I rarely read novellas, but I've recently read two, The Order of the Pure Moon Reflecting Water by Zen Cho (which I've scheduled closer to publication) and Jeffrey Ford's Out of Body.

From description: "Jeffrey Ford returns with Out of Body, a new horror story about a small-town librarian whose sleep paralysis becomes something much more."

OK. A rather dull librarian experiences out of body episodes that introduce him to the mysteries of the night world. Murders, vampires, a serial killer, and other strange experiences.

I was slowly drawn in to this one, mostly because I had no idea what to expect and still don't know what to say about it.

Strange, but not really my thing.

NetGalley/Macmillan, Tor/Forge.
Horror? Fantasy? May 26, 2020. Print length: 175 pages.

Out of Body is a quick read about a librarian who witnesses a murder at his local deli. The librarian has sleep paralysis, that evolves into something more disturbing and scary.

The setting and characters are well-written, and the moments of horror throughout the story are truly frightening. It’s amazing how efficient the author was in creating such a creepy atmosphere. This novella is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for something that’s dark and spooky.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Slow starter and empty finisher. The hero doesn't even end up being the one to defeat the villain. Decided not to review for our site. Sorry. I don't like giving negative reviews. I wish he would recapture the brilliantly strange creativity of the Well-Built City or The Fantasy Writer's Assistant.