The Listening Dark

by Henri Hubert

A sci-fi horror novella of isolation, identity, and deep space dread.

About the Book She thought she was alone. She was wrong.

Station Eos orbits a rogue black star, a failing relic of forgotten science. Now something stirs — a rhythmic pulse, alive and impossible. Commander Elara Venn, the last survivor, feels it in her bones, her mind, her fraying reality. It’s rewriting her.

As the station collapses and her AI companion twists beyond recognition, the signal sharpens. A lifeline? A trap? Or a mirror to her buried past?

With the void pressing in, Elara must resist the call — or become it.

In deep space, silence isn’t empty. It listens back.

Perfect for fans of psychological science fiction and cosmic horror.

Genres: Science Fiction

71 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2025

About the author

Henri Hubert is a German-born writer, AI creative and digital explorer. With a background in pharmacy and over a decade of scientific expertise in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, Henri now focuses his energy on the future - where storytelling, artificial intelligence and creativity converge.

He is the founder of AI Engineer Hub, a platform dedicated to AI trends, tools and ethical discussion. Beyond writing books that blend psychological suspense, cosmic horror, and hard science fiction, Henri also creates AI-assisted artwork and original music - pushing the boundaries of what creative expression means in the age of machines.

His recent sci-fi novella “The Listening Dark“ explores isolation, consciousness, and cosmic dread aboard a failing space station orbiting a rogue black star. It’s available now on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

When he’s not writing or composing, Henri crafts Sudoku puzzle books, experiments with AI-generated songs, or produces captivating visual art - always pursuing his mission to bridge human emotion and machine intelligence.

Connect with him and explore more at AI Engineer Hub.

Reviews

[P. Portraits · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosmic Mindset

The musical writing style carries this sci-fi horror, along with the punchy, sarcastic wit of the lonely protagonist, Commander Elara Venn. It is a dark tale of her mind's deterioration, with nothing but an AI to talk to, a black star that hovers like a void outside, a signal that pulses and confounds, and unpleasant memories. It’s bleak, yet the mystery of whether she survives keeps you reading.

The parallelism between this sole warrior's state of mind and the dying station works well. As does the premise that the ‘body’ dies but something else lives on.

It’s a good read that makes you want to talk to a human as soon as you’ve finished it.

[Natalie Sickler · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.2/5

The worst thing about this book is how much potential it had to be good - squandered by an author that had the concept but struggled with the execution

The beginning gripped me with the suspense. The unsettling dialogue between the AI and the main character, along with the pace that succinctly highlights a distortion in reality, gives you a heightened sense of dread and intrigue that makes you want to keep reading.

And then from there, it all goes to shit.

For whatever reason, the next 2-5 chapters are insanely repetitive - down to the first sentence starting the exact same, with the same cadence and same analogies, down to the sentence structure and quips offered by the main character.
At first, I thought it was immersive - maybe it's a way to draw you into the mental break that the MC is experiencing? Unfortunately, it becomes inherently clear that the author literally just copy/pasted the last chapter and inserted/redacted particular information. And that's not me being facetious - I literally highlighted multiple instances where the exact same sentence is repeated in other chapters.

The climax to the plot is...not. You're expected to be satisfied with the "time rift" theory, with the only explanation offered for the burning question of what the fuck just happened being "iTs dEeP sPaCe trAnSmiTtoR ooOOoO". The wordy, pseudo-philosophical chapters at the end only confirm what we already know - the author had no idea how to end this story.

Gather round, future authors, because there is a very important lesson to take away from here: Please, for the love of your credibility and your hard work, HIRE A FUCKING EDITOR FOR YOUR FINAL DRAFT. I literally have half a mind to contact Hubert myself and BEG them to let me please rewrite the story for them, or at least let me take a crack at restructuring the format or even DELETING THEIR EMBARRASSING FUCKING TYPOS.

The plot itself had all the makings for a great story - but it was suffocated by the inexperience and obvious lack of direction from the author. it's soooo disappointing :(

The only "psychological thrill" you'll get from reading this is whether or not you have the willpower to finish this book, with your only prize being that you wasted your time.

[Junaid Murtuza · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Listening Dark by Henri Hubert surprised me with how quickly it pulled me into its strange, unsettling atmosphere. The idea of a lone crew member on a failing space station encountering a mysterious signal is already intriguing, but the way the tension builds makes it much more than a typical sci-fi story.
I especially enjoyed the feeling of isolation throughout the book. The failing systems, strange vibrations, the rogue black star, and the increasingly unusual behaviour of the AI, Oriel, all add to the sense that something is very wrong. I found myself wanting to keep reading because I genuinely wanted to understand what was happening.
The writing creates a creepy atmosphere without relying on constant action, and some scenes gave me that uncomfortable feeling of being watched.
Overall, I thought this was an engaging and atmospheric read with a good psychological-horror edge. A solid choice for readers who enjoy mysterious, claustrophobic sci-fi thrillers.

[Shaiju · Rating 5 out of 5]

The isolation in deep space made every strange signal feel genuinely unsettling. I liked how Elara’s uncertainty gradually turns into a much deeper psychological threat, with the station, AI, memories, and mysterious voice becoming increasingly difficult to separate. The atmosphere stays tense throughout, and the ending leaves a haunting impression.

[sureshot · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book draws you in with a lonely but tense scene. A woman is alone in space and there is some kind of strange signal she doesn't understand. The author brilliantly immerses you in the frightening perspective of this woman. You can't help but wonder what is happening to her. What follows is a mixture of sci fi and psychological thriller. Overall, this was a fun, creepy read that I highly recommend.

[David Aretsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spooky sci-fi worth a read.


Station Eos is in trouble as Commander Elara Venn orbits the red glow of the black rouge star. The crew- abandoned or dead. Alone but for Oriel, her ship’s AI. A mysterious presence aboard. A poltergeist? Space is silent except for a heartbeat, but who's heartbeat? The Listening Dark is a great dark, creepy science fiction novella. If you like sci-fi with a horror edge then check out this well written, entertaining story.

[Mable S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Listening Dark is a tense, atmospheric slice of cosmic horror. Hubert delivers a chilling blend of isolation, unraveling identity, and deep-space strangeness as Commander Elara Venn confronts a mysterious signal and her own fraying mind. The station’s eerie setting and the shifting AI create constant unease, and while the novella moves quickly, its imagery sticks with you. A great pick for anyone who likes psychological sci-fi with a haunting edge.

[Alefiyah Ghadiali · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Listening Dark: A Psychological Sci-Fi Horror Novella Set in Deep Space, Henri Hubert crafts a compact but haunting journey into isolation, identity, and cosmic dread. From the first pages aboard Station Eos orbiting a rogue black star, I was drawn into the crushing solitude of Commander Elara Venn and the strange signal that begins to rewrite her reality.

What resonated with me most was the way the book doesn’t lean into loud scares or elaborate monsters. Instead it thrives on atmosphere, the fractured mind of its protagonist, and the creeping awareness that nothing—and no one—is as they seem. Elara’s bond with her AI companion becomes both comforting and terrifying, a mirror to her own unraveling. The station, the void outside, the signal pulsing within—they all merge into a feeling of being utterly small yet alarmingly exposed.

Hubert’s writing is efficient and evocative. In just a short read, he packs emotional weight, tension, and the unspoken dread that lingers in silence. The scenario—deep space, failing station, unknown signal—could feel familiar, yet the novella makes it feel fresh by focusing on the internal landscape as much as the external threat. I found myself pausing, not because the plot slowed, but because the implications lingered: What is consciousness? What is identity? And how much are we defined by what tries to reach us when the lights go out?

One limitation: the novella’s brevity leaves certain threads less developed. Some characters could use more time, the backstory might feel thin, and readers looking for intricate world-building could find it minimal. But given its focus, that doesn’t feel like a weakness—it’s part of its power. The story aims for a psychological sting, not a sprawling saga.

[Andrew Beardmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Listening Dark is a tense sci-fi thriller set on the edge of the universe, in a battered space station, Eos, that is seemingly hovering above a Black Hole. There is essentially only one character, Elara Venn, who is now crewing the station solo, and no longer supported by her former colleagues for reasons that will be explained in the book. Her only companion is the ship’s AI, Oriel – who is skillfully presented as a vaguely untrustworthy colleague off which Elena bounces an endless supply of dry witticisms, all clearly aimed at keeping her morale up as she awaits her inevitable demise – inevitable because, amongst other things, her oxygen is running out. But there is clearly more amiss than just that, as an overwhelming sense of another presence slowly begins to gather momentum.

The whole setting is very skillfully described and constantly had me visualizing scenes from Alien, Event Horizon, and – for those who know it – Doctor Who’s The Impossible Planet (perhaps the best Who story ever). In fact, the TARDIS even gets a mention at one point! And there is clearly something very wrong with time!

However, don’t let that detract you from the dark sci-fi edge we get here in The Listening Dark. This story is its own master. The creeping demise of Eos (described as a “Cathedral of decay”), and the oppressive encroachment of whatever it is that will eventually infiltrate Eos and then infiltrate Elana’s skin, her bones, her soul – this is brilliantly handled, and I do particularly like the ending as well – and what transcends from there.

The lattice is particularly thought-provoking; “a thread in a tapestry” indeed!

[Nora S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Gripping and Unsettling Read

What I enjoyed most about The Listening Dark was the atmosphere of isolation and uncertainty that runs through the story. The idea of a lone survivor aboard a failing space station orbiting a rogue black star immediately caught my attention. As strange signals begin to emerge and the AI companion starts behaving differently, the story gradually builds a sense of unease that kept me curious about what would happen next.

I particularly liked how the author combines science fiction with psychological horror. The failing systems, mysterious vibrations, and changes in the AI’s behaviour make the setting feel increasingly unsettling. There is also an interesting element of uncertainty surrounding Commander Elara Venn, as it becomes difficult to separate what is happening around her from what might be happening within her own mind. This adds another layer to the mystery and makes the story more than a straightforward space thriller.

The writing is descriptive without losing the suspense, and the confined setting works well for the kind of story being told. I also found the central mystery intriguing because it raises questions about identity, perception, and the nature of the signal itself.

Although this is a short novella, it manages to establish a distinctive atmosphere and maintain a sense of tension throughout. The ending leaves you with plenty to think about even after you finish reading.

Overall, The Listening Dark is an engaging choice for readers who enjoy atmospheric science fiction, mysterious signals, isolated settings, and psychological horror. It is a quick read that offers an intriguing blend of cosmic mystery and suspense.

[Don Locke · Rating 4 out of 5]

The listening dark is undoubtedly well written. The story chugs along at a break neck pace. It is gripping and intense. At first it feels like an episode of Dr. Who. A main character trapped in a derelict space station where both are beginning to unravel after a long time unattended to. There is an AI companion but not a very convincing one. Perhaps the reader might start to ponder who will come to the rescue, what might the strange signal be and what happened to the rest of the crew. Alas, it is not the type of story where you find out. More an examination into emotional and mental distress caused by who knows what. Repetition becomes an irritation, not least when every single chapter starts with the name of the main character. Although not a bad character her delusions, visions, flashbacks become very "samey" too and utterly unexplained. This leads to a level of confusion that is hard to forgive. No real explanation is given to the disappearance of the crew. Some sort of time-travel is hinted at as well as a vision of an alien world, but neither is explained or expanded on and the ending left me scratching my head as to exactly what I had just read. There are elements of Interstellar and Event Horizon that make it interesting but overall it feels like too much was left on the floor, probably next to a too heavily featured toolkit. If not for the style of writing I might have scored this at a little less. It is readable and it is a short story that maybe could do with being a little longer and more laid out. Something for the reader who likes sci-fi to be dark and psychological.

[David Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

When deep space listens back.

The Listening Dark by Henri Hubert is a tightly written, atmospheric psychological sci-fi novella that, from paragraph one, afflicted me with a sense of isolation and unease – just the way I like it. Set aboard the dying Station Eos, the story immediately pulled me in with richly textured, empathetic world-building: “The bunk creaked as she sat up, the mattress a sad relic of foam and regret,” and the command module described as “a cathedral of decay.” This scene-setting continues throughout the narrative. I even had flashbacks to the wonderfully gritty, neglected industrial environment of the Nostromo in Ridley Scott’s first Alien film, which, on release, instantly dispelled the myth of shiny dust-free space travel.

Commander Elara Venn is the compelling lead, her mental state slowly eroded by silence, strange signals, and a sharply characterised, faintly sarcastic AI that she spars with like an old adversary. Hubert expertly blurs the line between cosmic mystery and psychological collapse, sustaining tension without over-explaining and letting nervy atmospherics do much of the work.

Short, immersive, and rewarding, The Listening Dark is a story that respects the reader’s attention and rewards it in return. A smart, unsettling read that feels longer than its page count suggests – perfect for fans of eerie, thoughtful space fiction. Like me.

[Linda Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, I enjoyed this novella, though I would have preferred a more in-depth approach as to why Commander Elana was out there in space, the sole occupant of an aging spaceship. I don't feel that was explained all that much, more hints but not much else. Loved Eos, the crumbling spaceship and Oriel, the Ai brain of the ship. So initially, Elana is being called by some cosmic transmitter the size and appearance of a black star that rattles the ship and her in it. While she is mentally unraveling along with the ship, her constant nosebleeds are a telltale sign that it's affecting her physically as well. The ship finally goes kaput and Oriel with it. Left with nothing more than her grit, she exits the ship in a spacesuit with little oxygen, and eventually runs out of life support. And though it isn't said, she dies, but her consciousness continues, and she becomes a part of something bigger, yet that's a bit vague, which is where the story ends. So there is some vagueness here and there, but overall an interesting read.

[Torn MacAlester · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Review of Henri Hubert’s The Listening Dark

Elara Venn commands EOS alone, with no relief crew and no timely oversight. She decides every sacrifice when a system fails. The station AI, Oriel, is a precise, tireless irritant that logs every order, corrects her counts, repeats dismissed warnings, and will neither conspire with her nor ignore a discrepancy. In the long dark between shifts, its voice is the only one aboard.

Aboard the station EOS, in the shadow of a dark sun, Commander Elara faces scarce light, radiation, decaying orbits, and the tightening cost of every corrected assumption. She hears a growing beat in the bulkheads and coolant lines that Oriel logs as noise and that she takes as an accusation, echoing Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.” She learns that an assault on the station and on herself was buried in EOS’s memory before she was born, and that the discovery is both the problem and the solution. Killing the AI brings her a measure of understanding, while fear of the consequences becomes a conflict of its own.

I liked The Listening Dark and give it five stars.

[Joanne Rolston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is slightly reminiscent of Bowman’s ending in the book 2001 a Space Odyssey, except in this case it’s not the AI that’s the problem.
Elara is a commander on Eos, a dying space station held together by spare parts, duct tape and spite.
Eos is circling a rogue black star, its baleful red orb visible in the viewport that dominated the far wall.
The command module has wires dangling everywhere and is described as “a cathedral of decay.”
Elara is alone except for Oriel, her AI companion, but something else is listening.
“In deep space, silence isn’t empty. It listens back.” Yikes.
I really liked the writing, the descriptions and Elara’s defiant sarcasm in the face of this unknown threat.
I recommend the book to Sci-Fi readers and those who like suspense stories. The book wasn’t too long, I could see where it was going but I was still kept slightly unnerved and on the edge of my seat.

[W. Orgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Listening Dark is a dark science-fiction novella that works especially well because of its atmosphere. Station Eos quickly creates a real sense of isolation and unease, made even stronger by the dwindling oxygen and the increasingly strange phenomena surrounding Elara.

I particularly enjoyed her relationship with Oriel, as well as everything involving the recordings, photographs, and temporal anomalies. The story gradually becomes stranger and more metaphysical, especially with the idea of the “lattice,” without relying on an easy explanation.

A few passages felt slightly repetitive, and some elements could have been developed further, especially given the book’s relatively short length. The ending is also deliberately ambiguous, which may not appeal to everyone.

Still, it’s an engaging, original, and unsettling read, with an atmosphere that stays with you after you finish it.

[Davian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the idea behind The Listening Dark. Being stuck on a failing space station with a mysterious signal messing with your mind is a great setup, and the author does a good job of creating that creepy, claustrophobic atmosphere.

I particularly liked the interactions between Elara and the ship’s AI. There’s a constant feeling that something isn’t quite right, and you’re never entirely sure what’s real.

My main criticism is that the writing gets a bit repetitive in places. Some descriptions and ideas are revisited a little too often, which takes away from the tension. I also found the ending a little confusing. I don’t mind a bit of mystery, but I would have liked a little more clarity.

That said, it’s an imaginative little story that does a good job of getting under your skin without relying on cheap scares. It has its flaws, but there’s plenty to enjoy here, especially if you like your sci-fi on the darker side.

[CdnMom35 · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Listening Dark combined psychological tension with a strong sense of isolation. The setting of a failing space station orbiting a mysterious black star created an unsettling atmosphere from the very beginning, and I found myself wanting to know more about what was really happening to Elara. The story moves quickly, but it still manages to explore themes of identity, loneliness, and the unknown in a meaningful way.

What stood out most to me was the eerie feeling that something was always just beyond understanding. The cosmic horror elements were effective without overwhelming the science fiction aspects, and the mystery surrounding the signal kept me engaged throughout. That said, there were parts that seemed to be repetitive, perhaps that was intentional but to me it was a bit of an issue.

[Meat Head · Rating 2 out of 5]

This teeny tiny book took me a week to get though and that should tell you something. The potential for this story was high but it was executed poorly. Lots of repeating of the same scenes over and over. I think that in 70 pages, the author mentioned the main characters nose bleeding like 20 times. WE GET IT! Also, the author could’ve done something really cool with the black star, but it’s clear he didn’t even google it or anything. I, of course, did google it and one of the hallmark characteristics of a black star, albeit from my rudimentary understanding, is that it has no event horizon and is a self sustaining mass. Of course the author simply presented it as a black hole. Just make it a black hole then!!!

[Samuel Freedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Listening Dark is a dark science fiction novella. If you like a psychological thriller with a horror edge the science fiction novella The Listening Dark is right down your alley. The story involves the subject of isolation-inducing psychosis and makes you question what is real or just occurring in the protagonist’s mind. The entire story takes place in a spacecraft, and the vibe to me was reminiscent of Stephen King’s Cujo. This could have been improved with more internal dialog and less narrative. Some of the descriptions were a bit heavy with metaphorical language, which adds to the narrative quality of the writing rather than adding actual content. Other than that, I enjoyed The Listening Dark as a quick page-turner.

[Damir Salkovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Commander Elara Venn discovers a mysterious signal aboard her isolated space station that begins altering reality itself. As the boundaries between perception and truth collapse, she must determine what's real before losing herself completely.

Henri Hubert establishes atmosphere effectively. Venn's isolation feels palpable, and the escalating dread proves genuinely engaging. The reality-warping signal concept is intriguing, but the narrative loses coherence toward the end. Minor continuity issues and repetitive phrasing undermine immersion. The existential ambiguity at the end is (presumably) intentional, and it adds mystique, but also confusion.

[James Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found The Listening Dark to be an atmospheric and somewhat gripping slice of sci-fi. The isolation comes through immediately, and I felt Elara’s confusion and fear as the station’s strange signal pressed in on her mind. The descriptive writing pulled me into the dark corridors and escalating dread. At the same time, the prose often felt wordy and repetitive, with certain emotions and character traits revisited a little too often. The plot’s reveal worked for me even if it felt more inevitable than surprising. Still, the mood, tension, and psychological unraveling kept me engaged. For fans of lonely deep space stories with a slow burn, this novella delivers.

[Book Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall I liked the plot of the story. It was also well written and edited. I was torn on this one, part of it because I expected something a little different I suppose. I was expecting a conflict between Elara and the AI to be a bit more fleshed out from the description. The tale took a different route which I thought was fine. I think my biggest issue was that I couldn't root for Elara. I think a little more internal dialogue to help the reader get a feel for who she was would have helped with that. But as I mentioned, well written, edited and a good read for someone looking for something a bit metaphysical.

[Frank Gaipa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henri Herbert’s The Listening Dark, more of a long short story than a novella, is captivating from the start. Herbert provides and withholds just enough info to keep us turning pages. Elara’s AI companion Oriel, or is it her overseers’ watchdog, increasingly frustrates us as much as it does her, so we enter the novel on her side. Elara's bickering with Oriel is constantly amusing, though Herbert's humor is seldom overt. At the outset, the story’s title may feel ambiguous. Even midway, this remains true. But the twist that a couple of reviewers have questioned leaves the title perfectly clear. Herbert's horror is subtle and all too welcoming.

[Joseph Oaks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found myself going back and forth with this book. The descriptive detail is exceptional, creating a vivid sense of place and an almost palpable claustrophobia that I genuinely appreciated. Those immersive elements are where the story shines.

Initially, I enjoyed Elara’s snarky, sarcastic voice, which added energy and personality to the narrative. However, as the story progressed, her characterization began to feel thin. Much of her dialogue centered on repeatedly yelling at her AI companion, and the pattern became redundant over time. As a result, the sharpness that made her engaging early on gradually gave way to a sense of shallowness.

[Fiction and Tea :D · Rating 4 out of 5]

*The Listening Dark* is an atmospheric and imaginative sci-fi horror novella with a wonderfully unsettling premise. The lonely, decaying Station Eos and its mysterious red signal create a strong sense of dread from the beginning, while Elara’s sharp humour makes her an engaging guide through the darkness.

I particularly enjoyed the growing uncertainty around the AI, Oriel, and the eerie idea that the signal may be changing not only the station, but Elara herself. The story has some striking imagery and a haunting, cosmic ending that stayed with me.

A tense and immersive read for readers who enjoy isolated-space-station stories, psychological unease, and cosmic sci-fi horror.

[Rise-JK · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Listening Dark is a tense and atmospheric science fiction mystery that does a great job of building suspense around isolation, strange signals, and the unknown. I especially enjoyed the slow unraveling of the mystery and the way the story keeps raising new questions without becoming difficult to follow. Elara is a compelling main character, and the story balances psychological tension with larger cosmic ideas in an engaging way. The writing has a strong sense of atmosphere and keeps the feeling of unease present throughout. Personally, I prefer science fiction that focuses heavily on mystery and atmosphere, so this was a particularly enjoyable read for me.

[Marco M · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting, and it’s the kind of sci-fi that gets under your skin. Elara is alone on a dying station with a glitchy AI that gets a little too clever, and the slow creep of that mysterious signal is really well done. I kept catching myself holding my breath.
I liked the dry sarcasm in the middle of all the dread. It makes her feel like a real person and not just a “last survivor” cliché. The ending is more philosophical than action-packed, so go in expecting atmosphere over answers.
It’s very short, so don’t expect a big universe. But for a quick, moody read that makes you stare at the ceiling afterwards, it works.

[Sarah Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Listening Dark is a haunting, beautifully written dive into isolation and identity. Henri Hubert captures the slow unravelling of Commander Elara with a visceral intimacy that made the station’s silence feel alive. The pulse, the shifting AI, and the decaying orbit around a rogue black star create an atmosphere that’s both suffocating and strangely poetic.

What I loved most is how the story blurs the line between external threat and inner transformation, nothing is simple, and everything echoes. A powerful, chilling novella that lingers long after the final page.

[Carmen W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Listening Dark delivers a moody, unsettling blend of sci-fi and psychological dread. Commander Elara Venn’s isolation aboard a dying station becomes the story’s true engine, blurring the line between reality, memory, and something far more alien. The creeping distortion of her AI companion and the mysterious signal create steady tension without overexplaining the horror.

Short, eerie, and quietly haunting, this novella is perfect for readers who enjoy cosmic horror that gets under the skin rather than relying on spectacle.