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Remnants
Strange clouds on the horizon herald the coming of the swarm. The undulating masses of the hoard cannot be stopped. Terrifying creatures roam the Earth, seemingly with no aim but to devour all that stands before them. Experience the end of the world as we know it with these fourteen tales of horror, survival, and hope. The world ends in a frenzy of death and miasma of terror, but what will become of the remnants of humanity?
Fourteen tales of post-apocalyptic survival horror!
Fourteen tales of post-apocalyptic survival horror!
- GenresHorror
Kindle Edition
Published August 7, 2020
16 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 4, 2020
Lives up to its name
Not your standard three-part tale with a beginning, middle, and end but instead it is as the title suggests, remnants of individual stories. Key moments in time for various protagonists throughout random stages of an apocalyptic event. Some are odd, some wildly gruesome, and some incredibly touching. Have to give it props for what it is attempting to do which is to tell a different kind of story and in that way, it excels.
Not your standard three-part tale with a beginning, middle, and end but instead it is as the title suggests, remnants of individual stories. Key moments in time for various protagonists throughout random stages of an apocalyptic event. Some are odd, some wildly gruesome, and some incredibly touching. Have to give it props for what it is attempting to do which is to tell a different kind of story and in that way, it excels.
October 22, 2020
If you like horror and like post-apocalyptic tales then this anthology is your jam. Surprisingly, the majority of the stories focus in on the human aspect of the world and how they deal with the horrible creatures/monsters which isn't really my thing. I'm very into learning about the beasts of the world, but that doesn't take away from the stories.
I'm giving it four stars because it's a great series of horror stories that scratch that itch. My only knock is some of the stories are a bit old rehashed. That's not a bad thing if you like the genre.
I recommend.
I'm giving it four stars because it's a great series of horror stories that scratch that itch. My only knock is some of the stories are a bit old rehashed. That's not a bad thing if you like the genre.
I recommend.
April 28, 2020
Remnants is a shared world anthology, featuring 14 tales of post-apocalyptic science fiction, heavy on the horror with a splash of supernatural. All of the stories in this anthology share a world that has been ravaged by monsters of an unknown origin. Differentiated into two groups, the aerial "swarm" and terrestrial "horde", these creatures have decimated the planet in a one-two punch. The swarm arrives in a pall of purple storms, stinging and shocking their victims with enormous stingers, heralding the arrival of the horde. The horde is made up of massive eyeless creatures with mouths filled with rows upon rows of teeth. Impervious to man-made weapons, the horde tramples everything in their path. Yet these stories are not really about the unfamiliar monstrosities. Instead, Remnants focuses on the people left behind, the survivors of this new insanity, the last remaining dregs of humanity. Each author attempts to define who the heirs of this new nightmarish world really are.
Resistance by Stephen Coghlan is our introduction to this alien new world and one of the longest stories in the anthology. After finding a lost girl, what lengths will a survivor with no previous connection go to protect her? After the lengthy read of Resistance, First Swarm by J.D. Sanderson with its telling of two photojournalists' encounter with the Swarm was shockingly brief, but not without influence. These first two stories are a detailed look into this horrific new apocalyptic world.
Heatwave by Aaron Lee, my least favorite in the collection, describes a blogger's statistical profile of death, a scorecard for the entire planet. His creation of a digital "thermometer" to show the world the rising fever of the planet, turns into a first look into the carnage of the Swarm, as he tries to uncover the truth of what's happening.
Then there are those stories in which the survivors rediscover their own humanity. In Megan by J.D. Kellner, a cuckolded husband fights not only the Horde but his own regrets and resentment. Civilian and military alike trapped within an underground bunker find a moment's happiness in the mundane in Against the Darkness by Stephen Coghlan. The Brood by Ian Fairgrieve gives us a prison escapee's encounter with not only the creatures but with the rubbish of humanity, reminding him to not let this current world change him. Rian's Path by D.W. Hitz again focuses on humans as a greater threat when society breaks down.
The supernatural aspect of Remnants becomes clearer in The Other Side by Michael D. Nadeau as 17-year-old Alana explores the spiritual realm created by the deaths of those around her. This story really introduces another facet to the anthology with those who find themselves walking on the other side of the spiritual plane and what continues to drive them once survival becomes a nonissue. The ghostly Love Song by Rachel Ford is one of the most poignant pieces in the anthology, with an eternal love song and protection from beyond the grave. It was easily one of my favorites. This Sheltered Isle by Benjamin Hope transpires another transcendent ghostly encounter in the isolated Ministry of Defense base on the isle of Hirta in Scotland. Echoes of Faith by Alan Provance also satisfies supernatural wantings with the folk tradition of giving offerings to the spirits for protection.
Then there are those stories of survival however small the odds. The Badlands by Crystal L. Kirkham is an entertaining read of a band of survivors with a unique way of fighting back. In The Forgotten by A.A. Rubin another group of survivors makes their stand against the creatures and one survivor gets a little help from an unseen source. A Final Longing by Stephan Coghlan is the most science fiction leaning piece of the collection and perhaps one that gives hope to a new life.
Remnants is the anticipated mix of compelling and mediocre short stories. Some are stories of survival and hope while others are of destruction and despair. The insinuation of the spiritual realm amongst the earthly devastation was an interesting juxtaposition and one that gave necessary relief to the doom and gloom. This anthology certainly depicts a radically different hostile world, but one in which each person has the opportunity to decide who they will be when their back is against the wall and little hope for survival is imminent.
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Resistance by Stephen Coghlan is our introduction to this alien new world and one of the longest stories in the anthology. After finding a lost girl, what lengths will a survivor with no previous connection go to protect her? After the lengthy read of Resistance, First Swarm by J.D. Sanderson with its telling of two photojournalists' encounter with the Swarm was shockingly brief, but not without influence. These first two stories are a detailed look into this horrific new apocalyptic world.
Heatwave by Aaron Lee, my least favorite in the collection, describes a blogger's statistical profile of death, a scorecard for the entire planet. His creation of a digital "thermometer" to show the world the rising fever of the planet, turns into a first look into the carnage of the Swarm, as he tries to uncover the truth of what's happening.
Then there are those stories in which the survivors rediscover their own humanity. In Megan by J.D. Kellner, a cuckolded husband fights not only the Horde but his own regrets and resentment. Civilian and military alike trapped within an underground bunker find a moment's happiness in the mundane in Against the Darkness by Stephen Coghlan. The Brood by Ian Fairgrieve gives us a prison escapee's encounter with not only the creatures but with the rubbish of humanity, reminding him to not let this current world change him. Rian's Path by D.W. Hitz again focuses on humans as a greater threat when society breaks down.
The supernatural aspect of Remnants becomes clearer in The Other Side by Michael D. Nadeau as 17-year-old Alana explores the spiritual realm created by the deaths of those around her. This story really introduces another facet to the anthology with those who find themselves walking on the other side of the spiritual plane and what continues to drive them once survival becomes a nonissue. The ghostly Love Song by Rachel Ford is one of the most poignant pieces in the anthology, with an eternal love song and protection from beyond the grave. It was easily one of my favorites. This Sheltered Isle by Benjamin Hope transpires another transcendent ghostly encounter in the isolated Ministry of Defense base on the isle of Hirta in Scotland. Echoes of Faith by Alan Provance also satisfies supernatural wantings with the folk tradition of giving offerings to the spirits for protection.
Then there are those stories of survival however small the odds. The Badlands by Crystal L. Kirkham is an entertaining read of a band of survivors with a unique way of fighting back. In The Forgotten by A.A. Rubin another group of survivors makes their stand against the creatures and one survivor gets a little help from an unseen source. A Final Longing by Stephan Coghlan is the most science fiction leaning piece of the collection and perhaps one that gives hope to a new life.
Remnants is the anticipated mix of compelling and mediocre short stories. Some are stories of survival and hope while others are of destruction and despair. The insinuation of the spiritual realm amongst the earthly devastation was an interesting juxtaposition and one that gave necessary relief to the doom and gloom. This anthology certainly depicts a radically different hostile world, but one in which each person has the opportunity to decide who they will be when their back is against the wall and little hope for survival is imminent.
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April 3, 2020
Remnants, an entertaining collection of 14 end-of-the-world shorts with a common theme from fourteen new (to me) authors including Love Song by Rachel Ford, the best of the collection. I was given a Kindle copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
April 24, 2020
This book kept a growing pace that drew me in and kept me wanting more. The stories all had a different flavor and each author brought their own vision to this fantastic world. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews