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The Sleep
Obscure urban legends and monstrous myths abound all over the internet, and none are more Obscure orb izarre than the one purported to haunt the strange, remote and Oddly named town of Growling and its surrounds. Here, the communities are plagued by freakish Weather phenomena, aberrant lightning and something even Worse that arrives in the midst of these irregular storms. Here, all denizens adhere stringently with the unwritten rules of What they all know as The Sleep. Here, the way of life for folk is dictated to by the BeastStorms. When a group of friends, including an amateur horror film maker, an urban legend and supernatural enthusiast, a sceptic and a journalist, among others, stumble across the vague tale online, each have their own reasons for Wanting to discover the Veracity of the peculiar legend. Now, they are on a road trip that's taken them thousands of miles from their comfortable city existences and right into the domain of The Sleep. Where mistrusting Superstitious locals patrol the neighbourhoods in packs with ominous warnings for intruders and unwelcome passers-through. Where dissenters are run out of town to live as outcasts on the fringes of civilization. Where repercussions are severe for those who don't take heed of Warnings to abide by the rules of the land. Where unholy storms unlike anything ever experienced before, dredge up something more than insane Weather. Something monstrous. Every so often, among all those many legends easily explainable, or proved to be nothing more than pure hoax, here’s one With more than a Kernel of truth to it. One like the Beast Storms
- GenresHorror
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2017
7 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Jim Goforth
72 books192 followersJim Goforth is a horror author currently based in Albury, Australia. Happily married with two kids and a cat, he has been writing tales of horror since the early nineties.
After years of detouring into working with the worldwide extreme metal community and writing reviews for hundreds of bands across the globe with Black Belle Music he returned to his biggest writing love with first book Plebs published by J. Ellington Ashton Press. Along with Plebs, he is the author of a collection of short stories/novellas With Tooth and Claw, extreme metal undead opus Undead Fleshcrave: The Zombie Trigger, Riders: Plebs 2-Book One and Two, The Sleep, Carnival of Chaos, and Festival of the Flesh, co-author of collaborative novel Feral Hearts, and editor for the Rejected For Content anthology series (taking over the reins after volume one Splattergore. He also has stories in both Splattergore and Volume 2: Aberrant Menagerie).
He has also appeared in Matt Shaw’s Masters of Horror, Tales From the Lake Vol. 2, Axes of Evil, Terror Train, Autumn Burning: Dreadtime Stories For the Wicked Soul, Floppy Shoes Apocalypse, Teeming Terrors, Ghosts: An Anthology of Horror From the Beyond, Suburban Secrets: A Neighborhood of Nightmares, Doorway To Death: An Anthology From the Other Side, Easter Eggs and Bunny Boilers, MvF: Death Personified, Drowning in Gore, Trashed, Full Moon Slaughter, Moon Books Horror Anthology 2016, Dual Depravity (co-author), VS: US vs UK Horror, Bah! Humbug: An Anthology of Christmas Horror Stories, and several others including numerous anthologies in Project 26 from J. Ellington Ashton Press.
He is currently at work on Plebs 3, and a handful of other novels.
After years of detouring into working with the worldwide extreme metal community and writing reviews for hundreds of bands across the globe with Black Belle Music he returned to his biggest writing love with first book Plebs published by J. Ellington Ashton Press. Along with Plebs, he is the author of a collection of short stories/novellas With Tooth and Claw, extreme metal undead opus Undead Fleshcrave: The Zombie Trigger, Riders: Plebs 2-Book One and Two, The Sleep, Carnival of Chaos, and Festival of the Flesh, co-author of collaborative novel Feral Hearts, and editor for the Rejected For Content anthology series (taking over the reins after volume one Splattergore. He also has stories in both Splattergore and Volume 2: Aberrant Menagerie).
He has also appeared in Matt Shaw’s Masters of Horror, Tales From the Lake Vol. 2, Axes of Evil, Terror Train, Autumn Burning: Dreadtime Stories For the Wicked Soul, Floppy Shoes Apocalypse, Teeming Terrors, Ghosts: An Anthology of Horror From the Beyond, Suburban Secrets: A Neighborhood of Nightmares, Doorway To Death: An Anthology From the Other Side, Easter Eggs and Bunny Boilers, MvF: Death Personified, Drowning in Gore, Trashed, Full Moon Slaughter, Moon Books Horror Anthology 2016, Dual Depravity (co-author), VS: US vs UK Horror, Bah! Humbug: An Anthology of Christmas Horror Stories, and several others including numerous anthologies in Project 26 from J. Ellington Ashton Press.
He is currently at work on Plebs 3, and a handful of other novels.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 5, 2017
I was given a sneak peek of The Sleep and should've reviewed this already, but I'm a bit of a slacker when it comes to prompt reviews. I did enjoy this one a lot, and feel that as a writer, Jim is finally hitting his stride. Each novel is better than the one before it, but you can still see who his influences are, yet it doesn't come off as a rip off at all. This is dark, classic horror, with a simple plot, and enough violence to keep fans happy. The Sleeper is the sort of novel that makes you look at thunderstorms in a different way. We know how powerful they are, but then Jim comes along and gives you something new to fear. This is the mark of a great writer. Instead of latching onto the latest trend, or retreading ideas that already exist, Jim creates something unique, and yes quite terrifying.
The Sleep feels like a movie in book form, and it moves at a steady clip. You are pulled into the story and like the characters, you're a part of the action. It seems like a simple tale dealing with urban legends, but it's far more devious than that. Each character has their own reasons for embarking on this trip, and of course those reasons are totally selfish. Once the Beaststorms begin, you can almost hear Jim giggling as he literally unleashes hell. If you like you're horror dark, you've come to the right place. If you're at all squeamish, well you should just read something else. What's in these storms will give you nightmares.
Goforth layers his novel with violence, and gore, but there's a compelling story here. That's what makes The Sleep so good. It's a dark, gritty novel that reminds us that it's the things we can't see that are the most terrifying. When it comes to horror no one writes like Goforth. This is a guy that takes the genre back to it's early days of true terror, and suspense, and writes like a man possessed. This is the future of horror and each novel gets him one step closer to mainstream success.
The Sleep feels like a movie in book form, and it moves at a steady clip. You are pulled into the story and like the characters, you're a part of the action. It seems like a simple tale dealing with urban legends, but it's far more devious than that. Each character has their own reasons for embarking on this trip, and of course those reasons are totally selfish. Once the Beaststorms begin, you can almost hear Jim giggling as he literally unleashes hell. If you like you're horror dark, you've come to the right place. If you're at all squeamish, well you should just read something else. What's in these storms will give you nightmares.
Goforth layers his novel with violence, and gore, but there's a compelling story here. That's what makes The Sleep so good. It's a dark, gritty novel that reminds us that it's the things we can't see that are the most terrifying. When it comes to horror no one writes like Goforth. This is a guy that takes the genre back to it's early days of true terror, and suspense, and writes like a man possessed. This is the future of horror and each novel gets him one step closer to mainstream success.
October 8, 2017
Original and creepy as hell. The Sleep is reminiscent of classic horror. It sets a mood of foreboding and as it goes that moods shifts to fear, and then full on horror. I could totally see this as movie, and I would be first in line with popcorn ready.
We start with a group out to explore a legend of some pretty unique storms, and the town they plague. In that group there are those who are excited find proof, skeptics, someone looking for a story, etc…all there for their own reasons, no expecting what they find. I absolutely loved how cool the legend was and the depth it took as the story unfolded.
The locals are sufficiently creepy, and downright dangerous. The storms themselves add a whole new level of destruction to storm season. As a Kansas resident I’m sufficiently respectful of storm season and even I was like, damn, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near those storms.
As if the locals and storms aren’t bad enough, there are still more twist and turns ahead for …
No spoilers here. You want to read this. Jim Goforth keeps getting better, and he was awesome to begin with. His name is one to watch within the horror genre. He knows how to draw you in and wrap you in dread, before bashing you in the head with something you won’t see coming.
We start with a group out to explore a legend of some pretty unique storms, and the town they plague. In that group there are those who are excited find proof, skeptics, someone looking for a story, etc…all there for their own reasons, no expecting what they find. I absolutely loved how cool the legend was and the depth it took as the story unfolded.
The locals are sufficiently creepy, and downright dangerous. The storms themselves add a whole new level of destruction to storm season. As a Kansas resident I’m sufficiently respectful of storm season and even I was like, damn, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near those storms.
As if the locals and storms aren’t bad enough, there are still more twist and turns ahead for …
No spoilers here. You want to read this. Jim Goforth keeps getting better, and he was awesome to begin with. His name is one to watch within the horror genre. He knows how to draw you in and wrap you in dread, before bashing you in the head with something you won’t see coming.
July 28, 2017
Seven souls with seven different motivations head out on a road trip to investigate an urban legend named The Sleep. This urban legend is just strange and bizarre enough that the group packs up a campervan and heads out cross country to prove or disprove the internet tales. The group ranges from a journalist, a horror film maker to a party girl, but they all share the same desire to find adventure. The book begins on the road where the tension builds – sexual and otherwise. The legend is a backwoods town named Growling where, the legends tell, horrific storms call forth some sort of monsters that can only be survived by quickly falling into a deep slumber.
Goforth spins a tense tale filled with plenty of suspense, horror, sex, and terror. His vocabulary is rich and complex. We never stray far from the action, always just enough to further develop the characters and set the stage for the next thrilling sequence. The town of Growling presents several interesting, if often backwards, country and town folk to add to the mystery. Their motivation keeps the reading guessing and sets up series of unexpected twists and turns. The last third of the story rushes by with non-stop action and a nearly apocalyptic ending. Goforth is at his best when describing the blood soaked, gory sequences set against terrible, raging, supernatural thunderstorms.
A thrilling road trip that begins as an exciting adventure, but quickly turns into a horrifying struggle to survive storms, suspicious locals, and much, much worse.
Goforth spins a tense tale filled with plenty of suspense, horror, sex, and terror. His vocabulary is rich and complex. We never stray far from the action, always just enough to further develop the characters and set the stage for the next thrilling sequence. The town of Growling presents several interesting, if often backwards, country and town folk to add to the mystery. Their motivation keeps the reading guessing and sets up series of unexpected twists and turns. The last third of the story rushes by with non-stop action and a nearly apocalyptic ending. Goforth is at his best when describing the blood soaked, gory sequences set against terrible, raging, supernatural thunderstorms.
A thrilling road trip that begins as an exciting adventure, but quickly turns into a horrifying struggle to survive storms, suspicious locals, and much, much worse.
June 28, 2017
The Sleep is an emotionally exhausting read, with numerous plot twists, graphic tension, and horrific action. Think very classic Stephen King meets George R.R. Martin.
Jim Goforth sets us up with an exciting adventure and very multidimensional characters. The character interaction evokes an emotional response and the reader develops strong opinions about each of them. And then, all hell breaks loose.
The story plunges the reader into the chaos the characters are living, giving just enough to keep the tension going by using perspective narration. It is very well executed as it goes from flowing horrific prose to f bombs and graphic action all in the same chapter. The tension roller coasters up and down with the action and you wonder if the hell will go on forever as the plot twists jerk you back and forth. But all is made clear over the course of the story. Crystal clear. Old legend meets modern day people with a loud thunder crash.
A must read!
Jim Goforth sets us up with an exciting adventure and very multidimensional characters. The character interaction evokes an emotional response and the reader develops strong opinions about each of them. And then, all hell breaks loose.
The story plunges the reader into the chaos the characters are living, giving just enough to keep the tension going by using perspective narration. It is very well executed as it goes from flowing horrific prose to f bombs and graphic action all in the same chapter. The tension roller coasters up and down with the action and you wonder if the hell will go on forever as the plot twists jerk you back and forth. But all is made clear over the course of the story. Crystal clear. Old legend meets modern day people with a loud thunder crash.
A must read!
September 23, 2017
Here there be monsters ...
I am a big time fan of Goforth's writing which is never a straight line or one-dimensional to be sure. I was immediately intrigued by the storms that were promised in The Sleep. From the very beginning, my mind was racing, guessing, trying to "figure it out." I love a story I can't put down ... when one more page or one more chapter turns into turning on the lights and staying awake to finish the read ... then not being able to sleep thinking about it. The Sleep did that. Thanks for another bloody awesome read, Mr. Goforth!
I am a big time fan of Goforth's writing which is never a straight line or one-dimensional to be sure. I was immediately intrigued by the storms that were promised in The Sleep. From the very beginning, my mind was racing, guessing, trying to "figure it out." I love a story I can't put down ... when one more page or one more chapter turns into turning on the lights and staying awake to finish the read ... then not being able to sleep thinking about it. The Sleep did that. Thanks for another bloody awesome read, Mr. Goforth!
January 20, 2017
I was immediately captivated by the excellent horror story, where a group of 7 friends went off on a road trip in a motor vehicle mainly because of an urban legend one of them found on the internet. They also each had their own personal reasons for going on such an adventure.
It started like a typical camping trip among friends, with them drinking and joking around. The majority of the group was on a mission to find out the facts behind the urban legend. One of the characters documented everything on video, starting with his buddy explaining, not for the fist time, what he had discovered online; the eery story of The Sleep. Some of the characters thought it was a ridiculous tale and made fun of it, while others hoped to find some truth to it.
While they were parked in the middle of nowhere near the town they were heading, trying to get some sleep, a few local men found the group. They gave them a warning about the area, and informed them of the rules of The Sleep. That brought on questions by the characters and the reader; some of which were answered right away, and some answers were only discovered later on. The author kept things intriguing.
Monsters appeared during powerful storms known as BeastStorms, but the hungry beasts were not the only things the characters needed to worry about.
There were a lot of suspenseful parts in the book which I loved, and of course horrific moments. There was never a dull moment!
The interaction and dialogue between the characters throughout the book was realistic, and the story itself was well written and very interesting. It was full of surprises.
If you like horror stories and can handle gore, I highly recommend this entertaining book!
It started like a typical camping trip among friends, with them drinking and joking around. The majority of the group was on a mission to find out the facts behind the urban legend. One of the characters documented everything on video, starting with his buddy explaining, not for the fist time, what he had discovered online; the eery story of The Sleep. Some of the characters thought it was a ridiculous tale and made fun of it, while others hoped to find some truth to it.
While they were parked in the middle of nowhere near the town they were heading, trying to get some sleep, a few local men found the group. They gave them a warning about the area, and informed them of the rules of The Sleep. That brought on questions by the characters and the reader; some of which were answered right away, and some answers were only discovered later on. The author kept things intriguing.
Monsters appeared during powerful storms known as BeastStorms, but the hungry beasts were not the only things the characters needed to worry about.
There were a lot of suspenseful parts in the book which I loved, and of course horrific moments. There was never a dull moment!
The interaction and dialogue between the characters throughout the book was realistic, and the story itself was well written and very interesting. It was full of surprises.
If you like horror stories and can handle gore, I highly recommend this entertaining book!
July 28, 2017
A group of people set out to investigate and urban legend and find more than they bargained for. I liked the mix of characters in this book and it moved quite well. Horror fans will really enjoy it.
April 19, 2017
I was so looking forward to this book but I've been left disappointed by it, possibly because the reason I was looking forward to it was that I have read previous novels by the author and loved them so much I read them twice.
My problems were many; the characters felt two dimensional, to the point that if there had been editing errors over names, you may not have realised; the story was too predictable, even the "twist" towards the end could be seen a mile off; the ending was quite trite and predictable, yet also left too much unexplained in terms of the motivation of one character and the sudden appearance of a "key" character in the last tenth of the book felt very forced.
All in all, it was ok-ish, but unlike the authors other books, Plebs and Riders books 1 & 2, I don't think that I would recommend this one.
My problems were many; the characters felt two dimensional, to the point that if there had been editing errors over names, you may not have realised; the story was too predictable, even the "twist" towards the end could be seen a mile off; the ending was quite trite and predictable, yet also left too much unexplained in terms of the motivation of one character and the sudden appearance of a "key" character in the last tenth of the book felt very forced.
All in all, it was ok-ish, but unlike the authors other books, Plebs and Riders books 1 & 2, I don't think that I would recommend this one.
January 26, 2018
A road trip to monsterland
A fun read from start to finish. A fun variety of monsters and violence that makes this a fun romp in the urban legend \ horror genre.
A fun read from start to finish. A fun variety of monsters and violence that makes this a fun romp in the urban legend \ horror genre.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews