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Olden
Trapped. In a room that smells of death and sickness. Your food is running low, along with your resolve. You know you must leave here soon if you wish to live through the night.
Outside, the Others wait. Their numbers are legion. Their shrieks echo up and down the corridor. Occasionally they pound at the door, trying to get inside so they can tear you limb from limb.
But mostly they wait. So patiently. As if sharing one mind. A single dark purpose.
They can be killed. You've seen it for yourself.
But this isn't like the movies. Nothing you've ever seen in any old horror film could have prepared you for what is happening here.
You love them. Once upon a time, they loved you.
Now they want to watch you die.
Outside, the Others wait. Their numbers are legion. Their shrieks echo up and down the corridor. Occasionally they pound at the door, trying to get inside so they can tear you limb from limb.
But mostly they wait. So patiently. As if sharing one mind. A single dark purpose.
They can be killed. You've seen it for yourself.
But this isn't like the movies. Nothing you've ever seen in any old horror film could have prepared you for what is happening here.
You love them. Once upon a time, they loved you.
Now they want to watch you die.
52 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 24, 2023
A masterclass in heart pounding, relentlessly scary and utterly horrifying supernatural horror!
The writing is lean, the horrors believable and terrifying, the pace frenetic and the characters strong willed while the plot is generic haunting, it retains a unique genius in its execution.
"They’re pounding at the door again. Jiggling the handle. A wrinkled gray hand shot through with wormy purple veins slips through the gap beneath the door; its fingernails click across the tile like the carapace of a trapped insect."
Room 123 is hell and the worst of afterlife imaginable combined in one. It's inhabitants are trapped and to escape they'll need to combine both brains and brawns but then...the horrors without and the human follies within are not content to lie in wait for the inevitable.
A marvelous and short supernatural horror read by an exceptional author and a very good introduction to him for fans yet to sample him.
Highly highly recommended.
The writing is lean, the horrors believable and terrifying, the pace frenetic and the characters strong willed while the plot is generic haunting, it retains a unique genius in its execution.
"They’re pounding at the door again. Jiggling the handle. A wrinkled gray hand shot through with wormy purple veins slips through the gap beneath the door; its fingernails click across the tile like the carapace of a trapped insect."
Room 123 is hell and the worst of afterlife imaginable combined in one. It's inhabitants are trapped and to escape they'll need to combine both brains and brawns but then...the horrors without and the human follies within are not content to lie in wait for the inevitable.
A marvelous and short supernatural horror read by an exceptional author and a very good introduction to him for fans yet to sample him.
Highly highly recommended.
August 24, 2013
Our senior citizens. What role do they play in modern society? Do we value them enough or are we somewhat relieved when they head off to the nursing home? Wouldn't you be pissed if that happened to you?
This short story made me think about all those things, all the while shrinking away from each fresh horror these seniors were perpetrating. That's right, the seniors were doing the perpetrating. :)
I loved the way this story was presented and even though it was short, the characters were well developed and complicated. Once again. I am impressed by Mr. Newman. Highly recommended!
This short story made me think about all those things, all the while shrinking away from each fresh horror these seniors were perpetrating. That's right, the seniors were doing the perpetrating. :)
I loved the way this story was presented and even though it was short, the characters were well developed and complicated. Once again. I am impressed by Mr. Newman. Highly recommended!
November 21, 2011
OLDEN is an outstanding, but brief tale, with a really interesting take on the fate of our senior citizens. I think I would have given this 5 stars if it had been a little bit longer. The novella form for this story is fine, but I think the story left me wanting more. The ending of course wrapped things up nicely and was thoroughly disturbing...
I also really enjoyed the unique form of storytelling for this novella. We get a present day crisis (senior citizens run-amok) of apocalyptic proportions with interlocking back stories for each of the numerous characters in the story. I think my only gripe (and it is minor) was perhaps the lack of explanation or even hinting at of why our senior citizens were transformed in the way they were. What was the purpose or end goal? Granted, this story is much more character driven rather than plot driven, and I am okay without this plot element... very similar to Lestewka's VEHICLES novella, in which we don't really find out why the apocalypse came about.
I thought one of the most chilling passages in this novella was the suicide letter written by Anita's grandmother, Meemaw. Here we get a glimpse into the mind of a senior citizen who is being turned into a crazed lunatic.
Also, the interaction between Larry and Rachel was extremely well done and quite a demonstration of Newman's masterful character development. I have read James Newman before and have always appreciated his ability to craft interesting and memorable characters and relationships.
