Cargo Hold 4

by Lonnie Busch

Several years into a multi-decade deep space mission, a team of eight scientists—four women, four men—are exploring a dwarf planet near the Kuiper Belt, loading soil samples, rocks and artifacts onto their ship, when they inadvertently bring aboard a stowaway, an unseen entity which is trying desperately to escape from Cargo Hold 4.

Genres: Science Fiction, Horror

252 pages, Paperback

Published June 30, 2024

Reviews

[Lynda Walls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! That was intense!!!

[Zilla Novikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

The chance to be the first people to travel space and discover alien worlds could be the opportunity of a lifetime--or the end of one. Cargo Hold 4 is a gripping, suspense-filled science fiction horror, where nothing is as it seems and even your closest friends might not be who you think. An alien presence trapped in the cargo hold on an isolated space ship pushes a close-knit crew to the edge of madness, past the boundaries of mortality they believed in on Earth. By the end, the horrors within the ship compete with the horrors they brought from their own psyches. If you like your science fiction action packed and thrilling, this is the book for you.

[Teresa James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cargo Hold 4 has a well written storyline which takes place in outer space on a ship referred to as Gretel. This book was like watching a movie although I was reading. It’s gripping and pulled me all the way in. There aren’t any boring chapters which lead up to the next occurrence that unleashed the suspense. Every time I put the book down, I still had scenes going through my mind… just waiting for a free moment to pick it back up to see what happens next.

The main attraction is the writing style and how the characters interact with each other. Which brings the story to life and realty. Although there’s some bizarre things going on in Cargo Hold 4 of the ship that was surely out of this world. The crew of Gretel are thrown into fear and survival mode while working together to complete their mission. My favorite character is Hurd, as he isn’t quite the all around every day human.

Lonnie Busch has impressively taken his readers on an action packed ride into the depths of outer space. Where life meets new life. A must read for those who like space mysteries with a great plot! If you’re a fan of Sci-fi fiction and extraterrestrial entities then I definitely recommend reading this book.

[Oliver · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was very much a diabolos ex machina ending for this one. The creature just kept pulling new abilities out of nowhere throughout the story, seemingly as specific counters to whatever they tried. First it was seemingly incoporial and didn't show up on camera, until it did, then for some reason it could be heard by people who'd seen it but nobody else, then it was a giant slime creature etc.

There's a term I heard called "Monster's Perogative" which is essentially that a monster can do anything it hasn't been explicity established as being unable to do. It's mostly used in tabletop games as a way to keep tension when players are being overly clever by creating a way for the monster to still be a threat. It works in that context because creating a challenge for players is the point and it stoping actual thinking people, who are capable of unpredictable behaviours, from exploiting knowledge they have from outside of the game world to win too easily and making things boring. In a story where the writer controls both the monster and the hero, it's just lazy and undercuts the narrative of the characters trying anything because even if the author creates a situation where it seems like the heroes should survive/win/whatever, the monster can just manefest a new way to win that isn't possible to predict by either the characters or the reader.

Plus the mission is clearly being run, and crewed, by idiots. The ending is partially brought about by ostensibly highly intelligent people making some of the dumbest possible choices under the circumstances, completely unprompted.

[Nancy Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am one of the judges of team Space Girls for the SPSFC5 contest. This review is my personal opinion. Officially, it is still in the running for the contest, pending any official team announcements.

Status: Semifinalist
Read: 100%

This novella is classic fare cosmic horror of the mystery-monster-is-lurking-somewhere kind. And the book gets to the point seemingly in the very first page. Actually, I think even sooner, first paragraph. In plenty of cases, setting up expectations the spaceship has a mystery boogeyman offers good nods within writing circles to skip the fluff 'wake up in the morning' filler and commence the story where it really begins.

And in plenty of cases, I agree that plenty of books waste plenty of opportunities capturing readers with increasingly short attention spans. A huge problem I had with this book is that I feel it started one-two chapters too late. The plot is easy to pick up even without much forshadowing. A spaceship is sent from Earth on a 70 year mission to visit various planets suitable for human life to retrieve samples and return to either Earth or a terraformed Mars. 3 years into the mission, and it seems like they have just left their 3rd planet en route to the next one. What seemingly should have been a routine brief sample visit from their latest planet has been thwarted. All because Cargo Hold 4 has erratic sounds ever since their departure that is driving the crew insane. Which is precisely the first scene of the story.

I really liked the first two chapters of the book because the ominous unseen threat offers good spooks that will thrill Alien film lovers. Some of the early crew decisions to send cameras from the outside window and exhaust tunnels to look inside make sense in liew of a spaceship with critical design flaws such as a decent surveillance system. In this sense, this book will certainly appeal to the right kind of reader that loves their hidden monster horror stories.

There is a huge problem that soon increased with me as the story advanced: I couldn't connect to any of the crew members. Given we didn't have any chapters that gives us a sense of crew normalcy, we miss out of any fleeting chances to see a harmonious crew and get to bond with them. The book never confirms nor denys whether the personality flaws of the characters seen when the entity pushes them to their limits were already there (just very well hidden in their subconscious) or pure manipulation to further the entity's goals.

As a result, this book reminded me a lot of Infinity Claws by Andrew Mackay where a critical long-term space mission is manned by a crew with severe psychological illnesses. Even before the crew became mentally deranged, it was strange that the one and only crew member with military experience and access to the ship's weapons suffered from PTSD. Likewise, most of the crew seemed to be in their late 30s (meaning almost nobody would remain alive to return the samples) and specific knowledge like spacewalks and medicine were known to 1 single crew member. Chelsey's coma is never explained. Was the entity causing it? The ship had nifty artificial gravity, a gigantic morgue and a hydroponics garden, with only 1 outdoor camera drone and easily broken bedroom security locks.

Avoiding contaminating planets with Earth germs ends up as a second thought and samples from different planets are stored together in the same cargo hold. We also never get any scenes where the crew relays messages to mission control back on Earth. Even if messages took several weeks to make a round trip, it did surprise me Earth was not following the mission. Certainly, there will be readers that will forgo suspension of belief because it somewhat ruins the fun of dealing with the dangerous mystery threat on their own. I tend to be nitpicky about at least the most egregious potential plot holes in books. Most of these particular issues could have been rewritten in a way where Earth relay signals take too long, and the entity still outsmarts everyone affecting a robust ship and an otherwise perfect handpicked crew. Be forewarned there are some really triggering scenes in the book. Readers should read the warnings in the first page to decide whether to give the book a read or not.

Once we discover the big AHA! moment of the book, it becomes a far more enjoyable read in the sense it is less scary and more like this book combines Aliens with a Treehouse of Horrors Simpsons episode. I started enjoying the plot a whole lot more once I ignored plot holes and appreciated the irony. In a way, I felt the ending worked quite well.

In a nutshell, this is a book that will work for the right audience that wants the spooks, doesn't care about plot holes nor shies away from triggers. If readers are patient enough to reach the half point, the second half by far surpasses its first half and has a suitable ending.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this from the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition, where I’m a judge. It’s currently a semi-finalist.

While the bulk of the story is classic space horror, there is a wild turn it takes that I was not expecting. This aspect, and the ethical question it raised, was interesting.

There are some great body-horror images in this book, and the story maintains a strong overtone of dread and creeping malice. The ship is both claustrophobic and massive, which leads to some heebie-jeebie-inducing scenarios.

If you absolutely love space horror, you will enjoy this.

Because I read this for a competition, I'm behooven to say this book could use another line edit. There was a lot of telling, passive writing, and overwriting.

And as the story progresses, no one really develops beyond surface level. Desna is a very frazzled leader with an unsympathetic backstory, the others were just sort of there, and Berlin was insufferable. And there are two events that occur near the end of the story that were distasteful - they are meant to be, that’s clear - but given the end result of the story, I wasn’t entirely sure why the one in particular the pedo doctor was included. It seemed unnecessary, given it had no impact on the plot and it happens so close to the end of the book and they all die anyway.

Yet, that being said, I didn’t dislike the story. There are some really evocative body horror images and concepts that were really fantastic. I think it could just do with a bit broader/relatable characters and a tighter prose.

[Geetha Krishnan]

I will start this with a disclaimer, shall I? I’m not a fan of horror, because a) I get scared far too easily b) I have a very vivid imagination as well as insomnia and horror stories stay with me well past the story’s end, and c) I’m an empathetic reader which means my mood and mindset is affected by the books I read as if it’s happening to me. (I remember one time when a character was being manipulated and got angry on realising it and my temper kept fraying irl for no reason)
And this is a horror story, even if it’s set in space and the horror is of the sciencey kind rather than the fantasy kind.
So imagine my surprise when I found myself unable to put it down.
Ngl, this did do a number on my head that left me messed up for a bit after I was done, but even so, I enjoyed it a lot!
Deep in Space, a scientific crew collecting samples comes across an entity that stowed away in one of their samples: and now it’s desperately trying to break out of Cargo Hold 4. The unnatural sounds from the entity, the outdated technology, and the crew’s fracturing bonds make for a truly gripping tale.
I read this as part of the SPSFC and the view herein are only mine and not the team’s.
If you love space operas, cosmic horror, queer characters, and complex relationships, this is the perfect book for you.

[Caroline Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for Sci Fi fans, Cargo Hold 4 delivers full doses of action, intrigue and all the necessary interplanetary weirdness we expect from a novel set on a spacecraft worlds away from Earth. Let’s not stop there however, as this tale has enough mystery, relationship drama and suspense to appeal to fans of other genres.

Lonnie Busch is a master of weaving an entertaining read that you can’t put down. As with his other books, I found this one screaming out to be adapted to the screen. It was so easy to visualise the events and empathise with the characters.

I received this arc from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Helyna Clove]

I read this novel for The Self-Published Science Fiction Competition, SPSFC. The following review is my own personal opinion as a judge in Team Space Girls and does not reflect the views of the team as a whole.

Cargo Hold 4 immediately tells you how it is: there is something in cargo hold 4 of the spaceship Gretel. As it’s screaming and banging around in there, the eight-person crew, years into their singular mission of discoveries and path-finding, are trying to figure out what it could be, since nothing organic should be in there: the planet they’d just visited did not have life on it. They try to peek inside the hold from space (since there’s no way they’re opening up the inner vault door) but whatever the view is, it shocks and incapacitates one of the crew, Chelsey. There are more attempts with a drone and through a dangerously accessed vent, but these only convince them of the tenacity and terrifying nature of the creature stuck in there. While the shrieks and unearthly noises continue, they plan a difficult maneuver: there is a supply stash they are soon coming upon, left for them in the middle of empty space decades before their mission was even launched. So what if they link up the supply vessel with the problematic hold, trying to transfer their bothersome hitchhiker out of it? Of course, things do not turn out as expected at all…

As a sci-fi horror, the book starts out fittingly. We can quickly orient ourselves in the situation and among the characters while already being thrown into action: something bad is going on, but we (and the crew) don’t know the details. All the uncertainties regarding the alien or creature or effect bring an urgency to the events, almost a frantic energy as the crew tries to solve their situation with this thing blaring into their ears. Without spoilers, we do get a glimpse of the Thing quite early, but, arguably, this does not help at all and wakes more doubts and questions than it solves both in the reader and the characters. The business of the supply vessel is also intriguing, just like their somewhat goofy ideas of how to make the thing leave without sacrificing too many valuable samples and supplies and with their limited options and knowledge of the creature. In between this, we also spend some time getting to know the crew, for example Desna, the captain, Berlin, her first officer, and Hurd, the strange android therapist. We peek into their lives and into their somewhat chaotic relationships with each other, and this remains a through-line in the book until the end.

For me, unfortunately, the tension quickly dissipated after the first accords of the novel—I was still interested in what the creature was and what kind of havoc it might cause on the ship, but the casual and direct writing style started conveying less of an urgency and terror, and the characters could not convince me about the depths hiding inside them or inside their relationships with each other, the exact thing which could have made me care for their fate. It was still possible to expect their demise in a “watching people die in horrific ways is fun!” style, but somehow this also didn’t work out for me. I suppose a sci-fi horror doesn’t need to get immensely introspective, however, for me it’s always easier to get immersed in a story through living-breathing characters. We do get some background info on each of them, but no real sense of character outside of the framework of the story, which ended up being too little for me. At the same time, as the story goes on and the enigmatic Thing in the cargo hold gets revealed in more and more concrete terms, I felt a bit uncomfortable with the handling of some of the heavier aspects. Although some of these events (involving e.g. sexual assault and grooming) and their consequences in the story were clearly signaled to be harmful and negative (very correctly), I still didn’t feel they were handled with the care they needed to be handled with. As the story devolved into catastrophe towards the end (well, it is horror, after all) I couldn’t appreciate the disintegration of the character personalities and relationships either, since I didn’t have a good baseline for their normal selves and little community. I’m also not sure I ever got a consistent enough picture about the Thing and its exact abilities.

There are also many smaller or larger ethical problems under consideration through the book, which I liked—bursting into the hold and shooting up the place to murder the creature was never truly presented as a desirable outcome, and this was very in line with a bunch of scientist weirdos trying to handle a very weird and dangerous situation. But again, it was hard for me to connect with these ethical considerations through the characters. The ending, however, did work for me: it was fittingly devastating on one side and unsettling on the other, but since the crew needed to make some especially ill-advised choices without thinking about them twice for us to get there, it still left me a bit unsatisfied.

Still, opinions are just that, opinions, and if anything in this review piqued your interest as an outer space horror and weird alien creature lover, do not hesitate to try this book out for size!

[Douglas Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cargo Hold 4 is a Science Fiction/Horror novel by Lonnie Busch that takes the old trope of a stowaway aboard your spaceship to a different level. Perhaps the most famous example of having a stowaway aboard one’s spaceship in a Science Fiction movie is Alien. In literature and in movies, the trope of having a stowaway aboard a ship or even a train is a time-honored one. As with using any trope, it’s what an author does within the framework of one that attracts and holds the attention of the reader or fails to so. If you are a fan of the Science Fiction genre, I’d highly recommend that you check out Cargo Hold 4, a book that plays within the framework and also one that held my attention from the very beginning to the end.


I don’t want to mention many spoilers, but it’s not a very big one to say that there’s a stowaway aboard the Gretel, the spaceship of interest in Cargo Hold 4. The woman commanding the Gretel is Captain Desna and Berlin is the spaceship’s First Mate. One twist here is that the rather noisy and troublesome stowaway is somehow not an organic being. According to the book’s very first paragraph:

“Everything they’d discovered on Planet J–S was stored in Cargo Hold 4, but none of it was organic, according to their scanners.”

I won’t give away how Busch deals with this issue. My desire to read how this could happen was one of the things that made me want to keep on reading, so I don’t want to ruin anybody else’s pleasure. Suffice it to say that Busch’s solution to this apparent problem of a nonorganic stowaway aboard the Gretel was a pretty cool one.

One of the other problems Captain Desna and her crew is confronted with is the ethical one of deciding exactly what should be done about the irksome stowaway. Two of the other things making life difficult for Desna, Berlin, and everyone else aboard the Gretel include the necessity of their handling an unplanned spacewalk and also how they should attempt to dislodge the unwelcome alien that had stowed away in Cargo Hold 4.

I asked myself as I read Cargo Hold 4 questions like: “Is the book’s plot fast-paced?” “Are the complications that Captain Desna and her crew have to deal with dealt with in a realistic way?” and “Does Cargo Hold 4 have a plot that holds my interest and keeps me want to keep on reading it?”

I’m glad I read Cargo Hold 4. Besides being a captivating, page-turning Sci-Fi/Horror thriller, I liked reading the book for the added reason of discovering how the book’s author, Lonnie Busch, came up with inventive ways to play within the confines of the stowaway trope. I highly recommend Cargo Hold 4 for anyone who enjoys reading intelligent, fast-paced examples of the Sci-Fi/ Horror genre. Check it out today!

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cargo Hold 4, by Lonnie Busch, is an engaging piece of science fiction that plunges readers into a suspenseful and eerie journey through space. The story follows the crew of the spaceship Gretel, tasked with collecting samples from distant planets for research. However, their mission takes a terrifying turn when strange, roaring noises aboard the ship spark a series of unsettling discoveries. Captain Desna and her crew quickly realize they are unprepared for the revelations that lie ahead. As members of her team are affected by these mysterious events, Desna faces mounting pressure and growing fear about the fate she’s leading them toward.

Busch’s writing style is captivating, drawing readers in with vivid descriptions and a perfect blend of sci-fi, horror, and suspense. The way he builds tension is masterful—some moments left me truly unsettled, forcing me to take a break just to catch my breath. The technical aspects of the futuristic world are woven seamlessly into the plot, adding depth and excitement to the narrative. Busch's detailed explanations of the spaceship's technology were fascinating, and they enhanced the story without overwhelming it. The pacing is tight, and the sense of dread steadily escalates throughout, making it hard to put down.

One of the most striking elements of the book is how it plays with shock and horror. There’s a disturbing intensity to certain scenes that left me both riveted and unnerved. While some moments felt gory and unsettling, they served to heighten the story's tension and keep me on edge. The ending, in particular, is haunting—it left me in deep contemplation, still processing the layers of what I had just read. The characters are equally well-crafted, and Busch uses them to explore thought-provoking ethical questions, adding depth to the story's overall impact.

Cargo Hold 4 is a gripping and unsettling sci-fi thriller that blends horror and suspense with a powerful narrative. Lonnie Busch has created a world that is not only immersive but also leaves readers questioning the boundaries of science and ethics. It’s the kind of book that keeps you hooked from the first page but also lingers long after you’ve finished. I highly recommend it to fans of science fiction who enjoy a touch of horror and the thrill of exploring the unknown.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Held within a massive spaceship, millions of miles, and years away from Earth, the crew of Gretel finds they’ve excavated an organism capable of producing life. Built with forty cargo holds, Gretel’s mission is to collect samples, minerals, video, air, gas, soil, and photos to store until decades later when they return to Earth. But, just five years into their mission and cargo hold 4 is emanating banging, loud cries, moaning, and vibrations all throughout the ship. Putting it’s eight crew members to the test with little sleep and fraying nerves, Captain Desna decides something must be done.

From evasive maneuvers to space walks, tight spaces, light, and numerous other attempts to rid the ship of this unknown being, author Lonnie Busch continues to show off his stellar writing skills. Creating a mind-bending science fiction story that leaves readers examining life as we know it, “Cargo Hold 4” has us reimagining the definition of stowaway and the consequences we all face.

Stuck amidst the confines of this massive spaceship, with just eight crew members, some out of commission due to illness and unknown catatonia, each with a different area of specialization and function aboard Gretel, Busch redefines the genre of locked room thrillers. With no connection to the outside world, Captain Desna, First Mate Berlin, and various other members of the team must decide how flexible our morals and ethics become when dealing with the unknown.

“Cargo Hold 4” is out of this world, and still making readers ponder all we think we know. Lonnie Busch captivates once again with his imaginative plots, relatable themes, and interesting characters.

[Chris Bottrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like this. For almost the entire book I had no idea where it was heading but the ride was great. Interesting characters that actually seem like real people. A fascinating seeing. The whole thing reads like a (pretty freaky) movie, it's that easy to imagine everything due to the clarity of the author's descriptions.
The ending was both surprising and the obvious destination...but only in hindsight. I finished several days ago and elements are still playing on my mind. That's the sign of an engaging book in my opinion.
I enjoyed this so much I moved straight onto another of the author's book ("All hope of becoming human") and that's, if anything, even better.
Needless to say, I've found another author with a back catalogue to plough through.

[T.K. Toppin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolving around the classic case of a mysterious stowaway in a cargo hold during a decades-long space exploration, the crew aboard the vessel are pitted against unfathomable odds. Personalities spark and tempers flare, and soon, all-consuming despair threatens to doom everyone as fear clutches them all. Lonnie Busch once again conjures a character-driven tale, delving into the psyche of each while spinning a convincing, terrifying plot that keeps you guessing. Pushing the unsurmountable odds aside, the crew resolve to work together to rid themselves of a nightmare. This book was riveting! A slow-burn nightmare unfolding, testing the moral fibres of humanity, right to the terrifying end.

[Ian Hornett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cargo Hold 4 by Lonnie Busch – what can I say? This is sci-fi at its best – gripping, imaginative, strong characters, space, aliens, danger… it’s got the lot!

The premise is as follows: a small crew on a huge ship are on a mission which will outlast the lifetimes of many of those on board. Their aim is to collect samples from alien planets and store them in the ship’s huge holds. Except one of the items collected is unwanted. The tension builds and builds as the crew – led by Captain Desna – find out more and more about their stowaway in Cargo Hold 4.

I really enjoyed this book, It’s well written and has got everything I would could ask for in a cracking sci-fi.

[Rohan O'Duill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Busch reveals the crumbling mental state of a spaceship crew under horrific conditions while ratcheting up the tension in the pressure cooker that is CARGO HOLD 4. A masterclass in suspense writing and a riveting examination of the human – or not so human - condition.
This is one of my favourite books I have read in the past few years. I am a big fan of Lonnies writing style, it is very engaging, and he really knows how to spin a yarn.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Nick Snape · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lonnie Busch’s Cargo Hold 4 is a brilliantly executed, modern take on old school scares. In particular, it draws on elements from the classics of 1950s sci-fi horror as humanity makes their first steps to explore the galaxy. It pulls the reader into the claustrophobic paranoia faced by a close-knit crew aboard a lone spaceship on a long-distance mission, as they encounter something completely alien. As their paranoia rises, and the ship echoes with their desperation, Busch plays on the reader's emotions with succinct and deft prose. A real find, and one I wholeheartedly recommended. Superb.

[Caroline Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The crew of a long term space exploration vessel have their dynamics all worked out, until banging echoes from Cargo Hold 4. Thus the nightmare begins...

I read this one in just over a day as the narrative ramped up, employing a few beloved thriller sci fi staples along the way. But it was those aforementioned character dynamics that sang out here. As the stress grinds them down, true nature appears, like a space bound Lord of the Flies, and humanity becomes its own worst enemy.

Wonderful, affecting, chilling and thought provoking.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: I was entertained by this story. As the story unfolded, I started to feel like I was living with the scientists on the spaceship. In my opinion, the story was thought-provoking as I wondered what I would have done if I had actually been there with the scientists facing the issues that these characters were. I liked all the twists and turns. I thought Patricia Shade's narration was entertaining. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Dan (ThatBookIsOnFiyah) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars. A well-written scifi-horror novel that builds the tension among the crew in this first contact alien story as well as any thriller that I’ve read in several years. If you enjoy first contact, strange alien presences, and the possibility every member of the crew is losing their mind, you need to pick this one up ASAP!

I read this book as a judge for SPSFC5, and it was one of my favorites that I was assigned by my team. I highly recommend this one to all scifi and horror fans!

[Peggy Lodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hold on to your chair ride, for this book. Twists and turns in every chapter. Great tension building all the way to the epilogue. One of those books you don’t want to end.

[Karen Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent story. Not a terribly original idea but I liked the characters, there were a few twists to keep it interesting and the ending was cool.

[Susan Kurth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book suffers from the same problem that so many horror novels do these days: the characters are so one-dimensional that the reader doesn't "feel" what they're experiencing. A DNF for me.