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papercrowns's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
Who knew that cycling and things that go bump in the night were a combo that I needed in my life? Well, slap Stephen Graham Jone's name on it, and I know that it'll be a spooky and engaging ride.
I love the way that Jone's couches his stories in the mundane details of daily life, introducing the horror in matter-of-fact, careful measures. I'm noticing that his approach to violence and gore has a distance to it that somehow makes it even more unnerving, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. I think part of it is that it makes the supernatural seem natural, and thus even more terrifying.
The main character is neither likable nor unlikable; he's just a regular joe going about his business and contemplating his life, who finds himself inadvertently in the path of a dark and unsettling figure, and the denouement managed to take familiar concepts but play them out in a way that I wasn't quite expecting.
It's got everything I want from a horror short; atmosphere to burn, interesting ideas, and a plot that doesn't bite off more than it can chew.
But I mean, when isn't SGJ a winner?
I love the way that Jone's couches his stories in the mundane details of daily life, introducing the horror in matter-of-fact, careful measures. I'm noticing that his approach to violence and gore has a distance to it that somehow makes it even more unnerving, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. I think part of it is that it makes the supernatural seem natural, and thus even more terrifying.
The main character is neither likable nor unlikable; he's just a regular joe going about his business and contemplating his life, who finds himself inadvertently in the path of a dark and unsettling figure, and the denouement managed to take familiar concepts but play them out in a way that I wasn't quite expecting.
It's got everything I want from a horror short; atmosphere to burn, interesting ideas, and a plot that doesn't bite off more than it can chew.
But I mean, when isn't SGJ a winner?
sprakskatan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I bought this on a complete whim, but I have to say, it surprised me. It was short, sure, but there was a lot packed into it. Would recommend!
badseedgirl's review against another edition
3.0
This is another of the tor.com free short story reads. This was actually recommended to me by Char, and I'm glad she did. I'm not going to tell you what the Night Cyclist is in this review, I'll let you discover it the same way I did, but the story was exciting and although I have accepted that my days on a bike are over, I enjoyed the new knowledge about competition biking this story provided. This was an oddly satisfying story, although I am not sure the ending made me all that comfortable. I can not see things ending well for the un-named narrator of this story.
You can read this story here: https://www.tor.com/2016/09/21/the-night-cyclist/
You can read this story here: https://www.tor.com/2016/09/21/the-night-cyclist/
capnlinnius's review against another edition
4.0
Short, engaging story about chasing your past self and running into some sort of vampire creature. 3.5 rounded up, because I am trash for vampire stories.
obeydontstray13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
starfleetmom's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
enyltiak's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Really interesting subversion of gothic themes in this novelette. The way so much of the "us vs them" themes throughout the story culminates in the main character choosing to align with a creature of the night, to defend the vampire through their solidarity as cyclists against those that mean them harm is really incredible.