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Oasis of the Damned
When her helicopter crashes in the middle of the Sahara, Heather Richter, a former Army Captain and veteran of the Iraq War, finds herself at an abandoned WWII military outpost in one of the harshest and deadliest deserts on Earth. But she soon realizes there is another victim of the desert in this empty expanse of endless sand. Owens, a victim of an earlier plane crash, is there as well. An enigmatic and brooding man, he knows the secrets of the outpost, that it was actually built on top of an oasis and a natural well, the only thing that’s kept him alive. But he also knows the darker secrets of this strange and forgotten patch of desert hell.
He and Richter are not alone. And the cruel terrain and relentless sun are the least of their worries, because inhuman things haunt the outpost, hideous and violent things that only come at night. Ancient, evil creatures hungry for human flesh, and no matter how many Richter and Owens kill, they just keep coming.
With little hope of rescue, and tortured by her horrific experiences in Iraq years before, as well as the untimely and tragic death of her younger brother, Richter struggles to maintain her sanity amidst the brutal attacks that occur each time night falls, all the while trying to figure out if Owens is truly what he claims, or something more.
Is anything as it seems, or is there something more profound happening, a shocking wound bleeding deeper than the ancient sands, the dark desert nights and the blistering sun?
Two lost souls…a forgotten outpost in a haunted desert…vicious creatures bent on destruction…
The brutal fight for survival has begun.
He and Richter are not alone. And the cruel terrain and relentless sun are the least of their worries, because inhuman things haunt the outpost, hideous and violent things that only come at night. Ancient, evil creatures hungry for human flesh, and no matter how many Richter and Owens kill, they just keep coming.
With little hope of rescue, and tortured by her horrific experiences in Iraq years before, as well as the untimely and tragic death of her younger brother, Richter struggles to maintain her sanity amidst the brutal attacks that occur each time night falls, all the while trying to figure out if Owens is truly what he claims, or something more.
Is anything as it seems, or is there something more profound happening, a shocking wound bleeding deeper than the ancient sands, the dark desert nights and the blistering sun?
Two lost souls…a forgotten outpost in a haunted desert…vicious creatures bent on destruction…
The brutal fight for survival has begun.
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First published December 1, 2014
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About the author
Greg F. Gifune
81 books353 followersCalled "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, Greg F. Gifune is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. His work has been published in a wide range of magazines and anthologies all over the world, and has recently garnered interest from Hollywood. His novels include The Bleeding Season, Deep Night, Saying Uncle, A View From The Lake, Night Work, Drago Descending, Blood In Electric Blue and Dominion.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
January 2, 2015
Richter's chopper goes down in the Sahara Desert. She is found by Owens, another plane crash survivor. When she asks if anyone is with him she finds out that there were other survivors but now they are all dead..but they are not alone.
They come at night.
And Richter and Owens must fight them off.
This book packs a whole bunch into a short story. It's not a bad book and it received a three from me because of the dream/flashbacks. They started off in italics and then went to regular print so I was scratching my head a couple of times in those sections.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley/DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review
They come at night.
And Richter and Owens must fight them off.
This book packs a whole bunch into a short story. It's not a bad book and it received a three from me because of the dream/flashbacks. They started off in italics and then went to regular print so I was scratching my head a couple of times in those sections.
I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley/DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review
October 21, 2014
OASIS OF THE DAMNED was one of those atmospheric novellas that immediately captured my attention. The story begins when Iraqi war veteran, Heather Richter's, helicopter crashes in a remote desert location. A fluke storm that caused her to go off course, insures that there is nobody out there aware of her predicament. Soon she is met by Owens, the last survivor of an earlier crash, who shows her refuge in the form of an old WWII military fortress. They have food rations, water, and shelter......
Unfortunately, Richter soon finds out that is not all that this stretch of the desert contains.
In between scenes of Richter and Owens' present predicament, we are given glimpses into Richter's tragic past through her dreams...the past that led her to this savage area.
Gifune gives subtle details throughout the telling of this tale that provide additional clues as to the nature of the problems these two survivors are forced to endure each endless night. The tale is so realistically told, that even the reader may temporarily forget that they are safe in their own homes. This is a beautifully told, haunting tale, that I found myself thinking back on frequently--going back to certain scenes that were still vivid in my mind.
Highly recommended!
(edit: after several days of not being able to get this story out of my mind, I'm changing my initial rating to 4.5.)
*I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Unfortunately, Richter soon finds out that is not all that this stretch of the desert contains.
In between scenes of Richter and Owens' present predicament, we are given glimpses into Richter's tragic past through her dreams...the past that led her to this savage area.
Gifune gives subtle details throughout the telling of this tale that provide additional clues as to the nature of the problems these two survivors are forced to endure each endless night. The tale is so realistically told, that even the reader may temporarily forget that they are safe in their own homes. This is a beautifully told, haunting tale, that I found myself thinking back on frequently--going back to certain scenes that were still vivid in my mind.
Highly recommended!
(edit: after several days of not being able to get this story out of my mind, I'm changing my initial rating to 4.5.)
*I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
October 20, 2014
4.5 stars!
I love Greg Gifune’s work and this novella was no exception!
A helicopter crashes in the desert and the pilot, Heather, survives. In what seems to be an incredible piece of luck she encounters another crash survivor named Owens, who takes her to an oasis and she believes she’s saved. She’s wrong.
As the story played out, the reader learned more about Heather, her experiences as an Army captain in Iraq, and her experiences back at home. There isn’t much time for her to stroll down memory lane though, because the night is coming and there are things in the night. It turns out that there are worse things than dying from a helicopter crash in the desert. Much, much worse.
I loved the feel of this novella. To me it almost felt as if it took place on another planet. I guess the Sahara desert might as well be another planet; no one is going to come along and help you.
This was a quick read that was creepy and intense. I think if it were much longer a lot of that tension would have been lost. Greg Gifune is the master of atmosphere and in this tale he again proves the truth of that statement. If you have an hour to spare and this premise sounds interesting to you, you should check out this novella. Find out what those things are, if you dare.
Highly recommended to fans of dark fiction, horror and creature features!
I received from Net Galley an advanced review copy of this book to review honestly and that it what I have done.
I love Greg Gifune’s work and this novella was no exception!
A helicopter crashes in the desert and the pilot, Heather, survives. In what seems to be an incredible piece of luck she encounters another crash survivor named Owens, who takes her to an oasis and she believes she’s saved. She’s wrong.
As the story played out, the reader learned more about Heather, her experiences as an Army captain in Iraq, and her experiences back at home. There isn’t much time for her to stroll down memory lane though, because the night is coming and there are things in the night. It turns out that there are worse things than dying from a helicopter crash in the desert. Much, much worse.
I loved the feel of this novella. To me it almost felt as if it took place on another planet. I guess the Sahara desert might as well be another planet; no one is going to come along and help you.
This was a quick read that was creepy and intense. I think if it were much longer a lot of that tension would have been lost. Greg Gifune is the master of atmosphere and in this tale he again proves the truth of that statement. If you have an hour to spare and this premise sounds interesting to you, you should check out this novella. Find out what those things are, if you dare.
Highly recommended to fans of dark fiction, horror and creature features!
I received from Net Galley an advanced review copy of this book to review honestly and that it what I have done.
October 14, 2014
I’ve read 10 books by Greg Gifune and given quite a few of them five stars, he is one of my favourite authors and writes some incredible, emotionally deep fiction, thought provoking with wonderful prose.
Oasis of the Damned is the story of Heather Richter, a veteran of the Iraqi war who crashes a helicopter in the Sahara desert, just where you don’t want to be, luck is at hand when she discovers a military outpost abandoned from WWII and possible refuge. She soon realises that there is another survivor, one who’s been here a hell of a lot longer than she has and Owens is preparing for war.
They come at night, unceasing & relentless, and Richter’s luck it turns out, might possibly be of the worst kind as the dark brings a battle that beggars belief. With no chance of rescue, life becomes a brutal fight for survival, cruelly repeated night after night against a foe with no remorse.
During the day they burn the bodies of the slain, interspersed with nightmare ridden sleep and this is where we delve into the past of Richter, from childhood loss to memories of war.
All told it’s another very well written and tense story, I did have a few issues but I think it may well be me being a bit thick.
*Possible Spoilers*
Have to admit I wasn't 100% with this, it seems her dreams are shown in italics but this change’s frequently in the middle of chapters for no apparent reason and she dies in one dream. Not sure if that is supposed to signify something out of the real life experience or it means that what I took as real life is actually the dream as she dies.
I gave Oasis of the Damned 3.5* as I didn't rate it as highly as his other stuff.
I received Oasis of the Damned from Darkfuse & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Oasis of the Damned is the story of Heather Richter, a veteran of the Iraqi war who crashes a helicopter in the Sahara desert, just where you don’t want to be, luck is at hand when she discovers a military outpost abandoned from WWII and possible refuge. She soon realises that there is another survivor, one who’s been here a hell of a lot longer than she has and Owens is preparing for war.
They come at night, unceasing & relentless, and Richter’s luck it turns out, might possibly be of the worst kind as the dark brings a battle that beggars belief. With no chance of rescue, life becomes a brutal fight for survival, cruelly repeated night after night against a foe with no remorse.
During the day they burn the bodies of the slain, interspersed with nightmare ridden sleep and this is where we delve into the past of Richter, from childhood loss to memories of war.
All told it’s another very well written and tense story, I did have a few issues but I think it may well be me being a bit thick.
*Possible Spoilers*
Have to admit I wasn't 100% with this, it seems her dreams are shown in italics but this change’s frequently in the middle of chapters for no apparent reason and she dies in one dream. Not sure if that is supposed to signify something out of the real life experience or it means that what I took as real life is actually the dream as she dies.
I gave Oasis of the Damned 3.5* as I didn't rate it as highly as his other stuff.
I received Oasis of the Damned from Darkfuse & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
July 16, 2018
"'Realistically, how many more of these things could there be?'In this fast-paced horror novella I read on a plane ride, two soldiers find themselves stranded at a mysterious and abandoned WWII outpost in the middle of an unforgiving desert. They struggle to save their skins and their sanity when, every night, bloodthirsty creatures emerge from the dunes, hungry and ready to eat the flesh from their bodies.
'No idea', he muttered. 'But I'm pretty sure realistically has nothing to do with it.'"
Author Greg F. Gifune infuses the story with both excitement and a creepy atmosphere (even the desert is foreboding) while still finding time to develop the main character and allow her backstory to be essential to the story. And the more I learned about the ferocious predators, they're unnerving abilities, and what they will do to a person BEFORE they kill them, the more worried I got for our heroes. I started hoping that, on the next page, I wouldn't have to read about them falling into the hands of these creatures. While not a game-changer, this shorter horror tale is still entertaining and chilling all the way through to it's unsettling ending.
*I received an Advanced Copy of this novella from publisher DarkFuse through Netgalley for review.*
*All single editions of this novella are unavailable ever since DarkFuse died a horrible death, but you can now read it as part of a new Gifune double novella release here: Oasis of the Damned & Heretics: A Novella Double-Shot
October 24, 2014
This was an eARC from Netgalley.
4.5 stars
In a desolate corner of one of the most godforsaken places on Earth....
In an abandoned fort built upon a lost oasis.....
Two lost souls come together to face a relentless enemy that arrives when night falls, in the ultimate battle for survival.
Gifune deftly reintroduces us to long forgotten members of the monster menagerie, with excellent effect, offering up a tale that is the pure essence of nightmare, distilled from fear sweat and sheer despair.
Highly recommended.
4.5 stars
In a desolate corner of one of the most godforsaken places on Earth....
In an abandoned fort built upon a lost oasis.....
Two lost souls come together to face a relentless enemy that arrives when night falls, in the ultimate battle for survival.
Gifune deftly reintroduces us to long forgotten members of the monster menagerie, with excellent effect, offering up a tale that is the pure essence of nightmare, distilled from fear sweat and sheer despair.
Highly recommended.
April 11, 2016
Heather Richters helicopter crashes in the Sahara desert and she finds refuge in abandoned WWII military outpost together with Owens a victim of another plane crash. But when night falls in the desert does she realize that her luck about surviving the crash perhaps was premature...
This is a very short story, not that horrifying, but still a good read. I wasn't sure for a while where the author was going towards the end of the story. But the ending made perfect sense to the story.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
This is a very short story, not that horrifying, but still a good read. I wasn't sure for a while where the author was going towards the end of the story. But the ending made perfect sense to the story.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
October 18, 2014
Imagine that your supply helicopter crashes in the desert, leaving you stranded but alive. But fate had you crash near a desert oasis with not only water but another human, food, weapons and buildings to hide from the sun in. Things are looking up, right? They're looking up until the other person tells you that he's been stranded there and his companions died agonizing deaths and he's all that's left. If that isn't bad enough, things come at night for him. They come every night with the intention of eating him and now you're on the menu as well.
I've read and enjoyed Gifune novels before but this one is my favorite yet! Gifune keeps the tension and horror high in here while instilling some hope for the characters. He's always excelled at creating atmosphere in his books but in this one, I was right there in the desert with the characters, feeling the sand, heat, tension and hearing the cries in the night.
This is not a book to miss. Highest possible recommendation!
I've read and enjoyed Gifune novels before but this one is my favorite yet! Gifune keeps the tension and horror high in here while instilling some hope for the characters. He's always excelled at creating atmosphere in his books but in this one, I was right there in the desert with the characters, feeling the sand, heat, tension and hearing the cries in the night.
This is not a book to miss. Highest possible recommendation!
October 22, 2014
This is going to shock most of the people that know me, but this is not only my first Gifune, it is also my first DarkFuse. My friend Matthew had just finished the book and didn't just recommend it - he hounded me about requesting it from NetGalley until I finally went to do it. (Matthew, thank you. Feel free to hound me anytime. :D)
This story was awesome. Action packed, scary creatures, frightening moments - just plain Wow!! So much packed into a 76 page story - and written really well. It's been a few days and I am still at a loss for words on what exactly to say about it - it was so good. All I know for sure is that I must read more of this guy. Must.read.more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves horror.
Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
This story was awesome. Action packed, scary creatures, frightening moments - just plain Wow!! So much packed into a 76 page story - and written really well. It's been a few days and I am still at a loss for words on what exactly to say about it - it was so good. All I know for sure is that I must read more of this guy. Must.read.more! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves horror.
Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
October 23, 2014
4.5 rounded up!
Your worst nightmare? Hell on earth? Oasis of the Damned is a place that shouldn't exist. A deserted expanse of the Sahara that is completely uninhabited by human beings, except for one. Owens was stranded when his small passenger plane crashed and he was one of the four surviving victims. By the time Richter's helicopter crashes, Owens was the only survivor left from his party and had been alone for quite some time. Not exactly a fast friendship, Richter quickly learns of the nightmare she has landed herself into and what she will have to do in order to survive.
The story alternates between the desert and Richter’s dreams from the past., mostly involving her time spent as a soldier in Iraq and memories of her younger brother. As painful as those memories are, her waking hours may end up being far worse. In this hell on earth, Richter and Owens' days are spent sleeping (if they can) and their nights, fighting and killing what Owens roughly refers to as ghouls. Vaguely human-shaped creatures who are intent only on wiping them out and whose numbers seem to increase by the night.
Oasis of the Damned is a story that will haunt you far beyond the very last page of the book and Greg Gifune brilliantly pulls off what I've seen many authors attempt and fail: that thin line between dreams and reality that results in a not only coherent but brilliant prose.
Your worst nightmare? Hell on earth? Oasis of the Damned is a place that shouldn't exist. A deserted expanse of the Sahara that is completely uninhabited by human beings, except for one. Owens was stranded when his small passenger plane crashed and he was one of the four surviving victims. By the time Richter's helicopter crashes, Owens was the only survivor left from his party and had been alone for quite some time. Not exactly a fast friendship, Richter quickly learns of the nightmare she has landed herself into and what she will have to do in order to survive.
