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The Last Feast
Jim, the only human still alive in the universe, lives his life on a small escape pod orbiting a black hole, where he survives by replicating himself and eating his clones. Before eating one of his duplicates, he entertains his meal by recounting the story of how he got here and how he managed to survive. It began when he had decided to travel to an interstellar colony where he could sell some museum pieces he owned. En route, the ship he is on gets momentarily caught in the powerful gravity of a black hole and is flung trillions and trillions of years into the future. The passengers find themselves in a time of maximum entropy, where all life is extinct, all the stars have burned out, and there is nothing left in the universe except a black hole and a complete vacuum extending in all directions. As the original crew of seven is slowly reduced through suicide, murder, and accident, two factions form. One group believes, against all evidence, that somehow, somewhere, there exists intelligent life in this universe that can rescue them from this hell, and they devote their energies to sending out more and more powerful distress calls. The other group simply wants to preserve the ship's power, so that they can live comfortably in this hopeless universe as long as possible.
- GenresScience Fiction
174 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2018
10 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 24, 2021
Books that are set in space are always interesting, and the storyline in this one is really great!! Our protagonist, Jim, is a relatable character who is incredibly intriguing, but that may be because he creates himself over and over to keep from dying. But really now, I can’t get that out of my mind!!! Cloning himself to survive. Craziness!!!
The details of this whole endeavor are so believable that I wonder if something like this will happen to people when/if space travel begins to happen more frequently. And also, I love this idea where Jim is talking to himself. My mind is kind of blowing up here.
I do love how short and compact the story is also. I’ve been attempting to read Seveneves for forever because it’s so very long and detailed. This reminds me a lot of Seveneves, but I enjoyed this so much more. To me, I like this much more as it focuses more on the relationships and what’s going on with them rather than all of the technical jargon that is mostly, I’m sorry to say, boring to me.
I recommend this to those who love books set in space with a bit of drama, some violence, a little love (I mean sex!! Lol) and really seems to have something for everyone.
Thanks so much to Zeb Haradon for allowing me to read this for an honest and unbiased opinion!!
Check out this review and others on my blog @ https://shannarareads.com/?p=453
Thanks!!!
The details of this whole endeavor are so believable that I wonder if something like this will happen to people when/if space travel begins to happen more frequently. And also, I love this idea where Jim is talking to himself. My mind is kind of blowing up here.
I do love how short and compact the story is also. I’ve been attempting to read Seveneves for forever because it’s so very long and detailed. This reminds me a lot of Seveneves, but I enjoyed this so much more. To me, I like this much more as it focuses more on the relationships and what’s going on with them rather than all of the technical jargon that is mostly, I’m sorry to say, boring to me.
I recommend this to those who love books set in space with a bit of drama, some violence, a little love (I mean sex!! Lol) and really seems to have something for everyone.
Thanks so much to Zeb Haradon for allowing me to read this for an honest and unbiased opinion!!
Check out this review and others on my blog @ https://shannarareads.com/?p=453
Thanks!!!
July 10, 2018
The author sent me an ARC of this book, after I'd read and very much enjoyed his last book, which I reviewed for Rosie Amber's Review Team
I loved this book and kept rationing the last thirty per cent because I didn't want to reach the end. It's a long novella, maybe almost a short novel.
Jim is the last man left in the universe, staying alive in a small pod that orbits a black hole. Rewind to how he got there: he has been alive for a thousand years, since around our time, achieved by the anti-ageing technlogy available in both the near and distant future. He and his crew of six are travelling to an interstellar colony. From the blurb: En route, the ship gets momentarily caught in the powerful gravity of a black hole and is flung trillions and trillions of years into the future. The passengers find themselves in a time of maximum entropy, where all life is extinct, all the stars have burned out, and there is nothing left in the universe except a black hole and a complete vacuum extending in all directions.
On board, those remaining divide into two factions: those who think it is worth sending out distress signals, and those who understand that there is nobody left to receive them.
I love Zeb Haradon's writing style. I know next to nothing about how space stuff works (indeed, that very phrase is an indication of this), but he describes it in such a way that it is a) not even remotely boring, b) understandable and c) totally believable. The book is inventive, gripping, clever, funny, heartbreaking, horrific, and a total page-turner. For those who mind about such things, there is a certain amount of grisly stuff, but this is not unreasonable since he is having to convert his own waste products into calories, and the last people alive are contemplating eating the body of a former crew member in order to stay alive. Just a warning for the particularly squeamish.
As well as his current situation, Jim talks, now and again, about his life before: his wife and son, and hints about what happened to the world in the millennium after our time. I would love to read more about this, if you ever fancy writing it, Mr Haradon....
It's great, highly recommended, and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
I loved this book and kept rationing the last thirty per cent because I didn't want to reach the end. It's a long novella, maybe almost a short novel.
Jim is the last man left in the universe, staying alive in a small pod that orbits a black hole. Rewind to how he got there: he has been alive for a thousand years, since around our time, achieved by the anti-ageing technlogy available in both the near and distant future. He and his crew of six are travelling to an interstellar colony. From the blurb: En route, the ship gets momentarily caught in the powerful gravity of a black hole and is flung trillions and trillions of years into the future. The passengers find themselves in a time of maximum entropy, where all life is extinct, all the stars have burned out, and there is nothing left in the universe except a black hole and a complete vacuum extending in all directions.
On board, those remaining divide into two factions: those who think it is worth sending out distress signals, and those who understand that there is nobody left to receive them.
I love Zeb Haradon's writing style. I know next to nothing about how space stuff works (indeed, that very phrase is an indication of this), but he describes it in such a way that it is a) not even remotely boring, b) understandable and c) totally believable. The book is inventive, gripping, clever, funny, heartbreaking, horrific, and a total page-turner. For those who mind about such things, there is a certain amount of grisly stuff, but this is not unreasonable since he is having to convert his own waste products into calories, and the last people alive are contemplating eating the body of a former crew member in order to stay alive. Just a warning for the particularly squeamish.
As well as his current situation, Jim talks, now and again, about his life before: his wife and son, and hints about what happened to the world in the millennium after our time. I would love to read more about this, if you ever fancy writing it, Mr Haradon....
It's great, highly recommended, and I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
December 26, 2025
Don't be fooled by the cover. This book isn't a cute philosophical story. It's full of content I didn't expect but that I came to like a lot.
The writing and pacing are great and it felt like I read it in no time. I enjoyed the ride all along (except useless unsexy sex scenes). I was on the ship with the characters and I lived the events with them.
A really nice surprise!
NB: I suggest not reading the book description as it gives too much. I went in blind and I'm happy I did. Just read the description now, which feels like a summary.
The writing and pacing are great and it felt like I read it in no time. I enjoyed the ride all along (except useless unsexy sex scenes). I was on the ship with the characters and I lived the events with them.
A really nice surprise!
NB: I suggest not reading the book description as it gives too much. I went in blind and I'm happy I did. Just read the description now, which feels like a summary.
July 11, 2018
I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team and thank Rosie Amber (check here if you would like to have your book reviewed) and the author for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel, that I freely chose to review.
I had read a number of reviews of this author’s previous novel, The Usurper King, and although I haven’t read it yet I was intrigued by the subject and the feedback on the quality of his writing, and following a recommendation of his new book by a fellow reviewer, I could not resist.
This book is difficult to categorise and, for me, that is one of its appeals, although it will perhaps put off some genre readers. I won’t rehash the plot as the description is detailed enough and the book is quite short (it is perhaps a bit long for a novella, but it is shorter than most novels). The setting and much of the action would fit into the science-fiction genre. The degree of detail and description of technology and processes is not such that it should put off casual readers (I found the scientific background intriguing although I’m not an expert and cannot comment on how accurate it is), although it might not satisfy hard science-fiction fans.
A number of characters appear in the short novel, but the main character and first-person narrator of the story is Jim. Like Scheherazade, he is doomed to be forever telling stories, although, in his case, it is always the same story, the story, or history, of his (their) origin. Somehow (I won’t go into the details. I’ll leave that for readers to discover), Jim has managed to cheat death and has lived for hundreds and hundreds of years. Although the story he is forever retelling is, at least in appearance, the story of how he ended up in his current situation, through the process of telling the story, we learn about Jim himself. Snippets of his life keep coming up, and these are enmeshed with the history of humanity at large, as he has become, accidentally, the somewhat reluctant chronicler of human civilisation. I am not sure any of the characters are sympathetic
The story —which gets at some of the fundamental questions Philosophy has been studying for centuries— involves a small spaceship crew faced with an impossible situation. What if they were the only beings left alive in the universe and only had access to finite resources in order to survive? (Yes, this sounds familiar). Would they hold on tight to the hope of a possible rescue from outside and risk their survival possibilities to pursue that dream? Or would they try to survive at whatever cost? The book divides the crew into two, the ones who are more realistic and are happy to continue living on their current circumstances, and the ones that refuse to give up the hope for a better but uncertain life. There are members of the crew that seem to cycle from one position to another, and some who keep their cards close to their chests and we don’t know full well what they think. Suicide is high in the book, and the desperation of the characters that choose that way out is credible and easy to understand and empathise with. The narrative takes the characters to the limit and then pushes them beyond it. Ultimately, it is impossible not to read this book and wonder what makes life worth living. Is life itself enough in its own right? Is survival against all odds the best attitude? What is the result of, and the price to pay for, pursuing such a course of action?
I am fascinated by the novel, and particularly by Jim’s character. As he tells the story, it becomes clear that at some point he made a momentous decision. He says he has been on the brink of suicide for hundreds of years, but after something tragic happened (no spoilers), he decided he would keep on living. Although the book has plenty of strange goings on (cannibalism, BDSM sex… which make for a hard read but are not the most graphically detailed and gore examples I have read, by any means) and it shuns conventional morality, this decision and Jim’s motivation behind it are what will keep this book present in my mind, and I know I will be thinking about it for a long time. (Why would anybody put himself or herself through such a thing? How do we deal with loss and grief?)
There are references to literary classics (and the author’s note at the end mentions some of them and also the conception of the project, its development, and its different incarnations), to historical artefacts and works of art, and the distinctive voice of the narrator (a mixture of wit, matter-of-factness and the odd flash of dark humour), the quality of the writing, and the story combine to make it a compelling and disquieting read. After reading this book, I’ve become very intrigued by the author, and I’m curious about his previous novel, as the protagonist of that book was also called Jim. That Jim was quickly becoming old and this one is determined to live forever. I wonder…
I recommend this book to people looking for an exceptional voice and a unique story, who don’t mind being challenged by difficult topics, dark subjects, and stories that don’t fit neatly into a clear genre. If you like to experiment and are looking for something different, I encourage you to give it a go.
I had read a number of reviews of this author’s previous novel, The Usurper King, and although I haven’t read it yet I was intrigued by the subject and the feedback on the quality of his writing, and following a recommendation of his new book by a fellow reviewer, I could not resist.
This book is difficult to categorise and, for me, that is one of its appeals, although it will perhaps put off some genre readers. I won’t rehash the plot as the description is detailed enough and the book is quite short (it is perhaps a bit long for a novella, but it is shorter than most novels). The setting and much of the action would fit into the science-fiction genre. The degree of detail and description of technology and processes is not such that it should put off casual readers (I found the scientific background intriguing although I’m not an expert and cannot comment on how accurate it is), although it might not satisfy hard science-fiction fans.
A number of characters appear in the short novel, but the main character and first-person narrator of the story is Jim. Like Scheherazade, he is doomed to be forever telling stories, although, in his case, it is always the same story, the story, or history, of his (their) origin. Somehow (I won’t go into the details. I’ll leave that for readers to discover), Jim has managed to cheat death and has lived for hundreds and hundreds of years. Although the story he is forever retelling is, at least in appearance, the story of how he ended up in his current situation, through the process of telling the story, we learn about Jim himself. Snippets of his life keep coming up, and these are enmeshed with the history of humanity at large, as he has become, accidentally, the somewhat reluctant chronicler of human civilisation. I am not sure any of the characters are sympathetic
The story —which gets at some of the fundamental questions Philosophy has been studying for centuries— involves a small spaceship crew faced with an impossible situation. What if they were the only beings left alive in the universe and only had access to finite resources in order to survive? (Yes, this sounds familiar). Would they hold on tight to the hope of a possible rescue from outside and risk their survival possibilities to pursue that dream? Or would they try to survive at whatever cost? The book divides the crew into two, the ones who are more realistic and are happy to continue living on their current circumstances, and the ones that refuse to give up the hope for a better but uncertain life. There are members of the crew that seem to cycle from one position to another, and some who keep their cards close to their chests and we don’t know full well what they think. Suicide is high in the book, and the desperation of the characters that choose that way out is credible and easy to understand and empathise with. The narrative takes the characters to the limit and then pushes them beyond it. Ultimately, it is impossible not to read this book and wonder what makes life worth living. Is life itself enough in its own right? Is survival against all odds the best attitude? What is the result of, and the price to pay for, pursuing such a course of action?
I am fascinated by the novel, and particularly by Jim’s character. As he tells the story, it becomes clear that at some point he made a momentous decision. He says he has been on the brink of suicide for hundreds of years, but after something tragic happened (no spoilers), he decided he would keep on living. Although the book has plenty of strange goings on (cannibalism, BDSM sex… which make for a hard read but are not the most graphically detailed and gore examples I have read, by any means) and it shuns conventional morality, this decision and Jim’s motivation behind it are what will keep this book present in my mind, and I know I will be thinking about it for a long time. (Why would anybody put himself or herself through such a thing? How do we deal with loss and grief?)
There are references to literary classics (and the author’s note at the end mentions some of them and also the conception of the project, its development, and its different incarnations), to historical artefacts and works of art, and the distinctive voice of the narrator (a mixture of wit, matter-of-factness and the odd flash of dark humour), the quality of the writing, and the story combine to make it a compelling and disquieting read. After reading this book, I’ve become very intrigued by the author, and I’m curious about his previous novel, as the protagonist of that book was also called Jim. That Jim was quickly becoming old and this one is determined to live forever. I wonder…
I recommend this book to people looking for an exceptional voice and a unique story, who don’t mind being challenged by difficult topics, dark subjects, and stories that don’t fit neatly into a clear genre. If you like to experiment and are looking for something different, I encourage you to give it a go.
October 16, 2020
Watch my review of 'The Last Feast' on YouTube
or read the full review at my blog Digital Amrit
tl;dr: 'The Last Feast' is an excellent science fiction novella which brings to mind old school stories like 'Who Goes There?' and 'Far Centaurus'. It is morbid, macabre and yet, wickedly creative.
Let me quickly summarize the story first - no spoilers since I am repeating what is there in the blurb. Our main character is Jim. He is highly motivated to keep living due to some events in his life. Jim is on an interstellar journey with a hand-picked crew when they have an unexpected encounter with a black hole. Time dilation occurs, and they are flung to the end of time when the heat-death of the universe has occurred.
Watch my review of 'The Last Feast' on YouTube
or read the full review at my blog Digital Amrit
or read the full review at my blog Digital Amrit
tl;dr: 'The Last Feast' is an excellent science fiction novella which brings to mind old school stories like 'Who Goes There?' and 'Far Centaurus'. It is morbid, macabre and yet, wickedly creative.
Let me quickly summarize the story first - no spoilers since I am repeating what is there in the blurb. Our main character is Jim. He is highly motivated to keep living due to some events in his life. Jim is on an interstellar journey with a hand-picked crew when they have an unexpected encounter with a black hole. Time dilation occurs, and they are flung to the end of time when the heat-death of the universe has occurred.
Watch my review of 'The Last Feast' on YouTube
or read the full review at my blog Digital Amrit
February 28, 2021
Interesting that this was at first intended to be a screenplay, because the writing style in some sections is very much dialogue driven and the actions even seem like stage directions for actors. That's pretty neat though, especially for a self published sci fi book, the prose style is pretty direct and gets across the concepts really clearly and leaves the horrible stuff to the imagination... which is cool as it doesn't relish in that kind of thing, but more focuses on giving some emotional impact rather than gratuitously trying to freak you out.
October 13, 2018
Ah, the last supper. A meal to be relished and enjoyed. A hearty meal, after all, you are what you eat.
But what is supper without entertainment?
A story perhaps before you go.
Jim is 1000+ years old. He keeps himself alive by cloning himself. This last time, the clone wins. So before he departs, he decides to share a story. Dinner and a story. Yum.
The story isn't pretty or easy. It's a story of survival. Of his survival. His will to live and to hope. How things came crashing down and yet through it all, he just couldn't expire and kept himself going. Yet, now here he is, singing for his supper again. Dancing like a monkey to his clone. It's through this story that you learn about Jim and the crew on the fated space shuttle. How they divide into two groups - those believing there was no hope and those who believed there is hope.
OMG! This book is twisted in a good way. I couldn't put it down. I started it last night and finished it before going to bed. Jim's story is both fascinating and heartbreaking. You learn so much about his life and what has happened to shape into what he is today. I'm not a science person by any means, but I understood everything that Mr. Haradon wrote about space travel and cloning.
If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, scare the hell out of you, and make you question what you are living your life for. This is the book. You will enjoy it.
But what is supper without entertainment?
A story perhaps before you go.
Jim is 1000+ years old. He keeps himself alive by cloning himself. This last time, the clone wins. So before he departs, he decides to share a story. Dinner and a story. Yum.
The story isn't pretty or easy. It's a story of survival. Of his survival. His will to live and to hope. How things came crashing down and yet through it all, he just couldn't expire and kept himself going. Yet, now here he is, singing for his supper again. Dancing like a monkey to his clone. It's through this story that you learn about Jim and the crew on the fated space shuttle. How they divide into two groups - those believing there was no hope and those who believed there is hope.
OMG! This book is twisted in a good way. I couldn't put it down. I started it last night and finished it before going to bed. Jim's story is both fascinating and heartbreaking. You learn so much about his life and what has happened to shape into what he is today. I'm not a science person by any means, but I understood everything that Mr. Haradon wrote about space travel and cloning.
If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat, scare the hell out of you, and make you question what you are living your life for. This is the book. You will enjoy it.
June 15, 2025
This was an ARC review. Thank you to the author, Zeb Haradon for providing a copy of the book.
This book is labeled science fiction but it could easily be considered horror. It is suspenseful, claustrophobic and left me saying WTF throughout most of it.
I loved it.
This very much reminded me of Question Not My Salt and Grandpappy. There's a little bit of gore and uncomfortable situations followed by that claustrophobic feeling that you get when characters are faced with those impossible lose-lose situations.
Jim is on a space trip to deliver and sell antiquities. He and two others are the owners of the expedition when suddenly their ship is sucked in through a black hole and they are propelled centuries into the future with no way back and no other signs of life. The chaos that ensues next is what you would expect from a situation like this, lack of food and resources, desperate attempts for rescue, alliances while others go rogue. However, I appreciated the suspense in the writing and that the author kept things moving quickly. There weren't lulls in the story and I finished the book in one sitting.
While there is some science-y words and concepts, this is not science fiction to the point that you need a map, a guide and a dictionary to follow along. As I mentioned before, I would definitely consider this more horror and thriller than pure science fiction. It will keep you reading and moves at the rate of a thriller.
Check your triggers as there is cannibalism and s3x in this book. Both of which will leave you in shock at times. The story starts out with the reader knowing that Jim is the last human in the universe but that doesn't mean there aren't still surprises at the end that leave you speechless.
I gave this one 🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮.
This was a fun ride. I hope you check it out!
This book is labeled science fiction but it could easily be considered horror. It is suspenseful, claustrophobic and left me saying WTF throughout most of it.
I loved it.
This very much reminded me of Question Not My Salt and Grandpappy. There's a little bit of gore and uncomfortable situations followed by that claustrophobic feeling that you get when characters are faced with those impossible lose-lose situations.
Jim is on a space trip to deliver and sell antiquities. He and two others are the owners of the expedition when suddenly their ship is sucked in through a black hole and they are propelled centuries into the future with no way back and no other signs of life. The chaos that ensues next is what you would expect from a situation like this, lack of food and resources, desperate attempts for rescue, alliances while others go rogue. However, I appreciated the suspense in the writing and that the author kept things moving quickly. There weren't lulls in the story and I finished the book in one sitting.
While there is some science-y words and concepts, this is not science fiction to the point that you need a map, a guide and a dictionary to follow along. As I mentioned before, I would definitely consider this more horror and thriller than pure science fiction. It will keep you reading and moves at the rate of a thriller.
Check your triggers as there is cannibalism and s3x in this book. Both of which will leave you in shock at times. The story starts out with the reader knowing that Jim is the last human in the universe but that doesn't mean there aren't still surprises at the end that leave you speechless.
I gave this one 🌮🌮🌮🌮🌮.
This was a fun ride. I hope you check it out!
February 25, 2023
Super weird and really fuckin fun for how wildly depressing and nihilistic it is.
My favorite thing I'm discovering about Zeb's work is the sheer amount of creativity and unique ideas crammed into every single corner of his books.
Most authors are incredibly precious with their big ideas. They hold on tightly to their favorites to try and deploy them at the perfect moments. They try and craft entire novels to milk a single powerful idea. Zeb says fuck that shit, I'll shove more creativity into a 150 page novella than most authors will trickle out over a 1200 page trilogy, dump those babies out, he says, I'm an indefatigable fucking font of gonzo ass brilliance.
Breath of fresh fucking air this guy is. I love it.
My favorite thing I'm discovering about Zeb's work is the sheer amount of creativity and unique ideas crammed into every single corner of his books.
Most authors are incredibly precious with their big ideas. They hold on tightly to their favorites to try and deploy them at the perfect moments. They try and craft entire novels to milk a single powerful idea. Zeb says fuck that shit, I'll shove more creativity into a 150 page novella than most authors will trickle out over a 1200 page trilogy, dump those babies out, he says, I'm an indefatigable fucking font of gonzo ass brilliance.
Breath of fresh fucking air this guy is. I love it.
August 5, 2018
Some time ago I wrote a review of The Usurper King written by Zeb Haradon. I loved the book and I rated it with 5 out of 5. Recently I was again contacted by the author, who asked me to review his newest work. He offered also a copy of his book. According to Zeb, this one is in a bit different format – it’s much shorter and much, much darker. Being a fan of dark books, I was intrigued of course. I read it and now I’d like to share with you my honest review.
The book already starts on a dark note. Jim is the only human in the universe and he lives in a small escape pod. He generates energy by cycling and, in order to have something to eat, he performs a ritual. He copies himself and one of them is slaughtered so that the other one can survive. In the book Jim is telling a story, how he got here. Initially it started with a crew of seven (if I’m not mistaking) people, who were travelling to Alpha Centauri for a trade deal. On the way they got too close to previously unknown black hole and they travelled trillions and trillions years into the future. The universe is close to collapsing, which means that they are the only living beings in the universe, orbiting around the only black hole.
You can find more details, including what I liked and didn't like about the book on my blog here: http://www.notesofabookdragon.com/201...
The book already starts on a dark note. Jim is the only human in the universe and he lives in a small escape pod. He generates energy by cycling and, in order to have something to eat, he performs a ritual. He copies himself and one of them is slaughtered so that the other one can survive. In the book Jim is telling a story, how he got here. Initially it started with a crew of seven (if I’m not mistaking) people, who were travelling to Alpha Centauri for a trade deal. On the way they got too close to previously unknown black hole and they travelled trillions and trillions years into the future. The universe is close to collapsing, which means that they are the only living beings in the universe, orbiting around the only black hole.
You can find more details, including what I liked and didn't like about the book on my blog here: http://www.notesofabookdragon.com/201...
July 2, 2018
I received a copy of this for a fair and honest review. I got a paper copy of this from the author. I read the blurb over and over and the title with some doubt. I was not sure what I was going to find with the page of this book. I am not going to lie I was a bit take back by what I read. I had not been ready for what happened or the way they went about it. The story telling was well done and I did not find any holes to the plot. It still gives me a bit of the creeps. I guess I did not know that I could be shocked like that anymore after all that I have read. Thanks Zeb for showing me that even I can still be shocked and overwhelmed. It was a good read over all. If you want to know what got under my skin you are going to have to read it for yourself.
December 22, 2018
Creative, though disturbing, story. I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I don't want to give away parts of the story, but I will say it's worth the read if you don't mind sensitive topics and you don't have a weak stomach. It's a science fiction tale that is unlike anything else you've read.
February 27, 2021
Review forthcoming
December 7, 2018
3.5/4 Stars
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fairly gripping read, albeit dark. There is no true hope in its pages, which means it was a bit exhausting for me.
The author's sharp intellect was very obvious throughout the whole book. While he is not gifted with describing (I found the more illustrative scenes to be clunky), his take on human interaction, primal needs, and philosophical thought was incredible. I think he would have the ability to write a keen stream of consciousness story.
Now, those are the reasons why I gave the book a solid 3.5 rating. I didn't give it more because I found myself unsure of the soundness of some things (I won't go into too much detail for fear of spoilers), and because there are a handful of grammar errors and continuity problems. Dot became Alice, Alice became Dot in some scenes. Sloppy editing.
Still, this read had me interested until the end. Though it was depressing and quite...mature (lots of sex and gore), I was intrigued until the last page.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fairly gripping read, albeit dark. There is no true hope in its pages, which means it was a bit exhausting for me.
The author's sharp intellect was very obvious throughout the whole book. While he is not gifted with describing (I found the more illustrative scenes to be clunky), his take on human interaction, primal needs, and philosophical thought was incredible. I think he would have the ability to write a keen stream of consciousness story.
Now, those are the reasons why I gave the book a solid 3.5 rating. I didn't give it more because I found myself unsure of the soundness of some things (I won't go into too much detail for fear of spoilers), and because there are a handful of grammar errors and continuity problems. Dot became Alice, Alice became Dot in some scenes. Sloppy editing.
Still, this read had me interested until the end. Though it was depressing and quite...mature (lots of sex and gore), I was intrigued until the last page.
February 28, 2021
I wouldn't even say this was strictly a sci-fi book, even though it has many of the trappings and concepts involved; but more existentialist, personal and deep. The character's motivations are pretty spot on and the titular "last feast" is a very haunting and grim idea. The flashback (how we got here) story reminds me of survivalist dramas like Lord of the Flies or Alive; what with all the power struggles. There's a lot of content here for a relatively short book; which is cool because it doesn't get boring, and it's definitely thought provoking whilst at the same time not telling you what to think.
December 10, 2018
The whole story is very morbid but you can’t help but be sucked in from the very first page. You wanted to know how it all happened, what is happening. This story summons up human nature so well.
The sci-fi elements were amazingly well done. Loved what was added and loved the bigger picture the Author had built.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the Author. Does not affect my review)
The sci-fi elements were amazingly well done. Loved what was added and loved the bigger picture the Author had built.
(Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the Author. Does not affect my review)
April 11, 2023
At first I thought The Last Feast was going to be about a guy who had to survive in the nether regions of space on his own. But the beginning portion of the tale, which prepares readers well for the bleakness ahead, is actually the aftermath of an exciting and harrowing story that the narrator, Jim, tells his cloned self.
In a nutshell, the story is about a space crew of several people who get caught in a time warp within a black hole that hurtles them to the very end of time, where there is not a speck of life in the universe. Even stars have burned out in this world. This was a horrifying concept that took me a minute to wrap my mind around.
As generally happens with these sort of space odysseys, the crew members start bickering and taking sides as mayhem ensues aboard ship. The so-called leader, Martin, heads up this mess, wasting valuable fuel and resources on the ship to try to reach out to an empty non-universe. Jim and his full-time lover, Alice, whom he eventually falls deeply in love with (and she with him) are the heroes we’re rooting for in this tale, but their circumstances are bleak, to say the least.
At one point in the story, Jim and a crew member named Dot leave the ship in their space suits and make a discovery on a rock in the black hole. It’s a tense scene in which you know something bad is going to happen, and of course it does.
Author Zeb Haradon has a unique way of writing both descriptively and cryptically. Taboo topics such as out-of-control sex and cannibalism are the order of the day in “The Last Feast,” which I read quickly because it's just one of those stories.
My one criticism is that the narrator’s thoughts about his family from long ago often slowed down the pace of the book. Then again, the guy is several hundred years old (though he looks like he’s in his thirties), so I guess we can cut him some slack if he feels like daydreaming.
In a nutshell, the story is about a space crew of several people who get caught in a time warp within a black hole that hurtles them to the very end of time, where there is not a speck of life in the universe. Even stars have burned out in this world. This was a horrifying concept that took me a minute to wrap my mind around.
As generally happens with these sort of space odysseys, the crew members start bickering and taking sides as mayhem ensues aboard ship. The so-called leader, Martin, heads up this mess, wasting valuable fuel and resources on the ship to try to reach out to an empty non-universe. Jim and his full-time lover, Alice, whom he eventually falls deeply in love with (and she with him) are the heroes we’re rooting for in this tale, but their circumstances are bleak, to say the least.
At one point in the story, Jim and a crew member named Dot leave the ship in their space suits and make a discovery on a rock in the black hole. It’s a tense scene in which you know something bad is going to happen, and of course it does.
Author Zeb Haradon has a unique way of writing both descriptively and cryptically. Taboo topics such as out-of-control sex and cannibalism are the order of the day in “The Last Feast,” which I read quickly because it's just one of those stories.
My one criticism is that the narrator’s thoughts about his family from long ago often slowed down the pace of the book. Then again, the guy is several hundred years old (though he looks like he’s in his thirties), so I guess we can cut him some slack if he feels like daydreaming.
May 17, 2021
Read the full review here: https://onreviewbysara.com/2021/05/16...
I was lucky enough to read this book after the author reached out to me and provided me with an ARC. I hope the prospective reader will read this review fully before making any prejudgments on the book. I will give the book my thoughts. These thoughts are completely my own and not swayed in any way by anyone else’s reviews or opinions.
Check out my blog for more: www.onreviewbysara.com
My Rating: I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I did enjoy this book, but something about it was hard to swallow. I do not mind dark themes, but maybe this book has a bit darker themes than I could handle. Survival stories like this are harder for me to connect to. I find that overall, even though I liked this book, I read it once, but it may not be my go-to book on my read again shelf. If you’re up for it, read this book. It will be worth your time.
I was lucky enough to read this book after the author reached out to me and provided me with an ARC. I hope the prospective reader will read this review fully before making any prejudgments on the book. I will give the book my thoughts. These thoughts are completely my own and not swayed in any way by anyone else’s reviews or opinions.
Check out my blog for more: www.onreviewbysara.com
My Rating: I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. I did enjoy this book, but something about it was hard to swallow. I do not mind dark themes, but maybe this book has a bit darker themes than I could handle. Survival stories like this are harder for me to connect to. I find that overall, even though I liked this book, I read it once, but it may not be my go-to book on my read again shelf. If you’re up for it, read this book. It will be worth your time.
April 11, 2023
This book had a very gripping prologue and an equally satisfying epilogue. Right from the start I was curious to find out what was going to happen next. This book also didn't take forever to read, which was nice given the scope of the story (though it is clear that there is far more going on in this world than what is shown in the novel)
The parts in between kept me thinking and engaged, though some of the lengthy descriptions in such a short book had me skimming from time to time.
The story had a dark tone to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. There were multiple times when the past events intertwine with present and typically this added another layer of sadness to the tale. It really had me thinking about what I would do if I were put in the same situation.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who likes Rick and Morty. Reminded me a lot of that.
The parts in between kept me thinking and engaged, though some of the lengthy descriptions in such a short book had me skimming from time to time.
The story had a dark tone to it, which I thoroughly enjoyed. There were multiple times when the past events intertwine with present and typically this added another layer of sadness to the tale. It really had me thinking about what I would do if I were put in the same situation.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who likes Rick and Morty. Reminded me a lot of that.
February 11, 2024
Though I had a difficult time relating to the protagonist, Jim, a thousand-year-old retired veterinarian in space trying desperately to survive at the end of universe, I did enjoy graphic depictions of his sex life and reading about how he found ways to metabolize sawdust. Five stars.
March 24, 2024
Brutal, dark, fast-paced. I could feel Jim's despair. Short, vivid flashbacks. Tension picks up nicely. Surprising in its wistful exploration of love and hope.
September 15, 2025
The last feast is an end of the universe apocalyptic sci fi story. Think skeletons in space suits, 2021 a space odyssey, or David Bowie's Dark Star video with tinges and hints of vampires and Egyptian mythology. The author wrote this story after watching a National Geographic film about Crocodiles and Zebras engaged in a life or death struggle during a drought and uses that metaphor repeatedly through the book.
Written in first person the narrative is framed as an exchange between the last man in the universe telling his tale to his clone who will kill him and eat him (The last feast) as they circle around a giant black hole after a space ship travelling at the speed of light and carrying ancient earth artefacts is hurtled into the future, right to the end of time. The universe is dead. And they are going to die too. Soon things go full "Lord of the Flies."
Sounds great so why not five stars? Well, a couple of things. Although it is generally well written, and well plotted there are some things brought into the story and then dumped without really explaining them. Why is the man 2000 thousand years older than everyone else? What is the significance of a bruise that lasts for weeks. What is the significance of eating and existing on ground up mummy remains and scroll. To many metaphors and hints are not fully developed. Yes one man's subtlety is an another man's missed opportunity, but while I can accept that once or twice, it just keeps happening to often.
Also it's a bit too gloomy. The crew splits into two factions, seek help or preserve energy. There's no option to attempt to travel back in time, and I also have to say, the preserve energy and then die option does not sound appealing. Death by starvation in tin can floating in space. Yeah back to David Bowie again.
And then there's the sex. I know sex is the hardest thing to write about and yes I suppose if I was the last man on earth (with the last woman) then what else would there be to do, but there is a lot of it in the book and it's not good. Imagine you're in the pub and the local bore wants to go on and on about how virile he is. As I say, Sex scenes are hard (no pun intended). So why fill half the book with them, especially when your not very good at writing them.
So yes I know. Now it sounds like its not a four star book, but the story is strong, the imagery is good and does have that funky 60s space vibe. Just skip over the sex, I did. Although again each to their own. Maybe you'll like it better than me. Thousands liked Shades of Grey. And sex scenes are not as awful as that. If this was cut down to a short story it would be fantastic. As a padded out Novella less so.
Written in first person the narrative is framed as an exchange between the last man in the universe telling his tale to his clone who will kill him and eat him (The last feast) as they circle around a giant black hole after a space ship travelling at the speed of light and carrying ancient earth artefacts is hurtled into the future, right to the end of time. The universe is dead. And they are going to die too. Soon things go full "Lord of the Flies."
Sounds great so why not five stars? Well, a couple of things. Although it is generally well written, and well plotted there are some things brought into the story and then dumped without really explaining them. Why is the man 2000 thousand years older than everyone else? What is the significance of a bruise that lasts for weeks. What is the significance of eating and existing on ground up mummy remains and scroll. To many metaphors and hints are not fully developed. Yes one man's subtlety is an another man's missed opportunity, but while I can accept that once or twice, it just keeps happening to often.
Also it's a bit too gloomy. The crew splits into two factions, seek help or preserve energy. There's no option to attempt to travel back in time, and I also have to say, the preserve energy and then die option does not sound appealing. Death by starvation in tin can floating in space. Yeah back to David Bowie again.
And then there's the sex. I know sex is the hardest thing to write about and yes I suppose if I was the last man on earth (with the last woman) then what else would there be to do, but there is a lot of it in the book and it's not good. Imagine you're in the pub and the local bore wants to go on and on about how virile he is. As I say, Sex scenes are hard (no pun intended). So why fill half the book with them, especially when your not very good at writing them.
So yes I know. Now it sounds like its not a four star book, but the story is strong, the imagery is good and does have that funky 60s space vibe. Just skip over the sex, I did. Although again each to their own. Maybe you'll like it better than me. Thousands liked Shades of Grey. And sex scenes are not as awful as that. If this was cut down to a short story it would be fantastic. As a padded out Novella less so.
May 9, 2023
Dark, grim, realistic and never a dull moment. If you enjoyed The Road, this one’s for you.
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