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Gale Harbour #1
Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space
Newfoundland, Canada, 1992.
Gale Harbour hasn’t seen any excitement since the military abandoned the base there thirty years ago, unless you count the Tuesday night 2-for-1 video rentals at Jerry's Video Shack. So when a dead body turns up floating in the town water supply, all evidence seems to point to a boring accident.
Niall, Pius and Harper are dealing with pre-teen awkwardness in the last days of summer before the start of high school. The same night the body is found, the three of them witness unusual lights in the sky over the bay.
Is it a coincidence? Are the lights connected to the rapidly-increasing string of mysterious deaths? And what does the creepy old lady at the nursing home have to do with it?
There is an evil older than time hidden deep beneath the waters of the North Atlantic. It is hungry, and vengeful, and it has its sights set on Gale Harbour to begin its path of destruction. All that stands in its way are a group of kids who would rather be playing Street Fighter II...
Gale Harbour hasn’t seen any excitement since the military abandoned the base there thirty years ago, unless you count the Tuesday night 2-for-1 video rentals at Jerry's Video Shack. So when a dead body turns up floating in the town water supply, all evidence seems to point to a boring accident.
Niall, Pius and Harper are dealing with pre-teen awkwardness in the last days of summer before the start of high school. The same night the body is found, the three of them witness unusual lights in the sky over the bay.
Is it a coincidence? Are the lights connected to the rapidly-increasing string of mysterious deaths? And what does the creepy old lady at the nursing home have to do with it?
There is an evil older than time hidden deep beneath the waters of the North Atlantic. It is hungry, and vengeful, and it has its sights set on Gale Harbour to begin its path of destruction. All that stands in its way are a group of kids who would rather be playing Street Fighter II...
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2022
11 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
C.D. Gallant King
14 books94 followersWriter, tabletop gamer, pro-wrestling aficionado. Dad.
I claim to write stories, but really I just find them in The Closet, dust them off, add a few commas and send them out into the world.
Proudly Canadian, born and raised in Newfoundland, fine-tuned and educated in Toronto and currently residing in Ottawa with a beautiful wife, two wonderful children and various furry four-legged companions.
I claim to write stories, but really I just find them in The Closet, dust them off, add a few commas and send them out into the world.
Proudly Canadian, born and raised in Newfoundland, fine-tuned and educated in Toronto and currently residing in Ottawa with a beautiful wife, two wonderful children and various furry four-legged companions.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
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September 24, 2021Read this as a guest judge (With FanFiAddict) for SPFBO 7.
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October 2, 2022I read this as part of a judging team for the Self-Published Science Fiction Competition (SPSFC). A review will follow.
October 4, 2020
Horror comedy is one of my favorite genres so any story named Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space has to be a hidden gem, right? The name itself doesn't necessarily scream horror but more of a Up All Night B-movie fest or even a cheesy sci-fi being MST3K'd. And let's take a moment to talk about that cover, shall we? The man in the lake might be taking a late evening dunk on his way home from too many at the pub. I'm sure he's totally fine! Maybe hate-himself-tomorrow drunk but certainly not dead. Even the font with its letters all willy-nilly surely lends credence to this being more of a comedy of errors. Something so absurd as a psycho hose beast couldn't be horror. Well, yes but...not quite.
Pre-teens Niall and best friend Pius are ready to spend another uneventful summer week together doing all the things that kids do. The last week of the summer they are joined by cousin Harper, whom Niall has a big crush on. Of course, this is a never-ending font of inventive teasing from Pius. The weird weather coming in means that Harper's dad, a local Fisheries and Wildlife Officer, needs to be out in it, Harper gets to spend time with the boys. Only this is the summer a big, bad supernatural entity has finally cast aside its imprisonment from the fathomless depths of the sea.
These pre-teens are something of a delight. They are well-written with all the melodrama and internal strife that pre-teens have. They actually remind me a lot of the Losers Club from Stephen King's IT. Nerdy, quirky, a little bit out in left field but quick to believe in something otherworldly that the adults would struggle to understand. Even while under threat, they are resilient and continue to hurl quips, calling each other out in a way that only kids can do. All the side characters are great as well from weird kid Skidmark to the neighborhood bully, Keith. Typically, in horror the adults are there but barely involved. Not so here. Parents are not only present, but involved, which is refreshing to see.
To make things even better, this is a fun, nostalgic trip into the 90s. Everything from music to video games, popular movies, and cartoon strip characters breathes life into this setting. Even the names that the friends call each other are reminiscent of the popular slang of the era. If your own childhood was lived somewhere in the 90s, you'll find memories of your own quickly recalled.
While there were some of the typical horror tropes (abandoned military base, kids save the world, ancient evil), there's nothing repetitive about the execution of the story. The author has a great storytelling voice throughout. The relationship between the kids and the well-timed humor made this a quick, entertaining read. This is one book that gets you interested and invested in the characters long before anything in the plot goes sideways and oh, boy does it!
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Pre-teens Niall and best friend Pius are ready to spend another uneventful summer week together doing all the things that kids do. The last week of the summer they are joined by cousin Harper, whom Niall has a big crush on. Of course, this is a never-ending font of inventive teasing from Pius. The weird weather coming in means that Harper's dad, a local Fisheries and Wildlife Officer, needs to be out in it, Harper gets to spend time with the boys. Only this is the summer a big, bad supernatural entity has finally cast aside its imprisonment from the fathomless depths of the sea.
These pre-teens are something of a delight. They are well-written with all the melodrama and internal strife that pre-teens have. They actually remind me a lot of the Losers Club from Stephen King's IT. Nerdy, quirky, a little bit out in left field but quick to believe in something otherworldly that the adults would struggle to understand. Even while under threat, they are resilient and continue to hurl quips, calling each other out in a way that only kids can do. All the side characters are great as well from weird kid Skidmark to the neighborhood bully, Keith. Typically, in horror the adults are there but barely involved. Not so here. Parents are not only present, but involved, which is refreshing to see.
To make things even better, this is a fun, nostalgic trip into the 90s. Everything from music to video games, popular movies, and cartoon strip characters breathes life into this setting. Even the names that the friends call each other are reminiscent of the popular slang of the era. If your own childhood was lived somewhere in the 90s, you'll find memories of your own quickly recalled.
While there were some of the typical horror tropes (abandoned military base, kids save the world, ancient evil), there's nothing repetitive about the execution of the story. The author has a great storytelling voice throughout. The relationship between the kids and the well-timed humor made this a quick, entertaining read. This is one book that gets you interested and invested in the characters long before anything in the plot goes sideways and oh, boy does it!
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July 28, 2020
CD Gallant-King’s “Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space” is a lot of fun. Not surprising as I had previously read “Hell Comes to HogtownHell Come to Hogtown” and found it to be entertaining as hell. In fact, I would put him at the top of the list of Canadian horror humor authors, as soon as I find some more so I can actually make a list.
The book is told mostly from the viewpoint of a small group of school ages friends, who are caught up in a potential apocalypse as an ancient evil from beyond the star is wakened from its slumber in the depths of the ocean. It would not be inaccurate to describe the book as “Stranger Things meets H P Lovecraft in 1990s Canada.” If that sounds like a lot of fun, well, it is.
Like “Hell Comes to Hogtown,” the horror is solid, but I think the great strength of the book is the voice, the way Gallant-King really gets into the minds of his characters. The kids feel authentic, with all the baggage or adolescence as well as supernatural horror bearing down on them.
If you’re looking for a fun, fast paced read that hits all the sweet spots for nostalgia and horror, get a copy of this book.
The book is told mostly from the viewpoint of a small group of school ages friends, who are caught up in a potential apocalypse as an ancient evil from beyond the star is wakened from its slumber in the depths of the ocean. It would not be inaccurate to describe the book as “Stranger Things meets H P Lovecraft in 1990s Canada.” If that sounds like a lot of fun, well, it is.
Like “Hell Comes to Hogtown,” the horror is solid, but I think the great strength of the book is the voice, the way Gallant-King really gets into the minds of his characters. The kids feel authentic, with all the baggage or adolescence as well as supernatural horror bearing down on them.
If you’re looking for a fun, fast paced read that hits all the sweet spots for nostalgia and horror, get a copy of this book.
October 11, 2020
Stranger Things came to mind while I was reading this, and I've since seen it referred to "Stranger Things meets The Goonies," which will give potential readers a pretty fair idea of what they're in for.
A group of misfit kids are the only ones standing between a small, sleepy Canadian town and a crazed monster hellbent on destruction. Gallant-King does his best to bring the early nineties back to life, with plenty of pop culture references, especially music. (The role of Snow's "Informer" in this story should make any '90s kid smile.)
What makes this book stand apart is the humour. It's definitely horror, but too funny to be written off as another monster book. His side characters are particularly endearing--I loved Skidmark, the poor bullied kid who doesn't seem to realize his nickname is an insult, because "even the parish priest calls me Skidmark," and the forest ranger who wants to be a cop.
While I didn't 100% understand the ending--I believe it's a set-up for the next book in the series--this was a fun, amusing romp of a monster tale that kids of all ages would enjoy.
A group of misfit kids are the only ones standing between a small, sleepy Canadian town and a crazed monster hellbent on destruction. Gallant-King does his best to bring the early nineties back to life, with plenty of pop culture references, especially music. (The role of Snow's "Informer" in this story should make any '90s kid smile.)
What makes this book stand apart is the humour. It's definitely horror, but too funny to be written off as another monster book. His side characters are particularly endearing--I loved Skidmark, the poor bullied kid who doesn't seem to realize his nickname is an insult, because "even the parish priest calls me Skidmark," and the forest ranger who wants to be a cop.
While I didn't 100% understand the ending--I believe it's a set-up for the next book in the series--this was a fun, amusing romp of a monster tale that kids of all ages would enjoy.
July 26, 2020
Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space is a riveting, fun, and entertaining read for fans of Stranger Things, the Goonies and IT.
Set in the early 90s in Newfoundland, Canada the story follows best friends Niall and Pius and his cousin Harper in the last week of summer. While navigating the pitfalls of pre-teen life, they'd rather be playing video games, watching movies or anything that doesn't involve a lot of effort. Everything changes as their sleepy town is shattered by a string of unusual events and unexplained deaths. Against all odds, the friends must band together and face down an unspeakable, ancient evil.
One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the nod to all things early 90s. I found the humour to be excellent too with a few well timed jokes really adding to the scenes. The author has done a fantastic job of crafting the main characters into believable, real life pre-teens wrapped up in their own worlds but willing to do what it takes to protect their community.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I hope Mr. Gallant-King writes another book in this series.
Set in the early 90s in Newfoundland, Canada the story follows best friends Niall and Pius and his cousin Harper in the last week of summer. While navigating the pitfalls of pre-teen life, they'd rather be playing video games, watching movies or anything that doesn't involve a lot of effort. Everything changes as their sleepy town is shattered by a string of unusual events and unexplained deaths. Against all odds, the friends must band together and face down an unspeakable, ancient evil.
One of my favorite aspects of this novel was the nod to all things early 90s. I found the humour to be excellent too with a few well timed jokes really adding to the scenes. The author has done a fantastic job of crafting the main characters into believable, real life pre-teens wrapped up in their own worlds but willing to do what it takes to protect their community.
Overall, this was a fantastic read and I hope Mr. Gallant-King writes another book in this series.
September 28, 2020
"Psycho Hose-Beast From Outer Space" is definitely worth a read, especially if you're a fan of the horror-comedy aesthetic of something like "Stranger Things". The characters are likeable and relatable, the setting realistic and familiar, and the monster the kind of weird, illogical, disgusting beast that you might find in anything from a b-rated horror movie to a modern-day sci-fi flick. This is a fun, enjoyable, easy-to-read romp, and I can't wait to find out where Gallant-King goes with the rest of the series!
[Full review on TraceyTobin.wordpress.com]
[Full review on TraceyTobin.wordpress.com]
March 30, 2022
I am going to be up front at the start: I grew up in the eighties and it is my position that there was no cooler time to be a teenager. Not for movies, music, clothes, and just plain being a kid. We didn’t have the Internet or cell phones, and video games were still confined mostly to arcades—which we had aplenty at the Jersey Shore—and life was just simpler and more pure. I still remember hanging out with friends and listening to new cassette releases like Def Leppard’s Pyromania and being completely blown away by the lyrics and guitars.
Although Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space takes places in the early nineties, there were plenty of culturally cool things still going on. For instance, each chapter takes as its title that of a popular song from that time. Some of the songs are obvious in their relationship to the chapter and some—if you are inclined to do some lyrical detective work—take a little digging.
Given that the dedication is to “the boys from back home,” it’s clear that Gallant is as nostalgic about his early teen years in the nineties as I am about mine in the eighties. He certainly brings it all to life.
Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space is part of a great tradition—from Stephen King’s Stand by Me to ET, Goonies, and Stranger Things (the last one coded textually in the book)—namely, middle and high school kids coming together to beat the Big Bad in an inspiring Coming of Age adventure.
Add some laughs, and what you have is a fast-paced, often funny ride.
PHBOS opens with a prologue subtitled with Dream Theater’s “Pull Me Under” (you’ll get this one right away). During a massive storm off Newfoundland, in a scene evoking Lovecraft, two perceived-as-weird witch sisters go missing and are presumed dead. Flash forward sixty-three years… we hear—ala Napolean Dynamite—The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love”—Robert Smith’s answer to the criticism that their stuff was just too dark.
Now we meet our heroes—Pius and Niall… the prototypical best friends. One awkward, who will probably always be that way, and one only slightly less awkward, but for whom we are sure it is just a passing phase. Niall’s clearly our Hero of Heroes… the type of kid River Phoenix was such a pro at playing. He’s on a journey to answer the call to adventure, impress the girl, and improve his self-esteem. They are debating which is better—Mario Bros. or Sonic the Hedgehog. Enter Harper, Pius’s cousin, on whom Niall has a monster crush.
Think Eleven from Stranger Things, but with far less nosebleeds and nary an Eggo in sight.
In Hero’s Journey terms, they are in their Ordinary World—excited to see Batman Returns, ride bikes, and just hang out. At this point, the requisite bully enters (in this case, wholly redeemable, although there are other bullies who aren’t). He goes at Niall hard.
At that moment, right on schedule, the writer dials Niall’s number. It’s his Call to Adventure. There’s another big storm, drowned bodies start turning up without explanation—kind of like John Carpenter’s horror classic, The Fog—and our hero trio and their parents—and an awkward kid named Skidmark (even his pastor calls him that) start getting sucked instantly into the mystery.
Gallant-King’s Gale Harbour is beautifully constructed. Somewhat isolated, near the water, with underground tunnel systems, and an old Air Force Base, it begs for paranormal happenings. And the cops and Fish and Wildlife folks are just small town enough to be sharp but not too sharp—so they take a journey all their own. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police—aka the Pros—are there, but in the background.
Further bringing the town, the characters, and the decade to life are abundant references to video games, movies, TV shows, music, commercials, and other early nineties staples. A highlight is Skidmark’s rapping Snow’s “Informer.” It’s probably an ear worm for you now. You’re welcome.
Don’t let the title fool you into thinking this is fluff. All throughout the book, the themes of age, memory, and history are woven through on multiple levels, from one end of the character continuum to the other. Niall’s grandmother—suffering from dementia—is put into a nursing home early on. The town itself has bad memories of the storm of ’29, and everyone has something with which they struggle; something to overcome. From the kid who lives in a fantasy world of video store rentals his parents would flip out about if they knew that he was watching, to the adults who have something in their past they are trying to make right or make their peace with.
And not only the good folks get their psychology illuminated. Even the Psycho Hose Beast—who may or may not be from Outer Space—gets their moments of inner contemplation in a series of intermèdes.
As we would expect from an adventure such as this one, the kids (and the adults) return to the Ordinary World noticeably changed. Gallant takes an opportunity to work in Dungeons and Dragons—and the start of the Satanic Panic that flared up around it that I remember so well, having played it for sometimes 20 or more hours straight in friends’ basements in middle school.
The kids of PHBOS better not get too comfortable with their tabletop adventuring though… word from the author and the Epilogue both indicate that there’s a sequel on the way, no doubt packed with more nineties cultural references, humor, and a further call to adventure and rite of passage.
I have already requested a copy, and I truly cannot wait.
Although Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space takes places in the early nineties, there were plenty of culturally cool things still going on. For instance, each chapter takes as its title that of a popular song from that time. Some of the songs are obvious in their relationship to the chapter and some—if you are inclined to do some lyrical detective work—take a little digging.
Given that the dedication is to “the boys from back home,” it’s clear that Gallant is as nostalgic about his early teen years in the nineties as I am about mine in the eighties. He certainly brings it all to life.
Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space is part of a great tradition—from Stephen King’s Stand by Me to ET, Goonies, and Stranger Things (the last one coded textually in the book)—namely, middle and high school kids coming together to beat the Big Bad in an inspiring Coming of Age adventure.
Add some laughs, and what you have is a fast-paced, often funny ride.
PHBOS opens with a prologue subtitled with Dream Theater’s “Pull Me Under” (you’ll get this one right away). During a massive storm off Newfoundland, in a scene evoking Lovecraft, two perceived-as-weird witch sisters go missing and are presumed dead. Flash forward sixty-three years… we hear—ala Napolean Dynamite—The Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love”—Robert Smith’s answer to the criticism that their stuff was just too dark.
Now we meet our heroes—Pius and Niall… the prototypical best friends. One awkward, who will probably always be that way, and one only slightly less awkward, but for whom we are sure it is just a passing phase. Niall’s clearly our Hero of Heroes… the type of kid River Phoenix was such a pro at playing. He’s on a journey to answer the call to adventure, impress the girl, and improve his self-esteem. They are debating which is better—Mario Bros. or Sonic the Hedgehog. Enter Harper, Pius’s cousin, on whom Niall has a monster crush.
Think Eleven from Stranger Things, but with far less nosebleeds and nary an Eggo in sight.
In Hero’s Journey terms, they are in their Ordinary World—excited to see Batman Returns, ride bikes, and just hang out. At this point, the requisite bully enters (in this case, wholly redeemable, although there are other bullies who aren’t). He goes at Niall hard.
At that moment, right on schedule, the writer dials Niall’s number. It’s his Call to Adventure. There’s another big storm, drowned bodies start turning up without explanation—kind of like John Carpenter’s horror classic, The Fog—and our hero trio and their parents—and an awkward kid named Skidmark (even his pastor calls him that) start getting sucked instantly into the mystery.
Gallant-King’s Gale Harbour is beautifully constructed. Somewhat isolated, near the water, with underground tunnel systems, and an old Air Force Base, it begs for paranormal happenings. And the cops and Fish and Wildlife folks are just small town enough to be sharp but not too sharp—so they take a journey all their own. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police—aka the Pros—are there, but in the background.
Further bringing the town, the characters, and the decade to life are abundant references to video games, movies, TV shows, music, commercials, and other early nineties staples. A highlight is Skidmark’s rapping Snow’s “Informer.” It’s probably an ear worm for you now. You’re welcome.
Don’t let the title fool you into thinking this is fluff. All throughout the book, the themes of age, memory, and history are woven through on multiple levels, from one end of the character continuum to the other. Niall’s grandmother—suffering from dementia—is put into a nursing home early on. The town itself has bad memories of the storm of ’29, and everyone has something with which they struggle; something to overcome. From the kid who lives in a fantasy world of video store rentals his parents would flip out about if they knew that he was watching, to the adults who have something in their past they are trying to make right or make their peace with.
And not only the good folks get their psychology illuminated. Even the Psycho Hose Beast—who may or may not be from Outer Space—gets their moments of inner contemplation in a series of intermèdes.
As we would expect from an adventure such as this one, the kids (and the adults) return to the Ordinary World noticeably changed. Gallant takes an opportunity to work in Dungeons and Dragons—and the start of the Satanic Panic that flared up around it that I remember so well, having played it for sometimes 20 or more hours straight in friends’ basements in middle school.
The kids of PHBOS better not get too comfortable with their tabletop adventuring though… word from the author and the Epilogue both indicate that there’s a sequel on the way, no doubt packed with more nineties cultural references, humor, and a further call to adventure and rite of passage.
I have already requested a copy, and I truly cannot wait.
March 26, 2022
With this kind of title, you’d expect the story to be super fun and you’d be correct. I had a blast reading Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space! Granted that I’m not Canadian and therefore cannot comment on the accuracy of that culture, the author perfectly captured the atmosphere of the 90s as I know it. Admittedly, 80s/90s themes are a soft spot for me and the book definitely read like the many adventures from that era that I’ve always loved, though…perhaps darker than some at points.
We are first introduced to Niall and Pius through references to iconic 90s films and video games. From the start, the author implements comedy by making use of the awkwardness of the two nerdy boys’ transition in teenhood. This includes the introduction of the athletic Harper, Pius’ older female cousin, that Niall has so great a crush on that he would neglect everything just to be around her…even though she couldn’t care less.
The book switches 3rd person focus from what is happening with the kids to what Harper’s father (Dick) is up to. After finding a corpse under mysterious circumstances, his investigation winds up crossing paths with the kids who have also been witness to some severely strange and terrifying things. A red-eyed woman randomly appearing and disappearing; mysterious drownings; insane nursing home patients…
I thought the merge of the adult world with the kids’ world was a nice touch. It felt natural and believable, rather than forced in order to keep children as the main characters (which I’ve noticed happens a bit in these sorts of stories). Seeing Dick and the kids join adventures while taking the normal precautions of a parent made it all the more suspenseful when things still went wrong.
Without spoiling anything, the lore of this book is quite cool. It draws on a mix of the supernatural and real-life history and even plays on actual medical conditions (dementia) as something more than what we see. I also loved the emotional aspects of the story, particularly Niall’s relationship with his grandmother and the school bully redemption arc. C.D. Gallant-King has infused a perfect balance of heart and horror in this fully immersive tale. I don’t normally think of something in the comedic genre as a ‘page turner,’ but this one was.
We are first introduced to Niall and Pius through references to iconic 90s films and video games. From the start, the author implements comedy by making use of the awkwardness of the two nerdy boys’ transition in teenhood. This includes the introduction of the athletic Harper, Pius’ older female cousin, that Niall has so great a crush on that he would neglect everything just to be around her…even though she couldn’t care less.
The book switches 3rd person focus from what is happening with the kids to what Harper’s father (Dick) is up to. After finding a corpse under mysterious circumstances, his investigation winds up crossing paths with the kids who have also been witness to some severely strange and terrifying things. A red-eyed woman randomly appearing and disappearing; mysterious drownings; insane nursing home patients…
I thought the merge of the adult world with the kids’ world was a nice touch. It felt natural and believable, rather than forced in order to keep children as the main characters (which I’ve noticed happens a bit in these sorts of stories). Seeing Dick and the kids join adventures while taking the normal precautions of a parent made it all the more suspenseful when things still went wrong.
Without spoiling anything, the lore of this book is quite cool. It draws on a mix of the supernatural and real-life history and even plays on actual medical conditions (dementia) as something more than what we see. I also loved the emotional aspects of the story, particularly Niall’s relationship with his grandmother and the school bully redemption arc. C.D. Gallant-King has infused a perfect balance of heart and horror in this fully immersive tale. I don’t normally think of something in the comedic genre as a ‘page turner,’ but this one was.
October 2, 2020
In case you missed the clues the title provides, this book is typical Gallant-King – gutsy, original, and savagely fun. With aggressive pacing and a stable of interesting characters, Psycho Hose Beast is a real page-turner.
The story takes place in a coastal town during the nostalgic 90’s and definitely channels some Stranger Things vibes with its youthful cast and heavy horror-mystery plot. I’m a sucker for nostalgia done well and thoroughly enjoyed the various movie, video game, and cultural beats. Gallant-King has a smooth touch with it, never overdoing things, just slipping era details in masterfully to keep you grinning.
The book sports an excellent cast of characters. I felt for Niall, crushed hard on Harper, and wanted to smack Pius and Brian/Skidmark. I particularly enjoyed the chapters from the local Fisheries and Wildlife officer Dick Jeddore’s perspective. I liked that a (relatively) responsible adult actually recognized something unusual was occurring and that the normal course of action wasn’t cutting it. One of the tropes I find most frustrating in horror stories is when every adult/every non-central character is blind to extreme circumstances well beyond reason. It was fun to follow Dick’s journey and his increasing frustration with running across the younger set right in the dangerous mix.
I’m not big on plot recaps, so I’ll just say it hums along smoothly. Mysteries deepen, characters turn from friend to foe and vice versa, old dangers resurface with the tides. There are healthy doses of suspense and humor throughout. Highlights include run-ins with the local bully (I’ve always been frightened of slightly unhinged small town bullies - guess I can thank the other King for that one) and the utterly ridiculous Skidmark, who tells it how it is.
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a cool, fun read that deviates from the norm. I love books that keep you guessing and this one did, start to finish. A fantastic read.
The story takes place in a coastal town during the nostalgic 90’s and definitely channels some Stranger Things vibes with its youthful cast and heavy horror-mystery plot. I’m a sucker for nostalgia done well and thoroughly enjoyed the various movie, video game, and cultural beats. Gallant-King has a smooth touch with it, never overdoing things, just slipping era details in masterfully to keep you grinning.
The book sports an excellent cast of characters. I felt for Niall, crushed hard on Harper, and wanted to smack Pius and Brian/Skidmark. I particularly enjoyed the chapters from the local Fisheries and Wildlife officer Dick Jeddore’s perspective. I liked that a (relatively) responsible adult actually recognized something unusual was occurring and that the normal course of action wasn’t cutting it. One of the tropes I find most frustrating in horror stories is when every adult/every non-central character is blind to extreme circumstances well beyond reason. It was fun to follow Dick’s journey and his increasing frustration with running across the younger set right in the dangerous mix.
I’m not big on plot recaps, so I’ll just say it hums along smoothly. Mysteries deepen, characters turn from friend to foe and vice versa, old dangers resurface with the tides. There are healthy doses of suspense and humor throughout. Highlights include run-ins with the local bully (I’ve always been frightened of slightly unhinged small town bullies - guess I can thank the other King for that one) and the utterly ridiculous Skidmark, who tells it how it is.
I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a cool, fun read that deviates from the norm. I love books that keep you guessing and this one did, start to finish. A fantastic read.
March 28, 2022
This was an IWSG Book Club read for the month of March '22 and I am so glad it was selected. I really enjoyed this book and have already pre-ordered the next in the series.
In our discussion, we talked about the genre of this book, and while I got a definite coming-of-age vibe, horror or dark science fiction also stood out. I love these kinds of stories for kids who want to read something dark without it being inappropriate. I think the next book may have a more YA feel to it, but I'll just have to wait and see.
I'm excited to see where this band of kids ends up. Considering they don't all start out as friends, the possibilities are limitless. I love the fact that these kids bond over this tragic event in their lives without it feeling forced. They don't have to be friends to survive but I think it definitely helps.
I adore the humor in this book, outside of a few fart jokes (but this is a kid's book). It was very nostalgic. Even for kids now, I think they'd get a kick out of the kinds of things kids were doing and saying back in the '90s. With the story taking place in Canada, there was no disconnect for me as a U.S. reader.
Outside of the humor, nostalgia, and frights within the story, it also touches on very serious life lessons. I like the way the author is very casual about these topics without diminishing them in any way. Dealing with the loss of a family member, a dead-beat parent, substance abuse, physical abuse, and more are mentioned in some way and each time it's a life lesson these kids take in stride.
Highly recommended to fans of middle-grade sci-fi/horror, those with 90s nostalgia, and anyone with a good sense of humor.
In our discussion, we talked about the genre of this book, and while I got a definite coming-of-age vibe, horror or dark science fiction also stood out. I love these kinds of stories for kids who want to read something dark without it being inappropriate. I think the next book may have a more YA feel to it, but I'll just have to wait and see.
I'm excited to see where this band of kids ends up. Considering they don't all start out as friends, the possibilities are limitless. I love the fact that these kids bond over this tragic event in their lives without it feeling forced. They don't have to be friends to survive but I think it definitely helps.
I adore the humor in this book, outside of a few fart jokes (but this is a kid's book). It was very nostalgic. Even for kids now, I think they'd get a kick out of the kinds of things kids were doing and saying back in the '90s. With the story taking place in Canada, there was no disconnect for me as a U.S. reader.
Outside of the humor, nostalgia, and frights within the story, it also touches on very serious life lessons. I like the way the author is very casual about these topics without diminishing them in any way. Dealing with the loss of a family member, a dead-beat parent, substance abuse, physical abuse, and more are mentioned in some way and each time it's a life lesson these kids take in stride.
Highly recommended to fans of middle-grade sci-fi/horror, those with 90s nostalgia, and anyone with a good sense of humor.
September 9, 2020
I received an ARC from the author, that doesn’t affect my opinion of the book, all my thoughts are my own and honest.
Gale Harbour hasn’t seen any excitement since the military abandoned the base there thirty years ago, unless you count the Tuesday night 2-for-1 video rentals at Jerry's Video Shack. So when a dead body turns up floating in the town water supply, all evidence seems to point to a boring accident.
Psycho Hose From Outer Space is the first book in the Gale Harbour series. It is set in Newfoundland, Canada, 1992. This book was very different from what I normally read, don’t get me wrong I want to read more paranormal/horror, but it isn’t my normal.
It starts out with a very interesting prologue that kept me wondering how it would be connected to the story. It’s a normal night when Niall and Pius go to the movies, with Pius's cousin Harper, they see the unusual lights on the same night as a body is discovered. Things just get more mysterious and creepy from there,
Gallant-King’s writing is very easy to read and keeps you engaged in the story the whole way through. I also loved his humour. I enjoyed the setting, it was creepy, dark and imaginative. I loved the 90’s feel, the slang they used, and what was in fashion at the time.
The characters were all different and realistic. We had the main characters, Niall, Pius and Harper, and also a few side characters. I really liked Niall and Pius, but didn’t like Harper, I was only just warming up to her in the last chapter. I found her to be like the girls at my school when I was younger, but have to admit, she was brave, and saved the day a few times. But she was rude and mean a lot of the time. I felt like I didn’t have enough time to get completely invested with the characters. There is a dementia rep in here, it goes into detail with one of the characters though not mentioned by name, I put two and two together. It was mentioned once, but with a different character. I felt like it was well done and very realistic.
I really liked this book overall, the plot was great, a creepy beast on the loose killing everyone, a crazy old lady and a mystery, that does get resolved. It had me engaged the whole way through. I wish the book was longer, but I also feel like it was the right length. Definitely pick this up if you feel like a quick, creepy read.
Thank you C.D. Gallant-King for the chance to review this book.
Gale Harbour hasn’t seen any excitement since the military abandoned the base there thirty years ago, unless you count the Tuesday night 2-for-1 video rentals at Jerry's Video Shack. So when a dead body turns up floating in the town water supply, all evidence seems to point to a boring accident.
Psycho Hose From Outer Space is the first book in the Gale Harbour series. It is set in Newfoundland, Canada, 1992. This book was very different from what I normally read, don’t get me wrong I want to read more paranormal/horror, but it isn’t my normal.
It starts out with a very interesting prologue that kept me wondering how it would be connected to the story. It’s a normal night when Niall and Pius go to the movies, with Pius's cousin Harper, they see the unusual lights on the same night as a body is discovered. Things just get more mysterious and creepy from there,
Gallant-King’s writing is very easy to read and keeps you engaged in the story the whole way through. I also loved his humour. I enjoyed the setting, it was creepy, dark and imaginative. I loved the 90’s feel, the slang they used, and what was in fashion at the time.
The characters were all different and realistic. We had the main characters, Niall, Pius and Harper, and also a few side characters. I really liked Niall and Pius, but didn’t like Harper, I was only just warming up to her in the last chapter. I found her to be like the girls at my school when I was younger, but have to admit, she was brave, and saved the day a few times. But she was rude and mean a lot of the time. I felt like I didn’t have enough time to get completely invested with the characters. There is a dementia rep in here, it goes into detail with one of the characters though not mentioned by name, I put two and two together. It was mentioned once, but with a different character. I felt like it was well done and very realistic.
I really liked this book overall, the plot was great, a creepy beast on the loose killing everyone, a crazy old lady and a mystery, that does get resolved. It had me engaged the whole way through. I wish the book was longer, but I also feel like it was the right length. Definitely pick this up if you feel like a quick, creepy read.
Thank you C.D. Gallant-King for the chance to review this book.
August 11, 2020
Hot damn, this was a good read. I've read work by this author before and enjoyed it, and this new book is just as fun of a read. He nailed the kids on bike trope that you see in a lot of horror. I loved all the 90s references being a 90s kid myself. I also liked how involved the adults were. The adults weren't absent and were active in the plot. I enjoyed the kids as well and could easily visualize them.
As for the horror aspect, it was subtle. There were also subtle paranormal and sci-fi elements to it. It was a nice mash up that blended well. Honestly, if the book had ended on a cliffhanger that meant I needed to wait for book 2 to know what happens, I might have marched over to Canada and made CD apologize. 😋 There is a cliffhanger of sorts that I bet leads to book two, but it looks like it may be new characters, or a different monster. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. 😐
As for the horror aspect, it was subtle. There were also subtle paranormal and sci-fi elements to it. It was a nice mash up that blended well. Honestly, if the book had ended on a cliffhanger that meant I needed to wait for book 2 to know what happens, I might have marched over to Canada and made CD apologize. 😋 There is a cliffhanger of sorts that I bet leads to book two, but it looks like it may be new characters, or a different monster. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. 😐
August 10, 2020
Stranger Things meets The Goonies, with a dollop of Stand by Me.
Set in Gale Harbor, Newfoundland in the ‘90s, this book comes replete with pop culture references from that era. The author must have an excellent memory for his tween years, because the three tween protagonists are beautifully drawn—tender, vulnerable, awkward, dorky, and in Niall’s case, lovesick.
I love the way Gallant-King’s unexpected villains avoid the bad-guy stereotypes. I won’t spoil the story by telling you who the villain is, but it’s original and scary! And you’ll love the way he endows very old ladies with superpowers, making them villainous and heroic.
Tons of laughs, great characters, descriptions and pacing. Perfect balance of humor and horror, just like in Gallant-King’s Hell Comes to Hogtown. I highly recommend both books!
I received an advance reader copy, and this is my honest, voluntary review.
Set in Gale Harbor, Newfoundland in the ‘90s, this book comes replete with pop culture references from that era. The author must have an excellent memory for his tween years, because the three tween protagonists are beautifully drawn—tender, vulnerable, awkward, dorky, and in Niall’s case, lovesick.
I love the way Gallant-King’s unexpected villains avoid the bad-guy stereotypes. I won’t spoil the story by telling you who the villain is, but it’s original and scary! And you’ll love the way he endows very old ladies with superpowers, making them villainous and heroic.
Tons of laughs, great characters, descriptions and pacing. Perfect balance of humor and horror, just like in Gallant-King’s Hell Comes to Hogtown. I highly recommend both books!
I received an advance reader copy, and this is my honest, voluntary review.
September 24, 2020
I have been a fan of C.D.'s work since I was introduced to his writing a handful of years ago. Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space confirms why I'm still a fan. Set in the 90s, this book does a great job of taking a trip down Nostalgia Lane while leading the reader on a crazy adventure. C.D. nails it with the references and the added conversational terms of endearment between the characters. Words and phrases that I had long forgotten released a floodgate of memories from my younger years as I read about the adventures of Niall, Pius, and Harper. I felt that I was the fourth member of their little group. A silent passenger in his time machine anxiously watching, hoping that these kids would save the day in Newfoundland. Even if CDGK took away all of the 90s flair, we are still left with a terrific read. Phrases and sayings may change with generations but the feeling of being a preteen doesn't. C.D. does a wonderful job of capturing true moments of growing up, even when a psycho hose beast is running rampant on a small town. I highly recommend this book. It is a fast and enjoyable read that can make any person crack a smile, which is especially needed in these times.
Read
April 7, 2022Thanks to Gallant-King for sending me a copy of this title in return for an honest review.
There is some serious ‘90’s nostalgia in this book which gives it a familiar, comfortable feeling.
It may be an unconscious bias, and I feel bad about saying it, but my brain would normally pass over books with titles like this - they remind me of the type of movies called “Giant Lobster versus Tiny Cow” - which is terrible really and I’ve clearly been missing out as this book was really enjoyable.
I like the focus being on the child characters; they’re not just accessories to the older characters, they’re given the full brunt of responsibilities and they handle it so well. The characters are also so well rounded and easily identifiable as kids you would have known if you were a teenager in the 1990’s.
It is so well written and intricately planned. It is multi-layered and it drops hints throughout the book as to other characters and future plot points, which allows you to get a proper payoff at the end.
It does touch on sensitive topics such as single parenthood, grief, bullying, hormones, memory loss, and not forgetting the murderous space creature, but overall the book doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor does it patronise or talk down to a younger audience.
It is fast paced and exciting to read; probably aimed at a younger readership but I really enjoyed it and I’m nearly 30. It is proper fun. As you get older, books that are ‘appropriate’ reads start to become more serious. When did you last read a book that was just fun? This is exactly that, and I’m excited to read the upcoming sequel.
There is some serious ‘90’s nostalgia in this book which gives it a familiar, comfortable feeling.
It may be an unconscious bias, and I feel bad about saying it, but my brain would normally pass over books with titles like this - they remind me of the type of movies called “Giant Lobster versus Tiny Cow” - which is terrible really and I’ve clearly been missing out as this book was really enjoyable.
I like the focus being on the child characters; they’re not just accessories to the older characters, they’re given the full brunt of responsibilities and they handle it so well. The characters are also so well rounded and easily identifiable as kids you would have known if you were a teenager in the 1990’s.
It is so well written and intricately planned. It is multi-layered and it drops hints throughout the book as to other characters and future plot points, which allows you to get a proper payoff at the end.
It does touch on sensitive topics such as single parenthood, grief, bullying, hormones, memory loss, and not forgetting the murderous space creature, but overall the book doesn’t take itself too seriously, nor does it patronise or talk down to a younger audience.
It is fast paced and exciting to read; probably aimed at a younger readership but I really enjoyed it and I’m nearly 30. It is proper fun. As you get older, books that are ‘appropriate’ reads start to become more serious. When did you last read a book that was just fun? This is exactly that, and I’m excited to read the upcoming sequel.
July 26, 2020
Right from the beginning you know that something extraordinarily strange is happening in Gale Harbor. C.D. Gallant pays an exciting and thrilling homage to the 90s. The story is expertly paced and an excellently crafted sci fi. I enjoyed every moment with Pius, Niall, and Harper as they solve the mystery of the Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space.
April 16, 2022
I absolutely love these characters!!! The story is out there BUT it works and you can't put the book down until you find out how it ends! LOL I enjoyed it so much that I jumped ahead and have already read the next book just to see what these crazy people got up to next! ;) 😂 I definitely recommend this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. But I would buy it all day long! ;)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. But I would buy it all day long! ;)
November 30, 2020
I will be honest I went into reading this book not knowing much about the story. It absolutely gripped me in a way that no book has done for a while! This was amazing! You have action and adventure right from the beginning all the way through. I really hope book 2 is out soon as I can’t wait to read it.
May 16, 2024
Psycho Host Beast From Outer space, Gail Harbor book one by CD Gallant King is a coming-of-age horror story set in 1992 with Niles and Pazz or best friends and are excited to spend the summer playing sonic the hedgehog street fighter and if Niles Has His Way, Mario Brothers but when Pazz’s cousin Harper comes over Niles can do nothing but stare at her he has had a crush on her for years. Niles is dealing with a lot they have recently brought his grandmother to live in a retirement home because they believe she has dementia but in the end they will learn she is the only one who really knows what’s going on when a body is found of an elderly man far from any civilization the royal Mounty doesn’t know what to make of it… Okay let’s go back decades in 1929 a woman was in labor and her husband ran to get the twin witches who were also midwives and when he not on the door he heard them singing a limerick he had just been singing but they didn’t answer so he opens the door to see them talking in a foreign language over what looks like a big pink human size liver when they turn and see him they tell him to get out and right then is when the tsunami happens by the time he makes it home he is happy to see despite everyone on the island being taken by the water his wife and new baby are fine. It is when these two stories merge 60 years later that makes this awesome story with the exception of Niles and pass sing the lights I don’t know what this have to do with outer space but it is an awesome horror story an ancient entity has come back and she is back with a vengeance. I thought this was an awesome story I thought the two elderly women was an awesome choice and for those who have read the book know what I mean this is a great story and one I definitely definitely recommend. My type a book!!! I loved all the 90s references and cannot wait to read the next installment in the Gail Harbor mysteries. I want to thank voracious readers only for my free arc copy via the author please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
March 5, 2022
Let me say this upfront: I loved about 95% of this book. Regrettably, the 5% that I did not love was enough to cost it a star.
There were a lot of grammatical errors. That's something that really interrupts the flow of the story for me. I was especially annoyed by the repeated use of "it's" as a possessive; the use of "least" when it was clear that "lest" was what was intended; and the way "Tabernouche" became "Tabernack" partway through. These and other errors are not enough to lose a star, though.
What dimmed some of the story's brightness for me was the epilogue. Without revealing spoilers, there was an object that simply did not make sense to me. It didn't seem to fit the rest of the story. I was left thinking, 'What does that have to do with anything?' Some clarification as to why that object belongs in the story could very well earn it that fifth star.
Now for the good part: the 95% that I loved. Culture and technology were cleverly woven into everyday life, creating a very convincing view of the early 1990s. The main characters were emotionally believable and true to their ages. The pacing was great. And the creature, the Psycho Hose Beast, made perfect sense as the terrifying opponent within the world of the story.
Reading this was a lot like watching an "it's up to the kids to save the world" movie like "E.T.", "The Goonies", or "Jumanji". It hit all the right tropes, and handled them so deftly that they felt both fresh and nostalgically familiar. Most of this story is an absolute delight. Despite my reservations about the epilogue, I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There were a lot of grammatical errors. That's something that really interrupts the flow of the story for me. I was especially annoyed by the repeated use of "it's" as a possessive; the use of "least" when it was clear that "lest" was what was intended; and the way "Tabernouche" became "Tabernack" partway through. These and other errors are not enough to lose a star, though.
What dimmed some of the story's brightness for me was the epilogue. Without revealing spoilers, there was an object that simply did not make sense to me. It didn't seem to fit the rest of the story. I was left thinking, 'What does that have to do with anything?' Some clarification as to why that object belongs in the story could very well earn it that fifth star.
Now for the good part: the 95% that I loved. Culture and technology were cleverly woven into everyday life, creating a very convincing view of the early 1990s. The main characters were emotionally believable and true to their ages. The pacing was great. And the creature, the Psycho Hose Beast, made perfect sense as the terrifying opponent within the world of the story.
Reading this was a lot like watching an "it's up to the kids to save the world" movie like "E.T.", "The Goonies", or "Jumanji". It hit all the right tropes, and handled them so deftly that they felt both fresh and nostalgically familiar. Most of this story is an absolute delight. Despite my reservations about the epilogue, I highly recommend it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 21, 2022
The urban dictionary defines Psycho Hose Beast as “a person who is so needy they create a force akin to gravity, that pulls everyone’s attention, energy into their gaping maw.” Wayne Campbell describes one as “a ditsy bitch that won’t let go.” Either way, the residents of Gale Harbor have on hell of a monster on their hands that is so pissed off. for being trapped for the last 60 years that she is going to take it out on everyone around her. It will take the combined effort of a group of middle schoolers and two escapees from the nursing home, to banish this “Psycho Hose Beast” to another realm.
Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space is the first novel in C.D. Gallant-King’s The Gale Harbour Series. This cleverly amusing tale has a “Stranger Things” feel. Set in the early 90’s the cultural references to that time period will send Gen-Xers and Millennials on a nostalgia trip to that long ago time. This fantasy thriller is quite the page turner that sends the reader head long into an adventure with a cast of characters that nearly everyone would recognize from their past. The main players, nerds, geeks, a bully, and the cool kid are throwbacks to any middle school anywhere during that time. Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space is a blast from the past wrapped up in a mystery with more action than a game of “Sonic the Hedgehog.”
The book was an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 17, 2023
This book had some errors, relied completely on allusions to the pop culture of my childhood and bordered on cheesy from beginning to end. And somehow, I’m still giving it four stars. The author treads a fine line, but does it pretty darn well. I highly enjoyed it. Comedic horror *almost* at its best.
If you don’t speak the language of the 80s & 90s, this book will mean very little to you. It’s like the Goonies meets Stranger Things and Little Rascals meets Tremors or some other terrible late night sci-fi channel weirdness.
I loved the coastal setting and the cool ways the author wove that into the plot. But then I’m a northern coast kind of girl. Honestly, despite all of the cheesiness and overdone references to days gone by, I was so transported to my days biking around with friends and waiting for my mom to get off the phone with a cord that could wrap around the entire house, that I was actually on the edge of my seat about the unbelievably grotesque monster. Other places I was cracking up!
There were some things that weren’t my thing. For example, a couple times being in the mind of a middle school boy was just too much for me. Also the editing was only average, maybe slightly above, for an indie-pub; I’ve seen much worse but I did get distracted a couple times by things that should have been caught and places where there was room for improvement. I won’t go into detail, but some of the parts involving old ladies had me cringing hard core.
I wouldn’t dock stars for my personal preferences about things that were well executed, just editing and that it was pretty good but not great. Solid 4 to 4 1/2 stars though.
All around, if you dig the comp titles, this book is definitely worth your time!
Content: basically, if you’re one of the readers who appreciate my content warnings, this book probably isn’t for you. References and occurrences of pornography, boobs, witchcraft (major part of plot), death, blood and violence (described but not in graphic detail). It’s comedic horror, so expect to be a little gross.
I received a free review copy of this through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest opinion.
If you don’t speak the language of the 80s & 90s, this book will mean very little to you. It’s like the Goonies meets Stranger Things and Little Rascals meets Tremors or some other terrible late night sci-fi channel weirdness.
I loved the coastal setting and the cool ways the author wove that into the plot. But then I’m a northern coast kind of girl. Honestly, despite all of the cheesiness and overdone references to days gone by, I was so transported to my days biking around with friends and waiting for my mom to get off the phone with a cord that could wrap around the entire house, that I was actually on the edge of my seat about the unbelievably grotesque monster. Other places I was cracking up!
There were some things that weren’t my thing. For example, a couple times being in the mind of a middle school boy was just too much for me. Also the editing was only average, maybe slightly above, for an indie-pub; I’ve seen much worse but I did get distracted a couple times by things that should have been caught and places where there was room for improvement. I won’t go into detail, but some of the parts involving old ladies had me cringing hard core.
I wouldn’t dock stars for my personal preferences about things that were well executed, just editing and that it was pretty good but not great. Solid 4 to 4 1/2 stars though.
All around, if you dig the comp titles, this book is definitely worth your time!
Content: basically, if you’re one of the readers who appreciate my content warnings, this book probably isn’t for you. References and occurrences of pornography, boobs, witchcraft (major part of plot), death, blood and violence (described but not in graphic detail). It’s comedic horror, so expect to be a little gross.
I received a free review copy of this through Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest opinion.
September 20, 2023
Excellent!
If you were old enough in the 90's, you'll smile a lot about the souvenirs that the author brings back to your memory. A great coming of age tale, and even if I didn’t recognize everything (I was in my twenties in this area, so there's some of the stuff that didn't impact me that much), there were enough to remind me of my “golden years”. Fun fact: each chapters bare the name of famous songs from the early 90's, from pop to grunge, metal and hip-hop. I didn't find them all, since I was into not mainstream music, but it was fun to try.
And please note that despite the funny title and illustration on the cover, this is not a comedy book but a great horror/science-fiction tale, nevertheless. And if you're a french québécois like me, you'll notice some grammatical errors when Tanguay speaks in french. Nothing annoying as it was pleasant to see that the author made the effort to include some québécois slang.
If you were old enough in the 90's, you'll smile a lot about the souvenirs that the author brings back to your memory. A great coming of age tale, and even if I didn’t recognize everything (I was in my twenties in this area, so there's some of the stuff that didn't impact me that much), there were enough to remind me of my “golden years”. Fun fact: each chapters bare the name of famous songs from the early 90's, from pop to grunge, metal and hip-hop. I didn't find them all, since I was into not mainstream music, but it was fun to try.
And please note that despite the funny title and illustration on the cover, this is not a comedy book but a great horror/science-fiction tale, nevertheless. And if you're a french québécois like me, you'll notice some grammatical errors when Tanguay speaks in french. Nothing annoying as it was pleasant to see that the author made the effort to include some québécois slang.
May 26, 2022
Full disclosure, I was provided a copy of this book by the author or their authorized representative, however, I have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.
A Blast from the Past
Gale Harbor in Newfoundland is a small town where nothing much happens. Once a thriving community, opportunities dried up when the American military closed their air force base and pulled out of the area. Now as the 1990s are in full swing the only excitement to be had in Gale Harbor is either renting a VHS tape from the local Blockbuster or heading to the cinema to watch a double feature. That’s why when a body is discovered in the town water supply, the news spreads quickly. With a town as sleepy as Gale Harbor this has not happened ever, and everyone is on edge. Couple that with a series of freak electrical storms, a few more discovered bodies and the disappearance of two residents of the local convalescent home and things really appear to be devolving quickly.
Naill, his best friend Pius, and his cousin Harper are determined to get to the bottom of these bizarre occurrences. Lightning usually does not run backward; boaters do not drown out of the water and mysterious red-eyed “Psycho Hose Beasts” have never been seen roaming Gale Harbor… and just where the heck did Nana Josephine disappear to? The trio dogged by Keith the town bully set out to find Nana Jo, but they end up encountering more than they can even imagine. With the mysteries slowly being revealed, Gale Harbor begins to look less like a sleepy little Canadian coastal town and more like an episode of Creepshow.
I’ll admit, I picked up a copy of this book solely because the title grabbed my attention. Having grown up in the 80s and 90s, I was very interested to see how the story would play out. Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space drew me in from the opening dialogue sending me down a memory lane of my teens and early adulthood with references to long-forgotten movies, music, video games, and other pop culture references. At one point, I experienced such a strong déjà vu at a line in the dialogue only to have another character ask if it was a Depeche Mode lyric. This is the first title I have read by C.D. Gallant-King, however, I doubt it will be the last. With this successful introduction to Gale Harbor and her residents, I am eager to delve into book 2 in the series, aptly titled Revenge of the Space-Surfing Butt Monkeys. If you are looking for a fun read that is part Scooby Doo and part X Files, and that has you longing for the days of landlines, Blockbuster rentals, and Super Mario World this will definitely be a good title for you.
A Blast from the Past
Gale Harbor in Newfoundland is a small town where nothing much happens. Once a thriving community, opportunities dried up when the American military closed their air force base and pulled out of the area. Now as the 1990s are in full swing the only excitement to be had in Gale Harbor is either renting a VHS tape from the local Blockbuster or heading to the cinema to watch a double feature. That’s why when a body is discovered in the town water supply, the news spreads quickly. With a town as sleepy as Gale Harbor this has not happened ever, and everyone is on edge. Couple that with a series of freak electrical storms, a few more discovered bodies and the disappearance of two residents of the local convalescent home and things really appear to be devolving quickly.
Naill, his best friend Pius, and his cousin Harper are determined to get to the bottom of these bizarre occurrences. Lightning usually does not run backward; boaters do not drown out of the water and mysterious red-eyed “Psycho Hose Beasts” have never been seen roaming Gale Harbor… and just where the heck did Nana Josephine disappear to? The trio dogged by Keith the town bully set out to find Nana Jo, but they end up encountering more than they can even imagine. With the mysteries slowly being revealed, Gale Harbor begins to look less like a sleepy little Canadian coastal town and more like an episode of Creepshow.
I’ll admit, I picked up a copy of this book solely because the title grabbed my attention. Having grown up in the 80s and 90s, I was very interested to see how the story would play out. Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space drew me in from the opening dialogue sending me down a memory lane of my teens and early adulthood with references to long-forgotten movies, music, video games, and other pop culture references. At one point, I experienced such a strong déjà vu at a line in the dialogue only to have another character ask if it was a Depeche Mode lyric. This is the first title I have read by C.D. Gallant-King, however, I doubt it will be the last. With this successful introduction to Gale Harbor and her residents, I am eager to delve into book 2 in the series, aptly titled Revenge of the Space-Surfing Butt Monkeys. If you are looking for a fun read that is part Scooby Doo and part X Files, and that has you longing for the days of landlines, Blockbuster rentals, and Super Mario World this will definitely be a good title for you.
June 8, 2022
When I heard the title “Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space” I was definitely interested. When I found out that it’s about an alien monster attacking a small town in Newfoundland, well I definitely had to give it read.
Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space was definitely a fun read and I love the 90s music references. The book definitely had it’s points of humour, but with the title, and the genre of horror comedy, I was hoping for a bit more humour however. It did have it’s moments.
The book is also a short, quick read, which is nice, but I felt that I really didn’t get enough of a chance to get to know some of the characters. I think I’ll give the second book in the series a try though.
Thanks to BookSirens for the Advanced Reading Copy
Psycho Hose Beast from Outer Space was definitely a fun read and I love the 90s music references. The book definitely had it’s points of humour, but with the title, and the genre of horror comedy, I was hoping for a bit more humour however. It did have it’s moments.
The book is also a short, quick read, which is nice, but I felt that I really didn’t get enough of a chance to get to know some of the characters. I think I’ll give the second book in the series a try though.
Thanks to BookSirens for the Advanced Reading Copy
February 6, 2023
This book is fantastic. If you're a fan of the TV series Stranger Things, then this book is a must read. And if you haven't seen that show, I would highly recommend this book anyway. Although it's essentially a SciFi/Horror story, the author has still injected a lot of humor without detracting from the overall ominous tension. My favorite character in the book had to be Skidmark. The things that kid came out with, and the attitude towards him from the other characters, had me constantly laughing. If this is a typical example of the author's work, I will definitely be reading more of his books.
The author was brought to my attention when Voracious Readers Only sent me a copy of the book for review.
The author was brought to my attention when Voracious Readers Only sent me a copy of the book for review.
December 19, 2024
Psycho Hose Beasts from Outer Space is an absolute riot from start to finish. The book delivers a perfect blend of absurdity, wit, and over-the-top humor that had me laughing out loud more times than I can count. Gallant-King masterfully weaves a tale that doesn’t take itself too seriously, throwing in bizarre aliens, hilarious characters, and an outrageous plot that somehow works brilliantly.
The dialogue is sharp, the scenarios are delightfully ridiculous, and the pacing keeps the comedy flowing without a dull moment. It's one of those rare books where the sheer chaos of the story is half the charm. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted, laugh-out-loud adventure, Psycho Hose Beasts from Outer Space is a must-read.
The dialogue is sharp, the scenarios are delightfully ridiculous, and the pacing keeps the comedy flowing without a dull moment. It's one of those rare books where the sheer chaos of the story is half the charm. If you’re in the mood for a lighthearted, laugh-out-loud adventure, Psycho Hose Beasts from Outer Space is a must-read.
September 18, 2023
Here's the thing... if you read the title and thought this book sounds great, I'm pretty certain you will think it is great. From a comedy horror called Psycho Hose Beast From Outer Space you will get something fun. if you've got something stuffed too far up your butt to enjoy something like this, you were never going to read it in the first place. It's full of nostalgia from the 90's, it's funny and has horror. I'm fully satisfied.
May 2, 2022
I am so excited to get to the next book for this one. Horror comedies are some of my favorites. I love them. Granted I haven’t read many horror comedies rather than just watched the movies that are available.
This story is a complete page turner with likeable characters and the creepy aspects of the story are very well done!
This story is a complete page turner with likeable characters and the creepy aspects of the story are very well done!
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