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Curfew
War has raged for over 160 years, the reasons for the conflict long since forgotten. Violent gangs roam the streets of a city in chaos, preying on the innocent and the careless. Friends die. Family die.
But there are worse things in the darkness. Worse things beyond the curfew.
Curfew is a post-apocalyptic supernatural thriller. It's a short story, approximately 20 pages long, and contains scenes of violence.
But there are worse things in the darkness. Worse things beyond the curfew.
Curfew is a post-apocalyptic supernatural thriller. It's a short story, approximately 20 pages long, and contains scenes of violence.
18 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2014
17 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Philip Harris
34 books57 followersPhilip Harris is a speculative fiction author and video game developer. Originally born near Oxford, England, he now lives on the West Coast of Canada where he spends his days developing video games and his nights writing speculative fiction - anything from horror to science fiction to fantasy.
His first publication, Letter From a Victim, appeared in the award winning magazine, Peeping Tom, in 1995. Since then he has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies including Garbled Transmissions, So Long, and Thanks for All The Brains and James Ward Kirk's Best of Horror 2013.
He has also worked as security for Darth Vader.
His science fiction novel, Glitch Mitchell and the Unseen Planet is a homage to the old Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials has just been released.
You can find free fiction and his blog at his website.
His first publication, Letter From a Victim, appeared in the award winning magazine, Peeping Tom, in 1995. Since then he has been published in numerous magazines and anthologies including Garbled Transmissions, So Long, and Thanks for All The Brains and James Ward Kirk's Best of Horror 2013.
He has also worked as security for Darth Vader.
His science fiction novel, Glitch Mitchell and the Unseen Planet is a homage to the old Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon serials has just been released.
You can find free fiction and his blog at his website.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 5, 2016
I read this in one sitting, but not because it's short. I couldn't put it down, horrified by the appalling notion of a city that accepts war as normal. The inhabitants know of no other way of life. Sad, frightening, and grim, with a unexpected twist at the end. This is a riveting story.
July 2, 2017
A really, really short read.
The writing was solid, but I did not like how the plot was rushing, constantly taking left turns. The story starts with a long setting of the background and then we get to present day to move along two or three different setpieces.
It is a nice overview of the setting, but the pacing is off abnd I feel the story should have had more meat to it to work
The writing was solid, but I did not like how the plot was rushing, constantly taking left turns. The story starts with a long setting of the background and then we get to present day to move along two or three different setpieces.
It is a nice overview of the setting, but the pacing is off abnd I feel the story should have had more meat to it to work
April 24, 2019
Wow. Wow. Wow.
This short story was INCREDIBLE. Loved Harris' writing style, loved the post-apocalyptic scenery, and that end.... I didn't forsee it.
20 pages full of scenes that will make your heart throb. Like. For real. No kidding.
I WANT MORE OF THIS!!!
This short story was INCREDIBLE. Loved Harris' writing style, loved the post-apocalyptic scenery, and that end.... I didn't forsee it.
20 pages full of scenes that will make your heart throb. Like. For real. No kidding.
I WANT MORE OF THIS!!!
October 19, 2016
I enjoyed this book and thought I understood what was going on, but as it progressed and the main character found himself out during the curfew, it took on a whole new dimension. For a long time afterwards, I kept thinking about the consequences of this and how a full novel would go.
To me, that's the premise of a good story. One that leaves the reader thinking and wondering and most of all remembering the story long after it has been finished.
I shall certainly be looking for more Phillip Harris books and will certainly recommend him as an author if this book is anything to go on.
To me, that's the premise of a good story. One that leaves the reader thinking and wondering and most of all remembering the story long after it has been finished.
I shall certainly be looking for more Phillip Harris books and will certainly recommend him as an author if this book is anything to go on.
October 26, 2016
I read this straight through and enjoyed it, as far as it went. I was gripped by the story, but it leaves the reader with more questions than answers.
It seems that the court does not involve the whole planet. So what is happening on the rest of the planet? And then there are the lizards.
These are never really explained, and the story seems to come to a sudden halt rather than an ending.
This has the potential to be a great sci-fi novel and if the Curfew is ever extended, I would certainly read it.
It seems that the court does not involve the whole planet. So what is happening on the rest of the planet? And then there are the lizards.
These are never really explained, and the story seems to come to a sudden halt rather than an ending.
This has the potential to be a great sci-fi novel and if the Curfew is ever extended, I would certainly read it.
February 6, 2017
It's hard to write a short story well but this offering does that and more. I don't know what set that terrible feeling in my gut more - a civil war that has lasted so long that people can't remember what they're fighting for, abandonment by the rest of the world to leave them on their own or the Curfew and what the authorities will do to keep a secret at any cost.
It did leave me wanting and it could of easily been expanded into a novella at the very least. If you like short stories that can ratchet up the tension then this is the book for you.
It did leave me wanting and it could of easily been expanded into a novella at the very least. If you like short stories that can ratchet up the tension then this is the book for you.
October 29, 2016
I liked the twist and can't wait to read more
November 23, 2016
Frightening!! What a wicked world this story took place in and with a direction that leaves you wanting to learn and understand more about it.
October 22, 2016
Curfew
By: Phillip Harris
5 out of 5 stars
The story Curfew by Phillip Harris is a Thriller/Supernatural story. There has been war for over 160 years. No one knows that reason it started, just that it has killed friends and loved ones. However there are more frightening things out there than just the gangs.
What a short story! From the first page to the last the fear and horror is real and literally jumping off the page. A short story has just a few pages to get its point across and this one does and left me with the words echoing in my brain. You feel the hopelessness and fear of all involved. Try to shine your flashlight and tell yourself it’s only a story. I can’t say it has worked for me yet.
If you love short stories that will grab you and won’t let go, this is one to read.
By: Phillip Harris
5 out of 5 stars
The story Curfew by Phillip Harris is a Thriller/Supernatural story. There has been war for over 160 years. No one knows that reason it started, just that it has killed friends and loved ones. However there are more frightening things out there than just the gangs.
What a short story! From the first page to the last the fear and horror is real and literally jumping off the page. A short story has just a few pages to get its point across and this one does and left me with the words echoing in my brain. You feel the hopelessness and fear of all involved. Try to shine your flashlight and tell yourself it’s only a story. I can’t say it has worked for me yet.
If you love short stories that will grab you and won’t let go, this is one to read.
January 30, 2017
After 160 years of war, chaos and death is all that is left. The desolation is palpable. But there is a sliver of hope in the main character, a man whose name we never learn. We only know that he was once the poster child for the war. He tries to make a life for himself in a bleak world--surprisingly in art.
This short is descriptive; the world-building is amazing. It's incredibly easy to imagine the predicament he has gotten himself into by not being safely barricaded in at home before curfew begins.
It has been days since I finished this short story, and it still lingers in my thoughts. I keep thinking that I would love to see it expanded; it would make for a gripping horror/sci-fi novel. In the meantime, I plan to read more by this author, and I recommend Curfew to horror and sci-fi fans alike.
This short is descriptive; the world-building is amazing. It's incredibly easy to imagine the predicament he has gotten himself into by not being safely barricaded in at home before curfew begins.
It has been days since I finished this short story, and it still lingers in my thoughts. I keep thinking that I would love to see it expanded; it would make for a gripping horror/sci-fi novel. In the meantime, I plan to read more by this author, and I recommend Curfew to horror and sci-fi fans alike.
May 2, 2016
Sad and exciting.
The main character is very likeable. He has every reason to be a bitter and negative lead but he never complains. Life is life and this just so happens to be his. Give it a read you won't be sorry and tell a friend about it.
The main character is very likeable. He has every reason to be a bitter and negative lead but he never complains. Life is life and this just so happens to be his. Give it a read you won't be sorry and tell a friend about it.
July 17, 2015
Mental, intriguing & tragic short story!
Very recommendable folks!!
Very recommendable folks!!
October 17, 2016
I really liked this short story. I was able to easily picture exactly what was going on. A very well written, creepy story indeed. Bravo!
January 21, 2017
That was gross but very interesting. I want to know more about the circumstances.
October 23, 2017
Description: As a child the most traumatic moment of his life was captured on film making him the poster boy for the cost of war. Now as an adult he makes a living off photographing the ruins of civilization.
In a country ravaged by unending war and violence a man who has already lost everything discovers more to lose in the darkness after curfew.
In Short: This is a scary short story full of violence and frightening creatures. If you like dark short stories, supernatural and dystopian genres, lots of danger and suspense, check this one out.
“It’s a dangerous area; most nights my sleep is disturbed by gunfire, and the walls run with black water when it rains, but the danger brings with it plenty of material for photographs.”
Pros: This story is well written, fun to read and has a chilling ending. Very dark and full of thrilling suspense. I was really cheering for our protagonist as he hid and I didn’t think it was going to end the way it did. In the end the story comes full circle with the beginning, filling in some blanks and leaving a lot of darkness up to the readers imagination. I love the description of the creatures. Very unique and frightening. A lot of story is packed into 26 pages. Great sample of the authors writing skills and creativity. I would have liked to see a lot more of this world, I wish the story was longer. The briefness of the story did help make the really sad parts of the story easy to swallow.
Cons: I just wish it wasn’t so short and brief. A lot of questions remain and much more could have been felt.
Parent’s Guide: Violence, death, gore.
Full review on the blog.
In a country ravaged by unending war and violence a man who has already lost everything discovers more to lose in the darkness after curfew.
In Short: This is a scary short story full of violence and frightening creatures. If you like dark short stories, supernatural and dystopian genres, lots of danger and suspense, check this one out.
“It’s a dangerous area; most nights my sleep is disturbed by gunfire, and the walls run with black water when it rains, but the danger brings with it plenty of material for photographs.”
Pros: This story is well written, fun to read and has a chilling ending. Very dark and full of thrilling suspense. I was really cheering for our protagonist as he hid and I didn’t think it was going to end the way it did. In the end the story comes full circle with the beginning, filling in some blanks and leaving a lot of darkness up to the readers imagination. I love the description of the creatures. Very unique and frightening. A lot of story is packed into 26 pages. Great sample of the authors writing skills and creativity. I would have liked to see a lot more of this world, I wish the story was longer. The briefness of the story did help make the really sad parts of the story easy to swallow.
Cons: I just wish it wasn’t so short and brief. A lot of questions remain and much more could have been felt.
Parent’s Guide: Violence, death, gore.
Full review on the blog.
August 26, 2018
Eh. It’s okay. I’ve definitely read worse.
CURFEW is set in a non-descript post-apocalyptic world in Anywhere, Planet Earth with a never-ending war and people dying and being orphaned and bloodshed. But apparently there are still cameras and TV stations and the focus of this short story decides, after losing his mother, to pick up a camera and document his world.
He gets stuck outside after curfew and that’s when the creepy crawlies come out. Literally. The concept of the monsters here is interesting and definitely creepy, especially how they operate. But I think the lead-up to it did the suspense a bit of a disservice. I just don’t think the story built for the reveal in the way that it should have.
I mean no way, after 160 years, is this secret being kept. People are going to know. Whether they would know specifics or not, I don’t know and that can be left up for debate. But people would know something. The army isn’t going to be that good in cleaning up after itself. And neither are the monsters. So that was a bit much for my suspension of disbelief.
But I guess because this was such a well-kept secret there was no trickle-in effect through the rest of the story. Yeah, war is bad and everything’s ugly, but does a story about war need actual monsters too? And if it does, there should be some threading in there. In CURFEW there wasn’t. So the ending ends up being a bit of a dump, these things getting sprung on you almost out of nowhere. Maybe that kind of jump scare works in movies but it doesn’t translate very well in writing, I don’t think.
CURFEW wasn’t necessarily a bad story. It just wasn’t great. It lands in the okay realm.
3
CURFEW is set in a non-descript post-apocalyptic world in Anywhere, Planet Earth with a never-ending war and people dying and being orphaned and bloodshed. But apparently there are still cameras and TV stations and the focus of this short story decides, after losing his mother, to pick up a camera and document his world.
He gets stuck outside after curfew and that’s when the creepy crawlies come out. Literally. The concept of the monsters here is interesting and definitely creepy, especially how they operate. But I think the lead-up to it did the suspense a bit of a disservice. I just don’t think the story built for the reveal in the way that it should have.
I mean no way, after 160 years, is this secret being kept. People are going to know. Whether they would know specifics or not, I don’t know and that can be left up for debate. But people would know something. The army isn’t going to be that good in cleaning up after itself. And neither are the monsters. So that was a bit much for my suspension of disbelief.
But I guess because this was such a well-kept secret there was no trickle-in effect through the rest of the story. Yeah, war is bad and everything’s ugly, but does a story about war need actual monsters too? And if it does, there should be some threading in there. In CURFEW there wasn’t. So the ending ends up being a bit of a dump, these things getting sprung on you almost out of nowhere. Maybe that kind of jump scare works in movies but it doesn’t translate very well in writing, I don’t think.
CURFEW wasn’t necessarily a bad story. It just wasn’t great. It lands in the okay realm.
3
May 10, 2017
It was okay.
I just finished reading this and I can't say it was excellent, but it wasn't terrible either. I liked the story and where it was headed, but to end it so abruptly with so many unanswered questions just feels like a waste of my time. Short stories are fine to read, but this one just feels unfinished. Descriptive and well written, I feel like the author is selling himself short.
I just finished reading this and I can't say it was excellent, but it wasn't terrible either. I liked the story and where it was headed, but to end it so abruptly with so many unanswered questions just feels like a waste of my time. Short stories are fine to read, but this one just feels unfinished. Descriptive and well written, I feel like the author is selling himself short.
June 8, 2017
Well that was rather grim and creepy and a bit gross. The creepiness was actually quite interesting, but I feel like we only got the smallest taste of it before the story abruptly ended. If it weren't for the sudden ending, I might have given this a 3.
September 15, 2017
Another short science fiction story, but this one is more military based. Ends as a horror tale.
March 12, 2017
I liked this short story and wanted more.
March 3, 2017
I liked it - great premise, could certainly be expanded upon with a full-length book. I'm keeping an eye on this guy.
April 1, 2017
Wow. This was an awesome short story. Harris is a new-to-me author, and I have a few of his books in my ginormous TBR pile that I will have to read very, very soon. Harris takes you right into the bleak world of a young man who lives in a society that has been at war for 160 years. His simple acceptance of it - the disappearance of his father, the death of his friend, the shelling of his building, the horrific consequences - are gut-clenchingly raw and emotional. Yet, the main character narrates his sad story plainly and clearly, with no blame or anger. And one afternoon, when the young man decides to revisit his shelled-out old apartment and stays out past curfew, he discovers a world he didn't know existed. This is really good stuff, and recommended.
June 8, 2016
More! Yes, it's a short story and as cliché as it is - I had to keep reading - that I find to be an ingredient in Philip Harris' writing. You have to keep reading! I so wish that this was an introduction to a much bigger picture - like a short story based in the same universe as a full length novel. Please Philip?
It truly makes you think - what is war - and is one of those stories that make you look for the monster and wonder what is really happening here (thus the need/want/plead for more story!).
It truly makes you think - what is war - and is one of those stories that make you look for the monster and wonder what is really happening here (thus the need/want/plead for more story!).
September 21, 2024
"I’ve seen terrible things. People walking around with wounds that should have left them dead, whole families slaughtered and left to rot in the street. And worse."
Solid, engaging writing, a frustratingly ambiguous ending - Curfew shows emotion through action and ignites thought without preaching. It seems a little confused as to what genre it wants to be, but other than that, it's a fast-paced read that's entertaining, fresh, and horrific.
Solid, engaging writing, a frustratingly ambiguous ending - Curfew shows emotion through action and ignites thought without preaching. It seems a little confused as to what genre it wants to be, but other than that, it's a fast-paced read that's entertaining, fresh, and horrific.
January 9, 2017
A novella about civil war and its effects on ordinary civilians. The location is not given nor is it particularly important. The descriptions are graphic, not for the faint of heart. This story does not have a Hollywood ending.
February 4, 2015
great short story.....
October 22, 2016
For a short story I'm not entirely sure what I just read......but I liked it. It was an interesting read
May 26, 2018
Crawling deep inside us, do we harbor R-complex aggression, dominance and territoriality?
December 29, 2019
There are always reasons for rules, you may not like finding out the reason why. A short story that leaves a mystery still at the end. It was interestingly written.
March 7, 2024
Short, yet full of unexpected events, one after the other.
Only bad thing, I wanted to know what happens next...
Great idea of a possible future for our world.
Only bad thing, I wanted to know what happens next...
Great idea of a possible future for our world.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews