by Alex Mcdermott:
Brett Talley’s debut novel, That Which Should Not Be, was basically a prequel to Lovecraft’s masterpiece short story “The Call of Cthulhu.” It relied heavily on the plot, suspense, and action of its inspiration. Lovecraft’s story has become a touchstone of horror and Talley anchored his work not only in the Lovecraft tradition, but in the very tale itself. His latest The Void makes a half-hearted attempt to stray away from his mentor. Set in some vague “future,” space warp is the norm. Only it comes with a nasty side effect. In order to survive the trip, travelers are put into a deep-sleep where they are besieged by frightful, intense dreams. Monsters haunt the crew members in this sleep, driving them either to the brink of insanity or to their death.
Talley’s second work lacks the action (courtesy of Lovecraft’s narrative) of the first, while displaying all of its weaknesses. Without Lovecraft’s hand, Talley’s story is dull, lifeless, and tired. His characters parade by in a nameless, faceless row all in the same voice. There is a scene describing the nightmarish relationship Dr. Ridley had with his mother. Pain, suffering, torture, and religious fervor skim by with no emotional resonance. We just don’t care who Cyrus, Tom, Rebecca, or Aidan are because they are all nearly identical. His “future” is filled with the cliché Star Trek references and standard “space ship” lingo of any science fiction tale. Lines like “he demon in red raised his blade” have been written a thousand times over from much better authors.
Nothing compelling happens in this novel. I found the title pretty ironic considering how much this novel lacks. A bunch of people we never care about have nightmares. Some die. So what? There’s no thematic power here. No intense fear that lingers long after you close the book. There’s nothing that challenges you to reconsider the shadows creeping out from under your bed. I’ve spent hours pondering certain novels. Conversations have spun in a thousand directions from a single chapter. The Void is definitely not one of those novels. The title sums it up perfectly.
The Void can be found on Barnes and Noble.
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