The story alternates between the desert and Richter’s dreams from the past., mostly involving her time spent as a soldier in Iraq and memories of her younger brother. As painful as those memories are, her waking hours may end up being far worse. In this hell on earth, Richter and Owens' days are spent sleeping (if they can) and their nights, fighting and killing what Owens roughly refers to as ghouls. Vaguely human-shaped creatures who are intent only on wiping them out and whose numbers seem to increase by the night.
Oasis of the Damned is a story that will haunt you far beyond the very last page of the book and Greg Gifune brilliantly pulls off what I've seen many authors attempt and fail: that thin line between dreams and reality that results in a not only coherent but brilliant prose.
March 13, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Richter is the only survivor of a helicopter crash in the Sahara desert. She is rescued by another crash survivor, Owens, and taken to a military outpost where she assumes they will be safe. She is proved wrong as each night the outpost is attacked by a never ending army of creatures, intent on feasting on the two survivors.
I loved the characters in this novella, Richter and Owens are both affected by past traumas making for intense and engaging characters. I especially enjoyed Richter's story but got a little bit confused with how this was presented, sometimes in italics to show the change in timeline but sometimes not. I found myself reading quickly, hoping to get to more backstory of Richter's brother, there wasn't enough of this which was a shame as I really enjoyed the relationship she had with her brother and wanted more information on what happened to him.
Mr Gifune again leaves it up to the reader to decide the conclusion to the story, giving enough clues but refusing to lead us to the story's end point. Anyone who has sampled the authors previous work will be familiar with his love of ambiguity. A haunting read about love, loss and forgiveness. Recommended.
Richter is the only survivor of a helicopter crash in the Sahara desert. She is rescued by another crash survivor, Owens, and taken to a military outpost where she assumes they will be safe. She is proved wrong as each night the outpost is attacked by a never ending army of creatures, intent on feasting on the two survivors.
I loved the characters in this novella, Richter and Owens are both affected by past traumas making for intense and engaging characters. I especially enjoyed Richter's story but got a little bit confused with how this was presented, sometimes in italics to show the change in timeline but sometimes not. I found myself reading quickly, hoping to get to more backstory of Richter's brother, there wasn't enough of this which was a shame as I really enjoyed the relationship she had with her brother and wanted more information on what happened to him.
Mr Gifune again leaves it up to the reader to decide the conclusion to the story, giving enough clues but refusing to lead us to the story's end point. Anyone who has sampled the authors previous work will be familiar with his love of ambiguity. A haunting read about love, loss and forgiveness. Recommended.
November 6, 2014
Oasis of the Damned by Greg F. Gifune is another short fiction work published as an eBook by horror specialists Darkfuse. I will be reviewing two more in succession in these next few days. Darkfuse seems to like these novellas and so do I. So I am delighted they keep throwing them out like little French pastries for the horror fans to gobble up. Oasis at the Damned is about 71 pages of nightmare and doesn't waste time getting into the horrific groove. It starts with a plane crash in a desolate part of the North African desert. The survivor of the crash is met by another person who states he also crashed weeks ago. He takes her to a ruined fort that has enough water and food to survive. He also seems hurried to be in the fort by night. Why is quickly discovered and it brings us to the harrowing meat of this novella.
I have heard of Gifune before but this is the first thing I have ever read anything of his. His name is one of those that comes up frequently when the discussion turns to the future lights of horror and supernatural literature. It becomes obvious why that is so as I read his precise descriptive prose and realize how much he can pack in a few paragraphs. Oasis of the Damned is nothing if not frightening, riveting and a bit rough on the nerves. At first it seems like a zombie survival story yet through the use of some dream sequences, the reader gets a hint that there is more than attacks and screams to these zombie, or more precisely ghoul or ghul, story. The ending is quite satisfying. However I felt the overall affect was a little too Twilight Zone to say I was bowled over. It had the curious consequence of being a tightly knit and powerful but somewhat predictable story by a writer who can write the pants off of an ant. But there is no getting around the fact that it is an excellent story by someone who deserved to be read by anyone who loves the genre. it definitely gives me the urge to read more by Greg F. Gifune and that is high praise indeed. Three and a half stars.
I have heard of Gifune before but this is the first thing I have ever read anything of his. His name is one of those that comes up frequently when the discussion turns to the future lights of horror and supernatural literature. It becomes obvious why that is so as I read his precise descriptive prose and realize how much he can pack in a few paragraphs. Oasis of the Damned is nothing if not frightening, riveting and a bit rough on the nerves. At first it seems like a zombie survival story yet through the use of some dream sequences, the reader gets a hint that there is more than attacks and screams to these zombie, or more precisely ghoul or ghul, story. The ending is quite satisfying. However I felt the overall affect was a little too Twilight Zone to say I was bowled over. It had the curious consequence of being a tightly knit and powerful but somewhat predictable story by a writer who can write the pants off of an ant. But there is no getting around the fact that it is an excellent story by someone who deserved to be read by anyone who loves the genre. it definitely gives me the urge to read more by Greg F. Gifune and that is high praise indeed. Three and a half stars.
July 23, 2016
This couldn’t be happening. But it was. Those things couldn’t be real. But they were.
Every night the battle begins anew and every day preparations must be made for ensuing fight. Nothing else matters. Nothing else exists. Until Owens finds Richter in the middle of the Sahara desert and takes her to his outpost oasis.
A Gifune quickie! 4 Stars! Highly Recommended!
*As a member of the DarkFuse / NetGalley Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Every night the battle begins anew and every day preparations must be made for ensuing fight. Nothing else matters. Nothing else exists. Until Owens finds Richter in the middle of the Sahara desert and takes her to his outpost oasis.
A Gifune quickie! 4 Stars! Highly Recommended!
*As a member of the DarkFuse / NetGalley Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2014
The desert has secrets, and it can play tricks on the unwitting. Every night, a horde of evil is unleashed upon the two survivors who find themselves stranded in the Sahara, holed up in an old military fort. These victims of chance and circumstance - both have been lost to this stretch of sand by separate aircraft crashes - must fight for survival.
I have a fondness for survival horror fiction like this, where we have a small cast with innumerable odds stacked against them, set against a hostile environment. I'm typically a sucker for the perils of frigid climates, but between Oasis of the Damned and Michael McBride's recent DarkFuse release, Sunblind, I'm starting to become a fan of the harshness inherit in desert-set climes.
The main threat in Gifune's latest is a combination of extreme weather and ghuls, demonic creatures popular in Arabic folklore for populating burial grounds. While the weather is a threat, it's not quite as up-front and in-your-face as the beasts that attack Owens and Richter night after night. In fact, taking center stage is some pretty solid character development for Richter, a tough woman who lost her younger brother and pulled two tours in the Iraq war. Gifune fleshes her out well, and the story takes place largely from her point of view. She definitely commands attention with her steely resolve and can-do attitude, despite Owens being the more experienced survivor at their small compound.
Gifune also does a nice job of flipping the script roughly halfway through, which gives the story is really nice twist while providing a minor examination on the cyclic nature of life and death. The desert holds a lot of surprises, and, thankfully, so does Gifune's work. Definitely recommended.
I have a fondness for survival horror fiction like this, where we have a small cast with innumerable odds stacked against them, set against a hostile environment. I'm typically a sucker for the perils of frigid climates, but between Oasis of the Damned and Michael McBride's recent DarkFuse release, Sunblind, I'm starting to become a fan of the harshness inherit in desert-set climes.
The main threat in Gifune's latest is a combination of extreme weather and ghuls, demonic creatures popular in Arabic folklore for populating burial grounds. While the weather is a threat, it's not quite as up-front and in-your-face as the beasts that attack Owens and Richter night after night. In fact, taking center stage is some pretty solid character development for Richter, a tough woman who lost her younger brother and pulled two tours in the Iraq war. Gifune fleshes her out well, and the story takes place largely from her point of view. She definitely commands attention with her steely resolve and can-do attitude, despite Owens being the more experienced survivor at their small compound.
Gifune also does a nice job of flipping the script roughly halfway through, which gives the story is really nice twist while providing a minor examination on the cyclic nature of life and death. The desert holds a lot of surprises, and, thankfully, so does Gifune's work. Definitely recommended.
February 11, 2016
This was a good quick read. Very atmospheric view on a purgatory variant. Or a meditative creature feature, depending on a perspective. Good balance of psychological insight and action. Started really great, frequent flashbacks throughout the middle somewhat slowed the pace down, but the ending was just right. Didn't quite wow, but passed the time very nicely. Most horror fans would enjoy this one.
November 12, 2014
There's little to no point in another review effusively praising the writing of renowned dark fiction writer, Greg F Gifune. If you're browsing this page, you already know about him, know how polished his writing is, and know he doesn't produce simple and straight forward work.
Oasis of the Damned is no exception to the above rules. Though a very short novella that is easily consumed in a sitting or two, Gifune packs a great deal into its brief number of pages as he tells the story of two individuals who have crashed their aircrafts in the desert and now have to survive when things come out of the night attempting to rend them limb from limb. The narrative is increasingly broken up by the memories and musings of the main POV character as she recalls past painful events that have made her the person she currently is and may have more to do with what is happening than at first appears relevant.
Oasis of the Damned is thought-provoking. Several hours after finishing it, I'm still realising other possibilities about what took place that at first I did not consider. My initial reaction was that it got a little lost in the philosophising of the main character toward the story's conclusion, but the more I think about it, the more (most) aspects of it seem to make sense. That's clever writing (or I'm just slow on the uptake - take your pick).
So what started as a 3 star review has been bumped to 3.5 as a process of this writing. I've never rated Gifune below that score, which given my hard-to-please tastes, is high praise indeed.
3.5 Well-Fortified Ruins for Oasis of the Damned.
The preceding was based on an eARC received from Netgalley courtesy of DarkFuse Publications.
Oasis of the Damned is no exception to the above rules. Though a very short novella that is easily consumed in a sitting or two, Gifune packs a great deal into its brief number of pages as he tells the story of two individuals who have crashed their aircrafts in the desert and now have to survive when things come out of the night attempting to rend them limb from limb. The narrative is increasingly broken up by the memories and musings of the main POV character as she recalls past painful events that have made her the person she currently is and may have more to do with what is happening than at first appears relevant.
Oasis of the Damned is thought-provoking. Several hours after finishing it, I'm still realising other possibilities about what took place that at first I did not consider. My initial reaction was that it got a little lost in the philosophising of the main character toward the story's conclusion, but the more I think about it, the more (most) aspects of it seem to make sense. That's clever writing (or I'm just slow on the uptake - take your pick).
So what started as a 3 star review has been bumped to 3.5 as a process of this writing. I've never rated Gifune below that score, which given my hard-to-please tastes, is high praise indeed.
3.5 Well-Fortified Ruins for Oasis of the Damned.
The preceding was based on an eARC received from Netgalley courtesy of DarkFuse Publications.
December 10, 2014
Review copy
First, let me mention that I am a fan of Greg Gifune. In the last few years, I've read six of his works, from short stories to novellas, to full length novels and I have not been disappointed. I will continue to seek out his stories, because he's one of the best in the genre.
All that being said, Oasis of the Damned left me dry. An oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert where Owens is the last member of a military group that had crashed nearby, that is, until Heather Richter shows up, herself the sole survivor of a helicopter crash
When night falls, Owens and Richter must fight for their lives against an enemy that is legion.
"'You've seen nothing,' he snapped. 'You got no idea the kinds of things they can do, the things they'll show you, they--they get in your head and you can't get them out because they know what we love and what we hate. They know what scares us, what breaks us down and make us vulnerable.'
Richter squared her stance. Exhausted as she was , she'd had enough of his cryptic nonsense. 'I asked before. I'll ask again. What the hell are these things?'
'You asked, I told you.'
'You said they were ghouls.'
'That's right, straight of of Hell.'
'I don't believe in Hell.'
'Hell doesn't care.'"
As you can see, the writing is top notch. It's the story that didn't do anything for me. It could be me. Maybe it's allegory, I've never been very good with allegory. Your experience may vary.
Oasis of the Damned is part of the ongoing novella series from Darkfuse and is available now at Amazon.com. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge.
First, let me mention that I am a fan of Greg Gifune. In the last few years, I've read six of his works, from short stories to novellas, to full length novels and I have not been disappointed. I will continue to seek out his stories, because he's one of the best in the genre.
All that being said, Oasis of the Damned left me dry. An oasis in the middle of the Sahara desert where Owens is the last member of a military group that had crashed nearby, that is, until Heather Richter shows up, herself the sole survivor of a helicopter crash
When night falls, Owens and Richter must fight for their lives against an enemy that is legion.
"'You've seen nothing,' he snapped. 'You got no idea the kinds of things they can do, the things they'll show you, they--they get in your head and you can't get them out because they know what we love and what we hate. They know what scares us, what breaks us down and make us vulnerable.'
Richter squared her stance. Exhausted as she was , she'd had enough of his cryptic nonsense. 'I asked before. I'll ask again. What the hell are these things?'
'You asked, I told you.'
'You said they were ghouls.'
'That's right, straight of of Hell.'
'I don't believe in Hell.'
'Hell doesn't care.'"
As you can see, the writing is top notch. It's the story that didn't do anything for me. It could be me. Maybe it's allegory, I've never been very good with allegory. Your experience may vary.
Oasis of the Damned is part of the ongoing novella series from Darkfuse and is available now at Amazon.com. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge.
November 7, 2014
Oasis of the Damned was the twelfth book by Greg I have read and enjoyed over the years. I've been a big fan of Greg's work ever since I bought The Bleeding Season and been buying all his books since. This story starts with a helicopter crash in the Sahara desert. A woman named Heather Richter survives and is found by a man named Owens. Who takes her to this outpost which looks like it has been there since WWII. She thinks she has been saved but finds out that the outpost is being attack every night by these creatures. They prepare every day for the attack at night, burning the bodies and scattering the ashes. This was a very good quick read. I can't say enough about Greg's books, always a treat to read. I gave Oasis of the Damned 4 stars.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2022
Didn't capture me. Left a lot of things unexplained and just didn't seem to flow for me.
October 23, 2014
I received an ARC ebook of this novella from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am a huge fan of Greg Gifune, with my favorites so far being “Saying Uncle” and “A View from The Lake.” This is another fine novella from Gifune and another great publication from Darkfuse.
I don’t usually focus too much on plot in my reviews as the book synopsis usually provides that. Also, there is always more going on in a Gifune story than the actual plot events. Plot-wise, the story deals with the present while looking backward to the events in the life of Heather and Owens, both soldiers, and what lead them to this oasis. Owen has been there for awhile. Heather is the new arrival. Both are victims of plane crashes. They are, however, not the first visitors by any means. Weaponry and other artifacts, some of it ancient, show that people have been here for a very long time.
Some plot details are necessary. A natural spring of fresh water in the desert should be a heaven. Actually it is quite the opposite. While people have been saved by the water source, there is a cost. Every night the place is overrun by nightmarish creatures intent on slaughtering the people taking shelter there.
That is the basic story line, but really it begs more questions than it answers. Additionally, as we learn more and more about the history of the occupants of the oasis, we begin to question everything about this place, which appears to have a purpose--and it isn’t providing fresh water to stranded travelers. To go much further would be to spoil the tale, but suffice it to say that Gifune’s story works on several levels and provides an interesting take on very old concepts, including guilt, punishment, and redemption.
I am a huge fan of Greg Gifune, with my favorites so far being “Saying Uncle” and “A View from The Lake.” This is another fine novella from Gifune and another great publication from Darkfuse.
I don’t usually focus too much on plot in my reviews as the book synopsis usually provides that. Also, there is always more going on in a Gifune story than the actual plot events. Plot-wise, the story deals with the present while looking backward to the events in the life of Heather and Owens, both soldiers, and what lead them to this oasis. Owen has been there for awhile. Heather is the new arrival. Both are victims of plane crashes. They are, however, not the first visitors by any means. Weaponry and other artifacts, some of it ancient, show that people have been here for a very long time.
Some plot details are necessary. A natural spring of fresh water in the desert should be a heaven. Actually it is quite the opposite. While people have been saved by the water source, there is a cost. Every night the place is overrun by nightmarish creatures intent on slaughtering the people taking shelter there.
That is the basic story line, but really it begs more questions than it answers. Additionally, as we learn more and more about the history of the occupants of the oasis, we begin to question everything about this place, which appears to have a purpose--and it isn’t providing fresh water to stranded travelers. To go much further would be to spoil the tale, but suffice it to say that Gifune’s story works on several levels and provides an interesting take on very old concepts, including guilt, punishment, and redemption.
November 27, 2014
Man, I loved this book! I've always been fascinated by the legend that plays a big role in this work since reading another horror novel centering on it a number of years ago (trying not to spoil anything - suffice it to say they are nasty creatures).
But while those look like they're the primary focus of this work early on, once a pilot crashes in the desert with what looks like the good luck of finding water, food, shelter, and another survivor, it turns out there's a lot more to the story. As usual in a Gifune story, there are a number of layers, and despite the short length, they're woven together perfectly, leaving room for multiple interpretations as to what's really happening. There are some fantastic lines in this one, like one character saying "I don't believe in Hell" and the other replying "Hell doesn't care". We get to know just enough about the characters over the course of the story to make us feel for them, and make them real. I really didn't see where this was going, and I thought the ending was perfect.
Highy recommended!
But while those look like they're the primary focus of this work early on, once a pilot crashes in the desert with what looks like the good luck of finding water, food, shelter, and another survivor, it turns out there's a lot more to the story. As usual in a Gifune story, there are a number of layers, and despite the short length, they're woven together perfectly, leaving room for multiple interpretations as to what's really happening. There are some fantastic lines in this one, like one character saying "I don't believe in Hell" and the other replying "Hell doesn't care". We get to know just enough about the characters over the course of the story to make us feel for them, and make them real. I really didn't see where this was going, and I thought the ending was perfect.
Highy recommended!
April 23, 2016
3.5*
Another atmospheric novella by Gifune, well written but, unusually, lacking a bit of depth, something his other works, short or long, always accomplish. Still worth the read!
October 2, 2018
Believe me I was really hoping for a great read while choosing this novella as it seemed to be a promising book to read. But in the end it didn't fill up my choice that I was looking for, anyway judging by the book I thought maybe it could worth my time. But It proved me wrong of course...
Just read out this review given by the author in the goodreads -
"When her helicopter crashes in the middle of the Sahara, Heather Richter, a former Army Captain and veteran of the Iraq War, finds herself at an abandoned WWII military outpost in one of the harshest and deadliest deserts on Earth. But she soon realizes there is another victim of the desert in this empty expanse of endless sand. Owens, a victim of an earlier plane crash, is there as well. An enigmatic and brooding man, he knows the secrets of the outpost, that it was actually built on top of an oasis and a natural well, the only thing that’s kept him alive. But he also knows the darker secrets of this strange and forgotten patch of desert hell. "
So, yes this story is about a veteran former army captain called Heather Richter. Who happened to have a younger brother. The name of his brother was Malcolm. Of course she loved her dearest brother as he find her as his iconic figure. She fought in Iraq War and did experienced the horror of those days. But one day in the way with a helicopter as she going somewhere her helicopter crashed in the desert of Sahara and all her crew died in that day. Literally somehow she managed to survive but not for long as one day all of sudden she found that strange man named Owens. She didn't even know him at that time but gradually she could find out that he and she has shared a common ground where they both have to survive, together but not alone. They both took a shelter in a tower. Where in the middle of the Sahara desert it was more than anything. There's no tension for running out of water or food, they could manage it because the tower can provide much that all you can need. What happened after that when Richter became awake at night and experienced something that she could ever believed in her life was beyond her thought...
Pardon me but I have read couple of Novella by Greg F. Gifune and had that higher expectation with it too but it just didn't match my choice. I just don't like Zombie type of story. Because as you can relate in a Zombie type of book you can say a hero slashing Zombies head, torso etc. Yes, what I want to say here is that you know what can be done with them and you could predict it too. I can understand emotion that played in this novella throughout the chapter but what can I say it just didn't click this time. The story was good, well written but not for me is all I can say. Better luck for next time...
Till than 3 out of 5...
November 10, 2019
I`m mystified for the whole four stars ratings. The story it`s mediocre at best. Also the idea was used and reused in a lot of novellas, books, films. There is nothing new or surprising here.
Definitely, not something I want to brag about.
Definitely, not something I want to brag about.
May 15, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/reviews/...
In Oasis of the Damned, Heather Richter’s helicopter crashes in the middle of the Sahara. Owens, the victim of an earlier plane crash, is the only human around in miles. But Owens knows things about the outpost they crashed at, and none of it is good. Despite Richter being a tough cookie – she’s a war vet and former Army Captain – what she finds in the middle of the desert may be too tough to beat, even for her. At night, inhuman, ancient creatures hungry for human flesh, appear and wreak havoc, and every night, they come closer and closer to destroying them. The creatures already killed all of Owens’ companions, and they might be next..
The creatures aren’t particularly horrifying. I mean, they’d terrify me if I were out in the desert, sure, but the creep effect never really translates while you’re reading. The most interesting parts were the ones that focused on Richter’s based. These parts make her seem human, real, more than an unlucky person who got stranded in the dessert.
The ending has a nice twist, and overall, the story is a satisfying read. As usual, the writing is superb and the prose is one of the highlights of the book.
In Oasis of the Damned, Heather Richter’s helicopter crashes in the middle of the Sahara. Owens, the victim of an earlier plane crash, is the only human around in miles. But Owens knows things about the outpost they crashed at, and none of it is good. Despite Richter being a tough cookie – she’s a war vet and former Army Captain – what she finds in the middle of the desert may be too tough to beat, even for her. At night, inhuman, ancient creatures hungry for human flesh, appear and wreak havoc, and every night, they come closer and closer to destroying them. The creatures already killed all of Owens’ companions, and they might be next..
The creatures aren’t particularly horrifying. I mean, they’d terrify me if I were out in the desert, sure, but the creep effect never really translates while you’re reading. The most interesting parts were the ones that focused on Richter’s based. These parts make her seem human, real, more than an unlucky person who got stranded in the dessert.
The ending has a nice twist, and overall, the story is a satisfying read. As usual, the writing is superb and the prose is one of the highlights of the book.
April 21, 2015
This is the story of Richter. She survives a helicopter crash in the middle of the Sahara. She finds herself at an old WW2 outpost. She is not alone however, she meets up with another crash survivor, Owens. He tells her that the outpost is built on an oasis, and they need to keep their wits about them once night falls. Soon she will find herself fighting for her very life.....
This started off quite slowly but once night began to fall, Greg's typically descriptive prose started to shine through and I was hooked on every word. With a principle cast of just two, the tension was ramped up to the max. About 3/4 of the way through I had a bit of a lightbulb moment and I thought I could see where the story was going. I wasn't disappointed! Another fine novella from Greg and once again from DarkFuse.
This started off quite slowly but once night began to fall, Greg's typically descriptive prose started to shine through and I was hooked on every word. With a principle cast of just two, the tension was ramped up to the max. About 3/4 of the way through I had a bit of a lightbulb moment and I thought I could see where the story was going. I wasn't disappointed! Another fine novella from Greg and once again from DarkFuse.
January 16, 2016
Owens and Richter are stranded in the Sahara Desert. They were fortunate enough to have found shelter in an old WWII camp. But they can't - and don't want to - stay there. And herein lies the story. Greg Gifune has mastered the art of telling a psychological tale. And that's what this is. It's a story within a story, and not a light puff piece either. It will stay with you long after the last page of this novella has been read.
I received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
I received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review.
July 26, 2015
Review coming soon.
July 28, 2017
I mustve been distracted I didnt get the ending at all
February 24, 2015
I think the blurb’s a bit much for such a short story (my digital copy came in around 75 pages) but it was a decent enough read. It gave just enough exposition for both characters to really flesh them out and make them real while at the same time remaining succinct about the horror around them.
I liked the flashbacks that I kept getting of Heather’s life and how, toward the end, everything wrapped around in a circle and ended encapsulating everything that was happening. What I don’t understand is why the story didn’t start from her point of view. At the very beginning it started off behind Owens’s eyes but after that first chapter, I think, it switched over to Heather. Since it’s her story I think it could have remained her POV the entire time without losing the effect of the ending. I understand why but I think it could have been written in a way so that the full circle was still there.
It is creepy too. The ceaseless ghouls that attack them night after night with no end in sight, lacking a reprieve for just a night or even a lessening of their numbers. Nothing. They just kept coming. And their rations were dwindling. That sense of foreboding was there even from the beginning. You can’t get more helpless than being stuck in a desert. But Gifune compounded that without going overboard with it.
If you pay attention, though, you’ll start to notice things that’ll end up giving away the ending, or allowing you to guess at it, anyway, before you even get there. Some people are more perceptive than others when it comes to things like that. I didn’t realize until closer to the end what was going on but in hindsight clues are dropped from the beginning. It didn’t lessen the impact, though. I think it just lent itself to being more creepy and more psychologically horrifying than traditional just scare scary.
It was a quick read and I think it was pretty good. It’s a story that makes you think and makes you think about where your brain goes when you’re on the brink of death. The story played to my brain more than anything else, which I liked. I wasn’t ever truly scared with OASIS OF THE DAMNED but it was still creepy so I give points for that.
3.5
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I liked the flashbacks that I kept getting of Heather’s life and how, toward the end, everything wrapped around in a circle and ended encapsulating everything that was happening. What I don’t understand is why the story didn’t start from her point of view. At the very beginning it started off behind Owens’s eyes but after that first chapter, I think, it switched over to Heather. Since it’s her story I think it could have remained her POV the entire time without losing the effect of the ending. I understand why but I think it could have been written in a way so that the full circle was still there.
It is creepy too. The ceaseless ghouls that attack them night after night with no end in sight, lacking a reprieve for just a night or even a lessening of their numbers. Nothing. They just kept coming. And their rations were dwindling. That sense of foreboding was there even from the beginning. You can’t get more helpless than being stuck in a desert. But Gifune compounded that without going overboard with it.
If you pay attention, though, you’ll start to notice things that’ll end up giving away the ending, or allowing you to guess at it, anyway, before you even get there. Some people are more perceptive than others when it comes to things like that. I didn’t realize until closer to the end what was going on but in hindsight clues are dropped from the beginning. It didn’t lessen the impact, though. I think it just lent itself to being more creepy and more psychologically horrifying than traditional just scare scary.
It was a quick read and I think it was pretty good. It’s a story that makes you think and makes you think about where your brain goes when you’re on the brink of death. The story played to my brain more than anything else, which I liked. I wasn’t ever truly scared with OASIS OF THE DAMNED but it was still creepy so I give points for that.
3.5
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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