Lastly, I also appreciate Newman's exploration of a theme that is not often explored, that of senior citizen abuse (as displayed by Larry's jaded and terrible actions towards his own clients). Newman also adds an additional layer to this thematic exploration by asking the reader to also think about how society views its senior members and the real resentment senior citizens may feel towards their families when they are placed in a senior home/community. Was the apocalyptic rage of our senior citizen in this story born out of this festering resentment?
I also really enjoyed the unique form of storytelling for this novella. We get a present day crisis (senior citizens run-amok) of apocalyptic proportions with interlocking back stories for each of the numerous characters in the story. I think my only gripe (and it is minor) was perhaps the lack of explanation or even hinting at of why our senior citizens were transformed in the way they were. What was the purpose or end goal? Granted, this story is much more character driven rather than plot driven, and I am okay without this plot element... very similar to Lestewka's VEHICLES novella, in which we don't really find out why the apocalypse came about.
I thought one of the most chilling passages in this novella was the suicide letter written by Anita's grandmother, Meemaw. Here we get a glimpse into the mind of a senior citizen who is being turned into a crazed lunatic.
Also, the interaction between Larry and Rachel was extremely well done and quite a demonstration of Newman's masterful character development. I have read James Newman before and have always appreciated his ability to craft interesting and memorable characters and relationships.
Lastly, I also appreciate Newman's exploration of a theme that is not often explored, that of senior citizen abuse (as displayed by Larry's jaded and terrible actions towards his own clients). Newman also adds an additional layer to this thematic exploration by asking the reader to also think about how society views its senior members and the real resentment senior citizens may feel towards their families when they are placed in a senior home/community. Was the apocalyptic rage of our senior citizen in this story born out of this festering resentment?
September 3, 2013
This was a very "different" take for me on how we treat the elderly in our society. I would have loved a little more background as to how the "epidemic" began and why, but that's just me wanting the story to go on! It was told very well, and enough information was given to make you really think about some of the sensitive issues touched upon. There was so much to read INTO this story, besides the basic plot.
Recommended!
Recommended!
December 17, 2017
A thoroughly engaging story of a world in which senior citizens rise up like zombies, but they're not actually zombies because they're still alive, they just want to kill. And they have the enhanced strength to do so. The novella explores the back stories of six characters trapped in a room at a senior care center. Some of the characters are quite despicable, which adds to the mounting tension of the story. James Newman is a gifted writer who is entertaining but also makes you think.
January 10, 2015
The elderly have had enough. Neglected, ignored, discarded by youth oriented consumerist society, left in bleak retirement homes, unvisited and unloved...they've had enough. And they are rising up, with a vengeance. That's the basic premise of James Newman's novella. An entirely new sort of apocalypse. Great concept, but the story had such an episodic vibe to it, it left the reader wanting. A sort of an unfinished quality to it. The sociological aspect of the story is barely mentioned, had it been developed further, it would have made for a much more interesting dynamic as oppose to something that can be easily dismissed as a attack of the killer senior citizens. As often seems to be the case with Newman's books the idea seems to be stronger than its execution, utilitarian writing and all. He gets the pacing right though every time, always makes for an exciting sort of experience. Despite somewhat unmet potential, this was entertaining quick read.
January 25, 2012
Ever since I read "Midnight Rain," I knew James Newman was going to make a name for himself. In "Olden" he's created a short but powerful entry in the world of zombies through an entirely new and original medium--the elderly. His social commentary on everything from racism to elderly abuse and abandonment is so subtle that it doesn't bash you over the head, but so poignant that it will anger you...because this is real life, and Newman's holding the mirror up to our ugly faces.
He has brought classic small-group apocalyptic fiction to the nursing home, with 6 entirely different, well-thought-out, realistic characters thrown in a room together and forced to deal with the crisis outside their door. "Olden" breathes life into an old concept (no pun intended) with wit, sensitivity, and a wonderful weaving of individual back stories.
He has brought classic small-group apocalyptic fiction to the nursing home, with 6 entirely different, well-thought-out, realistic characters thrown in a room together and forced to deal with the crisis outside their door. "Olden" breathes life into an old concept (no pun intended) with wit, sensitivity, and a wonderful weaving of individual back stories.
December 31, 2016
When The Elderly Roam the Earth
A great book that should be longer. A very quick read because not one word is wasted. Very believable characters. One of James Newman's best.
A great book that should be longer. A very quick read because not one word is wasted. Very believable characters. One of James Newman's best.
March 17, 2017
Respect Your Elders
Excellently crafted novella that tears at the heartstrings (well, just flat out rips them out) and will make you a little more hesitant next time an older person seems irritated.
Excellently crafted novella that tears at the heartstrings (well, just flat out rips them out) and will make you a little more hesitant next time an older person seems irritated.
January 5, 2012
Delirium Books offers another great disturbing novella with James Newman’s “Olden.” This can easily be read in one sitting and that is recommended to get the full effect of its powerful narrative structure.
An unexplained phenomenon has transformed the elderly into virile insane killers. Those who have been neglected and abused are empowered with the ability for murderous revenge.
The forward moving main story is told in vivid, fast paced present tense. Six victims are locked in a room--on the other side are the crazed senior citizens. This narrative is offered in parallel with first person accounts of how the six victims got there, which also provide insight into the unfolding of the still unexplained event.
The ending is dark and wicked. This is one hell of wild ride. It serves as a great one-time story but also Newman could easily continue with other installments.
Highly recommended, as are just about all Delirium novellas I have read.
An unexplained phenomenon has transformed the elderly into virile insane killers. Those who have been neglected and abused are empowered with the ability for murderous revenge.
The forward moving main story is told in vivid, fast paced present tense. Six victims are locked in a room--on the other side are the crazed senior citizens. This narrative is offered in parallel with first person accounts of how the six victims got there, which also provide insight into the unfolding of the still unexplained event.
The ending is dark and wicked. This is one hell of wild ride. It serves as a great one-time story but also Newman could easily continue with other installments.
Highly recommended, as are just about all Delirium novellas I have read.
January 24, 2019
Great story. Great concept. Great narrator! Fans of Newman's work won't be disappointed.
March 6, 2022
Olden was a fast paced “zombie” read with a unique twist on the classic zombie book. The “zombies” in this are old people and they aren’t interested in eating flesh… they just want you dead. The story revolves around 6 or so characters stuck in a room with a bunch of crazed old people roaming the hallway outside of their door. The reader gets a flashback of each of these characters, and learns what each of them was doing moments before the “zombie” outbreak happened. Honestly this was a pretty perfect read, but I wanted more from the story. Needless to say the ending was absolutely awesome. If you’re looking for a quick horror read then this is a great one
January 26, 2012
A short, but worthy read that gives you a rare glimpse into the lives of of story characters to demonstrate how we might instinctively react to a unbelievable scenario unfold. Enjoyed the unique way the story unfolds not so much in moving forward in time, but in reflections of the characters. Isn't that what we do - when faced with tragedy, horror, terror. We look back at what brought us to where we are today, recounting our steps, questioning our actions, second guessing, replaying, reliving. And when your just stuck waiting, it's what our minds do.
September 2, 2013
This was an enjoyable read with well fleshed out characters despite the short length. All of the back stories were interesting and tied in perfectly with the main plot.
James Newman does character dialogue really well, and it's in fine display in OLDEN. Very entertaining and satisfying ending.
Recommended.
James Newman does character dialogue really well, and it's in fine display in OLDEN. Very entertaining and satisfying ending.
Recommended.
December 7, 2011
Would have given this one 3.5 stars so I rounded up to 4. Great short novella with a cool concept that is easily devoured in one sitting.
February 21, 2012
A different take on zombies. The elderly. A group of people we would never expect to need to fear. You get enough of them together and you have trouble on your hands.
Great story and fast read.
Great story and fast read.
January 1, 2014
Unpredictable
December 31, 2017
Wow!!! I had the honor of listening to the audio book read by the author himself which he kindly sent me Squee 🤗!!! It is so freaking AWESOME & to top it off he narrates the story himself!! From the moment the story began I was hooked. This story is told from several different perspectives which I thoroughly enjoyed; it kept me on edge with each chapter & left me wanting more! Olden is gory & takes you the reader to a dark place. It’s scary to consider the possibility of something like this occurring 😳. This is another Great Horror story written by an amazing author. I highly recommend to all Horror fans! We need this in our lives!
March 17, 2013
Senior citizens are going nuts and killing everything in their wake and a retirement home is the last place you want to be when it happens. 6 people are trapped in a room with no way out except thru a hallway of deranged seniors in a murderous rage.
A very interesting, strange and disturbing novella that tells the tale of a small group of characters in the midst of the Geritol Apocalypse as they try to survive the “Oldens”.
A very interesting, strange and disturbing novella that tells the tale of a small group of characters in the midst of the Geritol Apocalypse as they try to survive the “Oldens”.
May 13, 2015
HOLY CRAP this was an amazing short story. A very easy read but a VERY good one. I wish it would have been a full sized book because I wanted to know more! I wanted more of the characters and their stories... I did not want it to end.
A wonderful short story! You should read it!
A wonderful short story! You should read it!
September 28, 2018
Newman takes the zombie concept in a new direction with Olden. An excellent writer makes a good story great. Dont be afraid to try a zombie novel, because this is way more than that.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews