave have long had a connection, though it does not make much sense on paper. Dave, a staunchly conservative man whose MAGA hat is always present, has made a connection with Seff, a writer who loves to spin a good yarn. Over beers and a chance to reminisce, they tell tales of the neighbourhood and those who live there. All around them, odd things have been happening, from a ferocious wiener dog that has gone missing, to odd melons that appear to grow in days, through to the well-endowed squirrel that did nothing but wreak havoc on the sanity of homeowners. However, all these pale in comparison to a streaking night prowler.

As Seff and Big Dave create a plan to catch this man, they learn that technology is not always their friend. Using video surveillance equipment, they capture the prowler in all his glory, naked as the day is long, and post it for all to see. The locals, while unable to identify the man, have dubbed him Starman, mostly because of how his nudity is covered for public posting. If only this menace could be identified, his true intentions could be determined. That mission falls on Seff and Big Dave, who will have to come up with something as they crack beers and recount stories of their time in the neighbourhood. A great story that had me reading well into the evening. Scott Semegran has a skill that is always able to pull me right in!

I always find myself in for a treat when I pick up one of Scott Semegran’s novels. Each one tells its own story and keeps the reader on their toes. This piece, told through the eyes of a number of vignettes and connected with the larger narrative, is as unique as it was a pleasure to read. A strong narrative offers up a basis for the larger piece, pushing things along with curious tales of a suburban community, while never entirely making it clear what awaits the reader. As the story gains momentum, the reader is in for a wonderful experience, tossing excitement out there for all to enjoy. Strong characters and their quirks help flavour things and make the reading experience all the more enjoyable for those who take the gamble on this book.

While the surprises in the book were numerous, Semegran does well to writing in strong plot points. The story flows with ease, using those plot diversions to surprise and entertain with ease. What’s always been a great thing about Semegran’s standalone work is that it leaves the reader satisfied but always a little curious about hat could occur should another novel appear. I can say the same here, as Semegran dangles a number of what-if moments alongside a solid story that has some conclusion.

Kudos, Mr. Semegran, for this treat!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Angel (Bookn.All.Night) · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a reason this author is one of my favorites. His writing is so flawless and makes reading a delight.

Have you ever wondered what goes on in your neighborhood at night? When doors close and people settle in for the night. When the world becomes a mysterious place, and all sorts of weird and odd happenings commence. In the morning there are remnants of things gone by which tickle the imagination and neighbor nosiness.

I love how quirky the two main characters are and how their friendship just...is. You have to read this to understand what I mean by that. I want a neighbor like this LOL. Big Dave is eccentric and he's loveable and frustrating at the same time. I get major Kramer vibes from him and I LOVED it. His counterpart, Seff, is a writer and is more logical and rational in his behavior. It makes for an interesting and fun dynamic.

The little mysteries that surround their neighborhood gave me pause and had me wondering what goes on around me at night. This was the most enjoyable part for me and added so much to the book overall.

I absolutely love the format with the different stories that surround and connect the main one with Big Dave and Seff. It flowed well and made for a fast read.

Keep an eye out for this one. It releases on March 4, 2025 and is well worth the snag. I sincerely appreciate Scott Semegran for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Lee Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starman After Midnight - Scott Semegran

“I’m gonna blast your nuts off for running across my roof!” And I swear he scoffed at me. That little sumbitch scoffed. Can you believe it?
When Big Dave was ranting about a squirrel, I couldn't help picturing Sheriff Buford T. Justice from Smokey and the Bandit. 😂

Poor Apricot. Mrs. Valdez, my advice? Get a divorce and adopt a cat! 🐈 I'm not even a cat person myself, but I certainly wouldn't want to see any harm come to one... and somehow I still ended up with two of my own! 🤪

Then there was this exchange:
“Snowpocalypse took my mother away.”
“Snow-poca-what?” Anita asked.
“I don’t know,” Betty said, taking a deep breath to suppress her laughter. “That’s what my kids called it. The snowstorm, that is. Snowpocalypse.”
“I see,” Anita said.

That whole conversation had me grinning.
And then came the moment that absolutely finished me off:
One neighbour called him the Asterisk Man. Another called him Naked Man. Someone else called him Star Man. That was all it took. The nickname spread through the comments section like wildfire:
STARMAN
👍😂 This chapter had me literally crying with laughter.
🙂😀😁😅😂😭🤣💀

I wasn't expecting a book about grief, friendship, and community to make me laugh this much, but here we are.

Exceptional read, loved it! 👏

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starman After Midnight is honestly one of the weirdest and most unique books I've read this year.

The way it mixes regular chapters with these little slice-of-life stories and poems about the neighborhood is super clever. Somehow it all works together to paint this bigger picture of life in this Austin neighborhood.

The story bounces between Seff (this writer dude) telling his own story in first person, and these other stories told from different viewpoints about his neighbors. But really, it's all about Seff and his neighbor Big Dave - who are basically complete opposites.

The best part is trying to figure out how these two totally different guys become actual friends. Their unlikely friendship ends up being the heart of all these interconnected neighborhood tales and I highly recommend it because it works so well.

[Eleanor Pilcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Imagination Emporium: Creative Recipes for Innovation is an inspiring and practical guide that reignites the creative spark in both individuals and organizations. Duncan Wardle combines his deep experience in innovation with a playful, approachable style that makes complex creative processes easy to understand and implement.

Wardle’s book stands out as both a toolkit and a companion, filled with actionable “recipes” to foster curiosity, empathy, and imagination. Each concept is designed to be applied immediately, offering real-world solutions while also encouraging playful experimentation. Readers are reminded that innovation isn’t just for specialists, it’s a mindset everyone can cultivate. This book is a must-read for those looking to unlock creativity, drive impactful ideas, and stay ahead in an ever-evolving business landscape.

[Russell Ricard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly visual storytelling. Many Lols. Slices-of-life across a multitude of beloved, multifaceted townsfolk.

Semegran evokes an understanding of humanity: The everyday realness, the quirks that exist, and the psychological underpinnings, morbid parts of the soul that exist among us … with both humor and heart.

I always enjoy seeing what this insightful storyteller has to offer readers. Bravo!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a clever concept wrapped up in a playful tale of mischief and hijinks that take place in a small suburban Austin neighborhood. Mr. Semegran's sense of artistic whimsy, starting with the origin of the title character's designation, is on full display.

[Allison Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight this book is. For anyone wondering, read this book next.

[Susan Tauster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird, quirky, entertaining.

[Blue Ant · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stood out to me most about Starman After Midnight was the way it transforms an ordinary suburban neighborhood into something quietly surreal, emotionally layered, and unexpectedly revealing about modern community life. The stories operate on the edge between realism and absurdity, where humor and unease constantly overlap.

I especially appreciated how the collection uses seemingly small neighborhood incidents—missing pets, awkward encounters, gossip, strange behavior—to expose larger anxieties about trust, loneliness, fear, and connection. The suburban setting feels deeply recognizable, but the book continuously tilts reality just enough to create an atmosphere that feels both comic and uncanny.

The relationship between Seff and Big Dave anchors the collection particularly well. Their political and personality differences could easily have become caricatured, but instead their friendship feels human, grounded, and believable. Their backyard conversations and shared curiosity give the stories warmth while also reflecting the fragile ways people maintain connection across ideological divides.

I also enjoyed the novel-in-stories structure. Each piece stands on its own, yet together they gradually build a richer portrait of the neighborhood and its emotional undercurrents. That accumulation creates the sense that the suburb itself becomes a living character—full of secrets, routines, tensions, and strange little miracles.

What makes the book memorable is its tonal balance. It can be funny, melancholic, bizarre, and oddly tender all within the same emotional space. The surreal elements never overpower the humanity underneath them, which gives the collection a distinctive charm.

This will resonate strongly with readers who enjoy literary fiction with quirky suburban surrealism, interconnected storytelling, dark humor, and character-driven explorations of loneliness, community, and modern social paranoia.

[Rob Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starman After Midnight is a wonderfully offbeat, sharply observed, and surprisingly heartfelt novel-in-stories that showcases Scott Semegran at his most imaginative and emotionally perceptive. Set in the eccentric suburb of Wells Port a place where gardens grow overnight, wild animals stalk backyards, and a naked night-walker unsettles the neighborhood this collection blends humor, surrealism, and real-world humanity in a way that feels completely original.

Each story stands on its own, yet together they form a mosaic that captures the anxieties, absurdities, and tenderness of everyday American life. Semegran has a rare gift for writing characters who feel both quirky and deeply authentic: from four boys strategizing their escape from a vicious wiener dog to a conflicted Uber driver wrestling with a stranger’s safety to the beer-loving duo of Seff and Big Dave, whose neighborly banter is equal parts hilarious and revealing.

The mystery of missing pets and the unsettling figure roaming the streets creates a thread of suspense that binds the stories together, while the contrast between Seff’s progressive worldview and Big Dave’s conservative pragmatism adds emotional depth and social texture. In the end, the book celebrates the strange magic hiding in ordinary places and the fragile but meaningful bonds that form between imperfect people.

Thought provoking, funny, weird in the best way, and quietly profound Starman After Midnight is a gem for readers who enjoy literary fiction with heart and imagination.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starman After Midnight by Scott Semegran is a charming and quirky work of literary fiction that blends humor, surrealism, and keen observation of suburban life. The interwoven vignettes and eccentric characters, particularly Seff and Big Dave, create a narrative that is both engaging and unpredictable.

Semegran’s writing captures the magic in ordinary experiences while balancing hilarity and subtle melancholy. The mystery of the “Starman” prowler provides tension that ties the stories together beautifully. With strategic visibility on Goodreads, Amazon, and social media, this inventive collection could reach a wide audience of readers who enjoy humor, literary fiction, and quirky storytelling. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven and unique narratives.

[Kerri Schlottman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Semegran’s Starman After Midnight is a wonderful kaleidoscope that turns through a variety of characters’ points of view while maintaining a humorous throughline about a mysterious naked man who is wandering the after-midnight streets, menacing the locals. This book shines through its characters’ relationships to one another and to their neighborhood, and how they alternately show up as backdrops to others’ stories as well as becoming main characters in their own. Interspersed are transitional vignettes that cleverly link the montages. Starman After Midnight is packed full of goodies that will charm every reader.

[Eva Silverfine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seff, the primary narrator of this “novel-in-stories” is an author who is somewhat stuck regarding his works in progress. His neighbor and drinking buddy, Big Dave, is a MAGA-hat-wearing plumber who doesn’t like to read. Together they follow their Austin, Texas, neighborhood’s coming and goings, which includes disappearing pets and a man roaming naked through their neighborhood in the middle of the night. The arrival of a tornado helps Seff put his life in perspective and resolves some mysteries, at least for the reader. A light, entertaining read from a male perspective.

[Larry Brill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Scott Semegran's latest novel, and it was the kind of story Scott does best—two very different souls forging a friendship. I think the most intriguing aspect is the structure, with side stories within the narrative. Some were vignettes, and some were poetic musings. While they were detached from the larger story, they really added to understanding the deeper message of the main narrative.
Well done.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason—probably the depth of the characters—this reminded me of Stephen King’s earlier work. It was thoroughly enjoyable. Even things that usually annoy me, such as irregular punctuation and weird interludes of stream-of-consciousness, worked.

Of course, I am a sucker for short story novels.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm certainly in the minority in rating this book. The only positive thing I can say is that it was easy reading. I didn't find any depth to the characters, especially the protagonist's wife, whose main trait was she was always at the ready for a roll in the hay. Nor did I find anything funny in it. But since this a minority opinion, you may want to give it a go.

[Lucy Griffith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Starman after Midnight! The Austin neighborhood rang with authenticity. Big Dave was delightfully complex and the psychologist in me appreciated that. I thought the stories and novella came together well to create an atmosphere of compassion, humor and surprise.

[Matt Bucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was hilarious. Semegran is great at painting a vivid picture of suburban America and telling a really fun story through memorable characters.

[Sean Yocum · Rating 2 out of 5]

the story was fine, and based on the other reviews here I think the audiobook version might be what ruined it for me

[Karen Petry]

Not for me

[Robert Buono · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absolutely a ridiculous book. The author claims to have a gift for writing and wants to share that gift. The gift he should give his readers is to quit writing and fade into the Texas countryside.

[Ron Seybold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Small town feel from a big-hearted book

You might be thinking about Thornton Wilder's classic Our Town while you're reading Starman After Midnight. This novel creates the charm and the quirky fun and the depth of feeling we love about community fiction. An author with time to fix things, including his outlook on people, joins up with an unlikely neighbor, also a kindly soul. The neighbor just happens to wear a MAGA hat and likes to pick off local squirrels with his rifle. But his heart's in the right place in this world Semegran creates, scene by scene, moment by moment across a romp of a story.

In between those moments, the book gave me a palate-cleanser of short fiction and even poetry. The interludes deliver everything that short writing should, keeping me curious about what might appear next. There's a warmth that oozes from the inside of Seff, our narrator and the author who's learning about the ways that help arrives from anybody. Starman After Midnight coaxes us with its clean and straightforward expression, never hiding behind metaphor and usually delivering a jab of emotion.

Big Dave opens up right away with a message about who he is. “I gave my chili a good stir and I set the lid on the pot and I went into my bedroom to get my gun.” Seff is quick to ask which one. “As a writer, I can’t listen to anyone tell me a story without the smallest details, the minutiae of facts. I needed all essential information: every little bit.” There it is, right on the pages, the every little bits that make a story more authentic.

Not all of the short pieces between will land a punch, because they cover a wide variety of expression. But this is a book that dares to make stories into a novel, an art form that got honored with the Pulitzer Prize a few years ago. A favorite book of mine when I was beginning as a novelist, The World of Pies, performed just that kind of small town magic. Somehow even in a suburb of a big burg like Austin’s setting, Starman makes the place cozy enough to lean in and watch. This one will spin something around your heart, if you're open to it. Seff gets opened to Big Dave's adventure, and together they discover something essential: good neighbors might be all around you, if you're willing to listen. That, and laugh, because there's lot of humor up and down these streets after dark.

A celebration of good manners and odd relationships, and how one makes the other richer.

[Scott Semegran · Rating 5 out of 5]

“An encouraging tale of neighborliness and camaraderie in the face of the unknown. A big-hearted, often amusing tale of the weirdness of suburbia.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Starman After Midnight is effortlessly funny, likably odd, surprisingly moving, and imminently relatable—a genuine pleasure to read.” — BlueInk Review

Moving between humor and surrealism, friendship and grief, Starman After Midnight is a novel told in stories, a collection that adds up to something greater than the sum of its parts and uncovers the magic that seems possible in ordinary places.