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The Terminal
Air travel during the holiday season. Yuck. Stupid people, flight delays, and long lines at security are pretty much the worst things ever - or so Dirk Bradley thought until a horde of bloodthirsty psychopaths from beyond the stars invaded the airport, cutting a swath of death and destruction through everything he knew and loved. Can he survive the attack and live to tell the tale? What hope does an average Joe have against a race of brutal killers bent on world domination?
- GenresHorror
112 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2016
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31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 3, 2016
Pulp is not dead. You can relive those thrilling days of yesteryear just by picking up this debut novella from Amber Fallon.
Dirk Bradley is so happy about finding the man of his dreams that he's actually at O'Hare International Airport with Dylan, waiting to travel home to share his good fortune with his estranged parents. But, then...
I don't want to reveal what happened, that would be too much of a spoiler, but I can tell you it happened fast and it was catastrophic.
In the words of the story's protagonist, it "would make a great Sci Fi Channel movie-of-the-week." I know it's now SyFy, but that's the quote.
You can tell The Terminal is a first published work, but the story is solid and it's an enjoyable read, in a pulpy sort of way.
Published by Fresh Pulp Press, The Terminal is available in both paperback and e-book formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this book at no additional charge. Also, if you subscribe to Amazon Prime you can read it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Amber Fallon is a new voice in horror worthy of your attention. She is also an IT Nerd, Gamer, and Geek. Amber resides in the great state of Massachusetts
Dirk Bradley is so happy about finding the man of his dreams that he's actually at O'Hare International Airport with Dylan, waiting to travel home to share his good fortune with his estranged parents. But, then...
I don't want to reveal what happened, that would be too much of a spoiler, but I can tell you it happened fast and it was catastrophic.
In the words of the story's protagonist, it "would make a great Sci Fi Channel movie-of-the-week." I know it's now SyFy, but that's the quote.
You can tell The Terminal is a first published work, but the story is solid and it's an enjoyable read, in a pulpy sort of way.
Published by Fresh Pulp Press, The Terminal is available in both paperback and e-book formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this book at no additional charge. Also, if you subscribe to Amazon Prime you can read it for FREE through the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Amber Fallon is a new voice in horror worthy of your attention. She is also an IT Nerd, Gamer, and Geek. Amber resides in the great state of Massachusetts
September 9, 2017
A very different book from Fallon's novella THE WARBLERS, THE TERMINAL is largely a send-up of action movies. The main character, Dirk, is a little fusspot and not at all action hero material. He finds himself in the middle of a shoot-'em-up while being almost comically unversed in even the basics of firearm use. The finale (spoiler alert, I guess) even finds two characters tragicomically "saving the world" by re-enacting the 9/11 attacks. THE TERMINAL is presented as a mindless '80s-style romp, but there is a dark, twisted sense of satire beneath that goofy veneer.
November 30, 2017
This was a fun, fast paced book with a story like a cheesy 80s action film (I mean that in a good way!). The humour is dark and the violence plentiful in this fantastic novella, if you want something that doesn't take itself too seriously I'd totally recommend this.
December 26, 2017
Dirk and his boyfriend Dylan are heading home for the Christmas holiday when their travel plans are interrupted by an alien attack on O'Hare. Meteors crash down, exploding airplanes on the runway and pulverizing the terminal, only to reveal a handful of muscular, extraterrestrial Schwarzenegger-like killers. Before the TSA can cop a quick feel of the would-be travelers, heads are flying, literally, as the passengers find themselves under siege. Separated from Dylan in the attack, Dirk is forced to fend for himself and repeatedly test his own wits in a nightmarish life-or-death struggle.
The Terminal is a welcome dose of pulpy fun, and the pacing is pretty rapid-fire straight from the get-go. There are no chapters and only one scene break in its 112 pages -- this novella is designed to be read in a single sitting, with the reader catapulted head over heels straight through the mayhem. This works, for the most part, and by not giving the reader time to pause to collect themselves, they're not afforded a chance to recognize the inherit silliness and some of the bumpier aspects of the plot straight away. This book is a race from beginning to end, the kind you strap yourself in for and enjoy. But, once the ride is over you start to notice some of the more dissatisfying aspects.
Although Dirk isn't the most likable protagonist with his instant hate toward several of his fellow holiday travelers (granted, I'm sure we've all been there, though, so that's at least realistic) and constant pop culture references (when the action gets going, he imagines himself being like John McClane, and the aliens rip out human spines like they're performing a Mortal Kombat fatality), he's fairly sympathetic and thrust into a situation way over his head. He's also a bit of a nincompoop, with zero knowledge of guns (apparently his video game tastes never stretched toward Call of Duty) and little in the way of survival skills. While he comes across as a bit too much of a blank slate at times, he does develop some nice, if often short-lived, relationships with the few survivors he encounters.
Frankly, I could have done with more human elements throughout. Even with the mass casualties resulting from this very random alien incursion, O'Hare felt oddly desolate. While Dirk does stumble across a handful of survivors, I couldn't help but feel like there should have been more signs of life, or at least more glimpses of ill-fated travelers. Maybe Dirk just has some exceptionally narrow tunnel vision, a prognosis that certainly feels in tune with the man. When he does have reason to connect to one of the survivors, a military man recently returned home from war in the Middle East, we're robbed of the emotional and possibly physical payoffs the story had been nurturing. The built-in conflict between these two characters should have given The Terminal are more propulsive finale, but instead we're rushed through an ending and a sudden finish to the book.
The Terminal has its weaknesses, but it also has its strength. Amber Fallon writes some good gory material here, and the book's premise is wonderful. In some ways, this novella reminded me a fair amount of Dawn of the Dead. Swap out a mall for an airport, trade in the zombies for aliens, and take a bit of inspiration from another Christmas classic, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, and you've got yourself an exciting bit of action-horror.
This work left me wanting more, and in this case I consider that a positive sign. While not all of the elements gel perfectly, I would definitely take another trip through these terminals should Fallon ever write an expanded version or offer a follow-up or companion novel. The Terminal is not a bad first publication from Amber Fallon, and it certainly shows enough signs of promise that I'll be checking out more of her work in the future. In fact, I've already got her sophomore effort, The Warblers, loaded up on my Kindle.
The Terminal is a welcome dose of pulpy fun, and the pacing is pretty rapid-fire straight from the get-go. There are no chapters and only one scene break in its 112 pages -- this novella is designed to be read in a single sitting, with the reader catapulted head over heels straight through the mayhem. This works, for the most part, and by not giving the reader time to pause to collect themselves, they're not afforded a chance to recognize the inherit silliness and some of the bumpier aspects of the plot straight away. This book is a race from beginning to end, the kind you strap yourself in for and enjoy. But, once the ride is over you start to notice some of the more dissatisfying aspects.
Although Dirk isn't the most likable protagonist with his instant hate toward several of his fellow holiday travelers (granted, I'm sure we've all been there, though, so that's at least realistic) and constant pop culture references (when the action gets going, he imagines himself being like John McClane, and the aliens rip out human spines like they're performing a Mortal Kombat fatality), he's fairly sympathetic and thrust into a situation way over his head. He's also a bit of a nincompoop, with zero knowledge of guns (apparently his video game tastes never stretched toward Call of Duty) and little in the way of survival skills. While he comes across as a bit too much of a blank slate at times, he does develop some nice, if often short-lived, relationships with the few survivors he encounters.
Frankly, I could have done with more human elements throughout. Even with the mass casualties resulting from this very random alien incursion, O'Hare felt oddly desolate. While Dirk does stumble across a handful of survivors, I couldn't help but feel like there should have been more signs of life, or at least more glimpses of ill-fated travelers. Maybe Dirk just has some exceptionally narrow tunnel vision, a prognosis that certainly feels in tune with the man. When he does have reason to connect to one of the survivors, a military man recently returned home from war in the Middle East, we're robbed of the emotional and possibly physical payoffs the story had been nurturing. The built-in conflict between these two characters should have given The Terminal are more propulsive finale, but instead we're rushed through an ending and a sudden finish to the book.
The Terminal has its weaknesses, but it also has its strength. Amber Fallon writes some good gory material here, and the book's premise is wonderful. In some ways, this novella reminded me a fair amount of Dawn of the Dead. Swap out a mall for an airport, trade in the zombies for aliens, and take a bit of inspiration from another Christmas classic, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, and you've got yourself an exciting bit of action-horror.
This work left me wanting more, and in this case I consider that a positive sign. While not all of the elements gel perfectly, I would definitely take another trip through these terminals should Fallon ever write an expanded version or offer a follow-up or companion novel. The Terminal is not a bad first publication from Amber Fallon, and it certainly shows enough signs of promise that I'll be checking out more of her work in the future. In fact, I've already got her sophomore effort, The Warblers, loaded up on my Kindle.
December 11, 2017
Wild fun. Grisly and action-packed, with some truly memorable and hilarious sequences.
It was refreshing to have a character who knows about action snd horror movies, and who puts those skills to use (instead of the typical having-to-figure-it-out cliche that runs rampant in most such stories).
Really, the only downside for me was an unexplored subplot/character arc toward the end, but which could still be explored and fleshed out in a sequel. Here's to eagerly hoping for one, someday!
And finally, if you read and enjoy this one, be sure to check out the companion/spinoff chapbook, "Joey's Story," also available from Fresh Pulp Press!
It was refreshing to have a character who knows about action snd horror movies, and who puts those skills to use (instead of the typical having-to-figure-it-out cliche that runs rampant in most such stories).
Really, the only downside for me was an unexplored subplot/character arc toward the end, but which could still be explored and fleshed out in a sequel. Here's to eagerly hoping for one, someday!
And finally, if you read and enjoy this one, be sure to check out the companion/spinoff chapbook, "Joey's Story," also available from Fresh Pulp Press!
February 11, 2017
THE TERMINAL was a shitload of fun. It is funny and cheesy and gory. You'd think that none of those adjectives go together, but I'd argue that humor and horror are a perfect compliment to each other. That's a subject that deserves a whole blog post that doesn't belong in this review. Just trust me.
I also give Amber Fallon kudos for creating a suspenseful bathroom scene. Early in the novel, one of the aliens is checking the stalls one by one to find our protagonist, who is hiding in the last stall. Some would argue that device it is completely overused, but I think that's only because it works so damn well to create suspense.
I also read a small chapbook called JOEY'S STORY that goes along with THE TERMINAL. I'd recommend getting your hands on both, if possible. The chapbook definitely adds to the whole experience.
I also give Amber Fallon kudos for creating a suspenseful bathroom scene. Early in the novel, one of the aliens is checking the stalls one by one to find our protagonist, who is hiding in the last stall. Some would argue that device it is completely overused, but I think that's only because it works so damn well to create suspense.
I also read a small chapbook called JOEY'S STORY that goes along with THE TERMINAL. I'd recommend getting your hands on both, if possible. The chapbook definitely adds to the whole experience.
June 24, 2018
The Terminal is the first work I have read by the author. Based on this story I am a fan of her writing and look forward to reading more. This is a fast paced novella that moves along at a break neck pace all the way to the end. This was pure joy to read. There was plenty of action and gore with some cool aliens thrown in. While this is a plot driven story, I still enjoyed the characters. The only issue I have is with the ending. While I would have preferred more resolution in the ending it was not a big issue. The author has skills and I look forward to what comes next.
November 10, 2016
Review coming soon.
May 28, 2018
This story was a great burst of fun and excitement in a short, condensed book. Dirk Bradley is traveling for Christmas. He's bringing his boyfriend back to the home that he was kicked out of when he was younger. He's wants to reconnect with his family. However, fate is working against him because while he is waiting at the airport for his plane, aliens attack and start slaughtering people. It might sound like the start of a bad SyFy movie but it's no worse than visiting your father's grave when you are suddenly attacked by zombies. (Night of the Living Dead if you missed that.) The story then follows Dirk as he tries to survive and possibly even fight back.
I loved how the main character was constantly snarky and coming up with caustic sarcastic comments against himself. Even as he found himself becoming a leader, he was amazed because he didn't know what he was doing. If that zombie or alien apocalypse ever did come around, that's exactly how I hope I would act. I was a bit dissatisfied about halfway through the book when Dirk got separated from the group he was helping. They weren't mentioned in the rest of the book and seemed kind of forgotten: out of sight, out of mind. But at the same time, the story was following Dirk and since Dirk was separated from the group, then it makes sense that the story no longer follows the group. Still I would have hoped that Dirk had had a passing though of "I hope they are OK." A minor criticism. If Fallon wanted to expand on the story and create a series of books on what happened, I would buy and read every one.
I loved how the main character was constantly snarky and coming up with caustic sarcastic comments against himself. Even as he found himself becoming a leader, he was amazed because he didn't know what he was doing. If that zombie or alien apocalypse ever did come around, that's exactly how I hope I would act. I was a bit dissatisfied about halfway through the book when Dirk got separated from the group he was helping. They weren't mentioned in the rest of the book and seemed kind of forgotten: out of sight, out of mind. But at the same time, the story was following Dirk and since Dirk was separated from the group, then it makes sense that the story no longer follows the group. Still I would have hoped that Dirk had had a passing though of "I hope they are OK." A minor criticism. If Fallon wanted to expand on the story and create a series of books on what happened, I would buy and read every one.
November 24, 2017
Amber Fallon's debut book is a lot of fun! It begins with a bang and the action never lets up. It takes place in an airport (O'Hare, to be exact) and reads like what might happen if Brian Keene wrote the film The Terminal starring Tom Hanks.
The premise is pretty simple: zombie-like aliens flood into and decimate the airport as the protagonist, Dirk Bradley, is waiting to board his flight. His boyfriend Dylan immediately dies, and now he is faced with navigating his way to safety all on his own. (And I thought having a flight delayed was the worst thing that could possibly happen in an airport!).
While this book is a lot of fun, it is not without its flaws (is any book flawless?). Fallon uses many creative similes / metaphors, and when they are on, they are spot on. However, there are other times when the comparison takes away from the story (takes me out of the story) instead of further immersing me. As Fallon grows as a writer and continues to find her voice, I'm sure her similes / metaphors will all hit their mark.
I won't say much about the end, but it produces a nice emotional pull through a minor twist, leaving Dirk with a difficult moral quandary. Oh, and The Terminal is probably the only airplane novel post 9/11 where bringing a bomb to an airport is the best thing to do!
The premise is pretty simple: zombie-like aliens flood into and decimate the airport as the protagonist, Dirk Bradley, is waiting to board his flight. His boyfriend Dylan immediately dies, and now he is faced with navigating his way to safety all on his own. (And I thought having a flight delayed was the worst thing that could possibly happen in an airport!).
While this book is a lot of fun, it is not without its flaws (is any book flawless?). Fallon uses many creative similes / metaphors, and when they are on, they are spot on. However, there are other times when the comparison takes away from the story (takes me out of the story) instead of further immersing me. As Fallon grows as a writer and continues to find her voice, I'm sure her similes / metaphors will all hit their mark.
I won't say much about the end, but it produces a nice emotional pull through a minor twist, leaving Dirk with a difficult moral quandary. Oh, and The Terminal is probably the only airplane novel post 9/11 where bringing a bomb to an airport is the best thing to do!
November 30, 2016
This is a fun novella that captures some of the spirit of 80s John Carpenter. The protagonist tells the story with a snarky detachment I enjoyed, though sometimes the narration runs a bit long. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Fallon's work in the future.
August 29, 2018
An adrenaline-filled horror novella from page one until the very end, THE TERMINAL is a fun and bloody read. Fallon makes this insane situation in an airport not only believable but both heartbreaking and terrifying. Highly recommend for fans of Brian Keene and Stephen Kozeniewski.
February 8, 2020
3.50 stars
February 27, 2017
Fun, lighting fast pulp goodness.
A perfect Sunday afternoon read.
A perfect Sunday afternoon read.
August 21, 2016
The Terminal starts out with a bang( well, actually an explosion–several explosions in fact ) and keeps the pace going for most of the story. The writing is good for the most part, especially for a debut, with only a few minor clunky scenes that upset the pace a little. Overall, The Terminal is a fun pulpy thrill ride with a great sense of dark humor. My only complaint is with the ending; it's quite abrupt, and there are some issues( and characters ) that I felt could've been resolved a little more. Looking forward to reading more of this author's work in the future. 3.5 stars.
January 7, 2017
Dirk Bradley wants to go home for Christmas. Barbaric, murderous invading aliens put a real crimp that plan. Dirk finds himself fighting for his life and survival, trying to get out of the airport amid the destruction and death,
This is a fast-paced horror action novella that grabs and doesn't let you go until the final "BOOM!" Lots of veracity in the littles touches and details. A reluctant hero who barely know how to work a gun, improvisation with tools at hand in the airport, some good twists. Thrill ride all the way!
This is a fast-paced horror action novella that grabs and doesn't let you go until the final "BOOM!" Lots of veracity in the littles touches and details. A reluctant hero who barely know how to work a gun, improvisation with tools at hand in the airport, some good twists. Thrill ride all the way!
May 9, 2017
Full of splatter, humor, and harrowing moments. While The Terminal is told in a straightforward manner - beefy aliens invade an airport, and it’s up to a bunch of ragtag survivors to try and stop them - it is the narrative voice that keeps the story feeling fresh and moving forward. This is strong writing, and a gory good time.
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