What do you think?
Rate this book
Beacon 23 #1
Little Noises
For centuries, men and women have manned lighthouses to ensure the safe passage of ships. It is a lonely job, and a thankless one for the most part. Until something goes wrong. Until a ship is in distress.
In the 23rd century, this job has moved into outer space. A network of beacons allows ships to travel across the Milky Way at many times the speed of light. These beacons are built to be robust. They never break down. They never fail.
At least, they aren't supposed to.
In the 23rd century, this job has moved into outer space. A network of beacons allows ships to travel across the Milky Way at many times the speed of light. These beacons are built to be robust. They never break down. They never fail.
At least, they aren't supposed to.
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 8, 2015
172 people are currently reading
1970 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Howey
152 books57.8k followersI'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
January 30, 2017
The end could have been bett...
It's great. Great intensity, pace and character. Captures attention till the end. Space stuff rocks!
It's great. Great intensity, pace and character. Captures attention till the end. Space stuff rocks!
June 16, 2015
And incredibly written little short story - intense, so much done with very few words. Howey is firing on all cylinders these days, and I look forward to each new piece of work he puts out.
June 10, 2015
Because in space, no one can hear you squeal
Another fantastic short by Howey. As with his other short stories, there is so much detail packed into so few words. Imagine modern day lighthouses as beacons in space, complete with the utter loneliness of the men and women who occupy them. What happens if one of these beacons inexplicably stops working and risks the lives of thousands? Or, if you come to realize what's happened, can you handle the repercussions? Well done, Hugh. Can't wait to see what's next!
Another fantastic short by Howey. As with his other short stories, there is so much detail packed into so few words. Imagine modern day lighthouses as beacons in space, complete with the utter loneliness of the men and women who occupy them. What happens if one of these beacons inexplicably stops working and risks the lives of thousands? Or, if you come to realize what's happened, can you handle the repercussions? Well done, Hugh. Can't wait to see what's next!
July 26, 2018
Very Well Done
I just love the way Howey writes. The way he slowly gives up bits and pieces of who the character is and about society at this point in history. It's all done with such ease and in small chunks as the story progresses. The story itself is great. At first I wandered what the beacon was for but that soon became evident, and let me tell you, it's important! I highly recommend this story.
(Review updated due to spelling errors from writing it on my phone and not proofreading. ::Cringe::)
I just love the way Howey writes. The way he slowly gives up bits and pieces of who the character is and about society at this point in history. It's all done with such ease and in small chunks as the story progresses. The story itself is great. At first I wandered what the beacon was for but that soon became evident, and let me tell you, it's important! I highly recommend this story.
(Review updated due to spelling errors from writing it on my phone and not proofreading. ::Cringe::)
June 20, 2015
Such an excellent story! I enjoyed everything about it. Little noises. Bad enough when you're alone at night in a house, so how much worse would that be in space? There's no place to go to avoid them. After a while, I think you'd have to wonder - real, or not real? I like the character, like his dedication to doing the best job he can. Hugh's written another intriguing story that makes me want more. I hope this is just the beginning of a much longer story.
January 29, 2016
Another fantastic short story. It combined the suspense and wittiness of The Martian with the originality of the concepts from Howey's other works. Loved how historical elements were tied in with the futuristic setting.
June 10, 2015
Intense
Loved the story. Interesting main character. Insight, reflection, thought-provoking. Action, conflict, tension. Awesome. This is the stuff I LOVE to read.
Loved the story. Interesting main character. Insight, reflection, thought-provoking. Action, conflict, tension. Awesome. This is the stuff I LOVE to read.
March 20, 2016
Such an enjoyable little read.
Loved reading from this character's POV, so entertaining.
Definitely reading the next one.
Loved reading from this character's POV, so entertaining.
Definitely reading the next one.
