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Interlands #1
Interlands
A tale of modern-day horror from award-winning novelist Vincent H. O'Neil:
In Providence, Rhode Island, graduate student Angie Morse has discovered evidence that an ancient stone obelisk worshiped by a colonial-era cult is still in existence. Hoping to finish her studies with a career-boosting headline, she's combing the woods to find it.
As she digs into the history of the obelisk and the cult that perished at its feet, she's plagued by bizarre events and shadowy figures from her college days. The more time she spends in the ghostly forests outside the city, the more Angie starts to suspect the obelisk is exerting the same influence on her that doomed so many others.
In Providence, Rhode Island, graduate student Angie Morse has discovered evidence that an ancient stone obelisk worshiped by a colonial-era cult is still in existence. Hoping to finish her studies with a career-boosting headline, she's combing the woods to find it.
As she digs into the history of the obelisk and the cult that perished at its feet, she's plagued by bizarre events and shadowy figures from her college days. The more time she spends in the ghostly forests outside the city, the more Angie starts to suspect the obelisk is exerting the same influence on her that doomed so many others.
226 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2013
19 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Vincent H. O'Neil
24 books43 followersVincent H. O’Neil is the Malice Award-winning author of the Exile mystery series from St. Martin's Press and the military science fiction Sim War series (writing as Henry V. O'Neil) from HarperCollins.
He is also the author of the theater-themed murder mystery DEATH TROUPE, and two books in a New England-based horror series, INTERLANDS and DENIZENS.
Most recently, he released an innovative news series that pairs a futuristic fiction novel with a non-fiction book.
The novel, A PAUSE IN THE PERPETUAL ROTATION, describes a future United States where people are embracing an underground philosophy called The Unused Path. The non-fiction book, THE UNUSED PATH, is a genuine self-improvement / life philosophy manual that is featured extensively in the novel.
Learn more at www.vincenthoneil.com
He is also the author of the theater-themed murder mystery DEATH TROUPE, and two books in a New England-based horror series, INTERLANDS and DENIZENS.
Most recently, he released an innovative news series that pairs a futuristic fiction novel with a non-fiction book.
The novel, A PAUSE IN THE PERPETUAL ROTATION, describes a future United States where people are embracing an underground philosophy called The Unused Path. The non-fiction book, THE UNUSED PATH, is a genuine self-improvement / life philosophy manual that is featured extensively in the novel.
Learn more at www.vincenthoneil.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 23, 2013
The story of how I came to read Interlands is sort of interesting in of itself. I was in Providence for NecronomiCon when I met Vincent O’Neil. When he told me had written a Lovecraftian horror-novel set in Providence, I was sold. And I’m glad I was. Interlands is a wonderful read brimming with mystery and suspense.
The synopsis from Amazon:
In Providence, Rhode Island, graduate student Angie Morse has discovered evidence that an ancient stone obelisk worshiped by a colonial-era cult is still in existence. Hoping to finish her studies with a career-boosting headline, she's combing the woods to find it.
As she digs into the history of the obelisk and the cult that perished at its feet, she's plagued by bizarre events and shadowy figures from her college days. The more time she spends in the ghostly forests outside the city, the more Angie starts to suspect the obelisk is exerting the same influence on her that doomed so many others.
Two strengths separate Interlands from other reads. The first is Angie. She’s a wonderful, believable, sympathetic hero. We are immediately on her side. We want to see her succeed. We are worried about her when she’s in danger, and we are rooting for her to come out the other side OK. It goes without saying that a book without a strong lead cannot survive, but Angie helps take Interlands to another level entirely.
The other strength is the plot itself. It’s been said that the best horror begins with an imminently believable and perhaps even mundane premise. Angie is hunting for the obelisk not because of its mystical connotations, but because she needs to find it to complete her master’s thesis. The story starts off slow, building suspense and tension and slowly drawing us in. I don’t have a fireplace, but I imagine lying on the couch in front of one would be the best place to enjoy Interlands. It’s one of those books that should be savored, rather than devoured.
All in all, I really found myself enjoying this book. I’d recommend it not only to Lovecraftians out there looking for what is essentially a love letter to Providence, but also to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and a lead character you can care about.
The synopsis from Amazon:
In Providence, Rhode Island, graduate student Angie Morse has discovered evidence that an ancient stone obelisk worshiped by a colonial-era cult is still in existence. Hoping to finish her studies with a career-boosting headline, she's combing the woods to find it.
As she digs into the history of the obelisk and the cult that perished at its feet, she's plagued by bizarre events and shadowy figures from her college days. The more time she spends in the ghostly forests outside the city, the more Angie starts to suspect the obelisk is exerting the same influence on her that doomed so many others.
Two strengths separate Interlands from other reads. The first is Angie. She’s a wonderful, believable, sympathetic hero. We are immediately on her side. We want to see her succeed. We are worried about her when she’s in danger, and we are rooting for her to come out the other side OK. It goes without saying that a book without a strong lead cannot survive, but Angie helps take Interlands to another level entirely.
The other strength is the plot itself. It’s been said that the best horror begins with an imminently believable and perhaps even mundane premise. Angie is hunting for the obelisk not because of its mystical connotations, but because she needs to find it to complete her master’s thesis. The story starts off slow, building suspense and tension and slowly drawing us in. I don’t have a fireplace, but I imagine lying on the couch in front of one would be the best place to enjoy Interlands. It’s one of those books that should be savored, rather than devoured.
All in all, I really found myself enjoying this book. I’d recommend it not only to Lovecraftians out there looking for what is essentially a love letter to Providence, but also to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and a lead character you can care about.
February 6, 2016
2016 re-read. Still good and I'm moving on to the sequel but from a story perspective I'm baffled why Angie doesn't spend the rest of her life hiding under the covers.
That was quite good. Mysterious, lots of twists and turns and genuinely chilling.
Angie Morse is a grad student hoping to make herself standout in a crowded job market by rediscovering a lost obelisk in the hinterlands of Rhode Island.
Angie has been searching for some time now and is running out of time but as fall advances various incidents begin piling up both in the 'natural' world and in the reappearance of a creepy cult leader from her past (somewhat amusingly named Gilbert). Along the way Angie is forced to question who she can trust, her own sanity and just what the hell is going on.
The story is told from the perspective of Angie so we learn the history of the obelisk and unravel the mystery along with Angie.
I think the biggest strength of this book is in setting the atmosphere and setting. In particular, I've got to call out Chapter 7. Angie attends a festival in Providence, Rhode Island called WaterFire (apparently they really light a bunch of fires on the river, it sounds pretty cool). And the author does a superb job of illustrating the scene. I simply don't have the words to describe. I'm sure that Vincent O'Neil would, but I sure don't.
And now two random thoughts on Lovecraftian horror I had while reading this.
It's pretty cool how horror can be written about the simplest of things. In this book, the back woods of Connecticut are full of eldritch beasties, Lovecraft saw terror in the ocean, sea food and (gasp!) foreigners (he was a good author and all but I imagine he was a buzz kill at parties) and Stephen King is capable of making clowns, small Maine towns and old cars terrifying. I imagine a sufficiently skilled author could write a story about a kid cleaning his grandma's basement and what he finds down there.
I sometimes get the impression that the moral of a horror story is never ever try to learn something new. You'll just awaken some ancient evil, attract the attention of a serial killer, go mad from the revelation of your own insignificance or at the very least get a nasty headache. Kind of makes me nervous to go to work now.
That was quite good. Mysterious, lots of twists and turns and genuinely chilling.
Angie Morse is a grad student hoping to make herself standout in a crowded job market by rediscovering a lost obelisk in the hinterlands of Rhode Island.
Angie has been searching for some time now and is running out of time but as fall advances various incidents begin piling up both in the 'natural' world and in the reappearance of a creepy cult leader from her past (somewhat amusingly named Gilbert). Along the way Angie is forced to question who she can trust, her own sanity and just what the hell is going on.
The story is told from the perspective of Angie so we learn the history of the obelisk and unravel the mystery along with Angie.
I think the biggest strength of this book is in setting the atmosphere and setting. In particular, I've got to call out Chapter 7. Angie attends a festival in Providence, Rhode Island called WaterFire (apparently they really light a bunch of fires on the river, it sounds pretty cool). And the author does a superb job of illustrating the scene. I simply don't have the words to describe. I'm sure that Vincent O'Neil would, but I sure don't.
And now two random thoughts on Lovecraftian horror I had while reading this.
It's pretty cool how horror can be written about the simplest of things. In this book, the back woods of Connecticut are full of eldritch beasties, Lovecraft saw terror in the ocean, sea food and (gasp!) foreigners (he was a good author and all but I imagine he was a buzz kill at parties) and Stephen King is capable of making clowns, small Maine towns and old cars terrifying. I imagine a sufficiently skilled author could write a story about a kid cleaning his grandma's basement and what he finds down there.
I sometimes get the impression that the moral of a horror story is never ever try to learn something new. You'll just awaken some ancient evil, attract the attention of a serial killer, go mad from the revelation of your own insignificance or at the very least get a nasty headache. Kind of makes me nervous to go to work now.
June 27, 2013
4.5 stars. Interlands was a great ride. Angie Morse is trying to locate a mysterious obelisk, and gets nothing but terror and mystery for her trouble. This thriller/horror/supernatural tale moves along at a good pace, giving us pieces to the puzzle as we move along. Set in the heart of Providence and surrounding areas, O'Neil includes descriptions of the city that are both realistic and eye-opening: you'll appreciate the city more once you read it! Includes a fabulous description of the Waterfire nights, too.
I was impressed with how easily O'Neil slips into this genre (I had previously read a sci-fi novel of his which was impressive and I believe he writes mysteries) and found myself unable to put this down once I started. Well crafted and absolutely worth it
I was impressed with how easily O'Neil slips into this genre (I had previously read a sci-fi novel of his which was impressive and I believe he writes mysteries) and found myself unable to put this down once I started. Well crafted and absolutely worth it
April 17, 2017
Though I never read stories of this genre, this was exceptionally well written. Finished it in two days. Very good read.
June 1, 2018
I very much enjoyed reading this book. It had a supernatural twist that kept me guessing.
March 15, 2014
Lovecraft...Cthulhu...Mythos...all terms that never appear in this extremely well written and suspenseful tale set in modern Providence and the surrounding area. And there are no primal deities given jaw-breaking names or forbidden tomes that will cause raised eyebrows from librarians should you present a call-card. And, yet, for all that, the touch of Lovecraft is strong in plot, theme and locale. Anyone well versed in things Lovecraftian will see that hand, recognize the themes and events, appreciate the thoughtful and in-depth presentation of the setting, even to the mentioning of the "hollow hills" of that ancient town; readers lacking that background, however, are not left out in the cold, for their can surely appreciate the story on its own merits and might even appreciate it that there are no obscure and off-putting references of the type used (overused?) by the heirs of Lovecraft.
The story concerns a young girl's search for an ancient obelisk and lost colonial settlement in the wild forest regions outside Providence. The sense of being alone (maybe) in the deep forests is as unnerving to the reader as it is to the graduate student, and her feeling of mounting dread, even when in the city, is infectious. Throughout the book, the author maintains an unrelenting strain of suspense. The in-depth exploration of her hopes and fears help to set the stage for the arcane events which begin to assail her as she continues her search for the mysterious monolith, a search in which she is not alone, and she eventually learns that the actions of all the searchers are being keenly watched by forces that stay far from the haunts of man, forces that are as ancient as they are deadly.
The modern setting gives the tale the same sort of immediacy found in Lovecraft's tales, but O'Neil takes the daring step of not including any of HPL's witch-haunted locales. It's daring because it's easier to write a weird tale set in Arkham or Innsmouth than it is in Providence of Boston, if only because readers already know what sort of supernatural hijinks goes on there. The author does an admirable job of taking modern Providence and imbuing it with a mantle of antiquity and mystery, in making the reader see beyond the veneer of civilization to the primal chaos beneath. A very satisfying book, both for fans of Lovecraft, and for those who never heard of him.
The story concerns a young girl's search for an ancient obelisk and lost colonial settlement in the wild forest regions outside Providence. The sense of being alone (maybe) in the deep forests is as unnerving to the reader as it is to the graduate student, and her feeling of mounting dread, even when in the city, is infectious. Throughout the book, the author maintains an unrelenting strain of suspense. The in-depth exploration of her hopes and fears help to set the stage for the arcane events which begin to assail her as she continues her search for the mysterious monolith, a search in which she is not alone, and she eventually learns that the actions of all the searchers are being keenly watched by forces that stay far from the haunts of man, forces that are as ancient as they are deadly.
The modern setting gives the tale the same sort of immediacy found in Lovecraft's tales, but O'Neil takes the daring step of not including any of HPL's witch-haunted locales. It's daring because it's easier to write a weird tale set in Arkham or Innsmouth than it is in Providence of Boston, if only because readers already know what sort of supernatural hijinks goes on there. The author does an admirable job of taking modern Providence and imbuing it with a mantle of antiquity and mystery, in making the reader see beyond the veneer of civilization to the primal chaos beneath. A very satisfying book, both for fans of Lovecraft, and for those who never heard of him.
June 22, 2023
LovecraftIan Done Right!!
Angie has been going to the University and living in Providence for what seems like forever. The reason being is she has become obsessed with searching for a strange obelisk that has a very dark and sordid past. A past that has been told in Native American legends and lots of blood.
Angie is close, but when she does find this hidden obelisk will it all be worth it? Will she finally finish her thesis on this topic or will she wind up in an asylum?
I enjoy how this author writes. He is very descriptive which causes one to have an easy flow of a complete mental picture that makes the story even more compelling.
The voice of Lovecraft is here but the author has done well to keep his voice strong as well.
Highly recommend!!
Angie has been going to the University and living in Providence for what seems like forever. The reason being is she has become obsessed with searching for a strange obelisk that has a very dark and sordid past. A past that has been told in Native American legends and lots of blood.
Angie is close, but when she does find this hidden obelisk will it all be worth it? Will she finally finish her thesis on this topic or will she wind up in an asylum?
I enjoy how this author writes. He is very descriptive which causes one to have an easy flow of a complete mental picture that makes the story even more compelling.
The voice of Lovecraft is here but the author has done well to keep his voice strong as well.
Highly recommend!!
December 31, 2023
Really good atmosphere, and a good creep factor. Also, a great book for those interested in Providence. It very much weaves the story with the setting.
This might be a little too, I don't know - soapy? - for some. The main character is a young woman, and her arc does involve her immaturity, growing up, and love interests. But it's not the focus.
The other drawback is the ending suffers from Quick Plot Resolution and is a little contrived. But with this type of story, I never rely on a truly stellar ending - it's hard to stick the landing with a creepy Lovecraftian story, IME.
This might be a little too, I don't know - soapy? - for some. The main character is a young woman, and her arc does involve her immaturity, growing up, and love interests. But it's not the focus.
The other drawback is the ending suffers from Quick Plot Resolution and is a little contrived. But with this type of story, I never rely on a truly stellar ending - it's hard to stick the landing with a creepy Lovecraftian story, IME.
January 20, 2015
"Interlands" is in a genre that I don't read all that often, but I truly enjoyed the book. The story moved along as Angie searched for an old stone obelisk that appeared to wield some sort of dark power. I appreciated that there were not a lot of gory details about various deaths in the story. Sometimes your imagination is much worse than things spelled out in black and white. I will say that the book made me not want to go swimming any time soon!
August 22, 2019
Well written. Proof that...
1 - ...not every book needs to be part of a trilogy or series.
2 - ...not every e-book is full of errors (grammar, punctuation, etc.).
3 - ...I can (and occasionally do) write a kind review.
1 - ...not every book needs to be part of a trilogy or series.
2 - ...not every e-book is full of errors (grammar, punctuation, etc.).
3 - ...I can (and occasionally do) write a kind review.
May 8, 2017
Meh. Too much build up and very little resolution
April 9, 2017
Not sure what I think about this book. It was weird and different, but I have no desire to read anything else by this author. Glad it was free!
April 23, 2017
Not what I expected and not what I was looking for. I found this book a bit overly long due and occasionally confusing. I failed to connect with the central character and never developed any sympathies for her. I thought the book was fairly well written and the story had potential but it, quite surprisingly, didn't captivate me.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews