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Para Spectral: Hauntings of Wraeththu
Para Spectral is the fifth Wraeththu Mythos anthology. Authors from around the world have contributed stories, exploring Storm Constantine’s alluring and mysterious Wraeththu: the androgynous, enhanced race that have come to replace humanity upon earth.
Hara are by nature acutely psychic, able to perceive far more beyond physical senses that humans ever could. In a haunted spot – whatever its nature, if only a lingering sense of guilt or terror from a past conflict – hara are more susceptible to witness whatever might have remained hidden to the majority of human eyes.
What ghosts might haunt a Wraeththu har? Phantoms of the dead – whether humans, hara or something else? Perhaps they perceive ‘stone tape’ memories of the past that have soaked into buildings, fields and forests to replay ancient events at certain times? They might face chaotic entities that cause havoc, or manifestations from etheric realms, beings that leak into earthly reality from the otherlanes. They could even experience inner hauntings, where a har harbours secrets of which he’s never spoken that come to plague him. All these and more manifest in Para Spectral. Ten previously-unpublished short stories and novelettes of the eerie and uncanny.
Contents:
Introduction – Storm Constantine,
The Wraeththu: A Brief Definition of Their Origin
Recalled to Life – Maria J. Leel
A Handful of Sea Coins – Nerine Dorman
The Museum – Amanda Kear
The Kinder Lie – Fiona Lane
The Hardest Hue to Hold – E. S. Wynn
The Ghost of Who I Was – Zane Marc Gentis
Winds of Vengeance – Martina Bellovičová,
The Strangest Ghost of Apaley – Christiane Gertz,
The Emptiness Next Door – Storm Constantine,
Alas, What is Done in Youth – Wendy Darling
Hara are by nature acutely psychic, able to perceive far more beyond physical senses that humans ever could. In a haunted spot – whatever its nature, if only a lingering sense of guilt or terror from a past conflict – hara are more susceptible to witness whatever might have remained hidden to the majority of human eyes.
What ghosts might haunt a Wraeththu har? Phantoms of the dead – whether humans, hara or something else? Perhaps they perceive ‘stone tape’ memories of the past that have soaked into buildings, fields and forests to replay ancient events at certain times? They might face chaotic entities that cause havoc, or manifestations from etheric realms, beings that leak into earthly reality from the otherlanes. They could even experience inner hauntings, where a har harbours secrets of which he’s never spoken that come to plague him. All these and more manifest in Para Spectral. Ten previously-unpublished short stories and novelettes of the eerie and uncanny.
Contents:
Introduction – Storm Constantine,
The Wraeththu: A Brief Definition of Their Origin
Recalled to Life – Maria J. Leel
A Handful of Sea Coins – Nerine Dorman
The Museum – Amanda Kear
The Kinder Lie – Fiona Lane
The Hardest Hue to Hold – E. S. Wynn
The Ghost of Who I Was – Zane Marc Gentis
Winds of Vengeance – Martina Bellovičová,
The Strangest Ghost of Apaley – Christiane Gertz,
The Emptiness Next Door – Storm Constantine,
Alas, What is Done in Youth – Wendy Darling
431 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 10, 2018
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Storm Constantine
144 books502 followersStorm Constantine was a British science fiction and fantasy author, primarily known for her Wraeththu series.
Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.
In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.
Since the late 1980s she wrote more than 20 novels, plus several non-fiction books. She is featured in the Goth Bible and is often included in discussions of alternative sexuality and gender in science fiction and fantasy; many of her novels include same-sex relationships or hermaphrodites or other twists of gender. Magic, mysticism and ancient legends (like the Grigori) also figure strongly in her works.
In 2003 she launched Immanion Press, based out of Stafford, England. The publishing company publishes not only her own works but those of new writers, as well as well-known genre writers, mainly from the UK.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 26, 2019
I put off reading this for quite a while because, frankly, I'm not into ghost story stuff at all; I don't like jumping at shadows and sounds for a week after I read or watch something creepy. But, this collection was a pleasant surprise. There were a few stories that stood out, though there were also a few duds.
Recalled to Life by Maria J. Leel
I'm showing my age, and how long I've been in the Wraeththu fandom, when I say I remember this story from the "old days" when it was a Round Robin fic. Well, I can say this version is a lot better, and the nostalgia of a Fallsend setting certainly helped. I wish this had more to it, as I wanted to see Toban and Alessi become closer to each other, but it felt pretty much complete as is.
A Handful of Sea Coins by Nerine Dorman
I... didn't really like this all that much. It had interesting bits, but overall it was vague and there didn't seem to be much of a point to things happening, or at least that's the impression I got. Like the setup didn't quite fit the rest of it (harling with mysterious origins is neglected by his guardian, then gets sent off to grow up elsewhere, but that bit is practically skipped over, then comes back and learns about The Mystery), and while I recognize the "point" of the tropes and archetypes used, I don't think they were well utilized. Also, the twist was rather obvious, and there were still unanswered questions by the end. I don't really like implied answers to things; either explain it or don't.
The Museum by Amanda Kear
Again, nostalgia hits with this one. I'm quite fond of stories that are set in places the original six books spent time in, or that have a similar feel to them. Nitty gritty survivalists, characters who aren't "civilized" or blindly idealistic, are the ones I tend to be drawn to. Overall, I liked this story, though it did feel condensed and as a result it comes off as rushed, and it crams a whole lot into relatively few words. My only issue is that the main goal of the characters was... well, a bit absurd. Poor Drey was right in more ways than he knew. I know hara have magic and abilities that tend to be all sorts of weird or convenient, but raising dead museum animals back to life, and expecting them to thrive again, is ridiculous and corny. Not to mention the fact that museum displays are more likely replicas.
The Kinder Lie by Fiona Lane
Aaaagh, too short! I need more of this, dammit. It hooked me real good, and I have a mighty need to know more. Apparently I'm a sucker for angst about seer abilities and mysteries around that.
The Hardest Hue to Hold by E.S. Wynn
Meh. Archetypal "character is helped by others to have an epiphany" or whatever. To be honest, I don't really like this author's works much, so I'm not surprised this fell flat for me. I haven't even bothered buying the third book in his trilogy because, frankly, his characters are boring 2D archetypes and his ideas are derivative. And I usually buy all Wraeththu-related books, but after struggling through the first two of his, I decided I shouldn't waste more money on him.
The Ghost of Who I Was by Zane Marc Gentis
This... was a weird one. On the one hand it had some interesting bits, but on the other it was a somewhat confusing (and unnecessary) split between vivid dream/vision flashbacks and "aftermath" that, when you finally get to the end, you realize the "aftermath" didn't quite happen, or something. Also? Putting harlings through a terrifying rite of passage to adulthood seems rather cruel, especially when said violent visions feel all too real until they wake up, and realize their friends aren't actually dead. Like, what the fuck, y'all. Way to traumatize the new generation for no good reason.
Winds of Vengeance by Martina Bellovičová
Ahh, Freyhella. Nostalgia bomb again. Also, Tyr and Galdra! Briefly, anyway. And this was a satisfyingly long story, too. The main character needed a good shake and maybe a punch to the face, but... he got the equivalent in the end, so I guess it worked out. Also, dammit, I need more of this. I want to know more about the settlement and also about the aftermath of that mess.
The Strangest Ghost of Apaley by Christiane Gertz
Another good one, though it kind of drives me a bit batty to not know for sure who the mysterious character was. I'm pretty damn sure it's who I think it is, but arrrrgh, not knowing is bugging me. That aside, the main characters were interesting and as usual, I want to know more about them.
The Emptiness Next Door by Storm Constantine
Ferelithia! ...And this story sure fits the pattern Storm has been writing in her shorts, and even the longer stories, for a while now: Har recently moved to a new town, gets a nice old (usually human-era) house, things happen that are mysterious and/or creepy, resolution is found, the end. That said, this was still engaging even if I felt I'd read most of it before. It was also the creepiest of the bunch and was probably not a great idea for me to read just before falling asleep.
Alas, What is Done in Youth by Wendy Darling
This was interesting and creepy, though some questions remain unanswered and it felt somewhat flat in parts. Due to it being from the POV of the harling's guardian, who is an outsider, we don't get to know what the hell is really going on until rather far in, and even then there's no full context or real reasons given for why things happened the way they did, so I'm left with the impression that the side characters are plot devices rather than characters. So it was a bit disappointing in that way.
Recalled to Life by Maria J. Leel
I'm showing my age, and how long I've been in the Wraeththu fandom, when I say I remember this story from the "old days" when it was a Round Robin fic. Well, I can say this version is a lot better, and the nostalgia of a Fallsend setting certainly helped. I wish this had more to it, as I wanted to see Toban and Alessi become closer to each other, but it felt pretty much complete as is.
A Handful of Sea Coins by Nerine Dorman
I... didn't really like this all that much. It had interesting bits, but overall it was vague and there didn't seem to be much of a point to things happening, or at least that's the impression I got. Like the setup didn't quite fit the rest of it (harling with mysterious origins is neglected by his guardian, then gets sent off to grow up elsewhere, but that bit is practically skipped over, then comes back and learns about The Mystery), and while I recognize the "point" of the tropes and archetypes used, I don't think they were well utilized. Also, the twist was rather obvious, and there were still unanswered questions by the end. I don't really like implied answers to things; either explain it or don't.
The Museum by Amanda Kear
Again, nostalgia hits with this one. I'm quite fond of stories that are set in places the original six books spent time in, or that have a similar feel to them. Nitty gritty survivalists, characters who aren't "civilized" or blindly idealistic, are the ones I tend to be drawn to. Overall, I liked this story, though it did feel condensed and as a result it comes off as rushed, and it crams a whole lot into relatively few words. My only issue is that the main goal of the characters was... well, a bit absurd. Poor Drey was right in more ways than he knew. I know hara have magic and abilities that tend to be all sorts of weird or convenient, but raising dead museum animals back to life, and expecting them to thrive again, is ridiculous and corny. Not to mention the fact that museum displays are more likely replicas.
The Kinder Lie by Fiona Lane
Aaaagh, too short! I need more of this, dammit. It hooked me real good, and I have a mighty need to know more. Apparently I'm a sucker for angst about seer abilities and mysteries around that.
The Hardest Hue to Hold by E.S. Wynn
Meh. Archetypal "character is helped by others to have an epiphany" or whatever. To be honest, I don't really like this author's works much, so I'm not surprised this fell flat for me. I haven't even bothered buying the third book in his trilogy because, frankly, his characters are boring 2D archetypes and his ideas are derivative. And I usually buy all Wraeththu-related books, but after struggling through the first two of his, I decided I shouldn't waste more money on him.
The Ghost of Who I Was by Zane Marc Gentis
This... was a weird one. On the one hand it had some interesting bits, but on the other it was a somewhat confusing (and unnecessary) split between vivid dream/vision flashbacks and "aftermath" that, when you finally get to the end, you realize the "aftermath" didn't quite happen, or something. Also? Putting harlings through a terrifying rite of passage to adulthood seems rather cruel, especially when said violent visions feel all too real until they wake up, and realize their friends aren't actually dead. Like, what the fuck, y'all. Way to traumatize the new generation for no good reason.
Winds of Vengeance by Martina Bellovičová
Ahh, Freyhella. Nostalgia bomb again. Also, Tyr and Galdra! Briefly, anyway. And this was a satisfyingly long story, too. The main character needed a good shake and maybe a punch to the face, but... he got the equivalent in the end, so I guess it worked out. Also, dammit, I need more of this. I want to know more about the settlement and also about the aftermath of that mess.
The Strangest Ghost of Apaley by Christiane Gertz
Another good one, though it kind of drives me a bit batty to not know for sure who the mysterious character was. I'm pretty damn sure it's who I think it is, but arrrrgh, not knowing is bugging me. That aside, the main characters were interesting and as usual, I want to know more about them.
The Emptiness Next Door by Storm Constantine
Ferelithia! ...And this story sure fits the pattern Storm has been writing in her shorts, and even the longer stories, for a while now: Har recently moved to a new town, gets a nice old (usually human-era) house, things happen that are mysterious and/or creepy, resolution is found, the end. That said, this was still engaging even if I felt I'd read most of it before. It was also the creepiest of the bunch and was probably not a great idea for me to read just before falling asleep.
Alas, What is Done in Youth by Wendy Darling
This was interesting and creepy, though some questions remain unanswered and it felt somewhat flat in parts. Due to it being from the POV of the harling's guardian, who is an outsider, we don't get to know what the hell is really going on until rather far in, and even then there's no full context or real reasons given for why things happened the way they did, so I'm left with the impression that the side characters are plot devices rather than characters. So it was a bit disappointing in that way.
Displaying 1 of 1 review