GHOST STATION - S.A. Barnes


Ophelia Bray is a psychologist whose specialty is a space-related PTSD-like symptom called ERS which can bring on violent episodes. She's now assigned to be a part of a small exploration crew. This crew is being sent to a remote, old, abandoned planet.

The crew has been together for awhile now and they're not too keen to have a shrink aboard and they don't bother hiding their distaste and distrust for Ophelia. Having a 'head doctor' must be an indication of something they're heading in to.

At first, things seem to go as planned on this once-thriving, now empty planet. But as the crew explores, there's evidence that prior crews sent to explore apparently left in a hurry and without trace where they may have gone.

The planet holds mystery and danger, which Ophelia is meant to keep an eye on, but Ophelia has secrets of her own that she's trying to work through.

I don't know that I've read anything by S.A. Barnes before, but I was looking forward to what I expected to be a sci-fi horror/thriller. It's *sort* of that, but this has a number of small problems that are difficult to overlook and which bring the enjoyment level of the read down a notch or two.

The biggest issue is with our protagonist, Ophelia.  Sure, it's good to have a leading character with flaws but this intelligent doctor makes some really questionable choices that don't seem in keeping with a woman of her education and skill.

From the descriptions of events (Barnes is a fine writer) we get the sense that we're almost in an Alien situation, and while I like a slow build of horror, there's a difference between a slow build-up and a drawn out story.

In some ways, there's just too much going on. We're set up with multiple storylines pretty much from the start and we add a few as we go and we need to have some sort of resolution amid the horror that's built up. And on the other hand, there's not enough *actually* going on. The stories are mostly psychological and we're passive observers with little  to bring us in to feel the fear.

Overall, this was disappointing. 

Looking for a good book? Ghost Station by S.A. Barnes is a roiling, bubbling, scifi horror story that doesn't quite create the horror or thrill that is intended.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

2-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

Ghost Station

author: S.A. Barnes

publisher: Tor Nightfire

ISBN: 9781250884923

hardcover, 377 pages

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