Placeholders

by John R. Little

For most of us death comes only once.

For Richard, that rule no longer applies. He has died hundreds of times over, taking the place of those in agony as well as those unaware, men and women alike, as they each meet their death.

Along this macabre passage through seeming immortality, he begins to suspect that these unrelated deaths cloak a personal mystery and discovers that the horror of the truth resides where death is no longer a safe refuge…

NEP Novelette no. 3

Genres: Horror

74 pages, Chapbook

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third or fourth story I've read from John Little and I've enjoyed them all.

This tale is a novelette so it didn't take long to read. But even in this short piece Mr. Little's skill as an author shines through. Like his other stories, this one is a bit strange, and time again plays a part. In his previous works time seems to be a character in and of itself, while in this book it's more like a part of the setting . Imagine yourself waking up again and again in different places, time periods and bodies, only to die. If you can, then you're starting to get a feel for this story.

This is a short tale with a lot to think about within its brief pages. I recommend it to fans of dark fiction that like to turn a story over in their minds for a while and look at it from different angles. That's exactly what I'm going to do now.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Mr. Little, thank you! A fresh idea, presented in an intriguing light, with robust atmosphere and full-bodied characters, when I needed it most. If I had your address, I’d send flowers. Rather than risk a restraining order, I’ll just gush here and we’ll call it even. The characters were not only complete and used to their best ability, you could tell that there was much more to them that was held back. The POV makes it easy to follow, even though they’re twisting, turning and literally changing bodies constantly. The chaotic story path works beautifully as the characters travel naturally through arcs of entertainment and reassurance, toward anger and determination. And although you get the pattern, the twist is cloaked enough to work effectively for most readers, and the end result of growth is satisfying rather than forced.

The words chosen convey emotional atmosphere, but each ‘death’ comes and goes so quickly and without vivid detail, there is no physical setting established—and that’s somehow ok. Pace is controlled by the constant body jumping and desire you develop to see the main character get his revenge. The way the story unfolds keeps your attention and makes this truly a one sitting read. Little’s short story style has always been hit or miss with me—but this one is a hit, right on the head!

End result? 5 beautiful stars And I didn't even mention the beautiful packaging that we've come to know and love from NEP! This one is perfectly executed to achieve the desired effect... fans begging for more Placeholder tales. And if he claims he doesn’t have more history-hopping characters lining up in his notebooks, daydreams and doodles, well, I wouldn’t believe that for a moment. A rich idea such as this and it’s barely touched on in one story, over 74 shorts pages? Nah, there’s more... and we want them! Meanwhile, get this one. It may be the most unique thing you read this season!

............................................

Originally posted at Horror-Web

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine you are made to jump out of an airplane, you are afraid of heights and don't know how you got there. You don't want to jump - but are then pushed out of the airplane. You fall and fall in fear as you realize your parachute will not open and you have no spare. You hit the earth and you die. Wake up and you are floating in the ocean, you can not see land in any direction. Your arms and legs are so tired and achy that and can no longer swim. You drown. Wake up and realize you are being murdered. Wake up and you are dying in a hospital. Wake up and are in a burning house with no escape.

Someone explains to you that you are a "Placeholder" you are doing the suffering of people who do not deserve to suffer. Sometimes you are man, sometimes a woman, sometimes a child. You find yourself dying in hundreds of horrible ways. All of which you remember, and you ask yourself why ?

Well you have to read the book to find out why.

Copy 207 of 275 Signed by John R. Little.

[Sonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I added this book to my "to read" list quite a while ago and it floated on several wishlists for some time. I don't even remember how I heard about it or why it intrigued me, but I was vaguely excited about it.

I finally ordered a copy of it and imagine my chagrin when it arrived - probably about a quarter of the size I expected it to be. Yet somehow Little manages to pack a wallop within those pages.

The entire idea of placeholders would make a fabulous premise for a television series.

Very fresh and interesting material.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't say I've run across a tale quite like that before. A man awakens in a different body with strange & scattered memories and then promptly dies. And then again. And again. And so on. And then meets another soul caught in the same type of loop. Really enjoyed it.

[Jérémie]

Placeholder for Davide Mastracci's _Dissected: A selection of media criticism_, available at https://web.archive.org/web/202303210....

[Adam Merrifield · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting concept

I thoroughly enjoyed the concept behind this book. Placeholders is a fast-paced tale that keeps moving and keeps you guessing.

[Noel]

Placeholder for Bring Him to His Knees fanfic. 547 pages. 3.5 stars.

[MidnightRaven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contradictions by Ambpersand

[colbyestee · Rating 5 out of 5]

i cannot speak

[Shaishta♡]

Your Voice Still Blooms in the Gardens of My Quiet Madness by Selin Aras Thorn

Chasing the Dark by Liam Hart

[Millie · Rating 4 out of 5]

spider the artist by nnedi okorafo

[Joshua Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Placeholders is a short novel about a man experiencing death over and over again, only none of the deaths are his own. It starts out strong and continues to build. Novella is just the right length for this, I think. You are given the clear facts of what is happening without any real attempt to explain. Whatever the character, Richard, is experiencing is what it is. He is a placeholder, experiencing death so that others don't have to.

Although it doesn't sound like it should, the novella does progress, and there is a conclusion to Richard's story. The ending was satisfactory, if somewhat lacking in an emotional punch (if anything, it felt like it was trying to hard to give you an emotional punch), but the story is written well enough and the idea engaging enough, that the very last part being it's weakest doesn't diminish from the overall positive experience of reading it.

It was a quick read, about an hour on a Tuesday night, and well worth the price of admission.

[Jasmin]

Using this to track my uni reads
And short stories etc that are not on gr

Uni
Sister Sledge Said it Best - Rachel Barlow
Constructing Family - Braithwaite et al wa

Shirt Stories
By Alethea Faust, read on Dec 29 2023:
-Not Dead, Just Sticky
-Misfit - Arlon/Garrett/Bridgette
-Bloodsucker
-Oops All Mimics
-Tales From the Crux: Thaddius/Ambra/Iona - Conjuration
-Tales From the Crux - Alix/Arlon Transmutation
-Tales From the Crux - Dom/Olbric - something cute
-Tales From the Crux - Alix/Olbric
-Tales from the Crux - Getalong Bondage (Femdom with Galiva/Dom/Olbric

[Amandakayreed]

Holding place for book not listed