An Absence : A Scientific Approach To A Haunting

by Alex CF

Josh and Maggie purchase a house in North London, far larger than the one bedroom flat they have squeezed their life into for the past four years. With the prospect of starting a family, they embark on the rituals of filling an empty house with life.

But the house might not be as unoccupied as they had hoped.

A series of terrifying incidents compel them to seek rational answers to events that fall outside their shared, secular view of the world; a journey that others are taking too.
Kirby, a psychiatrist, has a patient who claims to have been attacked by a ghost, and for the Arkwright Institute of Science, a pragmatic investigation of apparently haunted objects might have garnered real results.

Together, a disparate group of grounded scientists, along with Josh and Maggie, will try to explain what lurks in their seemingly normal, suburban home - a presence that has no intention, or perhaps ability, to leave.

This is a story about identity and perception, and the need to contextualise that which we do not fully understand.

142 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2024

About the author

Alex CF is a writer and illustrator of animal mythology, fantasy and speculative fiction. His current series of books is collectively known as "The Books of Orata," -. the first of which is "Seek The Throat From Which We Sing" and its sequel 'Wretched is the Husk,' a visceral tale of animal mythology, a dark environmental epic in the tradition of Watership Down, Rats Of Nimh and Duncton Wood. He has also created an encyclopaedia of the mythological world in which these books take place "The Orata, a compendium of the cultures and creeds of Naa." - an illustrated encyclopaedia and companion piece, 148 pages of full colour illustrations depicting the animal cultures within his novels.

Separate to his animal mythology novels, he has self published 'The Book Of Venym; An Egalitarian Demonology' an anti-fascist grimoire, a novella about a haunted north London house and attempts to explain the presence through science in 'An Absence: A Scientific Approach To A Haunting' - and his first published work, 'Punks in the willows' - an illustrated guide to the punk rock community.

Reviews

[Petra Xx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. The combination of science and the supernatural is very interesting. This book also makes us think about how we perceive things that may be otherworldly and we think of as strange or frightening.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this - great combination of sci fi and folk horror - right up my street!

[John Von · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book I’ve read by Alex — definitely a page turner! Loved the chapter construction that was always enticing you to read just one more chapter.

[Dani Heggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book, using multiple perspectives to create a truly fleshed out world and experience. I flew through it very quickly! I would highly recommend this book!