The Darkened Image

by Brick Marlin

It is 1979. A serial killer stalks the small town of Deputy Point. The cops are baffled with the case. No leads. No clues. The only information received is an anonymous phone call informing where to find the bodies: the handless cadavers. But, hope does arrive. A time traveler from Earthas future, a warrior from the rebellion, comes to hunt down this killer. In the future aliens have taken over the planet, eliminating most of humanity. The ones that are spared are enslaved to do their bidding. Enslaved in their reign of terror. The rebellion believes that if they can save as many souls from the hand of the serial killer throughout time, the human existence will have a better population in the future fight against the aliens. A fight for freedom.

Genres: Horror, Science Fiction

108 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2007

About the author

At an early age Brick Marlin was exposed to horror and science fiction. He soon became an avid reader and enjoyed stories written by Edgar Allen Poe and W. W. Jacobs. His other favorite tales were written by Stephen King, Clive Barker, Ray Bradbury, J. B. Stamper—which he still to this day recollects her terrifying tale “The Furry Collar”—Kurt Vonnegut, Dean Koontz, Charles Dickens, Harper Lee, H.G. Wells, etc. Not long after did he decide to write horror, sci-fi and dark fantasy he began scaring readers such as his parents, his friends, a handful of neighbors, and even leaving a few school teachers scratching their heads wondering if the boy should be committed or not. His very first book was written when he was 9—a mere 100 words, if that, written on index cards and bound together with yarn—which was a follow-up to the movie Rikki Tikki Tavi. From then on short story ideas continued to visit. A book idea or two sometimes stopped by for a sit. And gathering the craft of world building and characterization by posing as a Dungeon Master while playing hours and hours of the game Dungeons and Dragons fed his need. When 2007 arrived he decided to pursue writing professionally and was able to have The Darkened Image published. Brick Marlin is a member of the Horror Writers Association and has published 11 novels, over 25 short stories, including a few which has shown up in anthologies such as Dystopian Express released by Hydra Publications.

Nowadays Brick Marlin loves to cast himself as an introvert when writing, staving off the outside world by hiding out in his office. The only thing which sometimes break the invisible force field is the dreaded literary gremlin and its miserable clan of misfits. If you see one, you know there’s more around. Much like that cockroach you notice when you open the kitchen draw of utensils and find out that cockroach has just birthed cockroach babies.

And the best thing to do in those circumstances are to feed the literary creatures Extra Sour Apple-Flavored Fizzle, Pop & Explode Candies Extreme Fizz Series One.

Unless of course you have cockroaches. Then you’ll need an exterminator.

Reviews

[Kathleen Leach · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only thing keeping this book from four stars is that it needs a serious re-edit. Normally that kind of thing will knock me right out of the story, but this story is good.

The hands, man. The freakin' HANDS! I kept looking at my hands all through, going AAAAH and wondering how the afficionado would feel.

I'd like to read more about Freemont and his society, and above all his job and what he was trying to prevent. I didn't really expect the twist near the end, and the WHOA factor was pretty cool there, but I'd really liked to have heard what happened after.

I'm hoping for more stories about Freemont, and also looking forward to reading later books with better edits. In all I have to give this book a thumbs-up; it looks like early work, but work that will only get better.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was enjoyable, a horror story that needed much expansion to be truly fulfilling as a horror read. There was so many ways the story could have been developed into a page turner that could not have been put down, one that would keep you up at night. I really wanted to know about the world Freemont lived and exactly what he was trying to do with his time travel. It lacked so much without the development of characters, places, jobs and worlds.

[Roderick Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Brick Marlin book and the way he blended Science Fiction with Horror just blew me away. SciFi/Horror is not new but Brick's take on it is certainly exploring fresh territory in the genre.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminding me of Stephen King and H.G Wells, it's a good novella featuring entertaining twists and interesting characters.

[Magen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was full of suspense. Every chapter was a new adventure! It had me biting my nails in anticipation!