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The Plasm
he Vordlak, once the pride of the space program, has been missing for decades, thought lost in the void. But when a salvage team come across it floating in the darkness, and the lost ship's unique drive kicks in, then the problems are only just beginning. Space and time are warped as some of the relics of the original mission develop a strange new life of their own in their storage chamber deep below Mars.
Soon it is a race against time, as a burgeoning plasma starts to feed and grow on Mars, and matters aboard the Vordlak come to a head. Disaster can only be averted by studying the secret history of the ghost ship and the ancient rituals that have provided it with its power. But in repeating that history, will the small band of survivors prevail - or will they only make matters worse as the plasma continues to rampage?
Soon it is a race against time, as a burgeoning plasma starts to feed and grow on Mars, and matters aboard the Vordlak come to a head. Disaster can only be averted by studying the secret history of the ghost ship and the ancient rituals that have provided it with its power. But in repeating that history, will the small band of survivors prevail - or will they only make matters worse as the plasma continues to rampage?
115 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2014
39 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
William Meikle
408 books1,849 followersI'm a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with more than thirty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries.
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 15, 2016
Science fiction meets the Occult in this pulptastic creature feature tale of space exploration, colonization, ghost ships, experimental drives....and Lovecraftian repercussions
Meikle is a master of spinning tales that combine old school with a contemporary voice, engaging imagination and a welcome sense of fun.
Highly recommended.
Meikle is a master of spinning tales that combine old school with a contemporary voice, engaging imagination and a welcome sense of fun.
Highly recommended.
July 29, 2014
The Plasm is a very good SF/horror hybrid from William Meikle who is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. Willie can tell a hell of a tale, whether it’s crime noir, dark fantasy, sf or horror.
First off, I must admit that I struggle with SF in general and always have. While The Plasm may lean in that direction, I had no problem getting fully engaged in the story and it was not bogged down with a bunch of SF jargon that normally puts me off.
Something has ripped a fissure in this world allowing seepage from another dimension to enter this realm in the form of a glowing blue mist. It is getting more solid as it feeds. Weapons only make it stronger. What was once thought to be an inexhaustible power supply has turned the tables and is now feeding off of us. If the portals are not closed in time, the entire universe may get sucked into The Plasm.
Another solid effort from Mr. Meikle. 4+ Stars
*As a member of the Dark Regions Press Reviewer Program, I received an ARC copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.*
First off, I must admit that I struggle with SF in general and always have. While The Plasm may lean in that direction, I had no problem getting fully engaged in the story and it was not bogged down with a bunch of SF jargon that normally puts me off.
Something has ripped a fissure in this world allowing seepage from another dimension to enter this realm in the form of a glowing blue mist. It is getting more solid as it feeds. Weapons only make it stronger. What was once thought to be an inexhaustible power supply has turned the tables and is now feeding off of us. If the portals are not closed in time, the entire universe may get sucked into The Plasm.
Another solid effort from Mr. Meikle. 4+ Stars
*As a member of the Dark Regions Press Reviewer Program, I received an ARC copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.*
July 29, 2014
Review copy
Take a salvage operation in space and mix in a healthy dose of mysticism, with Lovecraftian overtones, and you have a pretty good idea of what The Plasm is all about.
Steve Falmoth pilots a cargo rig in the asteroid belt between Earth and Mars. He and his partner, Sam, stumble upon the VORDLAK, lost in space for eighty odd years. The crew is gone, but what they find is straight out of your worst nightmares.
One of the nice things about reading a book by William Meikle is knowing it's not going to be the same as the last thing you read by William Meikle.
Although, a portion of the story is told in journal entries and I often feel that doesn't work, Meikle did an excellent job using this tool to convey key points to his story.
The Plasm was an interesting change of pace for me. A little space adventure with a touch of horror. I think other fans of horror, particularly stuff with a Lovecraftian flavor will enjoy this one.
Look for The Plasm, in a variety of formats, beginning July 29th, 2014 from Dark Regions Press.
Recommended.
Take a salvage operation in space and mix in a healthy dose of mysticism, with Lovecraftian overtones, and you have a pretty good idea of what The Plasm is all about.
Steve Falmoth pilots a cargo rig in the asteroid belt between Earth and Mars. He and his partner, Sam, stumble upon the VORDLAK, lost in space for eighty odd years. The crew is gone, but what they find is straight out of your worst nightmares.
One of the nice things about reading a book by William Meikle is knowing it's not going to be the same as the last thing you read by William Meikle.
Although, a portion of the story is told in journal entries and I often feel that doesn't work, Meikle did an excellent job using this tool to convey key points to his story.
The Plasm was an interesting change of pace for me. A little space adventure with a touch of horror. I think other fans of horror, particularly stuff with a Lovecraftian flavor will enjoy this one.
Look for The Plasm, in a variety of formats, beginning July 29th, 2014 from Dark Regions Press.
Recommended.
March 10, 2015
Beware of the blob, it creeps
And leaps and glides and slides
Across the floor
Right through the door
And all around the wall
A splotch, a blotch
Be careful of the blob
The Plasma is fun B movie sci fi horror mixed with occult mayhem. The Plasma is kind of like if the blob gave birth to some Lovecraftian "old ones" in outer space. Fun stuff!
And leaps and glides and slides
Across the floor
Right through the door
And all around the wall
A splotch, a blotch
Be careful of the blob
The Plasma is fun B movie sci fi horror mixed with occult mayhem. The Plasma is kind of like if the blob gave birth to some Lovecraftian "old ones" in outer space. Fun stuff!
August 11, 2014
An interesting melding of sci-fi and Lovercraftian-infused horror, William Meikle's The Plasm follows two narrative threads and a set of characters that become embroiled in a mystery which has existed for over a hundred years. There are derelict spaceships, doomed salvaging efforts, men in black type military figures, and a link to something beyond human reckoning which could ultimately doom us all ...
To be fair, this one is probably heavier on the sci-fi than is normally my cup of tea, but Meikle's prose is as economical and effortless as ever. He draws the reader in quickly and wastes little time in setting his story in motion. Arguably this even occurs too swiftly, as numerous characters barely get a look in before being plucked off the page, leaving just a handful to get to know properly before "bad things on the edge of our galaxy" befall them.
Nevertheless, The Plasm is an enjoyable novella that fans of Meikle will envelop eagerly.
3 Oozing Tendrils of Death for The Plasm.
To be fair, this one is probably heavier on the sci-fi than is normally my cup of tea, but Meikle's prose is as economical and effortless as ever. He draws the reader in quickly and wastes little time in setting his story in motion. Arguably this even occurs too swiftly, as numerous characters barely get a look in before being plucked off the page, leaving just a handful to get to know properly before "bad things on the edge of our galaxy" befall them.
Nevertheless, The Plasm is an enjoyable novella that fans of Meikle will envelop eagerly.
3 Oozing Tendrils of Death for The Plasm.
September 20, 2015
The Plasm is what you get when you read H.P. Lovecraft while watching Event Horizon. Thankfully for me, I love both.
The Plasm is the story of the Vordlak, a spacecraft that uses an incredibly powerful new engine that the creators don’t 100% understand. They use it and it disappears, only to reappear with no crew and an unusual ship’s log. Of course, once discovered the engine starts back up and shit gets weird. Sound familiar? Yeah, it did to me as well.
Thankfully it changes the story soon after, because as much as I love Event Horizon I wouldn’t want to read the same story with different names.
Back on Mars, the Vordlak’s...I don’t know, spare batteries? Something like that is found to be active, so the “suits” in charge try to blow it up, releasing the plasm and killing a bunch of people. The plasm is also released on the Vordlak, where an additional salvage crew arrives to help. There’s chanting and killing and screaming...it’s a good time.
The Plasm is a short book so there’s not much to tell that won’t give away the whole story, but you can probably guess where things are going. It doesn’t matter if it's familiar territory, it’s still a really fun read. This is my first time reading Meikle’s work, and I’ll certainly be giving him another go.
The Plasm is the story of the Vordlak, a spacecraft that uses an incredibly powerful new engine that the creators don’t 100% understand. They use it and it disappears, only to reappear with no crew and an unusual ship’s log. Of course, once discovered the engine starts back up and shit gets weird. Sound familiar? Yeah, it did to me as well.
Thankfully it changes the story soon after, because as much as I love Event Horizon I wouldn’t want to read the same story with different names.
Back on Mars, the Vordlak’s...I don’t know, spare batteries? Something like that is found to be active, so the “suits” in charge try to blow it up, releasing the plasm and killing a bunch of people. The plasm is also released on the Vordlak, where an additional salvage crew arrives to help. There’s chanting and killing and screaming...it’s a good time.
The Plasm is a short book so there’s not much to tell that won’t give away the whole story, but you can probably guess where things are going. It doesn’t matter if it's familiar territory, it’s still a really fun read. This is my first time reading Meikle’s work, and I’ll certainly be giving him another go.
September 19, 2018
This was a very enjoyable book, especially since I did not feel lost with a host of jargon often found in SF genre reads. I loved the horror element which felt akin to the type found in Lovecraft stories. My son (13) picked it up and read it through in one afternoon then asked for more. It has bits of other elements worked in that just work well and add to the overall read. The only shortcoming is that it feels a bit like it is missing a complete start-middle-end with frantic page-turning, almost as though it were a rough draft. That said, it was still enjoyable and worth checking out, if only to dabble in a new genre. This was a personal acquisition and not a donation in request for a review.
March 7, 2017
This story was a unique mix of paranormal and Lovecraftian elements with the science fiction genre. There are many elements (such as how they power the drives of the ships) that I found fascinating and engaging, but unfortunately with the inclusion of Cthlulhu, the story goes sideways.
Meikle's writing is good, though every so often there seemed to be a slip up. (one prime example is near the end of the story where he used 'speeded up' instead of 'sped up') This doesn't really detract from the story, so it is only a minor issue that I had with the story.
My main problem with the story is the amount of jumping around and POV jumps Meikle does in this story. Normally I don't have an issue with such things, but for whatever reason, they seem pointless to this story. As if there are too many characters for this story and it could have been handled better with fewer.
The ending itself was also disappointing, with not a lot actually happening an no real sense of tension. At no point did I really feel that the characters were in danger in the final pages of the story. In fact, the sense of danger spiked more in the middle of the tale itself while the Plasm was making itself known in the derelict ship, which detracts from the story and any feelings of dread.
All in all, I don't recommend this story. That said, there are a lot of 4+ star ratings here on Goodreads, so a lot of people enjoyed the story. I just wasn't one of them. It felt too much like a slog for me to be honest. So, if you are looking to pick this up, feel free to. I wouldn't recommend it, but that's me.
Meikle's writing is good, though every so often there seemed to be a slip up. (one prime example is near the end of the story where he used 'speeded up' instead of 'sped up') This doesn't really detract from the story, so it is only a minor issue that I had with the story.
My main problem with the story is the amount of jumping around and POV jumps Meikle does in this story. Normally I don't have an issue with such things, but for whatever reason, they seem pointless to this story. As if there are too many characters for this story and it could have been handled better with fewer.
The ending itself was also disappointing, with not a lot actually happening an no real sense of tension. At no point did I really feel that the characters were in danger in the final pages of the story. In fact, the sense of danger spiked more in the middle of the tale itself while the Plasm was making itself known in the derelict ship, which detracts from the story and any feelings of dread.
All in all, I don't recommend this story. That said, there are a lot of 4+ star ratings here on Goodreads, so a lot of people enjoyed the story. I just wasn't one of them. It felt too much like a slog for me to be honest. So, if you are looking to pick this up, feel free to. I wouldn't recommend it, but that's me.
August 16, 2016
I was really in the mood for a sci-fi/horror book, found this and I must say it really hit the spot!
I really enjoyed this book, it brought together the occult and sci-fi in an interesting way and was very different to the usual lovecraftian fiction.
Most of all I'd say that this book is fun and it was a nice change to the usual weird fiction I read, in tone and in setting.
I really enjoyed this book, it brought together the occult and sci-fi in an interesting way and was very different to the usual lovecraftian fiction.
Most of all I'd say that this book is fun and it was a nice change to the usual weird fiction I read, in tone and in setting.
September 12, 2024
Entertaining horror listening 🎶🔰
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 68 of 69
They are in space when bad 👎 things start happening leading to most of the crew disappearing. What is happening? Will it ever end?
I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of fantasy horror adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024
This kindle e-book novella is from my Kindle Unlimited account book 68 of 69
They are in space when bad 👎 things start happening leading to most of the crew disappearing. What is happening? Will it ever end?
I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of fantasy horror adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. 2024
December 23, 2016
This was an entertaining read.
I could say that this is a fortunate blending of a Lovecraftian mystery in Space and Mars with some sci-fi elements.
If you are, or not, a fan of Chtulhu Mythos, either way, this will be an enjoyable novella until the end.
I could say that this is a fortunate blending of a Lovecraftian mystery in Space and Mars with some sci-fi elements.
If you are, or not, a fan of Chtulhu Mythos, either way, this will be an enjoyable novella until the end.
January 16, 2015
I finished reading William Meikle's The Plasm last night, and whoo boy! What a fun ride! Mind you, my idea of fun can sometimes be a bit odd. That said, this piece of cosmic horror set in the depths of space hits on all cylinders. Which it should, as the author only has 128 pages to work with. Available from Dark Regions Press, this short release does not disappoint in any way. I can't say that I've read everything by the author, but what I have read has never failed to engage me and The Plasm continues this trend. This is a rather rousing tale of horror which could be effective in any era, but William chooses to set his latest story in the far future and it's absolutely ace! Let me get to the review, where I can explain why you must have this in your collection... First up, my synopsis.
At the beginning of the story we are introduced to Steve and Sam, who are both business partners and lovers. Steve is the level-headed workhorse of the two, while Sam is more prone to taking big risks and gambling that the rewards are worth it. These two opposites make a good team and manage to shore up each other's personal flaws. They are a team of spatial contractors, and handle everything from deep-space salvage to asteroid mining. Currently engaged in the latter endeavor, they complete their business and begin heading back to port. While in-transit their ship is rendered inoperative, and dead in the water (so to speak) they rush to pin-point what went wrong. Sam quickly fills her partner in on the bad news; their main drive has blown out, and they're stuck for the foreseeable future. Moreover, seconds before the main drive went out she had heard a proximity warning and the object has been identified as...
The starship Vordlak, which disappeared while on her maiden voyage! Sam is thinking only of the fortune and fame that they will get from finding the long lost ship, and she is blind to anything else. Steve isn't nearly as enthusiastic, and is worried more about the whole 'adrift in space' situation that they happen to be in. However, he ends up giving in to his partner and they begin to explore the Vordlak. The problem is that there isn't any evidence of what caused the ship to go missing, in fact, everything seems to be running normally. Except for the fact that there are no crew on board the Vordlak, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Until you add in that the ship is still fully powered, and that there really are a great many things missing. Such as the supplies needed for a long voyage; or the fact that the automated helpers that would be needed on a ship of this size are also mysteriously missing. After Sam pulls up the ship's logs, they begin to realize exactly what is powering the 'revolutionary' star drive of the Vordlak... and it's something that shouldn't exist in this universe. It seems NASA (and the military group that funds them) have veered quite off the beaten path to 'discover' their new power source.
Meanwhile, on Mars, Corporal Jake Royle is reporting for duty at his post. Said post being a highly classified military storage depot. Things begin on a bad note, when he is ordered to escort two 'suits' down into the catacombs. After they find the items they are looking for, they try to blow them up. Which turns out to be an extremely BAD idea... Instead they manage to unleash something from outside into our universe... Which Jake tries to run from, but in the end, there is no escaping the thing that is that has seeped into our reality. The two narratives eventually come together and the main question is, how will they all survive? All I can say is, 'Tekili Li!' Followed by 'Dhumna Ort!' Quoth the raven, 'You'll have to read the book.'
William Meikle always delivers an outstanding story, and The Plasm is no exception. The feeling of dread is palpable throughout this tale, and as the story moves along it becomes absolutely claustrophobic. Even after the characters discover the source of the otherworldly occurrences, they are given no respite. There is no apparent course of action to follow, no way to contain this incursion. To put it bluntly, they're screwed. Even when the shadowy forces that caused all of this step in, their efforts actually make everything worse. They are hemmed in on all sides, and no one is coming to save them... so they decide to do it themselves (along with one 'expert' on the matter who seems much braver, and smarter, than those who employ him).
William's writing flows from page to page seamlessly, and he handily executes the changes between the various narratives. As I read through, I was on edge and wondering what the endgame would be. I really couldn't put The Plasm down, and the pages just slipped by, one after another. I found myself identifying with the characters, and sharing in their frustrations and setbacks throughout. The way that the author melds so many different genres together is greatly appreciated. William rendered the story marvelously, with plenty of flair and a unique vision. The overall story was engaging, the characters were painted well, and the ending was a thing of beauty. This is an example of a highly professional storyteller and talented wordsmith, doing what he does. Which happens to be telling an extremely engaging story, and absolutely nailing it! I can imagine William as a traveling storyteller and bard, way back in history. Moving from campfire to common house, and on to the courts of kings. Always welcomed, always appreciated, always rewarded. What more can I say? Take a look at The Plasm, and enjoy! While you're at it, take a look at his stories in general. Believe me, you won't be disappointed...
Well then, I guess that's that, another great story that I had a lot of fun reading and reviewing. Here's the publisher's website. Stop by and take a look around. There are a lot of great stories waiting for you. Here's the Amazon page for the book. Lastly, here's the author's Amazon page. He's got a number of really great books available, so why don't you swing by and take a look around? I guess that's all from my end. As usual, have fun and happy reading!
At the beginning of the story we are introduced to Steve and Sam, who are both business partners and lovers. Steve is the level-headed workhorse of the two, while Sam is more prone to taking big risks and gambling that the rewards are worth it. These two opposites make a good team and manage to shore up each other's personal flaws. They are a team of spatial contractors, and handle everything from deep-space salvage to asteroid mining. Currently engaged in the latter endeavor, they complete their business and begin heading back to port. While in-transit their ship is rendered inoperative, and dead in the water (so to speak) they rush to pin-point what went wrong. Sam quickly fills her partner in on the bad news; their main drive has blown out, and they're stuck for the foreseeable future. Moreover, seconds before the main drive went out she had heard a proximity warning and the object has been identified as...
The starship Vordlak, which disappeared while on her maiden voyage! Sam is thinking only of the fortune and fame that they will get from finding the long lost ship, and she is blind to anything else. Steve isn't nearly as enthusiastic, and is worried more about the whole 'adrift in space' situation that they happen to be in. However, he ends up giving in to his partner and they begin to explore the Vordlak. The problem is that there isn't any evidence of what caused the ship to go missing, in fact, everything seems to be running normally. Except for the fact that there are no crew on board the Vordlak, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Until you add in that the ship is still fully powered, and that there really are a great many things missing. Such as the supplies needed for a long voyage; or the fact that the automated helpers that would be needed on a ship of this size are also mysteriously missing. After Sam pulls up the ship's logs, they begin to realize exactly what is powering the 'revolutionary' star drive of the Vordlak... and it's something that shouldn't exist in this universe. It seems NASA (and the military group that funds them) have veered quite off the beaten path to 'discover' their new power source.
Meanwhile, on Mars, Corporal Jake Royle is reporting for duty at his post. Said post being a highly classified military storage depot. Things begin on a bad note, when he is ordered to escort two 'suits' down into the catacombs. After they find the items they are looking for, they try to blow them up. Which turns out to be an extremely BAD idea... Instead they manage to unleash something from outside into our universe... Which Jake tries to run from, but in the end, there is no escaping the thing that is that has seeped into our reality. The two narratives eventually come together and the main question is, how will they all survive? All I can say is, 'Tekili Li!' Followed by 'Dhumna Ort!' Quoth the raven, 'You'll have to read the book.'
William Meikle always delivers an outstanding story, and The Plasm is no exception. The feeling of dread is palpable throughout this tale, and as the story moves along it becomes absolutely claustrophobic. Even after the characters discover the source of the otherworldly occurrences, they are given no respite. There is no apparent course of action to follow, no way to contain this incursion. To put it bluntly, they're screwed. Even when the shadowy forces that caused all of this step in, their efforts actually make everything worse. They are hemmed in on all sides, and no one is coming to save them... so they decide to do it themselves (along with one 'expert' on the matter who seems much braver, and smarter, than those who employ him).
William's writing flows from page to page seamlessly, and he handily executes the changes between the various narratives. As I read through, I was on edge and wondering what the endgame would be. I really couldn't put The Plasm down, and the pages just slipped by, one after another. I found myself identifying with the characters, and sharing in their frustrations and setbacks throughout. The way that the author melds so many different genres together is greatly appreciated. William rendered the story marvelously, with plenty of flair and a unique vision. The overall story was engaging, the characters were painted well, and the ending was a thing of beauty. This is an example of a highly professional storyteller and talented wordsmith, doing what he does. Which happens to be telling an extremely engaging story, and absolutely nailing it! I can imagine William as a traveling storyteller and bard, way back in history. Moving from campfire to common house, and on to the courts of kings. Always welcomed, always appreciated, always rewarded. What more can I say? Take a look at The Plasm, and enjoy! While you're at it, take a look at his stories in general. Believe me, you won't be disappointed...
Well then, I guess that's that, another great story that I had a lot of fun reading and reviewing. Here's the publisher's website. Stop by and take a look around. There are a lot of great stories waiting for you. Here's the Amazon page for the book. Lastly, here's the author's Amazon page. He's got a number of really great books available, so why don't you swing by and take a look around? I guess that's all from my end. As usual, have fun and happy reading!
May 8, 2017
Despite having two fantastic settings to play with, one of them being the classic ghost-ship Vordlak, suddenly adrift in space after being lost for many-many years, and the other being a colonised Mars, the author couldn't give us the rip-roaring nerve-shredding tale that one expects from him.
We didn't face Aliens. We didn't even get ourselves into a scenario reminiscent of Event Horizon.
There wasn't even a proper hungry ghost!
All we had were Lovecraftian entities, exorcisms, and weird tales.
Sad, really, since this slim novella had begun with stuff that maketh nightmares.
And it could have yielded a lot more.
We didn't face Aliens. We didn't even get ourselves into a scenario reminiscent of Event Horizon.
There wasn't even a proper hungry ghost!
All we had were Lovecraftian entities, exorcisms, and weird tales.
Sad, really, since this slim novella had begun with stuff that maketh nightmares.
And it could have yielded a lot more.
December 12, 2017
Okay, this isn't a great book - probably more like 3 1/2 stars, as it's on the weaker side as far as characterization and story organization goes, plus a few too many 'nobody would actually DO that' moments. But it's an audacious mix of near-future SF and Cthulhu mythos, the story of NASA 's attempt to exploit the power thrown off during extra-planar summonings to power deep-space travel -- an attempt that, as you might expect, does Not End Well. So extra stars for audacity, and at only 121 fast-paced pages, a horribly swift read.
July 31, 2020
I haven't read a bad William Meikle book yet, and this one keeps up the tradition.
It has a great central premise, being a sci-fi horror novel, meshing space travel with the Lovecraft mythos. I'll not spoil things by revealing how it does this, but the idea is ingenious.
It also scores points for having the various incantations in Gaelic, something I haven't seen before, but which just seems so right!
A cracking good story!
It has a great central premise, being a sci-fi horror novel, meshing space travel with the Lovecraft mythos. I'll not spoil things by revealing how it does this, but the idea is ingenious.
It also scores points for having the various incantations in Gaelic, something I haven't seen before, but which just seems so right!
A cracking good story!
February 5, 2023
3.5/5. Mythos in Space!!
September 7, 2025
I was a bit wary in the beginning because it immediately made me think of the movie Event Horizon but then it became so much more interesting... Wow! A great idea!
February 21, 2022
Wow, ask me two things I never expected to see together in a story, and it's outer space and the occult. This book really went there. I tend to have a harder time enjoying other dimension stuff, and would rather just have a monster to deal with, but it was interesting. I found it fascinating and it was always a surprise to see what happened next. I loved the setting, the main characters I liked, but it would be nice to know more about them, I could see them having more space adventures in the future.
August 23, 2020
'The Plasm’ is a novella in the SF/horror genre, a fine old tradition. Here’s what happens.
Steve and Sam, a lady, are a salvage team working the Solar System. Sam is bold and daring while Steve is more cautious, wary of danger. When they come across the wreck of the Vordlak, Sam is overcome with excitement at the fame, glory and money the wreck will bring. The Vordlak was once the biggest, best and most advanced ship ever sent out from Earth but it suddenly vanished decades ago. It’s the Marie Celeste of the spaceways.
Sam docks with it and goes aboard to investigate. Steve follows but she has dashed ahead while he was getting through the airlock. While Sam thinks this is the best thing that’s ever happened to them, he has a chill premonition of danger. There’s no sign of the crew yet there are remnants of food in the mess hall as if they were taken suddenly. When a strange blue light appears and chases him, Sam figures he was right.
Meanwhile, on Mars, Jake Royle leads a team into an old storage place where something strange is happening. A crack team of secret agents try to blow up an old box seeping blue light but it doesn’t work. Jake ends up running for his life.
I don’t want to give away the plot so I can’t say much more. Meikle does a good job of revealing past events through computer logs and gradually draws the two story threads together. It turns out that the Vordlak had an experimental drive. Tapping into other dimensions for free energy is an idea worthy of the gods themselves. But what if demons get involved…or worse.
Tekeli-Li. Tekeli-Li.
‘The Plasm’ mixes alien space horror, Lovecraftian myth and even nice old religions in a thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced, rip-snorting piece of B-movie action that can be read in a couple of hours, a pleasant respite from stonking great trilogies. It will certainly keep you entertained until something better comes over the event horizon and if you like this kind of thing as I do, Dark Regions Press and William Meikle are worth checking out on the world wide web.
Steve and Sam, a lady, are a salvage team working the Solar System. Sam is bold and daring while Steve is more cautious, wary of danger. When they come across the wreck of the Vordlak, Sam is overcome with excitement at the fame, glory and money the wreck will bring. The Vordlak was once the biggest, best and most advanced ship ever sent out from Earth but it suddenly vanished decades ago. It’s the Marie Celeste of the spaceways.
Sam docks with it and goes aboard to investigate. Steve follows but she has dashed ahead while he was getting through the airlock. While Sam thinks this is the best thing that’s ever happened to them, he has a chill premonition of danger. There’s no sign of the crew yet there are remnants of food in the mess hall as if they were taken suddenly. When a strange blue light appears and chases him, Sam figures he was right.
Meanwhile, on Mars, Jake Royle leads a team into an old storage place where something strange is happening. A crack team of secret agents try to blow up an old box seeping blue light but it doesn’t work. Jake ends up running for his life.
I don’t want to give away the plot so I can’t say much more. Meikle does a good job of revealing past events through computer logs and gradually draws the two story threads together. It turns out that the Vordlak had an experimental drive. Tapping into other dimensions for free energy is an idea worthy of the gods themselves. But what if demons get involved…or worse.
Tekeli-Li. Tekeli-Li.
‘The Plasm’ mixes alien space horror, Lovecraftian myth and even nice old religions in a thoroughly enjoyable, fast-paced, rip-snorting piece of B-movie action that can be read in a couple of hours, a pleasant respite from stonking great trilogies. It will certainly keep you entertained until something better comes over the event horizon and if you like this kind of thing as I do, Dark Regions Press and William Meikle are worth checking out on the world wide web.
October 18, 2014
I have read Mr. Meikle’s work, “The Ravine,” (see my review) and liked it a lot. So when the offer came from Dark Regions Press to read and review “The Plasm” for free, I jumped on the chance. This short (133 pages) book is a sort of combination of the movies “Event Horizon” and “The Blob” Steve Falmouth, pilot of an interstellar salvage ship (“Firefly?”) and his lover/copilot Sam come across the “Vorlag,” touted as an affordable deep-space transport, which disappeared on its maiden voyage from Mars 80 years ago in 2121. They are given permission to go into the Vorlag, and find it abandoned, but also find a historical document indicating that a destructive “presence” from another dimension (referred to as a “demon”) has wreaked havoc in another ship, the “Poldakayne.” It becomes obvious that the being is sort of an amoeba, which attacks and absorbs people, draining them of their fluids and organs, and thereby adding to its mass. A similar being has appeared on Mars. A theory emerges that this is not really a demon but an amalgam of energy from another dimension. It is then determined that it may only be able to be gotten rid of by an exorcism (as this was what had “sealed the breach” in the Poldaykayne). An “exorcist” is found who makes the attempt using both traditional methods and occult ones. Of course, I won’t give away the ending, and believe me, there are plenty of other characters and incidents in this book.
I would add that there are homages to authors (e.g. one of the spaceships is named the “Asimov,” and one of the locations on Mars is “Bradbury Flats”), with a healthy homage to Lovecraft’s “The Mountains of Madness.” I really liked this book and would recommend it, especially to those who like S-F, horror, humor and some quirkiness. Five stars for Mr. Meikle!
I would add that there are homages to authors (e.g. one of the spaceships is named the “Asimov,” and one of the locations on Mars is “Bradbury Flats”), with a healthy homage to Lovecraft’s “The Mountains of Madness.” I really liked this book and would recommend it, especially to those who like S-F, horror, humor and some quirkiness. Five stars for Mr. Meikle!
August 5, 2014
Note: I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I am a fan of science fiction and horror stories, but I can't think of another Science Fiction-Horror hybrid story that I have read in the past, and definitely never read one that also had Lovecraftian elements in it, but Meikle has proven to me it is mixture that can definitely work out well if done by a talented author.
The more I read from Meikle, the more I become a fan of his. I have only read a few of his stories so far, but he's quickly become one of my favorite authors!
I am a fan of science fiction and horror stories, but I can't think of another Science Fiction-Horror hybrid story that I have read in the past, and definitely never read one that also had Lovecraftian elements in it, but Meikle has proven to me it is mixture that can definitely work out well if done by a talented author.
The more I read from Meikle, the more I become a fan of his. I have only read a few of his stories so far, but he's quickly become one of my favorite authors!
July 29, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A Lovecraftian sci-fi/supernatural horror set in space. While some might say that it's reminiscent of the movie Event Horizon, I found it to be an original premise and a whole new take on the universe that was created by HPL. Actually, I think he would have appreciated it.
It's a quick read and definitely worth your time if you're a fan of supernatural horror.
A Lovecraftian sci-fi/supernatural horror set in space. While some might say that it's reminiscent of the movie Event Horizon, I found it to be an original premise and a whole new take on the universe that was created by HPL. Actually, I think he would have appreciated it.
It's a quick read and definitely worth your time if you're a fan of supernatural horror.
June 28, 2016
A perfect, well written combination of sci-fi and horror. With each turn of the page it brings you closer and closer to the explanation of just what The Plasm actually is. A ritual brought it to life and now a salvage team have to figure out a way to destroy it before it consumes everything. One touch of the plasm and you’re erased forever! No pressure though! Suspenseful to the core up until the very end!
August 21, 2025
An Interesting Reinterpretation of Shaggoths
Melding the occult genre with science fiction can be tricky but Meikle pulls it off with two separate events happening millions of miles away from each other. One event happens on Mars and the other on a ship that disappeared years ago (shades of Event Horizon!). The result is a satisfying tale of cosmic horror where Meikle takes a familiar Lovecraftian beastie and gives it a Mythos of its very own.
Melding the occult genre with science fiction can be tricky but Meikle pulls it off with two separate events happening millions of miles away from each other. One event happens on Mars and the other on a ship that disappeared years ago (shades of Event Horizon!). The result is a satisfying tale of cosmic horror where Meikle takes a familiar Lovecraftian beastie and gives it a Mythos of its very own.
March 7, 2019
Hard to get much more cosmic into your cosmic horror than to take that story into the cold, godless vacuum of space, but the future of space travel in William Meikle’s THE PLASM is a literal deal with the devil that evokes movies like EVENT HORIZON and John Carpenter’s GHOSTS OF MARS without being derivative of either. I highly recommend this gothic sci-fi monstrosity.
November 6, 2018
Found it to be a fast read. The 'Event Horizon'-esque setting was evocative enough. Unfortunately, at ground level things went downhill. Ending was too abrupt with no proper closure. Felt somewhat dissatisfied. But it was a fast, and thrilling read alright.
September 25, 2014
Good mix of Cthulu mythos and space exploration. Good story.
August 21, 2015
Overall this was a good story. It is more like a 3.5 rating. If the last "chapter" was omitted it would have been a 4.0. If you are into horror or sci-fi I would definitely recommend it.
February 22, 2016
Plasm
A gripping science fiction horror story that hits all its marks. Strong characters in a well crafted story that sucks you in a powerfully as the Plasm.
A gripping science fiction horror story that hits all its marks. Strong characters in a well crafted story that sucks you in a powerfully as the Plasm.
November 17, 2023
I love the mix of occult and science fiction.
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