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Hearers of the Constant Hum
Prepare to be immersed in a world where the boundaries of reality fray and the constant hum of existence hides terrifying secrets. William Pauley III's Hearers of the Constant Hum pulls you into the unsettling lives of individuals grappling with bizarre phenomena and the dark undercurrents of modern society.
Meet Bill Krang, a man cursed–or gifted–with the ability to hear the language of insects, a relentless twelve-word message that has haunted him since childhood: "Ashok burn right hand of men. To Neptune, rebirth in blue fire."
For years, Krang believed he was alone in this maddening symphony, until the day he came face-to-face with a brick wall, graffited with the same curious message, revealing he isn't the only one hearing the hum.
His desperate search for answers leads him down a rabbit hole of dark experiments, forcing him to consider the terrifying possibility that his affliction is far more significant–and contagious—than he ever imagined.
Meanwhile, across the city, Della Comb, known to others as only "Bee," operates in the shadows, manufacturing a lethal drug from insect cadavers, preying on the despair of others. Her path violently intersects with Krang's when she enters his squalid apartment in search of her unusual inventory. As the lines between hunter and hunted blur, Della finds herself entangled in Krang's desperate quest, forced to confront not only the horrifying truth of his condition, but also the consequences of her own morally ambiguous existence.
Is the constant hum a sign of something otherworldly, a biological anomaly with catastrophic potential, or a harbinger of humanity's self-inflicted collapse? As these disparate lives converge, Pauley masterfully weaves a tapestry of dread, paranoia, and existential horror, forcing readers to question the nature of reality, sanity, and what it truly means to be human.
Prepare to be gripped by a narrative that will crawl under your skin and stay with you long after the final, chilling note of the constant hum fades away.
Meet Bill Krang, a man cursed–or gifted–with the ability to hear the language of insects, a relentless twelve-word message that has haunted him since childhood: "Ashok burn right hand of men. To Neptune, rebirth in blue fire."
For years, Krang believed he was alone in this maddening symphony, until the day he came face-to-face with a brick wall, graffited with the same curious message, revealing he isn't the only one hearing the hum.
His desperate search for answers leads him down a rabbit hole of dark experiments, forcing him to consider the terrifying possibility that his affliction is far more significant–and contagious—than he ever imagined.
Meanwhile, across the city, Della Comb, known to others as only "Bee," operates in the shadows, manufacturing a lethal drug from insect cadavers, preying on the despair of others. Her path violently intersects with Krang's when she enters his squalid apartment in search of her unusual inventory. As the lines between hunter and hunted blur, Della finds herself entangled in Krang's desperate quest, forced to confront not only the horrifying truth of his condition, but also the consequences of her own morally ambiguous existence.
Is the constant hum a sign of something otherworldly, a biological anomaly with catastrophic potential, or a harbinger of humanity's self-inflicted collapse? As these disparate lives converge, Pauley masterfully weaves a tapestry of dread, paranoia, and existential horror, forcing readers to question the nature of reality, sanity, and what it truly means to be human.
Prepare to be gripped by a narrative that will crawl under your skin and stay with you long after the final, chilling note of the constant hum fades away.
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First published November 1, 2014
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About the author
William Pauley III
40 books610 followersRead/listen at www.doomfiction.com
"The beauty of Pauley’s work is that he makes the reader (relatively) comfortable with these fun, weird elements and then injects the narrative with short bursts of deep thinking and questions that cut to the marrow of human nature." — Gabino Iglesias, author of The Devil Takes You Home
William Pauley III has been praised by critics and readers alike for his contributions to weird science fiction and horror over the last 15 years. He's received rave reviews from Fangoria Magazine, Verbicide, and Dead End Follies, the latter stating "William Pauley III is one of the most recognizable voices in weird literature." He is the author of The Bedlam Bible, Hearers of the Constant Hum, and Automated Daydreaming. He lives in Lexington, KY.
"The beauty of Pauley’s work is that he makes the reader (relatively) comfortable with these fun, weird elements and then injects the narrative with short bursts of deep thinking and questions that cut to the marrow of human nature." — Gabino Iglesias, author of The Devil Takes You Home
William Pauley III has been praised by critics and readers alike for his contributions to weird science fiction and horror over the last 15 years. He's received rave reviews from Fangoria Magazine, Verbicide, and Dead End Follies, the latter stating "William Pauley III is one of the most recognizable voices in weird literature." He is the author of The Bedlam Bible, Hearers of the Constant Hum, and Automated Daydreaming. He lives in Lexington, KY.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
March 28, 2018
Bill Krang has been able to hear the voices of insects his entire life. Other people can't hear the hum of language that Bill is incessantly plagued with. Eventually, Bill's body starts to break down and implode, bit by bit. A group of scientists claim that they can help him. Are these people really on his side? This intriguing novel takes a good hard look at the connected themes of progress and of breakdown. The characters in this book are quirky and endlessly entertaining, including the Crunk brothers - two insect and human exterminators who banter about philosophy, a young drug dealer who concocts a deadly mix of chemicals and insects, and a religious cult that wants scientific meddling to cease. I loved this book. I loved the humanity that is shown by the main characters when it matters the most. May the constantly intoxicating writing of William Pauley III never cease.
December 30, 2015
Read 6/25/15 - 7/1/15
1 Star - Not Recommended; it was a complete pile of dog doo
Pages: 250
Publisher: Grindhouse Press
Released: 2014
Ok. I took an entire day and a whole bunch of deep breaths - calmly letting them in, and then letting them out - before I sat down to write this review. But it didn't help. I'm still pissed off. What a complete pile of dog doo! I'm serious. There was nothing redeeming here. No wonder I was able to download this for free on Amazon....!
Well, maybe I'm being a little too harsh. I did think the cover was pretty cool. (actually, almost all of the covers by Grindhouse Press are good looking.) And the jacket copy sounded interesting, hence the reason I downloaded it. But other than that... it was pretty much dog doo. I considered putting it down for good at least every other page. I really did. But I talked myself out of it each and every time because, although it was making no sense, I was dying to know what was going on. I figured I just needed some time to get into it... that it would all pull together in the end. God, if I could just go back and use that time to read something else....
Here's the rundown: A dude lives his life hearing insects. The insects speak to him in a frequency no one else can hear. And it seems all they can say to him is "Ashok burn right hand of men. To Neptune, rebirth in blue fire." Which means what, exactly? He sure as hell doesn't know. And after 250 pages, neither do we. Oh yeah, let me ruin the book for you... you never learn why Krang can hear the bugs, and you never learn the meaning behind the one and only thing they ever say to him. How you like them apples?!
Eventually, in his pursuit to understand why he can hear the insects, Krang discovers Urik, an underground organization of scientists who know of other "hearers" and who want to study him and learn how they, too, can hear the "constant hum". Krang escapes their evil clutches and ends up hiding out in a run-down Chicago apartment infested with, yup, you guessed it, lots and lots of bugs.
Here's where we meet the Crunk brothers - think Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum - who end up at his apartment building, posing as exterminators. They are actually in cahoots with this chick Della, who sells the dead insect carcasses they've poisoned to people who want to commit suicide in a trippy, painless fashion by ingesting the bug husks. (vomit). She calls it Jubilecide. But who cares. Krang catches her in his apartment, accidentally unlocks her ability to hear the hum, and parts of their bodies begin collapsing. Why? Because they've gained knowledge. Of what exactly? Who the fuck knows.
Krang feels like shit for infecting her with his "disease" - he's been collapsing for years - and talks her into driving them back to Urik to see if the scientists have found a way to cure the hearers from the constant hum.
Interjected all throughout the entire novel, author William Pauley III allows his characters to get all fucking philosophical about the end of humanity, and what if honeybees were to go extinct and other we-are-all-doomed bullshit, and rather than sounding all deep and scary, it really just sounded like the kind of bizarre horseshit that flies out of people's mouths when they are high as a kite or drunk as a skunk. It was eye-rollingly painful and did nothing to connect me further to the characters or the plot. It actually pushed me further away. It also didn't help that the Crunk brothers were virtually indistinguishable from one another. They talked the same, thought the same, and I swear to god, even Pauley got confused about who was doing the talking and thinking from time to time.
What may be the most bizarre thing, however, is how many stars this friggen book has amassed over at Goodreads. Far be it from me to knock anyone personally, but my spidey-sense is telling me that these reviews were made by Pauley's friends and family. There is no way in the world I am the only one who thinks this book was dog doo. No Way! I call foul. Something just don't smell right.
I am sure Pauley is a wonderful dude with a super over-active imagination. Hell, he has written a bunch of other books, which, would you look at that, they all got 4 and 5 stars too. I have no clue, maybe it's me? Maybe I don't know good fiction anymore when I read it? Maybe I'm just not reading on the same frequency he writes on? Maybe I haven't learned how to hear his particular hum yet? On the off chance I ever do, I'll come back here to apologize for calling this book a pile of dog doo.
And please don't think I judge Grindhouse Press for this bomb of a book. Or maybe I do. Just a little. Man, I hope this is not typical of what they release because I've had my eye on some of their other titles for awhile...
1 Star - Not Recommended; it was a complete pile of dog doo
Pages: 250
Publisher: Grindhouse Press
Released: 2014
Ok. I took an entire day and a whole bunch of deep breaths - calmly letting them in, and then letting them out - before I sat down to write this review. But it didn't help. I'm still pissed off. What a complete pile of dog doo! I'm serious. There was nothing redeeming here. No wonder I was able to download this for free on Amazon....!
Well, maybe I'm being a little too harsh. I did think the cover was pretty cool. (actually, almost all of the covers by Grindhouse Press are good looking.) And the jacket copy sounded interesting, hence the reason I downloaded it. But other than that... it was pretty much dog doo. I considered putting it down for good at least every other page. I really did. But I talked myself out of it each and every time because, although it was making no sense, I was dying to know what was going on. I figured I just needed some time to get into it... that it would all pull together in the end. God, if I could just go back and use that time to read something else....
Here's the rundown: A dude lives his life hearing insects. The insects speak to him in a frequency no one else can hear. And it seems all they can say to him is "Ashok burn right hand of men. To Neptune, rebirth in blue fire." Which means what, exactly? He sure as hell doesn't know. And after 250 pages, neither do we. Oh yeah, let me ruin the book for you... you never learn why Krang can hear the bugs, and you never learn the meaning behind the one and only thing they ever say to him. How you like them apples?!
Eventually, in his pursuit to understand why he can hear the insects, Krang discovers Urik, an underground organization of scientists who know of other "hearers" and who want to study him and learn how they, too, can hear the "constant hum". Krang escapes their evil clutches and ends up hiding out in a run-down Chicago apartment infested with, yup, you guessed it, lots and lots of bugs.
Here's where we meet the Crunk brothers - think Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum - who end up at his apartment building, posing as exterminators. They are actually in cahoots with this chick Della, who sells the dead insect carcasses they've poisoned to people who want to commit suicide in a trippy, painless fashion by ingesting the bug husks. (vomit). She calls it Jubilecide. But who cares. Krang catches her in his apartment, accidentally unlocks her ability to hear the hum, and parts of their bodies begin collapsing. Why? Because they've gained knowledge. Of what exactly? Who the fuck knows.
Krang feels like shit for infecting her with his "disease" - he's been collapsing for years - and talks her into driving them back to Urik to see if the scientists have found a way to cure the hearers from the constant hum.
Interjected all throughout the entire novel, author William Pauley III allows his characters to get all fucking philosophical about the end of humanity, and what if honeybees were to go extinct and other we-are-all-doomed bullshit, and rather than sounding all deep and scary, it really just sounded like the kind of bizarre horseshit that flies out of people's mouths when they are high as a kite or drunk as a skunk. It was eye-rollingly painful and did nothing to connect me further to the characters or the plot. It actually pushed me further away. It also didn't help that the Crunk brothers were virtually indistinguishable from one another. They talked the same, thought the same, and I swear to god, even Pauley got confused about who was doing the talking and thinking from time to time.
What may be the most bizarre thing, however, is how many stars this friggen book has amassed over at Goodreads. Far be it from me to knock anyone personally, but my spidey-sense is telling me that these reviews were made by Pauley's friends and family. There is no way in the world I am the only one who thinks this book was dog doo. No Way! I call foul. Something just don't smell right.
I am sure Pauley is a wonderful dude with a super over-active imagination. Hell, he has written a bunch of other books, which, would you look at that, they all got 4 and 5 stars too. I have no clue, maybe it's me? Maybe I don't know good fiction anymore when I read it? Maybe I'm just not reading on the same frequency he writes on? Maybe I haven't learned how to hear his particular hum yet? On the off chance I ever do, I'll come back here to apologize for calling this book a pile of dog doo.
And please don't think I judge Grindhouse Press for this bomb of a book. Or maybe I do. Just a little. Man, I hope this is not typical of what they release because I've had my eye on some of their other titles for awhile...
October 10, 2021
William’s Kafka-metamorphosis spin puts your ears to the test and collapsing body parts struggle to survive in this story of human life at the brink of madness to boil into a horror that crawls with more than just the sounds of insects. With the return of the Crunk brothers and the hearers that need an understanding of why they are chosen to hear the hum. I do believe we will see this story arc continue somewhere down the line under the hand of William Pauley III. Highly recommended!
October 15, 2018
I’ve found this one difficult to rate. It has lots of stuff I like, such as urban decay and dread, moody body horror, a tragicomic protagonist, science fiction elements that draw on deep seated anxieties, nods to classic creature features through the revisionist lens of 80s horror, strange transmissions that may or may not be a result of delusion, nostalgic technologies and references to broader themes like the danger of pathogens, distrust of authority and imminent societal threats. All good.
It begins very promisingly, with a lone man experiencing an unusual hum which contains a repeated sequence of enigmatic phrases. After discovering that no one else can hear these communications, he embarks on trying to unearth their meaning, and also to live with them without losing his sanity. At the same time a catastrophic physical condition begins to take hold, the origins of which are equally as unexplained. So far so good. The main problem with this book is it needs to be tightened up. There are flabby philosophical insertions that are awkward, but could’ve been included successfully with a little more attention. I like that the author has taken pains to include themes that offer greater substance than would perhaps be expected. Where this one falters is mainly in some repeated missteps of the writing style, which could’ve so easily been picked up with a decent edit. It made this a very frustrating read, as I was rooting for it the whole way.
Not to say I wouldn’t recommend, as die hard appreciators of uncategorisable genre hopping material should find enough entertainment. Overwhelming impression is one of potential unrealised unfortunately, so I can’t give higher than three stars, despite the premise being exactly to my taste. I’m still curious to read more from this author, as it is the ideas held within that save this one.
It begins very promisingly, with a lone man experiencing an unusual hum which contains a repeated sequence of enigmatic phrases. After discovering that no one else can hear these communications, he embarks on trying to unearth their meaning, and also to live with them without losing his sanity. At the same time a catastrophic physical condition begins to take hold, the origins of which are equally as unexplained. So far so good. The main problem with this book is it needs to be tightened up. There are flabby philosophical insertions that are awkward, but could’ve been included successfully with a little more attention. I like that the author has taken pains to include themes that offer greater substance than would perhaps be expected. Where this one falters is mainly in some repeated missteps of the writing style, which could’ve so easily been picked up with a decent edit. It made this a very frustrating read, as I was rooting for it the whole way.
Not to say I wouldn’t recommend, as die hard appreciators of uncategorisable genre hopping material should find enough entertainment. Overwhelming impression is one of potential unrealised unfortunately, so I can’t give higher than three stars, despite the premise being exactly to my taste. I’m still curious to read more from this author, as it is the ideas held within that save this one.
November 26, 2016
I knew before I started this book that I would enjoy it, William Pauley is one of my favorite writers. What I did not realize is that Divey and Reynold, The Brothers Crunk, were featured heavily in this book. I really enjoyed reading another adventure of theirs, though this one was darker and less goofy. I liked the characters of Bill Krang and Bee, and their adventure to discover the truth about the constant hum. Overall another solid outting from William Pauley 3!
Read
August 4, 2018WP III has been in and around the bizarro and horror genres for a long time. He used to run a flash fiction site, and could best be characterized as a man of ideas. He approaches things from angles few do. As such, you can almost always guarantee the driving concepts in his work will provide interesting insight.
Hearers is no exception to WP’s modus operandi. In this book, WP tackles the “constant hum,” a paranormal phenomenon that has been kicking around the underground for a while now. WP provides us with a working theory, delving into why the hum exists and how it manifests for different people.
I have seen a few reviews on Goodreads in which reviewers are perturbed that the book “left a lot of unanswered questions.” That’s how conspiracy and the paranormal works. You get a piecemeal understanding of something strange, but the puzzle is almost never complete. This is how X-Files operated. You never learned the ins and outs of a paranormal event. You heard a theory, some of the backstory, and you got a sense of resolution through the characters. You knew what happened to them, but the truth was still out there, waiting to be found. WP’s work is no different, and that’s part of why it resonated with me.
The Crunk bros threw me off a bit. I wasn’t sure how their trajectory would mingle with that of our protagonist. In the end I found it only did so tangentially in a thematic capacity. But that isn’t problematic. It was just different.
For me. I got the sense that WP was packing as many of his ideas into this book as he possibly could, which is common for many authors because we’re overwhelmed by the sense of biological deadline. We want to make sure our ideas get out there before we potentially prematurely expire. That’s something we all get better at tempering over time.
Overall it was a good read. Interesting concept. Good execution. A lot to chew on throughout.
Hearers is no exception to WP’s modus operandi. In this book, WP tackles the “constant hum,” a paranormal phenomenon that has been kicking around the underground for a while now. WP provides us with a working theory, delving into why the hum exists and how it manifests for different people.
I have seen a few reviews on Goodreads in which reviewers are perturbed that the book “left a lot of unanswered questions.” That’s how conspiracy and the paranormal works. You get a piecemeal understanding of something strange, but the puzzle is almost never complete. This is how X-Files operated. You never learned the ins and outs of a paranormal event. You heard a theory, some of the backstory, and you got a sense of resolution through the characters. You knew what happened to them, but the truth was still out there, waiting to be found. WP’s work is no different, and that’s part of why it resonated with me.
The Crunk bros threw me off a bit. I wasn’t sure how their trajectory would mingle with that of our protagonist. In the end I found it only did so tangentially in a thematic capacity. But that isn’t problematic. It was just different.
For me. I got the sense that WP was packing as many of his ideas into this book as he possibly could, which is common for many authors because we’re overwhelmed by the sense of biological deadline. We want to make sure our ideas get out there before we potentially prematurely expire. That’s something we all get better at tempering over time.
Overall it was a good read. Interesting concept. Good execution. A lot to chew on throughout.
January 27, 2024
"Ashok burn right hand of men. To Neptune, rebirth in blue fire."
With that catchy phrase on constant, repetitive hum from insects his entire life, little Billy Krang grows up strange, isolated, and obsessed with recording the insect chant and somehow sharing it with the rest of the world who can't hear it. He becomes the King of the Insects, living a squalid life amongst thousands of cockroaches in a filthy apartment in a near empty building. Things start to change, however, when Krang encounters Della "Bee," a young, criminally minded entrepreneur who creates an underground suicide drug from the carapaces of dead cockroaches. The Brother Krank are here as well, a pair of philosophic minded brothers who make their living as exterminators of bugs and men. The entire story is extremely bizarre, and in some cases, revolting in the descriptions of the filth. There were several WTF moments for me. My only complaints are that the story seemed to drag on in the middle - I would have preferred a shorter story.
The strange, bizarre plotline was very interesting to me. I also enjoyed the narration of Connor Brannigan, as this is the very first audiobook I have listened to! Kudos to the author!
With that catchy phrase on constant, repetitive hum from insects his entire life, little Billy Krang grows up strange, isolated, and obsessed with recording the insect chant and somehow sharing it with the rest of the world who can't hear it. He becomes the King of the Insects, living a squalid life amongst thousands of cockroaches in a filthy apartment in a near empty building. Things start to change, however, when Krang encounters Della "Bee," a young, criminally minded entrepreneur who creates an underground suicide drug from the carapaces of dead cockroaches. The Brother Krank are here as well, a pair of philosophic minded brothers who make their living as exterminators of bugs and men. The entire story is extremely bizarre, and in some cases, revolting in the descriptions of the filth. There were several WTF moments for me. My only complaints are that the story seemed to drag on in the middle - I would have preferred a shorter story.
The strange, bizarre plotline was very interesting to me. I also enjoyed the narration of Connor Brannigan, as this is the very first audiobook I have listened to! Kudos to the author!
December 4, 2015
William Pauley III is one of my favorite authors writing books today. I have deeply enjoyed anything and everything I have read from him for years now. The man is brilliant. You never know what he is going to deliver next, but you can count on six things. Whatever it is, it will be great. It will be unique and well written. It will be hilariously sad and depressing. Just as much as it will rock your facking socks off. Plus, this one is from Grindhouse Press and they always deliver something creative, unique, and memorable.
January 12, 2025
This was a strange read but in a really good way. The story was extremely unique and completely held my attention to the end. I could have done without the f-bombs! But that said, this was a really creative sci-fi read.
June 2, 2023
Weird and great. Let me just say: I hate bugs, specifically cockroaches, so reading this was extremely cringe but a good book makes you feel~ something, even if what you feel is pure disgust. I haaaaate the bad reviews for this book on Goodreads lmao. I’m just like, clearly y’all don’t get it. I guess the content? the story? may be a hit or miss for some but the writing is smooth regardless. I think some readers need a very formulaic storyline with DEFINITE answers and explanations but to me, that’s boring asf, and that’s just not what this is. Tbh my review for this would be almost identical to my reviews for other books by William Pauley!
January 18, 2022
Wtf are these insects yapping on and on about? Bill Krang needs to know. He’s been hearing them since he was a kid.
Unfortunately, instead of finding answers he only finds more questions. Instead of getting on with his life, he falls apart.
I have had this one sitting on my shelf for way to frickin’ long and it was high time gave it a go. Glad I did.
Unfortunately, instead of finding answers he only finds more questions. Instead of getting on with his life, he falls apart.
I have had this one sitting on my shelf for way to frickin’ long and it was high time gave it a go. Glad I did.
December 11, 2017
I really love this book. I just read it for the second time, which is something I rarely do with books. (My reading list never stops growing, and I need to get to the ones I haven’t read yet!) Hearers of the Constant Hum was just as good the second time around. I may have to go back for thirds.
Pauley’s best work walks a fine line between realism and all-out weirdness, and this one strikes a perfect ratio of the two. The bizarre happenings let you know we’re definitely not in Kansas anymore. The setting is painted with enough detail that you also think, well, maybe we’re just in an alternate version of Kansas. We must have stepped over a line between dimensions somewhere.
The story itself is right up my alley. Billy Krang is afflicted with a gift/curse that lets him hear what the insects are saying, and also seems to be deforming his body. It’s contagious under specific conditions. His apartment is full of bugs, which can be turned into a literally mind-blowing drug when sprayed with a specific bug killer. (I think maybe some of this is akin to a coherent version of Naked Lunch. I can’t be sure, since I’ve never been able to make it through the Burroughs book.) The exterminators have philosophical conversations while doing their work, which includes human assassinations. Meanwhile, a mysterious organization is trying to unlock the secrets of the insect message Krang hears all day, every day.
I always bring this book up when I get into conversations about favorite books. It’s not for everyone, as evidenced by the funny looks I sometimes get during these conversations. If your taste in books is anything like mine (I’m looking at you, Goodreads friends,) I can’t recommend this one highly enough.
Pauley’s best work walks a fine line between realism and all-out weirdness, and this one strikes a perfect ratio of the two. The bizarre happenings let you know we’re definitely not in Kansas anymore. The setting is painted with enough detail that you also think, well, maybe we’re just in an alternate version of Kansas. We must have stepped over a line between dimensions somewhere.
The story itself is right up my alley. Billy Krang is afflicted with a gift/curse that lets him hear what the insects are saying, and also seems to be deforming his body. It’s contagious under specific conditions. His apartment is full of bugs, which can be turned into a literally mind-blowing drug when sprayed with a specific bug killer. (I think maybe some of this is akin to a coherent version of Naked Lunch. I can’t be sure, since I’ve never been able to make it through the Burroughs book.) The exterminators have philosophical conversations while doing their work, which includes human assassinations. Meanwhile, a mysterious organization is trying to unlock the secrets of the insect message Krang hears all day, every day.
I always bring this book up when I get into conversations about favorite books. It’s not for everyone, as evidenced by the funny looks I sometimes get during these conversations. If your taste in books is anything like mine (I’m looking at you, Goodreads friends,) I can’t recommend this one highly enough.
August 13, 2023
This book gave me the appropriate chills I was seeking and really made me think about society and how we treat others, human and animal alike.
Beautifully written and such an original story. I was enthralled with every chapter.
Beautifully written and such an original story. I was enthralled with every chapter.
August 27, 2023
This was an interesting premise, reminiscent of Kafka, but in a very new way. I did not love the commentary from the exterminators much of the time. I am very pro trusting your reader to reach conclusions and their running commentary ended up feeling preachy for me. I also wish that the end hadn’t just suddenly wrapped up so quickly. Still a five star for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the complimentary audiobook
July 20, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This was so good, and pretty trippy. Crang was such an interesting character.
June 4, 2023
This is what good Sci-fi /fantasy fiction is all about. Adult mayhem, dark humour and madness; and a story grounded in a possible today and possible tomorrow, that poses so many questions about ‘Mankind’s psyche’. I listened to this book after some of William Pauley III’s other books. Not in the published order. So I can say you can listen to them in any order, but listening to this I now know where some of the characters and story from his other books came from. So maybe if this is your first deep dive into the author’s brain twisting anarchic fun, just remember there is much more available. Thank you to Doom Fiction and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
May 17, 2015
I would like to take a moment and say that I absolutely "Facking" loved this book! William Pauley III really delivered. The story was a breath a fresh air from what the norm is today, and the characters were very rich and enjoyable to follow along on their journey's. I especially loved The Crunk brothers, and how they really felt like brothers. I loved how the over all tone of the story is very reminiscent of the 1980's early 1990's Sci-Fi horror, but it goes much deeper than that. At parts, the story gets very philosophical and really picks your brain, making you think. I have to say I was left with an unquenchable thirst to know more. I hope there is a sequel in the making. But even if not, it was a page blazing ride that I didn't want to get off of. I will absolutely be checking out the rest of William Pauley III's work!
October 31, 2023
* I received the audiobook version of this story via NetGalley *
After finishing the Bedlam Bible series from William Pauley III , I wasn’t exactly sure the best place to start but this is where I ended up choosing.
Connor’s narration was great as always.
I really enjoyed The cover art for this book, it perfectly fits the story.
Like all of the other work I’ve read from Pauley, this book is dark and wild. Insect heavy which doesn’t bother me as much as it might others. I actually thought the drug aspect was pretty interesting and unique.
Guess i would feel disappointed if I didn’t go ”huh?” At least once
After finishing the Bedlam Bible series from William Pauley III , I wasn’t exactly sure the best place to start but this is where I ended up choosing.
Connor’s narration was great as always.
I really enjoyed The cover art for this book, it perfectly fits the story.
Like all of the other work I’ve read from Pauley, this book is dark and wild. Insect heavy which doesn’t bother me as much as it might others. I actually thought the drug aspect was pretty interesting and unique.
Guess i would feel disappointed if I didn’t go ”huh?” At least once
June 19, 2023
Hearers of the Constant Hum by William Pauley III may be one of my favs so far... who am I kidding, Pauley is brilliant and I love all his stuff! Pauley has the ability to weave the diabolical and macabre into beautiful prose and next-level storytelling. The ideas and thoughts that plague the page are nothing short of genius.
I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I received a review copy of this book from the author/publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
April 24, 2024
"I used to think living a fulfilled life meant knowing the answers to every question I've ever had. Only now am I realizing all the things in life I never got to experience on the count of my obsessions. I'm a fool who has lived a wasted life, an insect working working working until my inevitable death. We are all insects in that way."
Basically two stories in one that are interconnected at the beginning of the story but branch off. I enjoyed the main story about Krang and his obsessive search for answers to his bizarre medical condition. The side story of two brothers constantly arguing about their life views took me out of the story a bit. Overall interesting but not quite what I thought it would be.
Basically two stories in one that are interconnected at the beginning of the story but branch off. I enjoyed the main story about Krang and his obsessive search for answers to his bizarre medical condition. The side story of two brothers constantly arguing about their life views took me out of the story a bit. Overall interesting but not quite what I thought it would be.
August 10, 2023
This is the second book I’ve read by William Pauley III within a week. I’ve given this a five star rating because it kept me engaged. He is a master of Bizarro Fiction. This technothriller was creepy. Bill Krang has heard the same chant from bugs his whole life. How does he not go insane? Della Combs is an odd girl creating a concoction that people want and die from. Scientists figuring out how to change the human race to insect like machines that would live forever (funded by the government). Now you know why they call it Bizarro Fiction. As you read the book you realize everyone is trying to figure out the meaning of life. In the end, the morally gray, Della, and the two Crunk brothers might be headed down the right path. Everyone else have collapsed in on themselves. Dang, this was fun!
I want to thank NetGalley and Doom Fiction audio for a copy of the audiobook. Connor Brannigan was an excellent narrator. This review is my honest opinion and freely given.
I want to thank NetGalley and Doom Fiction audio for a copy of the audiobook. Connor Brannigan was an excellent narrator. This review is my honest opinion and freely given.
August 2, 2023
So once again here I am with a WIlliam Pauley III audiobook and once again I absolutely loved it. Although this one was a little bit of a slower paced listen than his other ones. Still though this is why I keep coming back to him and his writing, because I truly enjoy the craziness of his stories and the fact that his characters are sometimes so off the wall that it just makes me laugh.
Highly recommend.
Highly recommend.
January 30, 2024
Another weird and fantastic story by Pauley. In this one, the pedlar of a powerful and popular drug has issues with her supply when her bumbling, hilarious suppliers stumble upon a man who has spent his entire life hearing insects chanting the same unusual poem. This man, Bill Krang undergoes a Kafka-esque transformation after failing to get help from seemingly well-wishing scientists.
The narration of this audiobook is fantastic, really nailing the stupidity and pointless philosophising from the Krunk brothers.
The plot takes us through Bill's life and troubles and weaves in various people trying to take advantage or help him, all of which leads him into the path of the book's other characters.
A wonderful, dark but daft story superbly told.
The narration of this audiobook is fantastic, really nailing the stupidity and pointless philosophising from the Krunk brothers.
The plot takes us through Bill's life and troubles and weaves in various people trying to take advantage or help him, all of which leads him into the path of the book's other characters.
A wonderful, dark but daft story superbly told.
October 31, 2023
* I received the audiobook version of this story via NetGalley *
After finishing the Bedlam Bible series from William Pauley III , I wasn’t exactly sure the best place to start but this is where I ended up choosing.
Connor’s narration was great as always.
I really enjoyed The cover art for this book, it perfectly fits the story.
Like all of the other work I’ve read from Pauley, this book is dark and wild. Insect heavy which doesn’t bother me as much as it might others. I actually thought the drug aspect was pretty interesting and unique.
Guess i would feel disappointed if I didn’t go ”huh?” At least once
After finishing the Bedlam Bible series from William Pauley III , I wasn’t exactly sure the best place to start but this is where I ended up choosing.
Connor’s narration was great as always.
I really enjoyed The cover art for this book, it perfectly fits the story.
Like all of the other work I’ve read from Pauley, this book is dark and wild. Insect heavy which doesn’t bother me as much as it might others. I actually thought the drug aspect was pretty interesting and unique.
Guess i would feel disappointed if I didn’t go ”huh?” At least once
November 10, 2015
I found this book to be so intriguing. The author does a stellar job of turning the premise into a solid and highly enjoyable read. I realize that I really need to read the rest of Pauley's work. Highly recommended.
January 19, 2022
All in all this is a good story and I enjoyed it. However the ending is not up to the rest of the book and I have more mixed feelings about the entire story. Too few answers and too many good feelings at the end for me.
It should have earned 4 stars but ends up with 3.5 rounded down to 3
It should have earned 4 stars but ends up with 3.5 rounded down to 3
June 5, 2025
You see me waving an arm to get your attention. The arm I’m waving isn’t mine. I flag you down and follow you even though you don’t stop walking. I begin to talk at a manic pace, dragging the arm behind. My breath is bad and there is something in my mouth.
“Bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit. Bullshit bullshit?”
You try not to look at me. I smack you with the severed arm. It claps against your ear with a cold doughy sting. You feel something slimy wriggle into your ear, transforming my words.
“Bullshit bullsh-have you ever heard of William Pauley? Not the original or the sequel, but the third one. He’s a trilogy. I don’t know if you know this, but he’s a writer guy, you know, with words, and all of his works are in one interconnected universe, or like five, but let’s not get into that just yet, and anyway I did like a real deep dive into his stuff, and I read every single one of his books and short stories and I even read that OooOoo screenplay and the Danny Devito in hell one, and so now I feel like I just got to tell somebody, like proselytize, and and…”
You hasten your steps, I toss aside the limp arm. It makes an unpleasant sound on the sidewalk. It’s then that you notice I’m not wearing anything except for a DOOM Fiction™ shirt, but worn as pants. You try not to look, but an errant glance tells you where the neck hole sits. I hop skip alongside your wide gait, still chewing something.
“Okay, let’s take it from the top, or the bottom, it’s all connected, right? HAHA. I started at Holus Bolus, and boy was I hooked, but you can start wherever. I’m telling you, I felt weird just reading it, like the story — the Eighth Block Tower — was creeping into my brain.”
I spit out wet wads of magazine cud, scratch my tongue, then continue.
“There’s so many inexplicable things going on and the more DOOM Fiction you read, the more you get infected, you stop thinking things are weird: purple TV’s, huffing cockroach dust, killing people with Nintendo accessories — it’s just how it is in the world of Eighth Block. By the end of Holus Bolus, I was in tune with that crazy hum and I cared for these characters that seemed so insane at first. I mean, the ending is shockingly emotional. I mean I know I’m not crazy, not like the residents of Eighth Block, HAHA.”
We come to a redlight, you cannot cross. I have you trapped by traffic. I remove a glowing green syringe from somewhere inside my shirt-pants. You flinch but I inject it into my butt. You regret walking past the Eighth Block as the light turns green.
“So then I keep reading the writer guys books and I realize that things are starting to connect, you know? I jump into the Doom Magnetic Trilogy and I’m seeing familiar names. Stuff is still insane, but it’s just shy enough of nonsense that I start seeing patterns, connections! The purple TV keeps showing up, that giant green brain, people turning into freaky stuff, and the dreams, they all keep bubbling up like acid reflux. Then I notice the Tower is underwater in some kind of black sea in Twelve Residents Dreaming, or was it the First Life of Anacoy Marlin… and then I realized it was continuously raining in some of these other stories! Coincidence? NO! The grotesque and bizarre becomes comfy and normal in DOOM Fiction. Each time I get answers to questions, I’m left wanting to ask and know more. In Hearers of the Constant Hum, maybe for the first time, maybe not, you meet the Crunk brothers who are so fun to read and have such a great banter, you’re left wanting more of them, but then you find out they have their own book called The Brother’s Crunk, and then they keep showing up everywhere, and little by little you start to fit into this wacko world — you become a resident of the Eighth Block Tower. I thought White Fuzz was insane when I read it, it was only like my second bump of DOOM, and I wasn’t sure if I missed something, yet I loved it, but the more I read, the more that uneven feeling of having glimpsed something lurking in the background becomes normal. If you keep reading, digging into the drywall, you find a name keeps getting passed around. Old Joe Booth. You get a little more scared. You read Twelve Residents Dreaming, and you start to wonder about things. The stories are lingering in your mind too long, but you read more. In Astronaut Dream Book, you see connections all over the place, half-remembered moments that ring familiar. You read Automated Daydreaming and you really begin to wonder what the picture is that these pieces make up, because you want to know, you have to know. You know?”
You begin running down the street away from me and I sprint after, yelling.
“Jellyfish juice! @William Pauley III! Purple TV’s! Happiness! Jubilicide! TOWER NEON! The Dreams! It’s all connected, don’t you see!? Twelve! Five! Ashok burn right hand of men! To Neptune, rebirth in blue fire!!
You escape, barely. You lean over breathing hard and feel a horrible pain where I hit you with the wet arm. A small faucet is growing out of your ear.
https://losersfiction.substack.com/p/...
“Bullshit bullshit bullshit bullshit. Bullshit bullshit?”
You try not to look at me. I smack you with the severed arm. It claps against your ear with a cold doughy sting. You feel something slimy wriggle into your ear, transforming my words.
“Bullshit bullsh-have you ever heard of William Pauley? Not the original or the sequel, but the third one. He’s a trilogy. I don’t know if you know this, but he’s a writer guy, you know, with words, and all of his works are in one interconnected universe, or like five, but let’s not get into that just yet, and anyway I did like a real deep dive into his stuff, and I read every single one of his books and short stories and I even read that OooOoo screenplay and the Danny Devito in hell one, and so now I feel like I just got to tell somebody, like proselytize, and and…”
You hasten your steps, I toss aside the limp arm. It makes an unpleasant sound on the sidewalk. It’s then that you notice I’m not wearing anything except for a DOOM Fiction™ shirt, but worn as pants. You try not to look, but an errant glance tells you where the neck hole sits. I hop skip alongside your wide gait, still chewing something.
“Okay, let’s take it from the top, or the bottom, it’s all connected, right? HAHA. I started at Holus Bolus, and boy was I hooked, but you can start wherever. I’m telling you, I felt weird just reading it, like the story — the Eighth Block Tower — was creeping into my brain.”
I spit out wet wads of magazine cud, scratch my tongue, then continue.
“There’s so many inexplicable things going on and the more DOOM Fiction you read, the more you get infected, you stop thinking things are weird: purple TV’s, huffing cockroach dust, killing people with Nintendo accessories — it’s just how it is in the world of Eighth Block. By the end of Holus Bolus, I was in tune with that crazy hum and I cared for these characters that seemed so insane at first. I mean, the ending is shockingly emotional. I mean I know I’m not crazy, not like the residents of Eighth Block, HAHA.”
We come to a redlight, you cannot cross. I have you trapped by traffic. I remove a glowing green syringe from somewhere inside my shirt-pants. You flinch but I inject it into my butt. You regret walking past the Eighth Block as the light turns green.
“So then I keep reading the writer guys books and I realize that things are starting to connect, you know? I jump into the Doom Magnetic Trilogy and I’m seeing familiar names. Stuff is still insane, but it’s just shy enough of nonsense that I start seeing patterns, connections! The purple TV keeps showing up, that giant green brain, people turning into freaky stuff, and the dreams, they all keep bubbling up like acid reflux. Then I notice the Tower is underwater in some kind of black sea in Twelve Residents Dreaming, or was it the First Life of Anacoy Marlin… and then I realized it was continuously raining in some of these other stories! Coincidence? NO! The grotesque and bizarre becomes comfy and normal in DOOM Fiction. Each time I get answers to questions, I’m left wanting to ask and know more. In Hearers of the Constant Hum, maybe for the first time, maybe not, you meet the Crunk brothers who are so fun to read and have such a great banter, you’re left wanting more of them, but then you find out they have their own book called The Brother’s Crunk, and then they keep showing up everywhere, and little by little you start to fit into this wacko world — you become a resident of the Eighth Block Tower. I thought White Fuzz was insane when I read it, it was only like my second bump of DOOM, and I wasn’t sure if I missed something, yet I loved it, but the more I read, the more that uneven feeling of having glimpsed something lurking in the background becomes normal. If you keep reading, digging into the drywall, you find a name keeps getting passed around. Old Joe Booth. You get a little more scared. You read Twelve Residents Dreaming, and you start to wonder about things. The stories are lingering in your mind too long, but you read more. In Astronaut Dream Book, you see connections all over the place, half-remembered moments that ring familiar. You read Automated Daydreaming and you really begin to wonder what the picture is that these pieces make up, because you want to know, you have to know. You know?”
You begin running down the street away from me and I sprint after, yelling.
“Jellyfish juice! @William Pauley III! Purple TV’s! Happiness! Jubilicide! TOWER NEON! The Dreams! It’s all connected, don’t you see!? Twelve! Five! Ashok burn right hand of men! To Neptune, rebirth in blue fire!!
You escape, barely. You lean over breathing hard and feel a horrible pain where I hit you with the wet arm. A small faucet is growing out of your ear.
https://losersfiction.substack.com/p/...
July 28, 2023
ASHOK BURN RIGHT HAND OF MEN TO NEPTUNE REBIRTH IN BLUE FIRE
this was... weird. no, but really - w e i r d. i mean, the genre i s called weird scifi so I guess I should've expected that, but still. it was a wild ride full of insects, kinda-scientifically-justified-but-paranormal occurences, contract killers, mad scientists and drugs. oh, and I almost forgot to mention the philosophical discourses on social problems/visions of future thrown in quite randomly here and there.
so, as I said - weird. strange. bizarre. but... also good? there was something extremely captivating about the plot and, more than anything else, about the w e i r d n e s s itself. it felt like watching a conspiracy theory video that youtube recommended to you at 2 am and entering a never ending spiral of going deeper and deeper, exploring what seems like a whole new world, strange but weirdly fascinating. this was basically the embodiment of the non-existent chaotic chaotic alignment as a book.
however, I feel like the book was just too... random for me. it was as if the author had a few seemingly unconnected ideas and instead of bothering to try and find (or make) the connections decided to just smash them all together and make it into a book. which is... a concept and a choice I guess, it's just not entirely my thing. it caused a lot of plotlines to be left unfinished and the "reflective" parts to feel either artificial and pretentious or lacking a conclusion.
in the end, I really enjoyed "Hearers..." and the chaos certainly was a part of the experience, but I feel like it also prevented the book from reaching its full potential. so, 3 stars it is (which is the basic positive rating on my scale).
thank you NetGalley for providing the audiobook to me in exchange for a review!
this was... weird. no, but really - w e i r d. i mean, the genre i s called weird scifi so I guess I should've expected that, but still. it was a wild ride full of insects, kinda-scientifically-justified-but-paranormal occurences, contract killers, mad scientists and drugs. oh, and I almost forgot to mention the philosophical discourses on social problems/visions of future thrown in quite randomly here and there.
so, as I said - weird. strange. bizarre. but... also good? there was something extremely captivating about the plot and, more than anything else, about the w e i r d n e s s itself. it felt like watching a conspiracy theory video that youtube recommended to you at 2 am and entering a never ending spiral of going deeper and deeper, exploring what seems like a whole new world, strange but weirdly fascinating. this was basically the embodiment of the non-existent chaotic chaotic alignment as a book.
however, I feel like the book was just too... random for me. it was as if the author had a few seemingly unconnected ideas and instead of bothering to try and find (or make) the connections decided to just smash them all together and make it into a book. which is... a concept and a choice I guess, it's just not entirely my thing. it caused a lot of plotlines to be left unfinished and the "reflective" parts to feel either artificial and pretentious or lacking a conclusion.
in the end, I really enjoyed "Hearers..." and the chaos certainly was a part of the experience, but I feel like it also prevented the book from reaching its full potential. so, 3 stars it is (which is the basic positive rating on my scale).
thank you NetGalley for providing the audiobook to me in exchange for a review!
August 7, 2023
I finished reading this book hours ago and I still don't really know what to say about this book, other than this was another interesting and weird story from William Pauley III. The story has insects talking to people by repeating the same mantra over and over again, a lady creating drugs from cockroaches, and brothers that do some questionable things to pay their bills.
Connor Brannigan narrated this novel and once again brought a wonderful creep factor to the narration.
Connor Brannigan narrated this novel and once again brought a wonderful creep factor to the narration.
March 7, 2023
I enjoyed this. I'd like to see the movie.
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