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Sleeper(s) Paperback – 30 Jun. 2013
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- Print length184 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication date30 Jun. 2013
- Dimensions12.85 x 1.07 x 19.84 cm
- ISBN-100992170710
- ISBN-13978-0992170714
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About the Author
Product details
- Publisher : Crystal Lake Publications (30 Jun. 2013)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 184 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0992170710
- ISBN-13 : 978-0992170714
- Dimensions : 12.85 x 1.07 x 19.84 cm
- Best Sellers Rank: 4,228,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 45,235 in Science Fiction Adventure (Books)
- Customer reviews:
About the authors
Paul Kane is the award-winning, bestselling author and editor of over a hundred books – including the Arrowhead trilogy (gathered together in the sellout Hooded Man omnibus, revolving around a post-apocalyptic version of Robin Hood), The Butterfly Man and Other Stories, Hellbound Hearts, The Mammoth Book of Body Horror and Pain Cages (an Amazon #1 bestseller). His non-fiction books include The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy and Voices in the Dark, and his genre journalism has appeared in the likes of SFX, Rue Morgue and DeathRay. He has been a Guest at Alt.Fiction five times, was a Guest at the first SFX Weekender, at Thought Bubble in 2011, Derbyshire Literary Festival and Off the Shelf in 2012, Monster Mash and Event Horizon in 2013, Edge-Lit in 2014 and 2018, HorrorCon, HorrorFest and Grimm Up North in 2015, The Dublin Ghost Story Festival and Sledge-Lit in 2016, IMATS Olympia and Celluloid Screams in 2017, plus Black Library Live and the UK Ghost Story Festival in 2019, as well as being a panellist at FantasyCon and the World Fantasy Convention, and a fiction judge at the Sci-Fi London festival. A former British Fantasy Society Special Publications Editor, he is currently serving as co-chair for the UK chapter of The Horror Writers Association. His work has been optioned and adapted for the big and small screen, including for US network primetime television, and his novelette ‘Men of the Cloth’ has just been turned into a feature by Loose Canon/Hydra Films, starring Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator, You’re Next). His audio work includes the full cast drama adaptation of The Hellbound Heart for Bafflegab, starring Tom Meeten (The Ghoul), Neve McIntosh (Doctor Who) and Alice Lowe (Prevenge), and the Robin of Sherwood adventure The Red Lord for Spiteful Puppet/ITV narrated by Ian Ogilvy (Return of the Saint). Paul’s latest novels are Lunar (set to be turned into a feature film), the Y.A. story The Rainbow Man (as P.B. Kane), the sequels to RED – Blood RED & Deep RED – the award-winning hit Sherlock Holmes & the Servants of Hell, Before (an Amazon Top 5 dark fantasy bestseller) and Arcana. He also writes thrillers for HQ Digital/HarperCollins as PL Kane, the first of which, Her Last Secret, came out in January 2020 (www.plkane.com). Paul lives in Derbyshire, UK, with his wife Marie O’Regan and his family. Find out more at his site www.shadow-writer.co.uk which has featured Guest Writers such as Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Charlaine Harris, Robert Kirkman, Dean Koontz and Guillermo del Toro.
Since its founding in August 2012, Crystal Lake Publishing has quickly become one of the world’s leading publishers of Dark Fiction and Horror books in print, eBook, and audio formats.
While we strive to present only the highest quality fiction and entertainment, we also endeavour to support authors along their writing journey. We offer our time and experience in non-fiction projects, as well as author mentoring and services, at competitive prices.
With several Bram Stoker Award wins and many other wins and nominations, Crystal Lake Publishing puts integrity, honor, and respect at the forefront of our publishing operations.
We strive for each book and outreach program we spearhead to not only entertain and touch or comment on issues that affect our readers, but also to strengthen and support the Dark Fiction field and its authors.
Not only do we find and publish authors we believe are destined for greatness, but we strive to work with men and woman who endeavour to be decent human beings who care more for others than themselves, while still being hard working, driven, and passionate artists and storytellers.
Crystal Lake Publishing is and will always be a beacon of what passion and dedication, combined with overwhelming teamwork and respect, can accomplish. We endeavour to know each and every one of our readers, while building personal relationships with our authors, reviewers, bloggers, podcasters, bookstores, and libraries.
We will be as trustworthy, forthright, and transparent as any business can be, while also keeping most of the headaches away from our authors, since it’s our job to solve the problems so they can stay in a creative mind. Which of course also means paying our authors.
We do not just publish books, we present to you worlds within your world, doors within your mind, from talented authors who sacrifice so much for a moment of your time.
There are some amazing small presses out there, and through collaboration and open forums we will continue to support other presses in the goal of helping authors and showing the world what quality small presses are capable of accomplishing. No one wins when a small press goes down, so we will always be there to support hardworking, legitimate presses and their authors. We don’t see Crystal Lake as the best press out there, but we will always strive to be the best, strive to be the most interactive and grateful, and even blessed press around. No matter what happens over time, we will also take our mission very seriously while appreciating where we are and enjoying the journey.
What do we offer our authors that they can’t do for themselves through self-publishing?
We are big supporters of self-publishing (especially hybrid publishing), if done with care, patience, and planning. However, not every author has the time or inclination to do market research, advertise, and set up book launch strategies. Although a lot of authors are successful in doing it all, strong small presses will always be there for the authors who just want to do what they do best: write.
What we offer is experience, industry knowledge, contacts and trust built up over years. And due to our strong brand and trusting fanbase, every Crystal Lake Publishing book comes with weight of respect. In time our fans begin to trust our judgment and will try a new author purely based on our support of said author.
To date we’ve published around 100 books, and with each launch we strive to fine-tune our approach, learn from our mistakes, and increase our reach. We continue to assure our authors that we’re here for them and that we’ll carry the weight of the launch and dealing with third parties while they focus on their strengths—be it writing, interviews, blogs, signings, etc.
We also offer several mentoring packages to authors that include knowledge and skills they can use in both traditional and self-publishing endeavours.
We look forward to launching many new careers.
This is what we believe in. What we stand for. This will be our legacy.
Welcome to Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
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- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 May 2022Middletown is nothing special, just a little town in the UK where not thing much happens. You even consider it a sleepy town, and you would not be wrong. Middletown is even a little sleepier than it used to be. Students have always fallen asleep in class, but now lecturers have begun to do so as well. Then a young woman falls asleep while walking down stairs, breaking her neck when she hits the bottom, and the people of Middletown realises something very, very wrong is going on.
Sleeper(s) is my first book from this author, and doing a quick search on him it is a real wonder that I had never crossed paths with his work before. He has quite a catalogue, with some titles I would be very interested in reading in the future, and after listening to the audiobook of Sleeper(s), performed by Christian Francis, I think I’m very likely to seek them out.
Sleeper(s) is not great art. It’s a competent classic piece of cheesy horror entertainment that plays a great many of the familiar themes. It reads a great deal like early James Herbert, with an emphasis on action and speed of delivery. There’s atmosphere, and character development, but the author is frugal in such areas, knowing that a little goes a long way. We don’t need the township described in minute detail, nor do we need a complex character analysis with every character. All we need is a few people we can believe in, a town, and an evil to defeat.
With Sleeper(s) Paul Kane manages to write a tale that’s original while somewhat familiar. There’s a deft creation of story where the author seems to know how little he actually needs to do in order to get the reader involved. Then the story is fleshed out with some great character interactions, some of them genuinely amusing, and a few moments of horror that may not be hugely original but are used to great effect.
I have read better written stories, I have read far better books, but I have rarely read a book that I have consumed so easily and enjoyed quite to much. It's a horror fast food meal that you’ll enjoy a great deal, but it may not be something from which to create a well rounded diet.
If you even have the slightest interest in this title, then I urge you to give it a go. I am very pleased I’ve finally discovered Paul Kane, and I hope I enjoy the titles I'll certainly read from him in the future. One warning however; if you have an allergy to movie references, be careful, this book may leave you permanently damaged.
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 November 2015Awesome book by Paul Kane I give it a 5 star rating :D
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2015There is a comparison to the great John Wyndham on the front of the book and I have to say that there is a lot to like here with this short novel. There is some great atmosphere created and it has a real English country small town horror vibe to it, and I really like that. Marks also for the lead character being named Andrew Strauss. I love my cricket. Good read. 4 stars
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2013It started with Mr Eley and his controlling wife visiting Dr Wray. Mr Eley was more tired than usual and prone to dropping off. At first the doctor dismisses it as the result of overwork, but as she examines her patient she notices signs of anaemia and clamminess of his skin. And he is not the only one. Slightly concerned she takes a blood sample for analysis. By the time the anomaly in the patient's blood has been found it is too late.
The Central Hospital is already overcrowded with what they are calling severe cases of Narcolepsy. Authorities outside Middletown are alerted to the fact that the sleeping sickness is airborne. The town is soon quarantined with no mobile signals or internet.
Soon we meet Andrew Strauss, a genius doctor in the world of virology but also an insomniac boozer. In a hotel, away at a conference, as a keynote speaker, he is hiding from a one night stand with his assistant, when she turns up at his room door with the army. He is needed to investigate Middletown.
Kane starts with the shocks just a few pages in, as the bodies start to collapse under the power of this strange disease. The novella is thoroughly researched with an air of authenticity to it, particularly where the biology and science is concerned. Strauss is also a rather interesting character; he is damaged and flawed, putting his six year friendship and relationship with assistant Bridget in danger through his irresponsible actions and his obsession with a woman he dreams about every night. A woman who can't possibly be real. Or can she?
It is clear Kane has been influenced by the work of John Wyndham and he is happy to admit this, as Kane indulges his inner fanboy with lots of classic SF references.
There is a bonus short story at the end, Masques, which I suspect is a Poe adaptation from his forthcoming book Rue Morgue.
A good solid piece of SF/Horror, Kane proves why he has such a good reputation within the genre. Worth your pennies!
Top reviews from other countries
- Adrian ShotboltReviewed in Australia on 24 August 2015
4.0 out of 5 stars Old school horror.
There is a comparison to the great John Wyndham on the front of the book and I have to say that there is a lot to like here with this short novel. There is some great atmosphere created and it has a real English country small town horror vibe to it, and I really like that. Marks also for the lead character being named Andrew Strauss. I love my cricket. Good read. 4 stars.
- NixReviewed in the United States on 15 June 2016
3.0 out of 5 stars Good story, may have been better as a series ...
Good story, may have been better as a series that explains a bit more. Or just a bit more insight into the "sleeping sickness" instead of all the hints, may have given the story an extra 'bite'