July 1, 2025
3.5✨
Solid little short story and start to the collection. Considering I don't read a ton of scifi this managed to keep my interest from start to finish
Solid little short story and start to the collection. Considering I don't read a ton of scifi this managed to keep my interest from start to finish
September 2, 2017
3.5 Stars
A dystopian, sci-fi from one of my favorite authors. It was pretty good; decent pacing, but it did not pull me in. I finished because I felt like I had to, since I already started. With that being said; once I got halfway through this short story (which is really part of an actual book); I enjoyed it. I am thinking of either getting the full novel or read the shorts back-to-back.
Anywho, our main character is assigned to a space beacon, which is just like a lighthouse; but in space. He is going slightly crazy being all by himself; but then things go awry in a big way, forcing him to be in the present. Yeah, I liked it.
This first story I got for free off Amazon, but I think it went back to 99 cents. Try it and let me know what you think. :)
A dystopian, sci-fi from one of my favorite authors. It was pretty good; decent pacing, but it did not pull me in. I finished because I felt like I had to, since I already started. With that being said; once I got halfway through this short story (which is really part of an actual book); I enjoyed it. I am thinking of either getting the full novel or read the shorts back-to-back.
Anywho, our main character is assigned to a space beacon, which is just like a lighthouse; but in space. He is going slightly crazy being all by himself; but then things go awry in a big way, forcing him to be in the present. Yeah, I liked it.
This first story I got for free off Amazon, but I think it went back to 99 cents. Try it and let me know what you think. :)
February 26, 2016
A quick and fun to read short story, I believe I read it in under an hour. The premise is simple, a lone man, a veteran who suffered some pretty bad injuries, is stationed on a deep space lighthouse on a major interstellar shipping lane. He believes he is going crazy hearing strange noises throughout the lighthouse while he tries to sleep, noises that evade his attempts to diagnose and fix them. Is he going crazy or is there is something else at work?
I liked how the story used elements from historical lighthouses and the history around them for this story, with the protagonist talking about them and using them as plot points. I think the author did a good job of showing how stir crazy one might get confined, alone, deep in space with only occasional terse communications with headquarters.
Not really much to complain about, I would read more of this setting. I do wonder how much more could be done with the deep space lighthouse setting but I would be open to finding out. Clearly a wider universe is hinted at, seen from the portals of the lighthouse and hinted at from the man’s injuries physical and psychological from the war he had taken part in.
I liked how the story used elements from historical lighthouses and the history around them for this story, with the protagonist talking about them and using them as plot points. I think the author did a good job of showing how stir crazy one might get confined, alone, deep in space with only occasional terse communications with headquarters.
Not really much to complain about, I would read more of this setting. I do wonder how much more could be done with the deep space lighthouse setting but I would be open to finding out. Clearly a wider universe is hinted at, seen from the portals of the lighthouse and hinted at from the man’s injuries physical and psychological from the war he had taken part in.
January 21, 2016
Perhaps it isn't fair to compare a writer's newer work with one of their older projects, but I couldn't help myself. I really enjoyed Howey's WOOL series. Beacon 23 is an entirely different animal (though just as imaginative), but it wasn't for me. Granted, it's hard to write a short story entirely in one character's head with no interaction and limited dialogue. Howey masterfully handles this aspect of the tale. You really do get this character's voice. I could've done without the four-letter word language, but I expected it since this book never claims to be inspirational or clean. I don't dock it stars for that. I guess I was hoping for a little bit MORE, you know what I mean? It is Part One of a greater set of serials, so maybe I'm missing something by only reading the first. I probably won't pick up the others this time around.
June 18, 2015
This was a great little short story. I don't want to say to much about it to keep spoiler free. The main, and really only, character was well written and interesting despite not getting to spend that much time with him. The story is short but manages to be tense and get a lot of world building done for the length. I believe that Howdy is writing more of this character and I am looking forward to it.
September 13, 2015
This little book was great. Full of suspense and the vast loneliness of space. You could feel what it's like for the character when you're out on the edge of space alone in a huge machine listening to all the weird noises. I really want to read the next part right now but I'm going to wait until the audiobook version with all the parts of this series comes out and finish it that way. I can't wait to press play.
November 12, 2016
Fast paced, on the edge short story. Good writing and well worth reading. Technical, but I understood the intended connections and could definitely relate to the main character and his emotions while dealing with the compounding difficulties of his chaotic circumstances. I will read more of the series.
G. F. Smith
Author of, Smartbrain
G. F. Smith
Author of, Smartbrain
February 4, 2017
Oddly funny.
July 31, 2015
Oh awesome! Such a quick, edge of your seat read! Can't wait to sail through the next part!!! Thank you for Kindle Unlimited!! :)
June 27, 2016
A quick, fun sci-fi read with just enough suspense to keep it rolling. I like Hugh Howey's work and am looking forward to continuing this series.
February 13, 2026
Here are the 5 key takeaways that define this first entry:
1. The Burden of the "Hero": Dalan is a war veteran who hates the term "hero." This part establishes that his isolation on Beacon 23 isn't just a career choice—it’s a **hiding spot**. He is running from the cameras and the public's perception of his past, proving that the loudest silence is often found inside your own head.
2. The Mechanics of the GWB: You get a crash course in the "low-tech" reality of high-tech space travel. The GWB is a literal lighthouse in the void. Its failure means certain death for ships in "fast-space," and Dalan's struggle to repair it shows that in this universe, human error (or a simple mechanical slip) is the greatest threat to civilization.
3. The "Wrecker" Mentality: Through Dalan’s musings on history, we learn that **disaster is a commodity**. The idea that lighthouses were "bad business" for those who profited from shipwrecks sets a cynical tone. It suggests that the Beacon isn't just a safety device—it’s a target for anyone who stands to gain from a crash.
4. Psychological Erosion: Part One masterfully illustrates how isolation degrades the mind. Dalan’s internal monologue, his "conversations" with himself, and his obsession with a simple photograph of a lighthouse keeper show a man on the edge of a breakdown. The "little noises" of the beacon are metaphors for the cracks in his own sanity.
5. The Moral Weight of the "Slickers": The photo of the man in the lighthouse serves as a mirror for Dalan. He identifies with the man who doesn't see the wave coming. This takeaway is crucial: Dalan feels that death is inevitable and often invisible, which explains his "gallows humor" and his deep-seated fatalism.
1. The Burden of the "Hero": Dalan is a war veteran who hates the term "hero." This part establishes that his isolation on Beacon 23 isn't just a career choice—it’s a **hiding spot**. He is running from the cameras and the public's perception of his past, proving that the loudest silence is often found inside your own head.
2. The Mechanics of the GWB: You get a crash course in the "low-tech" reality of high-tech space travel. The GWB is a literal lighthouse in the void. Its failure means certain death for ships in "fast-space," and Dalan's struggle to repair it shows that in this universe, human error (or a simple mechanical slip) is the greatest threat to civilization.
3. The "Wrecker" Mentality: Through Dalan’s musings on history, we learn that **disaster is a commodity**. The idea that lighthouses were "bad business" for those who profited from shipwrecks sets a cynical tone. It suggests that the Beacon isn't just a safety device—it’s a target for anyone who stands to gain from a crash.
4. Psychological Erosion: Part One masterfully illustrates how isolation degrades the mind. Dalan’s internal monologue, his "conversations" with himself, and his obsession with a simple photograph of a lighthouse keeper show a man on the edge of a breakdown. The "little noises" of the beacon are metaphors for the cracks in his own sanity.
5. The Moral Weight of the "Slickers": The photo of the man in the lighthouse serves as a mirror for Dalan. He identifies with the man who doesn't see the wave coming. This takeaway is crucial: Dalan feels that death is inevitable and often invisible, which explains his "gallows humor" and his deep-seated fatalism.
December 12, 2024
The main protagonist is alone, and his inner musings and ramblings are both enjoyable and intriguing to read. Is he crazy, or is there something deeper happening that we don't know about yet? It appears to be a compelling mystery in the making.
The pacing and story progression are solid overall, though I found the final third weaker compared to the earlier part. All in all, this is a very quick read, so there’s little time wasted in picking it up. However, did it captivate me completely from start to finish? Not quite.
The ending doesn’t feel like a conclusion. Instead, it reads more like the end of chapter one in a larger work. While this approach isn’t inherently an issue, I went in expecting more of a self-contained short story—and this isn’t that.
3/5.
The pacing and story progression are solid overall, though I found the final third weaker compared to the earlier part. All in all, this is a very quick read, so there’s little time wasted in picking it up. However, did it captivate me completely from start to finish? Not quite.
The ending doesn’t feel like a conclusion. Instead, it reads more like the end of chapter one in a larger work. While this approach isn’t inherently an issue, I went in expecting more of a self-contained short story—and this isn’t that.
3/5.
September 21, 2017
I think the Kindle Single program in this case needs to be renamed “Kindle Serial” as this is really just the opening chapter of a longer work: in this case, this doesn’t really qualify as a short story as it leaves you hanging without an ending, so I guess I will read part two to see if there is a storyline or not. I picked this up for free with Kindle Unlimited – if I had paid the 99 cents (pricing for this episode as I type this review) I’d want my money back as it is very incomplete.
October 14, 2017
I read it because I got a free copy, but it did keep my attention. It reminded me a bit of The Martian, and our protagonist has a hidden background alone in his lighthouse of sorts at the edge of the universe. As he comes into contact with other people, he begins to reveal himself until the conclusion.
November 4, 2024
A short emotional and punchy story
In a really short story Hugh Howey manages to convey a lot of emotion, by the end I was already bought into the believable and likable main character. I loved the setting, which left me content and yet wanting to know more.
As far as short stories go, this has to be one of my all time favourite
In a really short story Hugh Howey manages to convey a lot of emotion, by the end I was already bought into the believable and likable main character. I loved the setting, which left me content and yet wanting to know more.
As far as short stories go, this has to be one of my all time favourite
October 23, 2025
Completely hooked!
Pirates in space? Yes, please. Beacons for (space) ships? Let’s go! Hugh Howey somehow knows what his audience wants and doesn’t shy away from packing enough action in smaller fictions.
In just 20 pages, we’ve got a whole bunch of action, character and world building. Heading onto the next.
Pirates in space? Yes, please. Beacons for (space) ships? Let’s go! Hugh Howey somehow knows what his audience wants and doesn’t shy away from packing enough action in smaller fictions.
In just 20 pages, we’ve got a whole bunch of action, character and world building. Heading onto the next.
December 6, 2016
Another interesting world by Hugh Howey. I still prefer the one I first read from him: the world of Wool, but this one is quite believable, too. A bit more futuristic with alien races that seem more sci-fi than his other series. I really like Howey's style of world building.
June 18, 2017
Hugh Howey is getting close to becoming a favorite of mine. I just recently started reading his writing and I am completely hooked. Everything is just so clever and odd. Look forward toward reading more of his work.
December 7, 2018
A well written story with some insightful comparisons to the past with lots of retrospective thinking and self-examination, but when you are all alone on a beacon stationed in space - what else is there? There is a good amount of action and a somewhat weak plot that literally explodes at the end.
May 28, 2019
I loved this book, as I do all of Hugh Howey’s writing. The setting is interesting, the characters relatable and the story really draws you in.
I enjoy books that make you feel like you’ve been a totally new cool place. This one did exactly that.
I enjoy books that make you feel like you’ve been a totally new cool place. This one did exactly that.
October 23, 2023
Strange
Being alone can mess you up. Proven scientific fact. Disturbing very short tiny little snippet of a booklet. Could easily have been longer, which probably would have improved it.
Being alone can mess you up. Proven scientific fact. Disturbing very short tiny little snippet of a booklet. Could easily have been longer, which probably would have improved it.
January 25, 2024
I never enjoyed anything of this length so much before. Compared to other short stories and novellas I felt really immersed, despite the fact it took less than one hour to read. Can't wait to read the sequels.
Trivia just for me: I read this in three sittings through three days. Such is life.
Trivia just for me: I read this in three sittings through three days. Such is life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews