In a galaxy riven by paranoid greed, profane forces marshal to consume humanity…
– On an abandoned ice moon, broadcasts from a long-dead civilization warp both body and soul.
– On a bizarre medical asteroid, a deranged physician discovers a gruesome “cure” for parasitic infection.
– On a deep space derelict, time becomes utterly meaningless and suffering transcends infinity.
– And on Earth itself, a lake transforms into pure blood and becomes infested with the hate-filled, eel-like aberrations known as…
The Hematophages.
Dark bleatings, my sci-fi horror loving tribe! I’m here to spread the good, bloody word about Stephen Kozeniewski’s upcoming book, The Hematophages: Splatterings, due for wide release on 16th March. Those familiar with his previous works, The Hematophages and/or Skinwrapper will recognise this universe for the gory, terrifying, no-one-can-hear-you-scream-in-space-but-you’ll-scream-anyway monster that it is. Those who have never heard of the hideous parasites and space pirates lurking in those prior books might also enjoy this collection, though, because every story works as a standalone.
Those who know me will already know that Koz is my boss, so a review of this book might – totally understandably – feel like a conflict of interest. So I’ve had to refrain from a proper review, sadly. But I CAN tell you what it’s about and where to get it, for those who’d like to feast their eyes on it (while you still have them, anyway…you’ll get that joke if…never mind). It’s a collection of in-universe shorts, some previously published in various anthologies and one total original, plus accompanying, detailed story notes full of behind the scenes info about the stories, and also Koz’s process, life, etc. Here’s what the stories are about:
The Blood-Red Lake
Inexplicably, a lake local to our only two (human) characters has turned red. Blood-red…
Our main man isn’t afraid but his daughter is, and in an effort to show her not to bend to cowardice, he demonstrates that the lake is discoloured but still perfectly safe. Or is it?
Derelictus
This is about a “pearl diver” (someone working in space that checks out other ships and places, etc) who goes aboard the Derelictus. She finds something quite scary and unusual upon arrival, but things are about to get so much worse than even her worst fears could conjure. Did you ever see The Mist? Remember the ending of that? The most nihilistic, depressing ending ever? Yeah…this is worse.
Blackfish
After visiting a planet, our protagonist has been quarantined onboard her ship. She is desperate to finally be deemed safe to get out of quarantine so she can see her wife and newborn twins. She’s also a little twitchy about the lack of information certain people are giving her. I shan’t say more because I don’t want to spoil it, but once again with the ending. Who do you think you are, Steve – Frank Darabont?!
Gerstein
This is about someone large-and-in-charge turning up to a hospital for a financial audit (or something akin to it) and discovering that not only is the place not running…like usual…let’s say, but the doctor she finds there has some odd (but possibly necessary) practices. Thanks to blood parasites.
Other details that I personally find appealing are that all of the stories are written in first person present tense, do not fit that happily-ever-after category, and this is basically an all-female universe (which I don’t think I’ve come across before). If you’d like to check out the book or author, I’ve popped some links below for you:
THE HEMATOPHAGES: SPLATTERINGS
Bleeeat!
Happy Goat Horror 
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