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Popcorn: A Tale of Cosmic Horror
When the post-War world of 1950s America emerges as a prolific time for growing families, some couples discover that they aren't so lucky as others.
After years of trying, Alice and her husband finally conceive a child. While at first their joy knows no boundaries, they soon learn an unavoidable truth they never
Be careful what you wish for.
After years of trying, Alice and her husband finally conceive a child. While at first their joy knows no boundaries, they soon learn an unavoidable truth they never
Be careful what you wish for.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2018
1 person is currently reading
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 23, 2021
What a bizarre and strange story. I am still in shock and processing it....
April 9, 2022
Short cosmic horror
It’s an interesting cosmic horror concept. Short and sweet and just a bit longer that campfire story length.
Is exactly what it is advertised to be. If you enjoy cosmic horror this is a fun read with an interesting ending.
It’s an interesting cosmic horror concept. Short and sweet and just a bit longer that campfire story length.
Is exactly what it is advertised to be. If you enjoy cosmic horror this is a fun read with an interesting ending.
January 16, 2019
The beginning of this story seemed promising, but the pacing totally ruined it. I was able to finish this since it's so short, but I have a feeling that if it were any longer I wouldn't be able to. I found this story to be anticlimactic — perhaps my expectations were too high, I dunno. I expected the cosmic horror in this story to be, well, scary, or at least creepy. But this has none of that. It actually came off as "so un-scary it's almost comical".
For the most part, I forgot this was supposed to be a horror. I read this before going to bed with no problem. I honestly think the fact that I spent money on this scared me more than anything mentioned in this short story.
I didn't find this story scary (or funny, if that was the intention), and I was more interested in finding out the reason behind the endosperm phenomenon than I was in seeing the mention of a UFO at random. The ending was so abrupt and disappointing. I'm gonna mention the pacing once more. The first 25 or so pages move so slowly that it feels like the beginning of a full-length novel instead of a short story. Everything after that feels rushed.
There's a plot hole, too, I think. The latter stayed in the back of my mind while I read this, and I never got an answer. It was such a weird occurrence, too. I'm probably overlooking something (if I am, well, that's embarrassing) but from what I can tell, a (very) minor character had no reason to be in here at all. I just can't figure that part out. I doubt I'm going to read this again, though. It's just not worth trying to figure out. Was it symbolism? Foreshadowing? I don't know. I no longer care.
I don't usually review books or stories in-depth, but I thought I should share my thoughts this time around since I had a lot of problems with this one.
For the most part, I forgot this was supposed to be a horror. I read this before going to bed with no problem. I honestly think the fact that I spent money on this scared me more than anything mentioned in this short story.
I didn't find this story scary (or funny, if that was the intention), and I was more interested in finding out the reason behind the endosperm phenomenon than I was in seeing the mention of a UFO at random. The ending was so abrupt and disappointing. I'm gonna mention the pacing once more. The first 25 or so pages move so slowly that it feels like the beginning of a full-length novel instead of a short story. Everything after that feels rushed.
There's a plot hole, too, I think. The latter stayed in the back of my mind while I read this, and I never got an answer. It was such a weird occurrence, too. I'm probably overlooking something (if I am, well, that's embarrassing) but from what I can tell, a (very) minor character had no reason to be in here at all. I just can't figure that part out. I doubt I'm going to read this again, though. It's just not worth trying to figure out. Was it symbolism? Foreshadowing? I don't know. I no longer care.
I don't usually review books or stories in-depth, but I thought I should share my thoughts this time around since I had a lot of problems with this one.
April 15, 2019
I like the idea, I guess.
I don't really know what to say. I liked the idea, and thought it was fun, but I completely forgot it is supposed to be a cosmic horror.
The pasing was very slow to begin with and the ending was very rushed, however it is a very quick read. Lots of plot holes.
What annoyed me the most was how the author tried to make it clear that this was supposed to be "in the olden days" after the war and what not. Mentioning "back then there were no air conditioning" and "back then the sex education wasn't very great" (paraphrasing). This really annoyed me and seemed to me to be unnecessary, and happened way too often.
I got this for free as an ebook. I liked the idea and it was a quick read.
I don't really know what to say. I liked the idea, and thought it was fun, but I completely forgot it is supposed to be a cosmic horror.
The pasing was very slow to begin with and the ending was very rushed, however it is a very quick read. Lots of plot holes.
What annoyed me the most was how the author tried to make it clear that this was supposed to be "in the olden days" after the war and what not. Mentioning "back then there were no air conditioning" and "back then the sex education wasn't very great" (paraphrasing). This really annoyed me and seemed to me to be unnecessary, and happened way too often.
I got this for free as an ebook. I liked the idea and it was a quick read.
February 5, 2020
Not too much to say about this story. But to summarize, Jack and Alice live a simple, normal life in the 1950s. Jack goes to work everyday while Alice takes care of the household. She longs for a baby to complete her happy housewife life and after getting pregnant with twins a surprise happens in the delivery room. There's honestly not much of a plot to this story. There was a little build at the beginning with the mystery salesman and the always empty movie theater. The ending basically turns into a little scifi twist, if you would call it that. Not one of my favorite short stories but no so terrible either.
May 1, 2019
A passport and lots of money is not the only way to get out of this world in Sylvester Olson's Lovecraftian short story.
April 11, 2020
Very weird in a good way
A very odd story that was never boring. The more I think about it the stranger it feels to me. I enjoyed my time in this twisted world.
A very odd story that was never boring. The more I think about it the stranger it feels to me. I enjoyed my time in this twisted world.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews