The Communication Room

A very neat Sci Fi novella about one of the last humans alive after a centuries-long alien invasion. Trapped in a lab with the aliens outside, he finds he has to complete an experiment in order to be able to get out. What he discovers in the experiment has driven another mad, but it's his only hope to just possibly escape and, just maybe, give humanity a little longer to fight.

Don't call us, we'll call you.

A locked room. Thirteen telephones. Leonard Ackerman, science officer. "This room has been sealed for your protection and will remained sealed until the test is completed." And the first phone starts ringing. 

squelch-hiss-squelch              Can you hear me now?

This is classic sci-fi plus a locked room mystery. Adam Aresty, author and screenwriter gives you more bang for your buck with this compelling 'us vs. them' novella. 

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

3 1/2 stars - rounded up to 4

This novella really packs a punch - as aliens try to wipe out humanity and a scientist faces the world crumbling around him, he shuts himself in a room to escape an attack. The room contains an experiment he knows nothing about, and going through the experiment might be the only chance he has to survive.

The story is instantly compelling and smartly written. It has some smart ideas and emotional moments that you will be thinking about days after finishing the story. I could easily see this being made into a movie.

With aliens trying to subjugate the human race, our only hope is a dude who can talk on the phone. He bears witness to the events that led to the alien invasion and his current situation. When I saw Communication Room on NetGalley, I was intrigued. Although the story started out with some action, the rest of the story was pretty mild. A crazy man at the door who was “conscripted”  is gonna get our protagonist, unless he can solve the puzzle of the phones.

This novella is an easy read, and the average person can knock it out in 2 – 4 hours. I’ve seen in other reviews that the author has more short works, and I’d check them out. Four stars for The Communication Room.