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Beneath Gehenna
One world preys on trauma. Another creates it. Choose wisely.
When an alert goes out to the paying members of the disaster bunker known as New Eden, recently wealthy yet highly dysfunctional Geoffrey and Portia Thompson grab their survival bag, let the staff of their palatial Plymouth Commonwealth estate go, and make the short journey to the rest of their lives. Joining them are one thousand additional souls, destined to repopulate the Earth and rebuild their once great world. Shortly after arriving and securing the hatch for good, communications to the outside world are cut off.
Everyone is convinced this is the end, to include Portia who has vowed to divorce Geoffrey and destroy everything he holds dear. With rations implemented and nerves shot, Geoffrey and his new friends volunteer to travel to the surface to gather information and see if they can leave New Eden. When they exit the shelter, however, they find a vastly different world.
Gone is their reality, and in its place their worst nightmare. With no choice but to escape, they make a run back to New Eden where yet another nightmare awaits...beneath Gehenna.
When an alert goes out to the paying members of the disaster bunker known as New Eden, recently wealthy yet highly dysfunctional Geoffrey and Portia Thompson grab their survival bag, let the staff of their palatial Plymouth Commonwealth estate go, and make the short journey to the rest of their lives. Joining them are one thousand additional souls, destined to repopulate the Earth and rebuild their once great world. Shortly after arriving and securing the hatch for good, communications to the outside world are cut off.
Everyone is convinced this is the end, to include Portia who has vowed to divorce Geoffrey and destroy everything he holds dear. With rations implemented and nerves shot, Geoffrey and his new friends volunteer to travel to the surface to gather information and see if they can leave New Eden. When they exit the shelter, however, they find a vastly different world.
Gone is their reality, and in its place their worst nightmare. With no choice but to escape, they make a run back to New Eden where yet another nightmare awaits...beneath Gehenna.
- GenresScience FictionFantasy
337 pages, ebook
Published April 19, 2022
3 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin X. Wretlind
28 books296 followersBenjamin X. Wretlind is a speculative fiction author who writes science fiction, dark fantasy, magical realism, and some horror. He has been--at different times, of course–a fry cook, range boy, greens maintenance technician, reservations agent, room service attendant, editor, banquet server, meteorologist, instructor, program manager for Internet applications, curriculum developer, training simulation engineer, leadership facilitator/coach, process improvement consultant, learning manager and organizational psychologist. He currently builds and facilitates leadership courses at Yale.
Benjamin is the creator of the Transit series of novels, which has been called “an engaging, personality-driven tale with detailed SF worldbuilding.” He has also written and published many novels, collections, and the weirdest creative writing book ever. Owing his life’s viewpoint to Bob Ross, he has also painted a few things, thrown a few paintings away, and probably has a painting on an easel right now. Oh, and he loves wood working, too.
It’s all about creating.
Benjamin lives with his wife Jesse in Colorado.
Benjamin is the creator of the Transit series of novels, which has been called “an engaging, personality-driven tale with detailed SF worldbuilding.” He has also written and published many novels, collections, and the weirdest creative writing book ever. Owing his life’s viewpoint to Bob Ross, he has also painted a few things, thrown a few paintings away, and probably has a painting on an easel right now. Oh, and he loves wood working, too.
It’s all about creating.
Benjamin lives with his wife Jesse in Colorado.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 4, 2022
If I could make this ten stars, I would.
On a lighthearted note, the opening is visual and well written, and may develop the reader's urge for fish sticks. Not real ones.
Underneath the story runs a trieste on an unhappy marriage overlaid with accepted doom and mystery. The doom is the situation, which is not ideal. I would have preferred to face something like this with a true partner. Only a few chapters in, the reader wonders how Portia, the evil one, will get hers.
Interspersed with the action are teases of what we know of from history, mixed with threads of "what if" that are applied to a twist of history---example: America lost the revolutionary war. The mechanical devices open to the characters are logical. When the passenger airship rises, the description of the equilibrium and gravity change is written masterfully, and just one example of how the author has done a stellar job of heaving the reader into his world and making them understand and want to know what happens.
My favorite funny line:
"How many times have you and Chappy killed Pippin?" "Three. One more ought to do it."
At P220 things took a sharp turn into another level, testing the reader about what he thinks is real and never could change, and if you fear what is in your mind--that is a good thing--you should.
A tip, while reading this book, it is worth trying to decipher the language of the inhabitants of the Green Dragon, it enhances the characters and paints them better than regular descriptions could.
The flow and ease of the writing is consistent, whether of introspection, or confusion, or action.
The writing keeps the reader right in the middle of the protagonist's fears, and his normalness. It was beautiful to participate in his transition back to a moral person with empathy. As the protagonist gets to know himself again, his humility is fresh and honest. He didn't need normal things, like a bath...
Best description was of a pissed off Portia trying to get into a room:
"Banging away like a loose board in a hurricane."
Recommended, and I hope you enjoy it.
On a lighthearted note, the opening is visual and well written, and may develop the reader's urge for fish sticks. Not real ones.
Underneath the story runs a trieste on an unhappy marriage overlaid with accepted doom and mystery. The doom is the situation, which is not ideal. I would have preferred to face something like this with a true partner. Only a few chapters in, the reader wonders how Portia, the evil one, will get hers.
Interspersed with the action are teases of what we know of from history, mixed with threads of "what if" that are applied to a twist of history---example: America lost the revolutionary war. The mechanical devices open to the characters are logical. When the passenger airship rises, the description of the equilibrium and gravity change is written masterfully, and just one example of how the author has done a stellar job of heaving the reader into his world and making them understand and want to know what happens.
My favorite funny line:
"How many times have you and Chappy killed Pippin?" "Three. One more ought to do it."
At P220 things took a sharp turn into another level, testing the reader about what he thinks is real and never could change, and if you fear what is in your mind--that is a good thing--you should.
A tip, while reading this book, it is worth trying to decipher the language of the inhabitants of the Green Dragon, it enhances the characters and paints them better than regular descriptions could.
The flow and ease of the writing is consistent, whether of introspection, or confusion, or action.
The writing keeps the reader right in the middle of the protagonist's fears, and his normalness. It was beautiful to participate in his transition back to a moral person with empathy. As the protagonist gets to know himself again, his humility is fresh and honest. He didn't need normal things, like a bath...
Best description was of a pissed off Portia trying to get into a room:
"Banging away like a loose board in a hurricane."
Recommended, and I hope you enjoy it.
October 4, 2022
Entertaining. Good sci fi. Not over complicated.
A little weird how the main character is very short and often speaks of how big and tall others are. Never explained.
A wry, sardonic wit pervades, which is pretty fun. More laugh-out-loud and the beginning, which drops off as things get more serious.
Reminiscent of Ray Bradbury or Michael Chrichton, with being a little more light and accessible. Fun read!
A little weird how the main character is very short and often speaks of how big and tall others are. Never explained.
A wry, sardonic wit pervades, which is pretty fun. More laugh-out-loud and the beginning, which drops off as things get more serious.
Reminiscent of Ray Bradbury or Michael Chrichton, with being a little more light and accessible. Fun read!
June 18, 2022
Disclosure: Got the book for free from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. Nobody (the author, publisher or LibraryThing) previewed this review before it went public.
The book starts with a hook, instead of providing a long and detailed backstory. The backstory is mentioned throughout the book, some of which I feel is important to include, some not so much.
It's written from a first person point of view, and could be considered a diary. People and things are referenced in the current and future point of view, which can be a bit confusing but can also get you to want to keep reading.
"We do not waken with any realization that at any moment, and from any direction, the gods may decide to move our lives in a direction we do not expect"
The length of each chapter feels right, and they flow from one chapter to another without you knowing it unless you are paying close attention.
It is interesting to read how different people are treated. If they have money, they are treat well, otherwise they are treated horrible. And how they are treated when they tell the truth.
"I swore a few of them said something about my presence, my intrusion into their world, but frankly, I was more comfortable here than in [my cabin]."
"Science officers? Attorneys? Did the New Eden Company consider every possible resource needed?"
There are a couple of times where humour comes out, it does help to make the book better, I wish there was more of it.
"If there is one thing that can be said about embarrassing bodily functions, it is that all people are prone to them regardless of their place on the pyramid of life. Money does not change the way your body reacts to outside influences."
The book ends very different from how you think it's going to end. Which is nice, and there could be a second book if the author wishes to continue.
"Pain is sometimes the most motivating thing the human body can conjure."
The book starts with a hook, instead of providing a long and detailed backstory. The backstory is mentioned throughout the book, some of which I feel is important to include, some not so much.
It's written from a first person point of view, and could be considered a diary. People and things are referenced in the current and future point of view, which can be a bit confusing but can also get you to want to keep reading.
"We do not waken with any realization that at any moment, and from any direction, the gods may decide to move our lives in a direction we do not expect"
The length of each chapter feels right, and they flow from one chapter to another without you knowing it unless you are paying close attention.
It is interesting to read how different people are treated. If they have money, they are treat well, otherwise they are treated horrible. And how they are treated when they tell the truth.
"I swore a few of them said something about my presence, my intrusion into their world, but frankly, I was more comfortable here than in [my cabin]."
"Science officers? Attorneys? Did the New Eden Company consider every possible resource needed?"
There are a couple of times where humour comes out, it does help to make the book better, I wish there was more of it.
"If there is one thing that can be said about embarrassing bodily functions, it is that all people are prone to them regardless of their place on the pyramid of life. Money does not change the way your body reacts to outside influences."
The book ends very different from how you think it's going to end. Which is nice, and there could be a second book if the author wishes to continue.
"Pain is sometimes the most motivating thing the human body can conjure."
October 1, 2023
I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.
Beneath Gehenna, by Benjamin X. Wretlind, is a dark dystopian about a man living through an apocalyptic nightmare and surviving in spite of the pain and loss. The book is separated into five parts. Part I: Gehenna is Nigh introduces Geoffrey Alan Thompson, a wealthy middle aged man and his insufferable wife Portia, who flee to New Eden after receiving an ominous warning. Part II: New Eden describes the new environment the ultra-rich and wealthy have found themselves in, and how Alan, despite his wealth, is still at the bottom of the social ladder, similar to his early days of financial difficulties. In Part III:The Mission, the end of the world becomes an impossible reality as communication lines are cut and New Eden becomes isolated from the population. During this time, Geoffrey, alongside a trusted group of friends, takes it upon himself to try and find some semblance of life on the outside. In Part IV: Our Hell, Geoffrey and his friends finally understand the hell that has descended upon the world, as a mysterious phenomena forces themselves to relive the traumas of the past. Finally, in Part V: The Return, Geoffrey returns to New Eden to report his findings, only to discover that New Eden has fallen, replaced by a fragile monarchy that is unable to fend for itself.
I loved the similarities between Geoffrey and the other characters, more specifically Elisa. I liked how everyone on the ship had come to escape something, whether it be the literal end of the world, or a domestic violence situation, or poverty, or homelessness, or whatever else society decided to toss into the fire. It’s funny how then, once he steps off the ship, he and all his friends are confronted with the same problems they were trying to run away from. That being said, Portia interested me more than she should. She came from nothing. She knew it, and she knew how hard it’d been. She didn’t want to go back to the same situation she’d been in, but on the other hand, she fully expected other people to take care of her, like a child who read too many fairytales. All this time she’d been cheating on Geoffrey, I wonder if it was because she wanted to see who could provide for her. She wanted to come up with a safety plan in case something happened to Geoffrey, or if he wanted to divorce her. Was she smart about it? No. Was she spoiled? Yes, but she relied on what she knew what to do.
The concept of Gehenna being some sort of purgatory reminded me of a sermon I listened to once, that people grow when they’re thrown into the fire. Because people are supposedly naturally resilient, surely they’d be able to mold themselves into something great. This, unfortunately, is a bit of a stereotype, albeit a positive one. I’ve only started working as a therapist and already I can tell that some people just can’t handle the burdens life throws at them. Whether it be an addiction, or a phobia, or a trauma that haunts them so, they’re doomed to stay in their own personal hells until they find a way out. Time isn’t linear; the past stays with us until we get over it, or we find a way to cope with it.
There was a lot going on in this book, and while the storylines were all interesting, I wished they were more fleshed out. For instance, I would’ve wanted to know what was going on in the ship when Geoffrey and his friends left. I would’ve liked to see the outside world when Gehenna descended. I would’ve wanted to explore the depths of Mezzanine, as well as how the upper classes interacted with the lower classes. While I did enjoy seeing through Geoffrey’s lenses, despite his daring attitude (I mentally cheered when he stood up to Portia), I felt the story could’ve benefited if there were other character POVs to build up this horrifying yet fascinating world.
As such, I would give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Beneath Gehenna, by Benjamin X. Wretlind, is a dark dystopian about a man living through an apocalyptic nightmare and surviving in spite of the pain and loss. The book is separated into five parts. Part I: Gehenna is Nigh introduces Geoffrey Alan Thompson, a wealthy middle aged man and his insufferable wife Portia, who flee to New Eden after receiving an ominous warning. Part II: New Eden describes the new environment the ultra-rich and wealthy have found themselves in, and how Alan, despite his wealth, is still at the bottom of the social ladder, similar to his early days of financial difficulties. In Part III:The Mission, the end of the world becomes an impossible reality as communication lines are cut and New Eden becomes isolated from the population. During this time, Geoffrey, alongside a trusted group of friends, takes it upon himself to try and find some semblance of life on the outside. In Part IV: Our Hell, Geoffrey and his friends finally understand the hell that has descended upon the world, as a mysterious phenomena forces themselves to relive the traumas of the past. Finally, in Part V: The Return, Geoffrey returns to New Eden to report his findings, only to discover that New Eden has fallen, replaced by a fragile monarchy that is unable to fend for itself.
I loved the similarities between Geoffrey and the other characters, more specifically Elisa. I liked how everyone on the ship had come to escape something, whether it be the literal end of the world, or a domestic violence situation, or poverty, or homelessness, or whatever else society decided to toss into the fire. It’s funny how then, once he steps off the ship, he and all his friends are confronted with the same problems they were trying to run away from. That being said, Portia interested me more than she should. She came from nothing. She knew it, and she knew how hard it’d been. She didn’t want to go back to the same situation she’d been in, but on the other hand, she fully expected other people to take care of her, like a child who read too many fairytales. All this time she’d been cheating on Geoffrey, I wonder if it was because she wanted to see who could provide for her. She wanted to come up with a safety plan in case something happened to Geoffrey, or if he wanted to divorce her. Was she smart about it? No. Was she spoiled? Yes, but she relied on what she knew what to do.
The concept of Gehenna being some sort of purgatory reminded me of a sermon I listened to once, that people grow when they’re thrown into the fire. Because people are supposedly naturally resilient, surely they’d be able to mold themselves into something great. This, unfortunately, is a bit of a stereotype, albeit a positive one. I’ve only started working as a therapist and already I can tell that some people just can’t handle the burdens life throws at them. Whether it be an addiction, or a phobia, or a trauma that haunts them so, they’re doomed to stay in their own personal hells until they find a way out. Time isn’t linear; the past stays with us until we get over it, or we find a way to cope with it.
There was a lot going on in this book, and while the storylines were all interesting, I wished they were more fleshed out. For instance, I would’ve wanted to know what was going on in the ship when Geoffrey and his friends left. I would’ve liked to see the outside world when Gehenna descended. I would’ve wanted to explore the depths of Mezzanine, as well as how the upper classes interacted with the lower classes. While I did enjoy seeing through Geoffrey’s lenses, despite his daring attitude (I mentally cheered when he stood up to Portia), I felt the story could’ve benefited if there were other character POVs to build up this horrifying yet fascinating world.
As such, I would give this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
December 9, 2023
Reasonable - read well until the last 10% of the book, when some go ashore. I wasn't sure I understood the time differences
August 30, 2022
To be fair, this book is not what I was expecting, which is probably why I didn't enjoy it. I had a very hard time identifying with the characters or caring what happened to them, which translated into a struggle to continue reading. I understand why the author wrote them as he did, (from a character arc and story arc perspective), but I think some readers may struggle with this as well. I did enjoy the world-building, alt history and apocalypse. It was very unique and I could picture this book becoming a horror/suspense film by someone like M. Night Shyamalan with the lead played by Tom Cruise. It read like an episode of the Twilight Zone, complete with social commentary. I could recognize attempts at humor, but nothing that really amused me or that I can recall now. The author is a good writer and I feel as though he has something here, but it's not completely polished.
I received this book for free through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers for an honest review.
I received this book for free through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers for an honest review.
January 19, 2024
I've never read this author prior to Beneath Gehenna, so, I wasn't sure what to expect. First off, I will say that I wasn't able to put it down. What started off as an alternative history of the world, turned into a dystopian vision of a post apocalyptic struggle for survival in a literal Hell on Earth, with the richest of the world's elites planning on living in luxury in an undersea bunker. The major subjects dealt with go beyond the human desire to survive - classism is studied heavily in this story, between the haves and the have nots, as well as the old money families and the newly rich. There wasn't a boring moment in this book. I highly recommend that everyone read it.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews