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Sorcerer
Times are tough. Jeff McGrath has recently lost his job, and he and his wife Eden are having trouble making ends meet. Saddled with a mountain of growing bills, the prospect of being evicted from their apartment and an enigmatic homeless man who lives on the steps of their building and seems inexplicably drawn to the young couple, things look exceedingly bleak. But when one afternoon Jeff meets a beautiful businesswoman who wants to recruit him for a high-paying job at an internationally-renowned company owned by the wildly successful CEO Foster Hope, he thinks his luck may be changing. But what initially seems like the break of a lifetime soon becomes an unimaginable nightmare Jeff may never escape. Because an evil as ancient and elusive as the sands of time has come calling, nothing is as it seems, nothing happens by accident or chance, and one man’s dream-come-true may very well be another man’s descent into inconceivable horror.
Careful what you wish for…evil has many names…
Careful what you wish for…evil has many names…
- GenresHorror
Nook
First published October 7, 2010
1 person is currently reading
144 people want to read
About the author
Greg F. Gifune
79 books352 followersCalled "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, Greg F. Gifune is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. His work has been published in a wide range of magazines and anthologies all over the world, and has recently garnered interest from Hollywood. His novels include The Bleeding Season, Deep Night, Saying Uncle, A View From The Lake, Night Work, Drago Descending, Blood In Electric Blue and Dominion.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 2, 2018
When a beautiful woman offers unemployed Jeff McGrath a job, he has no idea what his new employer will require from him. But what, if anything, does that have to do with the homeless man Jeff's wife Eden seems oddly drawn to?
The demise of DarkFuse was one of the lower points of the last couple years as far as horror fiction goes. However, a lot of the DarkFuse novellas are available and well worth a read. Sorcerer is one of those.
Jeff McGrath is in dire straits when the opportunity of a lifetime drops into his lap. A gorgeous woman hooks him into working for International Facilitators and the mysterious Foster Hope. Jeff tries to back out but Hope already has him by the short hairs by then. I had a feeling things would go the way they did but it was still a great experience getting there.
Sorcerer is a frantic little novella, less than 100 pages but it packs the punch of a much bigger book. It feels like a half-remembered Twilight Zone episode. Greg Gifune has never been one of my favorite horror authors but he knocked this one out of the park. If you're a fan of the Twilight SZone, definitely give Sorcerer a shot. Five out of five stars.
The demise of DarkFuse was one of the lower points of the last couple years as far as horror fiction goes. However, a lot of the DarkFuse novellas are available and well worth a read. Sorcerer is one of those.
Jeff McGrath is in dire straits when the opportunity of a lifetime drops into his lap. A gorgeous woman hooks him into working for International Facilitators and the mysterious Foster Hope. Jeff tries to back out but Hope already has him by the short hairs by then. I had a feeling things would go the way they did but it was still a great experience getting there.
Sorcerer is a frantic little novella, less than 100 pages but it packs the punch of a much bigger book. It feels like a half-remembered Twilight Zone episode. Greg Gifune has never been one of my favorite horror authors but he knocked this one out of the park. If you're a fan of the Twilight SZone, definitely give Sorcerer a shot. Five out of five stars.
September 17, 2013
I love Greg Gifune! This novella was no exception.
A man named Jeff loses his job and finds himself in some financial trouble. One morning, while perusing the want ads in the park, he is approached by a finely dressed, fine-looking woman about a job. On his doorstep, he is approached by a homeless man. So begins another excellent tale from Mr. Gifune.
Sorcerer was thought provoking, scary and just plain fun. It may cause you to look at the homeless in an entirely new way. Then again, it may cause you to avoid the homeless altogether. Highly recommended to fans of dark fiction!
A man named Jeff loses his job and finds himself in some financial trouble. One morning, while perusing the want ads in the park, he is approached by a finely dressed, fine-looking woman about a job. On his doorstep, he is approached by a homeless man. So begins another excellent tale from Mr. Gifune.
Sorcerer was thought provoking, scary and just plain fun. It may cause you to look at the homeless in an entirely new way. Then again, it may cause you to avoid the homeless altogether. Highly recommended to fans of dark fiction!
February 21, 2012
5 Stars
"There are no nightmares.
There is only the torment of darkness."
Well, I guess I need to stop saying that I dislike novellas, as I have liked quite a few recently. This short read by Greg F. Gifune is my second read of his works. A View from the Lake was my first. He writes horror that is filled with atmosphere and people that are easy to identify. In this one, a down on his luck and out of work husband named Jeff meets a beautiful young business woman and his life is never the same again.
"'Sometimes,' she said softly,'you don't have to go looking for the Devil. Sometimes he goes looking for you.'
Jeff quickly finds that things are not quite what they seem and that what seems to be too good to be true often is. A suspicious job offer gone bad, followed by a fast spiral down into the darkness. Things get creepy as the events unfold, making this a tough read to put down.
Great writing, characters, and atmosphere make this novella stand out.
"'You can't figure out if you want to fuck me or kill me with your bare hands,' she purred. 'Deep down, you want to do both. Don't let it tear you up. Truth is neither of us can help it. A mouse to cheese, or a moth to flame, it's no different. It's the way we're wired.'"
Put all this together with a simply freaking awesome ending and you have a wonderful piece of horror. I am a fan of Greg F. Gifune, and if you are a horror afficiando, so too will you be.
"There are no nightmares.
There is only the torment of darkness."
Well, I guess I need to stop saying that I dislike novellas, as I have liked quite a few recently. This short read by Greg F. Gifune is my second read of his works. A View from the Lake was my first. He writes horror that is filled with atmosphere and people that are easy to identify. In this one, a down on his luck and out of work husband named Jeff meets a beautiful young business woman and his life is never the same again.
"'Sometimes,' she said softly,'you don't have to go looking for the Devil. Sometimes he goes looking for you.'
Jeff quickly finds that things are not quite what they seem and that what seems to be too good to be true often is. A suspicious job offer gone bad, followed by a fast spiral down into the darkness. Things get creepy as the events unfold, making this a tough read to put down.
Great writing, characters, and atmosphere make this novella stand out.
"'You can't figure out if you want to fuck me or kill me with your bare hands,' she purred. 'Deep down, you want to do both. Don't let it tear you up. Truth is neither of us can help it. A mouse to cheese, or a moth to flame, it's no different. It's the way we're wired.'"
Put all this together with a simply freaking awesome ending and you have a wonderful piece of horror. I am a fan of Greg F. Gifune, and if you are a horror afficiando, so too will you be.
May 27, 2013
A captivating novella from Greg Gifune that I simply had to finish once I began. The atmosphere he creates is almost tangible, the characters REAL, and their motivations are ones that we can all relate to.
When Jeff loses his job, relying on his loving wife, Eden, to support them, he finds himself desperate to get back on track. Out of nowhere, a beautiful woman emerges, telling him of an opportunity for a job that would easily fulfill all of his financial obligations. A new twist on the saying: "Be careful what you wish for" because the devil is truly in the details....
Another masterpiece from author Greg Gifune--highly recommended!
When Jeff loses his job, relying on his loving wife, Eden, to support them, he finds himself desperate to get back on track. Out of nowhere, a beautiful woman emerges, telling him of an opportunity for a job that would easily fulfill all of his financial obligations. A new twist on the saying: "Be careful what you wish for" because the devil is truly in the details....
Another masterpiece from author Greg Gifune--highly recommended!
November 9, 2021
I feel like I’ve read enough of his work to know that Greg Gifune is a master of horror in any form, so obviously I went into into this novella with high expectations and the book did not disappoint!
After losing his job, a salesman named Jeff is desperate to find work to keep him and his wife Eden afloat. And then a beautiful stranger offers him the job of a lifetime. I don’t want to say more because the book doesn’t fully reveal itself until its climax and until then it’s tense, mysterious, and satisfyingly entertaining as the walls begin to close in around Jeff, and it gets more and more disturbing as Jeff slowly discovers what’s going on right up until the book’s great ending.
And if you thought that that weird Iron Butterfly song couldn’t get any creepier, wait until you see Gifune get a hold of it. Another winner by a horror expert.
After losing his job, a salesman named Jeff is desperate to find work to keep him and his wife Eden afloat. And then a beautiful stranger offers him the job of a lifetime. I don’t want to say more because the book doesn’t fully reveal itself until its climax and until then it’s tense, mysterious, and satisfyingly entertaining as the walls begin to close in around Jeff, and it gets more and more disturbing as Jeff slowly discovers what’s going on right up until the book’s great ending.
And if you thought that that weird Iron Butterfly song couldn’t get any creepier, wait until you see Gifune get a hold of it. Another winner by a horror expert.
May 8, 2014
This short story follows an old and comfortable theme (think "Devil's Advocate"). But, it is fun. It is the kind of story that makes you want to know more about the bad guy!
5 STARS
5 STARS
November 7, 2019
Interesting novella from Gifune. Not great, but entertaining to read, anyway.
November 16, 2025
Менеджер-продажник Джефф Макгратт остался без работы. Теперь каждое утро он выходит из дома, садится с газетой на лавочку в бостонском парке и начинает изучать рынок вакансий. В очередной день к Джеффу подходит эффектная женщина-рекрутёр, которая внезапно предлагает ему пройти собеседование у её босса.
Гербалайф? Секта? Криминал? Босс с говорящим именем Фостер Хоуп выглядит типом мутным и очень прожжённым. Тем более, что ему нужны вовсе не продажники, а некие «корпоративные переговорщики». Джефф думал соскочить, но было уже поздно. Коготок увяз.
— А вот здесь-то и появляются корпоративные переговорщики.
— Разве не для этого Бог создал юристов?
— Я уверяю вас, Бог не имел никакого отношения к созданию юристов.
Повесть Гифьюна «Колдун» вышла в 2010 году, но на вкус и цвет - словно произведение из другой эпохи, когда кино еще было черно-белым, а в церковь ходили не только по праздникам. В этой ожидаемой олдскульности её плюс, в ней же - её слабость. Если сюжетные твисты из «Сумеречной зоны» все еще видятся вам симпатичными, а про мутные вакансии вы можете и сами рассказать пару реальных хорроров, то история обязательно зацепит.
В целом, это далеко не самое топовое произведение у писателя.
— Жизнь — это игра, Джефф, и мы все игроки того или иного сорта.
— Значит, это не только мои решения. Вы манипулируете вещами, загоняя меня в угол, где для меня не остаётся другого выхода.
— Из любой ситуации всегда есть другие выходы. Мы все движемся по миру и делаем то, что должны, чтобы выжить и процветать. Мы заботимся о собственных лучших интересах, и в конце концов принимаем собственные решения. — Зелёные глаза сузились. — Независимо от того, что я сделал или не сделал... Никто не заставлял вас разговаривать с мисс Белл… Никто не заставлял вас приходить на собеседование ко мне. И никто не заставляет вас делать что-либо сейчас. Я представляю вам options. Это решение, как и все остальные до и после него, ваше и только ваше.
— Я ничего вам не сделал, я… мы даже не знакомы… зачем вы делаете это со мной?
Гербалайф? Секта? Криминал? Босс с говорящим именем Фостер Хоуп выглядит типом мутным и очень прожжённым. Тем более, что ему нужны вовсе не продажники, а некие «корпоративные переговорщики». Джефф думал соскочить, но было уже поздно. Коготок увяз.
— А вот здесь-то и появляются корпоративные переговорщики.
— Разве не для этого Бог создал юристов?
— Я уверяю вас, Бог не имел никакого отношения к созданию юристов.
Повесть Гифьюна «Колдун» вышла в 2010 году, но на вкус и цвет - словно произведение из другой эпохи, когда кино еще было черно-белым, а в церковь ходили не только по праздникам. В этой ожидаемой олдскульности её плюс, в ней же - её слабость. Если сюжетные твисты из «Сумеречной зоны» все еще видятся вам симпатичными, а про мутные вакансии вы можете и сами рассказать пару реальных хорроров, то история обязательно зацепит.
В целом, это далеко не самое топовое произведение у писателя.
— Жизнь — это игра, Джефф, и мы все игроки того или иного сорта.
— Значит, это не только мои решения. Вы манипулируете вещами, загоняя меня в угол, где для меня не остаётся другого выхода.
— Из любой ситуации всегда есть другие выходы. Мы все движемся по миру и делаем то, что должны, чтобы выжить и процветать. Мы заботимся о собственных лучших интересах, и в конце концов принимаем собственные решения. — Зелёные глаза сузились. — Независимо от того, что я сделал или не сделал... Никто не заставлял вас разговаривать с мисс Белл… Никто не заставлял вас приходить на собеседование ко мне. И никто не заставляет вас делать что-либо сейчас. Я представляю вам options. Это решение, как и все остальные до и после него, ваше и только ваше.
— Я ничего вам не сделал, я… мы даже не знакомы… зачем вы делаете это со мной?
October 26, 2017
A very scary and compelling read.
February 25, 2012
The original review with full scores can be found here: http://lanunreviews.blogspot.com/2012...
The plot of Sorcerer is like that serpent that consumes its own tail. Unlike Ouroboros though, the story isn't eternal, it just loops back on itself where the ending is the beginning. The ending of the story is done in a way that gives a whole new perspective to the early bits of the story, even though it's exactly the same, just with a whole new light shone on it due to revelations throughout the book.
Greg F. Gifune is master at storytelling. Even though Sorcerer was relatively short (I finished it in an hour), it caught my attention from the get go. It is a story about a middle-aged guy, Jeff, and his wife Eden, who are in tough times due to the economy which isn't doing quite so well. He's jobless and is struggling to find a new job that pays well or at least as well as his old gig working as a manager cum salesperson.
One day while reading through the classifieds section of the newspaper, he comes across a startlingly beautiful woman, Jessica, who offers him a job at an obscure company owned by a guy called, Foster Hope. Yeah, you read that right. Foster, Hope. It's kinda funny in a way since the real guy, is in no way able to give you hope and instead causes despair in everyone he meets. This is when Jeff's life really goes downhill. Along the way to the interview, he somehow manages to cheat on his wife due to the "mysterious" sexual attraction he feels for Jessica. Even though he wants to skip the interview, he never somehow manages to muster the will to do that. Instead he goes along with it until the very end, where Foster Hope offers him a position as a "negotiator" which somehow involves convincing people to pay the debts
The plot of Sorcerer is like that serpent that consumes its own tail. Unlike Ouroboros though, the story isn't eternal, it just loops back on itself where the ending is the beginning. The ending of the story is done in a way that gives a whole new perspective to the early bits of the story, even though it's exactly the same, just with a whole new light shone on it due to revelations throughout the book.
Greg F. Gifune is master at storytelling. Even though Sorcerer was relatively short (I finished it in an hour), it caught my attention from the get go. It is a story about a middle-aged guy, Jeff, and his wife Eden, who are in tough times due to the economy which isn't doing quite so well. He's jobless and is struggling to find a new job that pays well or at least as well as his old gig working as a manager cum salesperson.
One day while reading through the classifieds section of the newspaper, he comes across a startlingly beautiful woman, Jessica, who offers him a job at an obscure company owned by a guy called, Foster Hope. Yeah, you read that right. Foster, Hope. It's kinda funny in a way since the real guy, is in no way able to give you hope and instead causes despair in everyone he meets. This is when Jeff's life really goes downhill. Along the way to the interview, he somehow manages to cheat on his wife due to the "mysterious" sexual attraction he feels for Jessica. Even though he wants to skip the interview, he never somehow manages to muster the will to do that. Instead he goes along with it until the very end, where Foster Hope offers him a position as a "negotiator" which somehow involves convincing people to pay the debts
April 12, 2013
Times are tough. Jeff McGrath has recently lost his job, and he and his wife Eden are having trouble making ends meet. Saddled with a mountain of growing bills, the prospect of being evicted from their apartment and an enigmatic homeless man who lives on the steps of their building and seems inexplicably drawn to the young couple, things look exceedingly bleak. But when one afternoon Jeff meets a beautiful businesswoman who wants to recruit him for a high-paying job at an internationally-renowned company owned by the wildly successful CEO Foster Hope, he thinks his luck may be changing. But what initially seems like the break of a lifetime soon becomes an unimaginable nightmare Jeff may never escape. Because an evil as ancient and elusive as the sands of time has come calling, nothing is as it seems, nothing happens by accident or chance, and one man’s dream-come-true may very well be another man’s descent into inconceivable horror.
Careful what you wish for…evil has many names…
May 1, 2023
I'm going to keep this simple. This is a fantastic, cautionary tale of wishes and the darkness that can answer. Easily this story could have fit in the TV show Twilight Zone. A beloved series for many viewers old and young.
Jeff has lost his job and is in fear for his and his wife's future. A homeless man is seen night after night outside their home. The only one in the apartment that's bothered is Jeff.
While out and about, Jeff is approached by a mysterious and beautiful woman who offers him a job.
Reluctantly he agrees to follow her and his descent into darkness begins. Once again nothing new is added here. Yet the journey is so worth the time spent following Jeff and the madness he finds himself venturing through.
This is a very quick read. I for one am very happy I took the time to do so.
I will be looking for more of this author's works.
Jeff has lost his job and is in fear for his and his wife's future. A homeless man is seen night after night outside their home. The only one in the apartment that's bothered is Jeff.
While out and about, Jeff is approached by a mysterious and beautiful woman who offers him a job.
Reluctantly he agrees to follow her and his descent into darkness begins. Once again nothing new is added here. Yet the journey is so worth the time spent following Jeff and the madness he finds himself venturing through.
This is a very quick read. I for one am very happy I took the time to do so.
I will be looking for more of this author's works.
February 10, 2014
I shouldn't have read this in 2am! Already a huge fan of Greg Gifune, I am as much thrilled by this short story as by The Bleeding Season. I'm giving it four stars because Jeff's character seems to me a little bit stupid, he acts like he's not a grown person time to time. Otherwise it's a must read novella, if you love horrors.
June 30, 2012
This short story was a real page turner. It's a quick read and never lacks in action. I enjoyed the suspense and kept stopping and thinking to myself, "What would I do if I were in this situation?" Very entertaining and a good choice if you are looking for something to read in a few hours.
October 24, 2013
Great little horror gem that doubles as a morality tale. The language is sometimes lyrical and the writing is smooth and finely honed. And Mr. Foster Hope is a devious old coot. An excellent little read.
June 20, 2016
Well constructed and paced, but didn't feel particularly original. That combined with the utilitarian writing left me underwhelmed. That said, the deepest horror of it wasn't in the supernatural elements at all but in the sense of being relentlessly and almost capriciously targeted.
October 23, 2013
Great little novella !
April 4, 2018
FRIGHTENED ME TO THE DEPTH OF MY CORE...
What the....? Oh god, oh god, I don't want to have a nightmare tonight while I sleeping. Damn it. Insane, it was totally and say absolutely f***ing insane...
Right now while I am writing this review my head is spinning. I couldn't concentrate on anything at all. This sounds ridiculous but right now this is the real fact. The moment I started reading this book it was exactly right that moment I find myself thinking negative about it. As if something wrong with it not because of that book cover (which of course a factor in here) but no offence I just could feel it. Guess what I was not wrong. It fright the hell out of me...
The detailing of the characters were so vivid that I just couldn't help myself but kept reading with seeking horror feeling. It was like I was that unfortunate man which name was Jeff, the person who was chosen to be deal with something that he never meant to. Oh God! Just remembering his name it reminds me again those frightening events that happened in the story...
Short story I can say but even though the read was worth my time. I am at the same time feeling lucky to read something like this type of terrifying, frightening horror book and wishing too that I never read it. At first I couldn't believe but felt helpless fir whatever going in their. As the time ran and the reading continues the result didn't calm down my nerve. I am repeating again it was really frightening, chilling horror story to read. To be total honest it's been almost long time that I read a book quite like this one. No more talking...
5 out of 5 without any doubt...
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews