Experiment in Terror by Bernal C. Payne

by Bernal C. Payne

As his friends mysteriously disappear one by one in the middle of the night, Steve finds himself developing strange and terrifying powers.

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Paranormal, Horror

Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Henry Avila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seven children born on the same day in the same hospital in the same small town, (of course) in Summerville, Missouri where else? What are the chances, yet they also become inseparable friends, growing up in the municipality. People notice all are very smart and look alike very strange indeed. Since there are four boys and three girls and pair off with each other, one guy is left out sadly. Not to worry Steve finds a girlfriend, only a few days younger than the rest, and fits right in with the unique gang. Strange she looks and is as intelligent, as the others. Summerville must be the greatest city in the state. On their 16th birthday, Jill, Stephanie, Roxane, Scott, David, Terry and Steve, with the new member Sharon, get together at a pool party. For the first time Steve becomes dizzy, standing on the diving board. He falls and hurts himself when he hits the water below. What caused the illness? It's the first for anyone in the clique. Afterwards, Steve Taylor begins to see weird color lights, coming out of the bodies of his parents, sister, and brother. Steve no big surprise becomes scared and thinks he's going crazy (who wouldn't ?). Later discovering the lights are the moods of people. Nightmares of alien, blue snake creatures with yellow eyes speaking to Steve, creeps him out. Amazing powers he develops cause him much concern, such as bringing his dead brother back to life... When Dave disappears, and one by one and in twos, the whole close group. Only Taylor and Sharon are left, you can imagine the tumult in the whole town. Police Detective Sergeant Coffee has no clue, back in the safety of his home with his family, Steve gets an electrifying phone call from Scott. Who sounds a little different and tells him to go to 532 Chestnut Street, at midnight (would you go?), not many could. This obscure book from an obscure writer gives audiences some creepy scenes to digest and enjoy the ride.

[Erica Leigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very homogeneous and co-dependent group of friends (rich/hot/boring/literally all look related) start going through ~changes and have creepy dreams about snakes before they start disappearing one by one.

These friends all want to stay the same and stay together, always and forever. Change or deviation in any form is bad. This turns out to be the running theme in the book and I find it...weird lol.

This had so much promise, but the writing is so clunky and awkward, I found it hard to concentrate on anything else. The narrator speaks as if the story happened in the distant past (so much subjunctive tense), and I found the internal dialogue really irritating because it was mostly exposition. The concept is fine but this could’ve been done better.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7th grade English teacher read this book to our class and I remember loving it. Over the years, I tried to find the book but never could because I didn’t know the title. Many, many years later, an internet search based on the description I remember resulted in me finally finding the title and I just found a copy of it!

This was a fast paced little sci-fi book that, setting aside the late 80’s - early 90’s references, was a great story. I will be passing it on to my nephew who just happens to be in 7th grade this year to see how he enjoys it!

[Khadija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis - eight 16 year old teens face a out of this world sitution
Audience: teens
Purpose: Mostly entertainment, some moral messages
Medium: Graphic Novel
Genre - Setting: science fiction
Genre - Style: Idealism


Criticism:
This is the novel that any type of person would love. It's really exciting and you can't stop reading the book once you open it because it mixes our real world with a alein wierd like world and thoughts that will never come to anyone's mind it will shock you.

[Cupof Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

"unrealistic" was my best one word description of this book in junior high.