If you work in a public library, then you know that making book recommendations is one of the most enjoyable and, sadly, rare reference interactions. I’m reminded of the meme that shows what people think you do and what you actually do in a job. People think that library workers are talking about books all day, but in reality, we’re more likely to be explaining meeting room policies or showing someone how to download an app on their phone. Librarians get very excited when they’re asked for a book recommendation, and if the patron happens to mention a genre that you read heavily, that’s like librarian Christmas*.
So when a young couple dressed all in black approached me and asked for “horror books in space,” I nearly dropped my Americano in my excitement. My inner voice warned me to keep my frantic enthusiasm to myself, lest I scare off the two cool kids in front of me. For me, there’s a dreadfully thin line between eager excitement and manic fervor when it comes to books.
Playing it cool, I launched into my standard reference question, “Which space-horror books have you read and enjoyed?” and then realized that although I read both science fiction and horror, I couldn’t think of a single book I had read that crossed both genres. Turns out, they hadn’t read any yet either, but they had recently discovered the original Alien films and wanted a novel that evoked the same kind of claustrophobic terror that only a monster in space can bring.
I realized that space horror might be a fun little research project. Which books blend these two genres in weird and wonderful ways? Do you like scary aliens and the constant threat of suffocation? Of course you do, you little weirdo. Keep reading.
Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The publisher’s description of the novel asks the reader to ponder what to do when your mission to strip resources from new celestial bodies throws you into an impossible bid to survive. On a distant moon called Shroud, two people try to survive in an environment that is “pitch black, but alive with radioactivity. Its high-gravity, high-pressure, zero-oxygen environment is anathema to human life, but ripe for exploitation.”
One Goodreads reviewer calls it “different, a bit weird even” and many point out it deals with themes like understanding how aliens think and communicate while noting the characters display more emotional intelligence than other protagonists in Tchaikovsky’s work. Others seem to just appreciate the deep space scares that arise both from trying to survive in an extremely hostile environment.
Keywords: Cerebral, Intense, Hard Science
Cold Eternity by S. A. Barnes
Just about any book by S. A. Barnes belongs on this list, but Cold Eternity draws comparisons to Severance, one of my favorite shows of recent memory. On the run from an embarrassing interplanetary scandal, Halley finds the perfect place to lay low, on a spaceship functioning as a crypt. Halley’s job is to monitor the cryogenically sealed remains of the wealthy elites who died in the previous century. With a setup like that, what could possibly go wrong?
Many reviewers found the plot to be interesting and full of twists and turns. Others praised the author’s power of description and the way the story’s tension mounts slowly. Reviewers disagreed on the execution of the ending; some found it rushed, while others thought the author neatly tied up all the loose ends.
Keywords: Creepy, Atmospheric, Chilling
Requiem by John Palisano
The description of Requiem is giving me space goth vibes. The story envisions a future where the mortuary sciences have ventured into space. A distant moon that functions as a cemetery where Earth’s recently departed are laid to rest. When a musician turns up among the mourners and composes a lament that is so damn sad that it brings forth a hitherto unknown entity, only weirdness can come of it.
Online reviewers who connected with this story say it unfolds slowly, and they appreciated the way the story illustrates how survivors experience loneliness and grief after the death of a loved one. Many pointed out that the storyline was more atmospheric and philosophical than action-packed.
Keywords: Madness, Dread, Haunting, Space Goth
The Glass Garden: A novella by Jessica Lévai
I love science fiction, but when the science in question is archeology, I’m all in. In The Glass Garden, two sisters with conflicting interests investigate a phenomenon that could be alien cave paintings or a new life form. One sister is an archaeologist who wants to study the luminescent images, while the other sister is eager to capitalize on the discovery. This novella explores the theme of the consequences of profit-driven exploration. Will avarice triumph over inquiry, or will everyone just get eaten by a space monster?
Reviewers online described this one as a slow build, and many noted that the horror elements appear toward the end of the book. Reviewers had mixed opinions on the resolution and character development, but most enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters.
Keywords: Eerie, Despairing, Bizarre
Future’s Edge by Gareth L. Powell
Here’s another book to scratch that Indian Jones in space itch. This time, our hero is an archaeologist whose mistake in the field results in an infection by an alien parasite. The story picks up two years after the destruction of Earth. The archaeologist has been hiding out in a refugee camp when she learns that the artifact that gave her space scabies might also be the thing that could save her and all of humanity. Thankfully, humanity has a social scientist who’s willing to sneak into hostile territory and smuggle out a precious artifact.
This book appeared in my search for horror science fiction, but it obviously skews farther toward the science fiction, adventure, and space opera side of things. Readers who enjoyed this book appreciated its science fiction aspects, while those seeking horror were somewhat disappointed.
Keywords: High stakes, Action-packed, Thought-provoking
Shadow Lab volumes 1 and 2 edited by Brenden Deneen
I enjoy a good science fiction anthology, and these two collections feature stories on the darker side of speculative fiction. Not all of these stories have space settings, but they all effectively blend sci-fi and horror in entertaining ways. From post-apocalyptic stories of survival to serial killers who can take over your body, these two anthologies sound perfect for fans of The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, and (my favorite) Tales from the Darkside.
Overall, reviewers praised this book for its wide array of science fiction and horror mash-ups. Most agree that some stories always hit better than others in an anthology, and this one is no exception.
Keywords: Haunting, Dark, Inventive.
Nether Station by Kevin J. Anderson
I have not read a book by Kevin J. Anderson, but his Garth Marenghi-esque bio on Goodreads makes me want to! Apparently, the man has written a lot of books. This particular book bills itself as “cosmic horror,” and the mention of “elder races” in the description implies that the baddies of this story are of the ancient malevolent God variety. Several readers mention that this will appeal to fans of Event Horizon, which is a classic at my house.
Keywords: Lovecraftian, Suspenseful, Page-turner
This World Is Not Yours by Kemi Ashing-Giwa
It’s not often that an author bio grabs my attention. Still, when you read that an author has studied astrophysics at Harvard and is currently getting a PhD in Earth and planetary sciences, it’s hard not to wonder what her take will be on colonizing other planets. In This World Is Not Yours, Ashing-Giwa imagines a world with something akin to an immune system that fights off invasive species. The story focuses on a love triangle unfolding against the backdrop of a murderous planet. Some readers found the domestic drama alongside the horror elements unenjoyable, but others found the messy energy engaging.
Keywords: Toxic Relationships, Environmental Horror
Plastic Space House by John F. D. Taff
This one had me at, ‘haunted house in space.’ Set in the far future, this book explores a familiar trope of humanity spreading across the galaxy in search of habitable planets, but the universe isn’t a passive object to be conquered in Taff’s future. The universe, it turns out, has a mind of its own and isn’t willing to let an invasive species like humans spread to other galaxies. Three colonists must fight their way out of a trap that manifests itself as their own fears. This one will appeal to fans of The Magnus Archives, Gothic horror lovers, and those seeking a fresh take on familiar tropes.
Keywords: Unsettling, Nightmarish, Philosophical
Beneath the Rising by Premee Mohamed
The first book of a trilogy, Beneath the Rising, is about two best friends. Johnny is an engineering prodigy who invents a new form of clean energy, while her friend, Nick, is used to being a sidekick. Everything changes when Johnny’s invention attracts the unwanted attention of some very nasty ancient alien gods. Readers are divided on this book, but most agree that it’s not a lengthy reading commitment. Many praised the way the author brings playfulness into her emotive storytelling. It will probably appeal most to fans of Lovecraft stories and Bildungstromans.
Keywords: Disarming, Emotional, Weird
