Night of the Star Demon

by Todd Zack

On a moonless night in rural Pennsylvania, two conspiracies— one criminal, and one occult— accidentally intersect with nightmarish consequences for all.

Traveling from highway rest stops to hidden quarries and along the dark and twisted roads between, a deranged criminal duo, a dangerous vagabond, and a secret demon-worshipping cult vie for supremacy on, ‘Night of the Star Demon’

‘Pulp Fiction meets The Wicker Man, served with a chaser of ice-cold Lovecraft. You can smell the blood, dynamite and shotgun smoke rising from the page’— Jackson Dillard III

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2024

About the author

Todd Zack is a writer, musician, living in southwest Florida. His short fiction-- twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize-- has appeared in numerous genre anthologies. He is the author of the novel 'Madeline's Cane' and the novella 'Night of the Star Demon' and co-founder of the alternative rock bands, Tape Recorder 3 and Pank Dux.

Reviews

[Eve L. Fell · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 ⭐️
1/1 👹

Miss Thang started off her night with a BANG. Two teenagers are hanging out and the girl would like to have her bf take her virginity on the account of her believing a cult is going to kidnap her that night and sacrifice her to a demon. But if she isn’t a virgin anymore she is safe. The cult members have other plans.

The Traveler is someone who drifts through the country at his own leisure. Not rushing and enjoying life. He likes to stop at truck stops for a little fun here and there. While having fun one night her over hears a conversation he wasn’t meant to. He subdues the men and takes of after what they said they were hiding.

Upon arriving to collect said item he is interrupted but the cult. All hell breaks loose at this point. Will the cult be able to sacrifice the girl? Will The Traveler get what he’s looking for?

I enjoyed Todd’s writing. He was descriptive but not overly descriptive, in a way that allows you to watch it like a movie in your head and I loved that. I will be reading more by this author!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Zack's "Night of the Star Demon" is a queer occult noir novella, full of grit, dark humor, odd twists, and razor-sharp dialogue. Its premise is quite inventive: anonymous traveller stumbles upon a demon-worshipping cult sacrificing a virgin, and takes it upon himself to save her. Mayhem ensues, and the action never stops, not even when we reach the ending: the novella stops literally mid-action, leaving the reader with one hell of a memorable scene!

The pacing is relentless, the disparate cast feels drawn straight from Coens' Fargo, the plot refreshingly cheeky and occasionally cynical to the point of absurdity. The Traveller gets more and more embroiled in other people's crime stories, encounters characters larger than life, and eventually has to allow the story to decide itself. The supernatural elements of the story are pitched at exactly the right level, the occult neither overstaying its welcome nor distracting from the overall plot.

For fans of occult crime horror with light doses of black humor, Zack's novella is guaranteed to deliver a gripping narrative and would be a great choice for an afternoon reading. Highly recommended!

[LZW · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting book to say the least, fast paced & very detailed with a quirky take on the “hero”. Honestly this read like a movie in my mind. Would definitely recommend this book to those wanting a little something different!

[Desiree Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Zack has a gift for description, and has created a delightful anti hero called ‘The Traveler’ who reminiscent of Stephen King’s Walking Dude, only much, much more likable. A quirky and highly entertaining tale, this story will not be what you expect; it will be so much more. Wickedly smart and pretty frickin funny, this book needs to get into more people’s hands. I can’t recommend this enough!