What do you think?
Rate this book
Baggage
Matt Wilson is a demon hunter at the end of his rope.
Paloma, Zeb, and Alice are a trio of misfits working for a clandestine organization.
What starts as a chance meeting on a beach, will take them to the eerie town of Solitude, and into some of the deepest trouble they've ever been in. Together, they'll find out that everyone's got their demons.
Everyone's got BAGGAGE.
Paloma, Zeb, and Alice are a trio of misfits working for a clandestine organization.
What starts as a chance meeting on a beach, will take them to the eerie town of Solitude, and into some of the deepest trouble they've ever been in. Together, they'll find out that everyone's got their demons.
Everyone's got BAGGAGE.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 25, 2021
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Simon Paul Wilson
13 books35 followersSimon Paul Wilson is a U.K. based writer of horror, sci-fi, and magic realism.
He is the author of GhostCityGirl, the first in a cyberpunk horror trilogy, See You When The World Ends, and Baggage, co-written with Matt Wildasin.
When not writing, Simon listens to post and prog rock at a very loud volume. He also plays a mean air bass.
He is the author of GhostCityGirl, the first in a cyberpunk horror trilogy, See You When The World Ends, and Baggage, co-written with Matt Wildasin.
When not writing, Simon listens to post and prog rock at a very loud volume. He also plays a mean air bass.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 4, 2022
** Edited as review is now live on Kendall Reviews! **
It could be said that horror/dark fiction stories will fall into one of two categories. The first would be dark, brooding, examinations of humans and that which haunts them. The second would be brash, bold, colorful and filled with action and violence.
Now, I know I’ve really taken an incredibly large genre of storytelling and painted it with a simplistic brush, but if you were to ask most readers, they’d probably agree, that they prefer the slow burners with grief as an anchoring point, or they like the action, shoot-em-up pacing of Urban Fantasy filled with guns, gore and crazy creatures.
I personally enjoy it all. And, after having recently read both a novella from Simon Paul Wilson and his forthcoming collection, this one had me very intrigued. Shamefully, I’ve not yet read anything else from Wildasin, but after reading this one, I’ll definitely be diving in.
So, what should you expect with ‘Baggage’?
Well, what if I told you this was essentially Hellboy/BPRD meets Tales From the Crypt’s Demon Knight and End of Days starring Schwarzenegger?
What I liked: ‘Baggage’ starts off with a literal bang, as three of the four major players in the book, Alice, Zeb and Paloma, carjack a car driven by our other main player, Matt, at gunpoint.
From there, we learn they are all demon hunters in one form or another and that they need to work together to destroy the end game beast in the small town of Salvation.
I don’t think I can do this book justice when I simply say it is action-packed. This is video game levels of ammunition used, as crazy creatures and demons flood towards this group and their guns get drawn and the blasting begins.
But, as the action picks up and up and up, we get layers unravelled, organizations introduced and secrets shared. This made for extra depth added, so it purely isn’t an empty story.
The ending was great, and we get even more emotional leverage shared that really did show the ‘why’ for some characters and the reasoning behind some decisions that were made.
What I didn’t like: The chapters bounced between different first-person POVs and at first, it was jarring. Once I got a handle of the ‘how’ and ‘who’ of what was coming, it flowed well, but over the first four or five chapters, it created some confusion.
Why you should buy this: Well, if my description above of what this book is like didn’t get you ramped up to go demon destroying, I honestly don’t know what will. This travels at 100mph and we get some really great scenes filled with ultra-violence. Every once in a while it’s great to read a story that has you smiling from ear to ear as things go full Pete Tong but the characters welcome it and meet it head-on.
It could be said that horror/dark fiction stories will fall into one of two categories. The first would be dark, brooding, examinations of humans and that which haunts them. The second would be brash, bold, colorful and filled with action and violence.
Now, I know I’ve really taken an incredibly large genre of storytelling and painted it with a simplistic brush, but if you were to ask most readers, they’d probably agree, that they prefer the slow burners with grief as an anchoring point, or they like the action, shoot-em-up pacing of Urban Fantasy filled with guns, gore and crazy creatures.
I personally enjoy it all. And, after having recently read both a novella from Simon Paul Wilson and his forthcoming collection, this one had me very intrigued. Shamefully, I’ve not yet read anything else from Wildasin, but after reading this one, I’ll definitely be diving in.
So, what should you expect with ‘Baggage’?
Well, what if I told you this was essentially Hellboy/BPRD meets Tales From the Crypt’s Demon Knight and End of Days starring Schwarzenegger?
What I liked: ‘Baggage’ starts off with a literal bang, as three of the four major players in the book, Alice, Zeb and Paloma, carjack a car driven by our other main player, Matt, at gunpoint.
From there, we learn they are all demon hunters in one form or another and that they need to work together to destroy the end game beast in the small town of Salvation.
I don’t think I can do this book justice when I simply say it is action-packed. This is video game levels of ammunition used, as crazy creatures and demons flood towards this group and their guns get drawn and the blasting begins.
But, as the action picks up and up and up, we get layers unravelled, organizations introduced and secrets shared. This made for extra depth added, so it purely isn’t an empty story.
The ending was great, and we get even more emotional leverage shared that really did show the ‘why’ for some characters and the reasoning behind some decisions that were made.
What I didn’t like: The chapters bounced between different first-person POVs and at first, it was jarring. Once I got a handle of the ‘how’ and ‘who’ of what was coming, it flowed well, but over the first four or five chapters, it created some confusion.
Why you should buy this: Well, if my description above of what this book is like didn’t get you ramped up to go demon destroying, I honestly don’t know what will. This travels at 100mph and we get some really great scenes filled with ultra-violence. Every once in a while it’s great to read a story that has you smiling from ear to ear as things go full Pete Tong but the characters welcome it and meet it head-on.
January 1, 2022
This book was a wild ride! I don't often read collaborations so I wasn't sure what to expect but it was really well done. The story is told through two views, Matt and Paloma. Both characters are realistic, Matt has had a rough time and it shows in his character, he's edgy and has an attitude. Paloma is very strong and inspiring and I admired her a great deal. Zeb and Alice are also brilliant.
I don't want to give too much away but this was a little like Constantine and The Supernatural on LSD and steroids, yet it still manages to be entirely original.
You can have fun with this book, but it has serious times too, scary times and moments that will shred your nerves. Plenty of twists and surprises too.
The Cadaverous, may I never see one of those....
I read this quickly, because you get so pulled in. I'm excited to read whatever these two authors come up with in the future. An excellent book
I don't want to give too much away but this was a little like Constantine and The Supernatural on LSD and steroids, yet it still manages to be entirely original.
You can have fun with this book, but it has serious times too, scary times and moments that will shred your nerves. Plenty of twists and surprises too.
The Cadaverous, may I never see one of those....
I read this quickly, because you get so pulled in. I'm excited to read whatever these two authors come up with in the future. An excellent book
January 4, 2022
Simon Paul Wilson and Matt Wildasin deliver on this twisted story. Featuring a cast of unforgettable characters, Baggage takes us to the depths of horror and back again, all the while pulling at your heart strings as you get more and more attached. Both authors bring their A game and collaborate beautifully, playing off each other’s strengths to build a story you won’t forget. Whether you’re a fan of Simon, Matt, or both, Baggage will smash your expectations. And if you’re new to both, this is the perfect place to start.
February 5, 2022
This was a thrill ride from the first chapter, with irreverent characters, an imaginative bestiary of grotesque monsters, and a compelling story line which meanders one way and then the other, keeping you guessing until the end.
I constantly had the feeling while reading this that it would make an amazing comic book or animated film. Everything is larger than life, bold, and colourful, while the action rattles along at a thousand miles per hour throughout, with tactical breathers, carefully engineered to have us care about the characters.
I smashed through with this book in a week, and it would've been less but for my schedule. Superb. More please.
I constantly had the feeling while reading this that it would make an amazing comic book or animated film. Everything is larger than life, bold, and colourful, while the action rattles along at a thousand miles per hour throughout, with tactical breathers, carefully engineered to have us care about the characters.
I smashed through with this book in a week, and it would've been less but for my schedule. Superb. More please.
January 22, 2022
Baggage by Simon Paul Wilson & Matt Wildasin is a brutal and fast-paced story filled with guns and monsters that will violently rip your heart out before putting it back inside with a little “there, there” pat!
Join this crew of misfits as they come together to battle demons both in the real world and in their minds.
What a journey these characters went on! From start to finish, this was a treat to read. This is another book that I highly recommend picking up on a day off. If you try to put it down after one intense scene, you won’t stop thinking about what could happen next and your fingers will be itching to pick it up again!
I highly recommend this book! And while perfect as a standalone, I can’t help but hope for a follow-up or a couple of prequels. I’m just not ready to let these characters go!
More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
Join this crew of misfits as they come together to battle demons both in the real world and in their minds.
What a journey these characters went on! From start to finish, this was a treat to read. This is another book that I highly recommend picking up on a day off. If you try to put it down after one intense scene, you won’t stop thinking about what could happen next and your fingers will be itching to pick it up again!
I highly recommend this book! And while perfect as a standalone, I can’t help but hope for a follow-up or a couple of prequels. I’m just not ready to let these characters go!
More here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/book-...
March 14, 2022
Thank you to the authors for providing me with an e-ARC of Baggage in exchange for an honest review!
Baggage is an extremely fast-paced read that will leave you shocked at how fast you reach those final pages.
This action-packed horror story follows a demon hunter & the gang that holds him up by gunpoint for a ride.
My pal, Steve Stred says, "this is video game levels of ammunition used" & honestly, yes. This is the perfect comparison. I got Duke Nukem meets Saints Row meets Doom vibes & I am here for the shoot-em-up action that this book provides.
There is honestly not a boring moment in Baggage. We get a wild-ride filled with gore, but alongside the fun stuff, we also get moments that really strike up the tears. Did I expect to see the found family trope in a story like Baggage? No, not at all, but I absolutely loved it.
I definitely recommend Baggage! Especially if you're into action-packed stories that feel as if it can be easily turned into a video game!
Baggage is an extremely fast-paced read that will leave you shocked at how fast you reach those final pages.
This action-packed horror story follows a demon hunter & the gang that holds him up by gunpoint for a ride.
My pal, Steve Stred says, "this is video game levels of ammunition used" & honestly, yes. This is the perfect comparison. I got Duke Nukem meets Saints Row meets Doom vibes & I am here for the shoot-em-up action that this book provides.
There is honestly not a boring moment in Baggage. We get a wild-ride filled with gore, but alongside the fun stuff, we also get moments that really strike up the tears. Did I expect to see the found family trope in a story like Baggage? No, not at all, but I absolutely loved it.
I definitely recommend Baggage! Especially if you're into action-packed stories that feel as if it can be easily turned into a video game!
February 14, 2022
A Relentless Wild Ride.
Imagine Tarantino wrestling with Sin City. Now imagine that with crazy guns, a wide variety of demons, and larger than life characters! Wildasin and Wilson have taken a big concept and turned into an easy to read page turner. This splatterpunk affair has more in common with comic books than most similar works which lends itself to the uncompromising all action style the writers have adopted. So load up your shotgun, turn the volume up, and don't you dare hit those brakes!
Imagine Tarantino wrestling with Sin City. Now imagine that with crazy guns, a wide variety of demons, and larger than life characters! Wildasin and Wilson have taken a big concept and turned into an easy to read page turner. This splatterpunk affair has more in common with comic books than most similar works which lends itself to the uncompromising all action style the writers have adopted. So load up your shotgun, turn the volume up, and don't you dare hit those brakes!
January 23, 2022
What a wild ride; I loved it! Vivid and visceral, I was utterly gripped by what goes down in Baggage and resented having to put it down to go to sleep, last night! It'd make an awesome movie, if any Hollywood producers happen to be looking in 😉
December 28, 2021
Thank you for checking out Baggage.
I’m so proud of what Matt and I created, and hope you enjoy!
I’m so proud of what Matt and I created, and hope you enjoy!
March 15, 2024
A kick ass masterpiece. Full of action. Read it like now!!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews