The Lukewarm Dead: A Novella

Name: The Lukewarm Dead: A Novella
Price: 5.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9798624812420

✍️ Greg Guerin

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$5.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A chase across global disasters for a fungal drug promising immortality.

Ralph Makki inherits money from his unwholesome father and discovers an interest in Alfie Soda’s fungal extract. Already addicted to the substance, he invests despite its obscure origins. Soda disappears from Papua New Guinea with the synthesis secrets and funds. Makki follows the trail through humanitarian crises to find him. The story examines whether Makki controls the situation or falls victim to it.

Key Themes

fungal immortality global pursuit humanitarian disasters

Literary Context

The narrative is set in 1986 and involves a research station in Papua New Guinea. It draws on themes of business inheritance and unconventional scientific experimentation from that period.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Thomas Ligotti · Clive Barker · Paul Tremblay

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Horror Fiction

🏛 Independently Published 📅 2020 📖 102 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9798624812420

📝 Description: The Lukewarm Dead: A Novella

Greg Guerin presents a narrative centered on obsession and violence in his novella The Lukewarm Dead. The plot begins in 1986 with Ralph Makki, who seeks to invest an inheritance from his father, a formidable business magnate. Among the late patriarch's documents lies an unsent letter regarding a fungal extract created by Alfie Soda, an unconventional researcher known for wearing masks. This substance promises immortality and has already hooked Makki through addiction. When Soda flees a research station in Papua New Guinea with the funds and synthesis materials, Makki launches a global pursuit. The trail forces him into contact with various humanitarian disasters and genocide zones. Guerin uses these settings to explore Soda’s fixation on misery. The story questions whether Makki acts as the hunter or becomes the hunted during this relentless chase. Aurealis described the work as a compelling read that takes readers on a non-stop ride from start to finish. This novella suits fans of psychological thrillers and tales involving illicit substances. It appeals to readers interested in the consequences of unchecked ambition and the search for eternal life. Those seeking lighthearted entertainment or traditional horror monsters may find the tone too intense. The narrative relies on the tension between scientific hubris and personal desperation rather than supernatural elements.

💎 Our verdict on The Lukewarm Dead: A Novella

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Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Guerin delivers a compelling narrative centered on Ralph Makki’s relentless pursuit of Alfie Soda across global disasters. The novella excels in examining whether the protagonist controls the situation or falls victim to it, using humanitarian crises to highlight themes of misery and scientific obsession. While lacking traditional horror monsters, it effectively builds tension through the chase and the promise of fungal immortality. Aurealis describes it as a non-stop ride, suitable for fans of psychological thrillers. The tone is intense, making it less appealing for those seeking light entertainment, but perfect for readers who enjoy exploring the dark intersections of ambition, addiction, and human suffering in a modern horror context.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers who crave intense narratives driven by obsession and unchecked ambition will find this novella deeply engaging. It appeals to those interested in the psychological consequences of addiction and the pursuit of eternal life through dubious scientific means. The story offers a non-stop ride through humanitarian crises, exploring the tension between personal desperation and global misery. Fans of psychological thrillers and tales involving illicit substances will appreciate the focus on scientific hubris over supernatural elements. It is ideal for audiences willing to engage with intense tone and complex character dynamics rather than lighthearted entertainment or traditional horror tropes.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Guerin delivers a compelling narrative centered on Ralph Makki’s relentless pursuit of Alfie Soda across global disasters. The novella excels in examining whether the protagonist controls the situation or falls victim to it, using humanitarian crises to highlight themes of misery and scientific obsession. While lacking traditional horror monsters, it effectively builds tension through the chase and the promise of fungal immortality. Aurealis describes it as a non-stop ride, suitable for fans of psychological thrillers. The tone is intense, making it less appealing for those seeking light entertainment, but perfect for readers who enjoy exploring the dark intersections of ambition, addiction, and human suffering in a modern horror context.