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Sacculina
When Jim's big brother Jack is released from prison, the brothers-along with their broken father and Jack's menacing best friend-decide to charter an ocean fishing boat to celebrate Jack's new freedom. Once the small crew is far out to sea, however, a mutant species rises from the deep abyssal darkness to terrorize the vessel and its occupants. As the horror of their situation becomes clear, the small group must find a way to fend off the attack and somehow, someway, return to safety; but as the strange parasitic creatures overrun them, they must use more extreme-and deadly-measures to survive.
90 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2017
159 people are currently reading
4443 people want to read
About the author
Philip Fracassi
74 books1,869 followersPHILIP FRACASSI is the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award-nominated author of the novels A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, Boys in the Valley, The Third Rule of Time Travel, and The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre. He is also the author of the story collections Behold the Void, Beneath a Pale Sky, and No One is Safe!
His stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Black Static, Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Interzone, and Southwest Review.
Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Copps Literary Services, Circle M + P, and WME. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or visit pfracassi.com.
His stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Black Static, Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Interzone, and Southwest Review.
Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Copps Literary Services, Circle M + P, and WME. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or visit pfracassi.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 423 reviews
January 7, 2022
A fishing trip on the ocean turns into complete disaster. What is hunting down the people on the boat? Is there an escape for any of them? Marvelous round characters, a plausible plot, hair raising horror and a classic denouement. If you crave for excellent horror (and who doesn't) this definitely is a novella to pick up. Great cover, great story, great package. Really loved this one and can highly recommend it!
January 8, 2025
As we writhe through tumultuous life, shoring up the will to carry on, there will be events that seemingly come out of nowhere to latch onto us, submerge us, drag us down to the murky depths from which it is all but impossible to reemerge. We will be floating along, blissfully unaware of a lurking, mindless, and revolting terror. It will not be malicious, but it will do what it does regardless of our desires, plans, or lack of understanding as to how, or why, it operates. The question of why is worthless. It is and does because it is and does.
Such is the underlying encrusted thrust of Sacculina. Jim lost his mother to an aggressive, ravenous cancer, subsequently losing, in part, his brother to prison and his father to resultant, chronic depression.
Once reunited, they go on a fishing expedition in a futile attempt to tread toward some sense of normalcy and reclaim some former peace; to transcend and outdistance the gathering misery surrounding them, threatening to engulf them. They are broken, sunken people, but solemnly happy to be together.
A primordial, parasitic cast of crustaceans begin latching onto their boat, quick and antagonistic. All seems lost, again.
This is not pulpy monster carnage (not that there’s anything wrong with that, so goes my refrain). It is a grief-driven tale of oceanic horror done incredibly well. Do not treat these vicious barnacles as mere metaphor. They will liquify you for your pretentious disregard.
I wished for more after finishing, an epilogue perhaps, but soon settled on satisfaction that as contained as the story was, it did not require a safe docking.
Such is the underlying encrusted thrust of Sacculina. Jim lost his mother to an aggressive, ravenous cancer, subsequently losing, in part, his brother to prison and his father to resultant, chronic depression.
Once reunited, they go on a fishing expedition in a futile attempt to tread toward some sense of normalcy and reclaim some former peace; to transcend and outdistance the gathering misery surrounding them, threatening to engulf them. They are broken, sunken people, but solemnly happy to be together.
A primordial, parasitic cast of crustaceans begin latching onto their boat, quick and antagonistic. All seems lost, again.
This is not pulpy monster carnage (not that there’s anything wrong with that, so goes my refrain). It is a grief-driven tale of oceanic horror done incredibly well. Do not treat these vicious barnacles as mere metaphor. They will liquify you for your pretentious disregard.
I wished for more after finishing, an epilogue perhaps, but soon settled on satisfaction that as contained as the story was, it did not require a safe docking.
April 3, 2025
The Ocean Ain't Never Safe...
Thought You Knew That
SACCULINA
by Philip Fracassi
No spoilers. 4 stars. The worn 20 ft. fishing trawler was too small for the four amateur fishermen and their skipper Captain Ron...
After a while...
Captain Ron wanted to call off their charter due to the choppy sea, but the others convinced him to take them out anyway...
After 30 minutes of the teeth-grinding, mind-numbing whine of the boat's motor, and thick gagging fumes of diesel...
Captain Ron abruptly let the boat idle...
Because of the restlessness of the sea, the skipper wanted to go another hour further out to a location he knew of...
But...
He told them: It's deep. Real deep, cold, dark, and still. With lots of different kinds of fish...
The others asked: Is it safe?
Captain Ron answered: The ocean ain't never safe. Thought you boys knew that...
Who can know what lives in the deepest, darkest, fathomless depths of a vast ocean? Who can solve the riddle of life and death and why man deludes himself into thinking that he can conquer so great a realm and glory in the power of the sea?
I've been out to sea many times, and I can say from experience that to fear the ocean is the beginning of wisdom, and this story illustrates why.
Thought You Knew That
SACCULINA
by Philip Fracassi
No spoilers. 4 stars. The worn 20 ft. fishing trawler was too small for the four amateur fishermen and their skipper Captain Ron...
After a while...
Captain Ron wanted to call off their charter due to the choppy sea, but the others convinced him to take them out anyway...
After 30 minutes of the teeth-grinding, mind-numbing whine of the boat's motor, and thick gagging fumes of diesel...
Captain Ron abruptly let the boat idle...
Because of the restlessness of the sea, the skipper wanted to go another hour further out to a location he knew of...
But...
He told them: It's deep. Real deep, cold, dark, and still. With lots of different kinds of fish...
The others asked: Is it safe?
Captain Ron answered: The ocean ain't never safe. Thought you boys knew that...
Who can know what lives in the deepest, darkest, fathomless depths of a vast ocean? Who can solve the riddle of life and death and why man deludes himself into thinking that he can conquer so great a realm and glory in the power of the sea?
I've been out to sea many times, and I can say from experience that to fear the ocean is the beginning of wisdom, and this story illustrates why.
May 16, 2018
Over the last number of years I have found a certain fondness for horror stories based on sea stories. Upon reflection it could most likely be attributed to William Hope Hodgson and his “Sargasso Sea” stories that I read as a kid. More recently a good deal of Tim Curran’s work has been based on the sea, and these hit my sweet spot. Perhaps it’s that enclosed environment often lonely and the amazing vastness of the sea that does it.
Now add another book and author to this genre, “Sacculina” by Philip Fracassi. The story begins as a simple fishing trip out into the ocean. Though the characters are a bit unsavory they are likable enough. Jim and Jack are brothers and Jacks release from prison for armed robbery is the cause to celebrate. And Jim has never gone fishing before. Although the small excursion boat is captained by a guy named “Captain Bob”, who is a bit clichéd and stereotyped in a funny kind of way, he seems to know his stuff.
If you’re not familiar with what a “Sacculina” is, and if you look it up you are told – “Sacculina carcini – a barnacle that makes a living as a real-life body-snatcher of crabs. Unlike most barnacles that are happy to simply stick themselves to a rock and filter food from the water, Sacculina and its kin have evolved to be parasitic”. It’s a real thing. That exists today. Continue your search and you’ll discover the headline “The crab-castrating parasite that zombifies its prey”. Who knew ?
Mr. Philip Fracassi has done a wonderful job creating this story, utilizing this environment and creating some believable characters trapped in a situation totally out of their control.
Mr. Fracassi has worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. He was the publisher of Equator Books, prior to that he spent seven years as a live music producer for House of Blues Entertainment, producing concert DVD’s for The Psychedelic Furs and Public Enemy.
This is certainly a book to read, and an author to watch. I have enjoyed everything I have read by him so far.
Now add another book and author to this genre, “Sacculina” by Philip Fracassi. The story begins as a simple fishing trip out into the ocean. Though the characters are a bit unsavory they are likable enough. Jim and Jack are brothers and Jacks release from prison for armed robbery is the cause to celebrate. And Jim has never gone fishing before. Although the small excursion boat is captained by a guy named “Captain Bob”, who is a bit clichéd and stereotyped in a funny kind of way, he seems to know his stuff.
If you’re not familiar with what a “Sacculina” is, and if you look it up you are told – “Sacculina carcini – a barnacle that makes a living as a real-life body-snatcher of crabs. Unlike most barnacles that are happy to simply stick themselves to a rock and filter food from the water, Sacculina and its kin have evolved to be parasitic”. It’s a real thing. That exists today. Continue your search and you’ll discover the headline “The crab-castrating parasite that zombifies its prey”. Who knew ?
Mr. Philip Fracassi has done a wonderful job creating this story, utilizing this environment and creating some believable characters trapped in a situation totally out of their control.
Mr. Fracassi has worked in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. He was the publisher of Equator Books, prior to that he spent seven years as a live music producer for House of Blues Entertainment, producing concert DVD’s for The Psychedelic Furs and Public Enemy.
This is certainly a book to read, and an author to watch. I have enjoyed everything I have read by him so far.
July 17, 2024
Ah, terror on the high seas. Done so often, but most of the time falling short of a certain level of quality. Not here though. This was just a suspenseful, nerve wracking thrill ride, with a surprising level of depth to its cast of characters. The creatures here were subtle, but extremely effective, and you never quite figure out their origin. So it leaves room for further stories potentially, but even if not, this was very satisfying just as a standalone, even at just 100 pages. The flashback and nightmare scenes could have been a litte more distinguished, but that is literally the only tidbit of a critique I have. Horror junkies, thrill seekers, ocean lovers, aquatic enthusiasts, barnacle bandits (?) and everything in between will take away some positives from this story.
August 12, 2017
Jim, his ex-con brother, his father, and Chris, a friend of his brother's, go fishing in the sea on a charter boat. But on that fateful day, their only catch is DEATH!
Sacculina is a short creature feature about killer barnacles. That's what you're getting. The characters are more developed that is necessary for a book of this time. Who would have thought a creature feature would have so much in the way of familial relationships in it?
Anyway, the barnacle threat is really well done. The fact that the barnacles are everywhere reminds me a lot of the "floor is lava" game everyone played as kids. Will any of the fishing party return? There's some gross body horror thrown into the mix, making Sacculina a nice morsel of horror fiction.
The ending was one of those chilling Twilight Zone endings. While it wasn't remarkable, I can't find anything really negative to say about it. Sacculina is a fun horror tale and a perfect read for a lazy Saturday morning. Three out of five stars.
Sacculina is a short creature feature about killer barnacles. That's what you're getting. The characters are more developed that is necessary for a book of this time. Who would have thought a creature feature would have so much in the way of familial relationships in it?
Anyway, the barnacle threat is really well done. The fact that the barnacles are everywhere reminds me a lot of the "floor is lava" game everyone played as kids. Will any of the fishing party return? There's some gross body horror thrown into the mix, making Sacculina a nice morsel of horror fiction.
The ending was one of those chilling Twilight Zone endings. While it wasn't remarkable, I can't find anything really negative to say about it. Sacculina is a fun horror tale and a perfect read for a lazy Saturday morning. Three out of five stars.
August 21, 2023
It’s like the ocean farted something wicked, and we’re sitting right on her asshole.
Proper aquatic horror, good building of suspense, short and condensed, has nice monsters, if they ever are monsters rather than yet another biological species trying to spread and survive.
As I said before in my status update, I had some trouble retaining the generic names of the characters and distinguishing them, which is something a novella can’t really afford to do. Because by the time I actually “knew” them, the book was already halfway over. Still, it was a good read and I'd definitely recomend it.
This also is the tenth, the last book of my summer horror challenge, I made it, yay!
Proper aquatic horror, good building of suspense, short and condensed, has nice monsters, if they ever are monsters rather than yet another biological species trying to spread and survive.
As I said before in my status update, I had some trouble retaining the generic names of the characters and distinguishing them, which is something a novella can’t really afford to do. Because by the time I actually “knew” them, the book was already halfway over. Still, it was a good read and I'd definitely recomend it.
This also is the tenth, the last book of my summer horror challenge, I made it, yay!
August 22, 2023
4.5 stars!
SACCULINA is the first book that I've read by Philip Fracassi, but it certainly won't be the last! The premise of this novella is simple enough. After Jack Lowell is released from prision, his father Henry, brother Jim, and best friend Chris Hanson, decide to do something to celebrate his return.
Henry rents out a small boat for them to go on a fishing expedition.
"Ocean ain't never safe . . . "
Parts of the story showed an attempt that the younger men made at a light-hearted reunion, but since the untimely death of Henry Lowell's wife, Jack and Jim noticed the physical and mental decline in their father, despite his best efforts of levity.
". . . Sadness and loss did that to a man . . . Took from the inside out, so that by the time you saw the results it was too late to do anything about it . . . "
Once underway on the shipping vessel piloted by "Captain Don", the atmosphere begins to immediately become oppressive. Where we'd expect the ocean and sea air to give off a feeling of "freedom"--especially for Jack--instead an eerie premonition begins to build among the passengers, for no discernible reason.
". . . couldn't shake the sudden feeling that they were surrounded, in a menacing way . . . by endless water and unknown creatures . . . "
The characterization in this novella was top notch, I felt, where it mattered the most. I got the feeling that I truly understood this family, and everything they'd gone through. Their attempt at celebrating being together once again was bittersweet, as we can sense innately just how much they've already lost.
". . . Life was a merciless thief with a black heart, and you hoped it passed you by when scouting for its next victim . . . "
The voyage goes by at a steady pace, the uneasiness--and then terror--mounting inexorably as each new development occurs. The emotional attachment I had developed for this group never once wavered as its course continued.
". . . we fear the incomprehensible, we fear other life . . . always afraid of what might come next in the chain . . . "
Fracassi does an exceptional job at grabbing the readers' attention right from the start. Not only does he sustain this feeling, but somehow manages to increase our mental involvement throughout its entirety. Honestly, this is a novella you will want to read in a single sitting, as to put it down feels like "abandoning" this small, but emotionally vibrant crew.
The prose here alternates between periods of "narrating the events" and profound, thought-provoking comments that seep into your brain and make so much "sense" that you wonder if the thoughts had been there all along, just without the benefit of this soulful articulation.
"The hardest part of losing someone . . . It's not the losing that hurt me the most . . . It was the damned going on."
Overall, a very impressive introduction to a new-to-me author, and one whose work I will immediately be looking up for more. This novella contained everything I could have asked for in a great read: a riveting tale, realistic characters that you feel for, an atmosphere that progressively intensifies--keeping you glued to the pages--and a creepy new menace that easily sends chills down your spine.
Highly recommended!
SACCULINA is the first book that I've read by Philip Fracassi, but it certainly won't be the last! The premise of this novella is simple enough. After Jack Lowell is released from prision, his father Henry, brother Jim, and best friend Chris Hanson, decide to do something to celebrate his return.
Henry rents out a small boat for them to go on a fishing expedition.
"Ocean ain't never safe . . . "
Parts of the story showed an attempt that the younger men made at a light-hearted reunion, but since the untimely death of Henry Lowell's wife, Jack and Jim noticed the physical and mental decline in their father, despite his best efforts of levity.
". . . Sadness and loss did that to a man . . . Took from the inside out, so that by the time you saw the results it was too late to do anything about it . . . "
Once underway on the shipping vessel piloted by "Captain Don", the atmosphere begins to immediately become oppressive. Where we'd expect the ocean and sea air to give off a feeling of "freedom"--especially for Jack--instead an eerie premonition begins to build among the passengers, for no discernible reason.
". . . couldn't shake the sudden feeling that they were surrounded, in a menacing way . . . by endless water and unknown creatures . . . "
The characterization in this novella was top notch, I felt, where it mattered the most. I got the feeling that I truly understood this family, and everything they'd gone through. Their attempt at celebrating being together once again was bittersweet, as we can sense innately just how much they've already lost.
". . . Life was a merciless thief with a black heart, and you hoped it passed you by when scouting for its next victim . . . "
The voyage goes by at a steady pace, the uneasiness--and then terror--mounting inexorably as each new development occurs. The emotional attachment I had developed for this group never once wavered as its course continued.
". . . we fear the incomprehensible, we fear other life . . . always afraid of what might come next in the chain . . . "
Fracassi does an exceptional job at grabbing the readers' attention right from the start. Not only does he sustain this feeling, but somehow manages to increase our mental involvement throughout its entirety. Honestly, this is a novella you will want to read in a single sitting, as to put it down feels like "abandoning" this small, but emotionally vibrant crew.
The prose here alternates between periods of "narrating the events" and profound, thought-provoking comments that seep into your brain and make so much "sense" that you wonder if the thoughts had been there all along, just without the benefit of this soulful articulation.
"The hardest part of losing someone . . . It's not the losing that hurt me the most . . . It was the damned going on."
Overall, a very impressive introduction to a new-to-me author, and one whose work I will immediately be looking up for more. This novella contained everything I could have asked for in a great read: a riveting tale, realistic characters that you feel for, an atmosphere that progressively intensifies--keeping you glued to the pages--and a creepy new menace that easily sends chills down your spine.
Highly recommended!
March 2, 2024
Meh, it was okay.
January 3, 2018
Really good and unusual maritime horror novella with cosmic horror overtones.
April 23, 2023
A good quality ocean-based horror novella.
'Beyond the rim of the hollowed-out buildings, he could see the sun rising in the east, pink and swollen and wrathful, urging him onward, promising him that, ready or not, the new day was coming.'
A Family fishing trip goes wrong in some extremely bizarre circumstances. That is the crux of this whole story and there isn't much else to it. Although this was well written and I didn't find anything in particular wrong with this, there wasn't anything new or particularly original to capture my attention.
I felt this was rather simplistic and predictable throughout. I guess the setting doesn't offer much freedom regarding what can happen, and I have never really been a fan of water-based horror which doesn't help the situation.
With all that said I did enjoy reading this and there was just enough to make me want to attempt reading other works by this author.
'The dust motes floated gracefully toward his touch. He watched, fascinated, as they migrated—as one—toward the palm of his hand on the other side of the plastic. He watched as they clumped, could almost feel the weight of them, pushing against the bag, reaching for his skin.'
Overall an entertaining read.
'Beyond the rim of the hollowed-out buildings, he could see the sun rising in the east, pink and swollen and wrathful, urging him onward, promising him that, ready or not, the new day was coming.'
A Family fishing trip goes wrong in some extremely bizarre circumstances. That is the crux of this whole story and there isn't much else to it. Although this was well written and I didn't find anything in particular wrong with this, there wasn't anything new or particularly original to capture my attention.
I felt this was rather simplistic and predictable throughout. I guess the setting doesn't offer much freedom regarding what can happen, and I have never really been a fan of water-based horror which doesn't help the situation.
With all that said I did enjoy reading this and there was just enough to make me want to attempt reading other works by this author.
'The dust motes floated gracefully toward his touch. He watched, fascinated, as they migrated—as one—toward the palm of his hand on the other side of the plastic. He watched as they clumped, could almost feel the weight of them, pushing against the bag, reaching for his skin.'
Overall an entertaining read.
May 25, 2017
Have you ever read a horror novel or seen a movie where certain scenes made your skin tingle and itch?
No? Well, that happened to me with this one.
Kept scratching.
I guess that's what they call "making your skin crawl." Fracassi's swift and creepy novella takes a common thing that most people have seen all the time (especially if you've spent time around boats or docks), and finally makes you realize how freakishly spine-tingling they can be. The story is rightfully simple, focusing on a fateful fishing trip that two brothers take with their childhood friend and father, a trip that quickly turns into a nightmare.
CHECK OUT THIS CRAZY SHIT IN THIS BRIEF ARTICLE
Here are a few internet tidbits for your nightmares:
This Fracassi guy has such a great career ahead of him and I can't wait to see what's next.
No? Well, that happened to me with this one.
Kept scratching.
I guess that's what they call "making your skin crawl." Fracassi's swift and creepy novella takes a common thing that most people have seen all the time (especially if you've spent time around boats or docks), and finally makes you realize how freakishly spine-tingling they can be. The story is rightfully simple, focusing on a fateful fishing trip that two brothers take with their childhood friend and father, a trip that quickly turns into a nightmare.
Jim could only stand and stare at the wet boards of the deck, wondering how all of this had gone so terribly, terribly wrong.While it might not feature the same haunting writing of his previous novella Fragile Dreams, I feel like the direct prose hear is a better fit for this type of story. But like his other work, Fracassi doesn't sacrifice emotion and character relationships in favor of cheap horror, and that's the main reason it works so well. Why didn't I give this an even higher score? I wish the book went even more balls out with the monster and horror. If you want to be really creeped out? Well, after you read the book, google the title and read a couple of articles and see if you don't agree; it's pretty damn unnerving.
CHECK OUT THIS CRAZY SHIT IN THIS BRIEF ARTICLE
Here are a few internet tidbits for your nightmares:
This Fracassi guy has such a great career ahead of him and I can't wait to see what's next.
June 25, 2022
Jim, his freshly released from jail elder brother Jack, their still mourning widow dad Henry, and Jack's best friend Chris decide to have a boat fishing trip together to celebrate Jack's newfound freedom.
He eyed each of the men, a small smile on his fat, doughy face. His googly eyes settled on Jim a moment, then flicked around to the others before turning his broad belly back toward the controls. “Ocean ain’t never safe, Mr. Lowell,” he said over his shoulder, gunning the engine. “Thought you boys knew that!
With the fishing not going well, bad weather incoming, and the captain suggesting to go a little more far offshore than scheduled, what could possibly go wrong?
“Dude, that is gross,” Jim said. The captain stood, slowly, and studied the thing attached to Chris’s finger. “It’s trying to eat you, son,” he said. With the slightest of frowns, Chris flicked his hand sharply, and the black thing shot away. They all watched it fly through the air, back toward the mysterious deep, where it plunked into a rolling wave, and disappeared.
Reading this thrilling novella from author Philip Fracassi was a rollercoaster of thrills for me, doused with buckets of blood, gore, and body horror, with a well done cinematic pace with adrenaline, suspense and dread on the rise page after page.
“Dad...” Jim said, and finally Henry opened his eyes. He looked up, his light blue eyes feverish, tearing with pain. He looked down at his folded arm, slowly pulled out his hand. Stuck to the side of it, as if they’d been growing there for months, were two jet-black, acorn-sized barnacles. “Jesus, Dad...” Jack bent down, grabbed Henry’s forearm, studied the crustaceans. “What are these things?”
Just imagine something like The Ruins and The Troop set in open sea and you've all got an idea about what is waiting for you among these pages and behind that awesome cover art that made this book an instant buy for me, despite never having heard anything at all about the author.
He looked to the sky, the sun halfway home, the day still hot, the brightness more honey than sunflower now, aging toward death as they rocked on the waves. “It’s time to get you boys home,” he said, and no one argued.
Higly recommended to every horror fan looking for a nice, summer aquatic-horror creature feature read.
He shuffled along the three-inch coaming while gripping the railing that ran atop the wheelhouse before dropping down in the stern. It was nicer up here. Tight, but dry and clean. He settled onto one of the cushions, tried to ignore the memory of what was growing all around them, under them, layers upon layers of something from the deep ocean, something sinister, something parasitic.
A creepy, nightmarish and entertaining page-turning one.
June 2, 2017
What do you want to do when you get released from the joint after a few years? Fishing trip with your family and best pal! Hell, yeah!
What you don’t want is to have some fucked up weird things out in the water that want to attach to your skin and eat your flesh. Should’ve got a 12 pack of beer and a hooker or two instead, like a normal person.
“It’s like the ocean farted something wicked, and we’re sitting right on her asshole.”
A very well done and entertaining novella. Fracassi really seems to thrive in this format and it shows. A Solid 4 Stars and highly recommended.
What you don’t want is to have some fucked up weird things out in the water that want to attach to your skin and eat your flesh. Should’ve got a 12 pack of beer and a hooker or two instead, like a normal person.
“It’s like the ocean farted something wicked, and we’re sitting right on her asshole.”
A very well done and entertaining novella. Fracassi really seems to thrive in this format and it shows. A Solid 4 Stars and highly recommended.
September 29, 2022
It was good!! Like a mix between The Deep and The Breach by Nick Cutter. Loved the end, definitely won’t be my last from him.
December 9, 2024
I’ll be thinking of this book every time I come across a barnacle 👌
knocking it down a star because of how short it is.
I love a spooky tale taking place on a little boat in the great big sea. My dad is a captain/ swamp tour guide and I think he would get a kick out of this. This short little book is so entertaining, loved the build up of anxiety of charter boat captains when things start to go south.
knocking it down a star because of how short it is.
I love a spooky tale taking place on a little boat in the great big sea. My dad is a captain/ swamp tour guide and I think he would get a kick out of this. This short little book is so entertaining, loved the build up of anxiety of charter boat captains when things start to go south.
April 28, 2024
A fun, entertaining ocean horror read. Original story and some gruesome body horror. Enjoyable!
January 6, 2023
What a great (gross!) disturbing short story. Made even more disturbing and creepy being I love literally a stones’ throw from the beach. 😱
Creative, scary, not gory (but gross…. You’ll know what I mean) short story with well thought out characters.
I’d definitely recommend this to a fellow horror fan
Creative, scary, not gory (but gross…. You’ll know what I mean) short story with well thought out characters.
I’d definitely recommend this to a fellow horror fan
September 21, 2024
"It’s like the ocean farted something wicked..."
3.5 🩸🪼🎐🌊
3.5 🩸🪼🎐🌊
May 25, 2017
...and just like that, Philip Fracassi has become an author to watch for me.
Sacculina is a ridiculously rich thematic horror novella, set in one of my favorite locales for horror dramatics - the ocean. Situated on a rented fishing boat, two brothers, their friend, one friend, and the boat's captain (Captain Ron, which threw me at first, frankly, because all I could imagine was Kurt Russell's goofy antics, and this book is decidedly non-comedic), and stranded in the middle of the sea, the group find their weekend getaway interrupted by some very strange, very bad developments.
Fracassi's story kept me utterly engrossed, and the character development was richly done for so slim a story. I could relate, perhaps a bit too easily and a bit too painfully, to Henry and Jim (father and son), who are still recovering, respectively, from the loss of their wife and mother. My mother died suddenly last year, and the grieving process this family is working their way through hit me pretty solidly in a way I wasn't quite prepared for. As far as the story is concerned, death is omnipresent, and this might be one of the best depictions of cancer, cancerous growths, and the solitude of death that I've seen in a horror story.
Thematically, this sucker is strong as all get-out. What really caught my attention early on, though, was Fracassi's ability to build a strong sense of creeping dread. He crafts a terrific atmosphere in short order, and you get a terrific tense of isolation right from the outset, even before this family finds their way off the dock and out of the marina. Once they find themselves out in the ocean, the claustrophobia is really well done, and the threats Sacculina promises are deeply baked in.
I'm always on the lookout for good aquatic horror, and Sacculina certainly fit the bill. It's short, punchy, and well-crafted. Highly recommended.
[Note: I received a copy of this title from the publisher.]
Sacculina is a ridiculously rich thematic horror novella, set in one of my favorite locales for horror dramatics - the ocean. Situated on a rented fishing boat, two brothers, their friend, one friend, and the boat's captain (Captain Ron, which threw me at first, frankly, because all I could imagine was Kurt Russell's goofy antics, and this book is decidedly non-comedic), and stranded in the middle of the sea, the group find their weekend getaway interrupted by some very strange, very bad developments.
Fracassi's story kept me utterly engrossed, and the character development was richly done for so slim a story. I could relate, perhaps a bit too easily and a bit too painfully, to Henry and Jim (father and son), who are still recovering, respectively, from the loss of their wife and mother. My mother died suddenly last year, and the grieving process this family is working their way through hit me pretty solidly in a way I wasn't quite prepared for. As far as the story is concerned, death is omnipresent, and this might be one of the best depictions of cancer, cancerous growths, and the solitude of death that I've seen in a horror story.
Thematically, this sucker is strong as all get-out. What really caught my attention early on, though, was Fracassi's ability to build a strong sense of creeping dread. He crafts a terrific atmosphere in short order, and you get a terrific tense of isolation right from the outset, even before this family finds their way off the dock and out of the marina. Once they find themselves out in the ocean, the claustrophobia is really well done, and the threats Sacculina promises are deeply baked in.
I'm always on the lookout for good aquatic horror, and Sacculina certainly fit the bill. It's short, punchy, and well-crafted. Highly recommended.
[Note: I received a copy of this title from the publisher.]
September 23, 2024
—— 𝟺.𝟻 ✰ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ. 🪼🌊
✎﹏ As Chief Brody once said, ”you’re gonna need a bigger boat.” I love horror, but I especially love ocean related horror; that’s why this book was a near perfect read for me. Sacculina is such a great, disturbing short story that made me want to itch (you’ll see what I mean if you read it). The writing was so well done. The author did a good job at making the reader care about his characters in this short story. I was really hoping they would all (well, accept for Chris) make it. I wasn’t crazy about the ending which is why it wasn’t a 5 star read for me, but it had my adrenaline pumping, my skin tingly, & my gag reflex in check.
❝ 𝐈𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐛 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐚𝐧’𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝, 𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 ����𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞, 𝐛𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. ❞
✎﹏ As Chief Brody once said, ”you’re gonna need a bigger boat.” I love horror, but I especially love ocean related horror; that’s why this book was a near perfect read for me. Sacculina is such a great, disturbing short story that made me want to itch (you’ll see what I mean if you read it). The writing was so well done. The author did a good job at making the reader care about his characters in this short story. I was really hoping they would all (well, accept for Chris) make it. I wasn’t crazy about the ending which is why it wasn’t a 5 star read for me, but it had my adrenaline pumping, my skin tingly, & my gag reflex in check.
❝ 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭���� 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥, 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥, 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝. ❞
July 17, 2020
A fun creature-feature with an adrenaline-pumping ending.
September 12, 2023
4.25⭐️ the characters were meh but the story itself was tense and super fun to read.
November 21, 2021
Talk about building a sense of dread!
I wanted this to be a lot longer, as I'm a massive fan of anything -horror-at-sea. I don't think I could have made it much longer though, as the dread build-up was crazy in the second half of the book. Character progression could have used a bit more attention in my opinion. That's the only real minor complaint I could make. Would make a great IFC midnight Indie flick.
My first taste of Philip Fracassi's work, and It won't be my last. 4 Stars.
I wanted this to be a lot longer, as I'm a massive fan of anything -horror-at-sea. I don't think I could have made it much longer though, as the dread build-up was crazy in the second half of the book. Character progression could have used a bit more attention in my opinion. That's the only real minor complaint I could make. Would make a great IFC midnight Indie flick.
My first taste of Philip Fracassi's work, and It won't be my last. 4 Stars.
February 2, 2023
Open water vibes, but instead of sharks it’s barnacles. While Fracassi did a great job weaving backstory into such a short story (which supports the twist or ending well), the meat of the story felt flat to me. I enjoyed the flash backs and dream more than the actually event taking place. And most of all, the characters were extremely unlikeable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2022
Surprisingly good character development for a novella. A creeping dread throughout the book, an imaginative idea! Very fun read.
June 17, 2024
Reading this book is like reading a cosmic horror version of Captain Haddock and trio of hapless friends and their dad navigate a minefield of evil barnacles. That may or not have been produced by a giant fart from the bottom of the ocean floor.
February 3, 2024
Once again I’m back with another controversial opinion. I really didn’t like this novella. I didn’t find it disturbing or gross or nerve wracking which is all the things I want, and expect, from a short horror. It felt simultaneously really short-paced and fast-paced. There was far too much character back story for such a short story and at times it felt like the writer focused way too much on that than on developing what was happening in the present which, for me, made it a lot less tense. I also didn’t really understand the authors writing style. At times it felt really basic and then would jump to being really over the top and none of it felt consistent. Overall I was just pretty disappointed with this after seeing so many good reviews.
December 31, 2022
Short and fast paced, this ocean thriller is intense.
I guess I’d like to understand more about the barnacles/creatures and what was going on. The ending was “meh” and it’d be nice to know what happened with the “survivor”.
Sometimes I like a short story, but other times a plot (like this one) would actually be more intriguing if it was expanded upon. We hardly get to know the characters before the end.
I guess I’d like to understand more about the barnacles/creatures and what was going on. The ending was “meh” and it’d be nice to know what happened with the “survivor”.
Sometimes I like a short story, but other times a plot (like this one) would actually be more intriguing if it was expanded upon. We hardly get to know the characters before the end.
December 6, 2022
That’s it. No more fishing trips for me! This was a terrifying novella with surprisingly well-fleshed-out characters and just the right amount of backstory to keep me emotionally invested. Pretty damn solid. I definitely recommend this for fans of ocean horror. And as Chief Brody says, “you’re going to need a bigger boat”.
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