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singinglib's review against another edition
5.0
WOW. Wow. Wow. This is easily one of the best reads I've experienced in 2019 so far. Shane Hinton's sparse, atmospheric prose in this tightly packaged novel reminded me of slightly more extended versions of some of Kristen Roupenian and Carmen Maria Machado's short stories. He shares Roupenian and Machado's ability to conjure stealthy dystopia and define a sharp-edged line between reality and the dull insanity that lurks just beneath the universe his characters inhabit. I am so completely impressed by this novel. I found it reminiscent of two of my favorite books, as well: Stephen King's The Stand and Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven. There is something that I find so compelling about a well-written and disturbingly realistic post-apocalyptic novel, and Hinton delivers this, along with taut social commentary, with astounding ease.
wheeliechick's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
chairhouse's review
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
jrpoole's review against another edition
4.0
It's been a long time since I read an entire book in one sitting, but I blazed through Radio Dark in one sitting yesterday.
danni_faith's review against another edition
2.0
This novella has a lot going on—a disease of unknown origin and cause, a zealous pastor, a radio tower made of catatonic bodies, packs of savage dogs, torrential rains, and yet that is not where the weakness of the story lies. In the Art of the Novel, E.M. Forest praises the novel for its singular ability to reveal the secrets of one's mind, access denied to us otherwise by virtue of not living in the head of another. So I am always perplexed when an author denies access to the thoughts of characters. Hinton gives us the story through close third-person POV of Memphis. I am not sure why as neither his personality nor actions provides an invaluable viewpoint of the apocalypse. Cincinnati and the DJ were much more compelling characters. Additionally, their skills were quite beneficial in this doomsday scenario. I wanted more from them—espcially Cincinnati whose attraction to Memphis was baffling and adds to the ever-growing list of underdeveloped female characters whose only use is as a prop for the male protagonist.
The weird elements create a cohesion that works against it. I understand the novel is weird, which I quite enjoyed. However, all of the elements had the same dimension. Nothing receded into the background or moved to the foreground. Everything got equal emphasis. There were a lot of biblical references (Tower of Babel, floods, plagues of Egypt, End Time prophesy) but none of it was engaged. It felt simply like a distortion of the Bible for the sake of it. There were exactly zero discussions about why this was occurring or how any felt about the new reality, so the novel was not exploring the endurance of the human spirit in the face of catastrophic ruination. The relationship between Memphis and Cincinnati also lacked lowlights and highlights; it simply was. This novel does not take a stance on anything and lacks the peaks and valleys necessary to show readers what it is that's important.
Hinton had a handful of very great lines. In places the prose revealed his ability to capture devastation and its numbing effect with keen sensitivity. But those parts could not save the novella from its blandness.
The weird elements create a cohesion that works against it. I understand the novel is weird, which I quite enjoyed. However, all of the elements had the same dimension. Nothing receded into the background or moved to the foreground. Everything got equal emphasis. There were a lot of biblical references (Tower of Babel, floods, plagues of Egypt, End Time prophesy) but none of it was engaged. It felt simply like a distortion of the Bible for the sake of it. There were exactly zero discussions about why this was occurring or how any felt about the new reality, so the novel was not exploring the endurance of the human spirit in the face of catastrophic ruination. The relationship between Memphis and Cincinnati also lacked lowlights and highlights; it simply was. This novel does not take a stance on anything and lacks the peaks and valleys necessary to show readers what it is that's important.
Hinton had a handful of very great lines. In places the prose revealed his ability to capture devastation and its numbing effect with keen sensitivity. But those parts could not save the novella from its blandness.
mikimac's review against another edition
3.0
This novella is very reminiscent of Coramc McCarthy’s The Road.
The next great plague is sweeping the United States. People are falling into catatonic states but can ambulate if led. They appear to have no need to eat or drink but with sync their breathing and heart rates with other afflicted if placed close together.
Memphis, a janitor at a local radio station and Cincinnati, an agent from the FCC find themselves thrown together at the radio station when “The End” comes. They work together, following the instructions given to Cincinnati to draw survivors together.
There is a religious sect that seems to know of the coming plague and welcome it. The members of the religious group and it’s pastor oppose what Memphis and Cincinnati are doing but take no overt action to stop them.
It is unclear if the medical staff is afflicted by some form of pre-cursor mental illness or if there are symptoms of mental illness that frames the questions that are asked.
The story itself is bizarre. Like McCarthy’s work, there is no explanation for what has caused the plague and no real resolution. There is no “They lived happily ever after”, as a matter of fact, there isn’t even “They lived”.
Thank you to edelweiss for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.
The next great plague is sweeping the United States. People are falling into catatonic states but can ambulate if led. They appear to have no need to eat or drink but with sync their breathing and heart rates with other afflicted if placed close together.
Memphis, a janitor at a local radio station and Cincinnati, an agent from the FCC find themselves thrown together at the radio station when “The End” comes. They work together, following the instructions given to Cincinnati to draw survivors together.
There is a religious sect that seems to know of the coming plague and welcome it. The members of the religious group and it’s pastor oppose what Memphis and Cincinnati are doing but take no overt action to stop them.
It is unclear if the medical staff is afflicted by some form of pre-cursor mental illness or if there are symptoms of mental illness that frames the questions that are asked.
The story itself is bizarre. Like McCarthy’s work, there is no explanation for what has caused the plague and no real resolution. There is no “They lived happily ever after”, as a matter of fact, there isn’t even “They lived”.
Thank you to edelweiss for the eArc in exchange for my honest review.
thepaintedlion's review
2.0
For a novel that's only 127 pages long, it was a bit of a slog to get through.
I will say that Shane Hinton has some pretty unique and memorable turns-of-phrase and imagery, and he really excels at the body horror and physical discomfort element of this story. But apart from that, the characters fell flat for me, especially our protagonist Memphis, who I honestly feel like I know next to nothing about. He felt like a bit of an underwhelming blank slate character.
Didn't love how Cinncinati basically stopped being a character as soon as she hooks up with Memphis (and that's another thing--there didn't seem to be any good reason for her to get with his crusty ass except for the desperation and lack of options of the apocalypse. That's probably it, but I'm just not a fan.)
Also, this book ended SO QUICKLY--if this was an intentional, thematic choice, it didn't really land for me, as it just cut off, straight-up ended in the middle of a scene.
Overall, I think this book just wasn't my vibe--the writing wasn't terribly engaging, the characters were practically nonexistent, and the pacing of the story failed to culminate in any kind of climax or conclusion to make the journey satisfying.
I will say that Shane Hinton has some pretty unique and memorable turns-of-phrase and imagery, and he really excels at the body horror and physical discomfort element of this story. But apart from that, the characters fell flat for me, especially our protagonist Memphis, who I honestly feel like I know next to nothing about. He felt like a bit of an underwhelming blank slate character.
Didn't love how Cinncinati basically stopped being a character as soon as she hooks up with Memphis (and that's another thing--there didn't seem to be any good reason for her to get with his crusty ass except for the desperation and lack of options of the apocalypse. That's probably it, but I'm just not a fan.)
Also, this book ended SO QUICKLY--if this was an intentional, thematic choice, it didn't really land for me, as it just cut off, straight-up ended in the middle of a scene.
Overall, I think this book just wasn't my vibe--the writing wasn't terribly engaging, the characters were practically nonexistent, and the pacing of the story failed to culminate in any kind of climax or conclusion to make the journey satisfying.
danni_faith's review
2.0
This novella has a lot going on—a disease of unknown origin and cause, a zealous pastor, a radio tower made of catatonic bodies, packs of savage dogs, torrential rains, and yet that is not where the weakness of the story lies. In the Art of the Novel, E.M. Forest praises the novel for its singular ability to reveal the secrets of one's mind, access denied to us otherwise by virtue of not living in the head of another. So I am always perplexed when an author denies access to the thoughts of characters. Hinton gives us the story through close third-person POV of Memphis. I am not sure why as neither his personality nor actions provides an invaluable viewpoint of the apocalypse. Cincinnati and the DJ were much more compelling characters. Additionally, their skills were quite beneficial in this doomsday scenario. I wanted more from them—espcially Cincinnati whose attraction to Memphis was baffling and adds to the ever-growing list of underdeveloped female characters whose only use is as a prop for the male protagonist.
The weird elements create a cohesion that works against it. I understand the novel is weird, which I quite enjoyed. However, all of the elements had the same dimension. Nothing receded into the background or moved to the foreground. Everything got equal emphasis. There were a lot of biblical references (Tower of Babel, floods, plagues of Egypt, End Time prophesy) but none of it was engaged. It felt simply like a distortion of the Bible for the sake of it. There were exactly zero discussions about why this was occurring or how any felt about the new reality, so the novel was not exploring the endurance of the human spirit in the face of catastrophic ruination. The relationship between Memphis and Cincinnati also lacked lowlights and highlights; it simply was. This novel does not take a stance on anything and lacks the peaks and valleys necessary to show readers what it is that's important.
Hinton had a handful of very great lines. In places the prose revealed his ability to capture devastation and its numbing effect with keen sensitivity. But those parts could not save the novella from its blandness.
The weird elements create a cohesion that works against it. I understand the novel is weird, which I quite enjoyed. However, all of the elements had the same dimension. Nothing receded into the background or moved to the foreground. Everything got equal emphasis. There were a lot of biblical references (Tower of Babel, floods, plagues of Egypt, End Time prophesy) but none of it was engaged. It felt simply like a distortion of the Bible for the sake of it. There were exactly zero discussions about why this was occurring or how any felt about the new reality, so the novel was not exploring the endurance of the human spirit in the face of catastrophic ruination. The relationship between Memphis and Cincinnati also lacked lowlights and highlights; it simply was. This novel does not take a stance on anything and lacks the peaks and valleys necessary to show readers what it is that's important.
Hinton had a handful of very great lines. In places the prose revealed his ability to capture devastation and its numbing effect with keen sensitivity. But those parts could not save the novella from its blandness.
swiff's review
3.0
I have conflicted feelings over Shane Hinton’s Radio Dark. There are some aspects I appreciated but have been confused or frustrated with some of its choices. On the surface, this story is about society’s descent into the apocalypse: all of humankind are catching some kind of ‘condition’ where they fall into an irreversible catatonic state. They stare silently into space, and no longer have any need for food or drink. They simply exist. We view this nightmarish scenario through the eyes of a man named Memphis, who is a custodian at a suburban Florida radio station. As this sickness starts to spread, an FCC employee named Cincinnati, the only other named character in the story, visits the radio station and begins to enact emergency procedures. She appears to be the first in the area to know about the oncoming ‘condition’ and partners with Memphis to try and salvage what they can from the fast-dwindling community.
The above premise of the book intrigued me. However, as the story progressed, there were several questionable plot developments that didn’t quite sit well with me. First, there were a few instances of situational comedy that seemed incredibly forced. They felt like weird tonal shifts that did not line up with Hinton’s subdued writing style. Hinton’s prose borders on minimal, using short sentences that inform the reader of just the facts. “A walked here. B shot the basketball. The ball bounced towards the sewer grate.” The reader is never privy to what’s going on inside any of these characters’ heads, and we’re left to determine the character’s feelings and motivations by their actions. Yet the characters move about like emotionless drones. Perhaps the author is arguing that the catatonic victims are not that far removed from the current state of man, but this does not line up with the other messages the story is trying to tell.
Religion plays a substantial role in the story. There is a community preacher who spreads the word about how human communication is sinful, and that humans should not speak. Radio communication is an act against God, silence is next to godliness, and mankind should return to the ocean. His congregation is made up of both living and catatonic members, but everyone is silent, so we are unable to tell who has the condition. As Memphis and Cincinnati build a new communication tower to bring survivors to their community, some of the preacher’s warnings become reality: Memphis begins to suffer injuries that he cannot recover from. Months go by and the scab on his lip doesn’t heal. Then his hands become infected. Then things get worse. This seems like it could be an allegory, that there’s an underlying message about whether human communication is good or bad, but the book never makes it clear. Aren’t our communicative abilities a major part of what makes us human? If the book is arguing that sharing ideas is a bad thing, then shouldn’t this book never have been written?
The story becomes less and less clear towards the end. Plot developments veer into obscure territory. Survivors continue to fall victim to the condition. Memphis and Cincinnati experience some terrible ordeals, and the situation looks bleaker by the day. After some predictably terrible events ensue, the story just… ends. If there’s a lesson to be learned, I cannot say.
Hinton’s writing seems clearly influenced by the works of Cormac McCarthy: a dystopian atmosphere, desolate and rife with misery, delivered with a dry prose that intends to elicit emotion through its atmosphere. But the message of the story never comes into focus, and any semblance of understanding its intention becomes more bewildering by the story’s end. This is a short novel and it moves rather quickly, so if the above premise sounds interesting, then you might enjoy it. But it’s confusing resolution and its inability to present clear arguments left me wanting.
eARC provided by Edelweiss
2.75 / 5
The above premise of the book intrigued me. However, as the story progressed, there were several questionable plot developments that didn’t quite sit well with me. First, there were a few instances of situational comedy that seemed incredibly forced. They felt like weird tonal shifts that did not line up with Hinton’s subdued writing style. Hinton’s prose borders on minimal, using short sentences that inform the reader of just the facts. “A walked here. B shot the basketball. The ball bounced towards the sewer grate.” The reader is never privy to what’s going on inside any of these characters’ heads, and we’re left to determine the character’s feelings and motivations by their actions. Yet the characters move about like emotionless drones. Perhaps the author is arguing that the catatonic victims are not that far removed from the current state of man, but this does not line up with the other messages the story is trying to tell.
Religion plays a substantial role in the story. There is a community preacher who spreads the word about how human communication is sinful, and that humans should not speak. Radio communication is an act against God, silence is next to godliness, and mankind should return to the ocean. His congregation is made up of both living and catatonic members, but everyone is silent, so we are unable to tell who has the condition. As Memphis and Cincinnati build a new communication tower to bring survivors to their community, some of the preacher’s warnings become reality: Memphis begins to suffer injuries that he cannot recover from. Months go by and the scab on his lip doesn’t heal. Then his hands become infected. Then things get worse. This seems like it could be an allegory, that there’s an underlying message about whether human communication is good or bad, but the book never makes it clear. Aren’t our communicative abilities a major part of what makes us human? If the book is arguing that sharing ideas is a bad thing, then shouldn’t this book never have been written?
The story becomes less and less clear towards the end. Plot developments veer into obscure territory. Survivors continue to fall victim to the condition. Memphis and Cincinnati experience some terrible ordeals, and the situation looks bleaker by the day. After some predictably terrible events ensue, the story just… ends. If there’s a lesson to be learned, I cannot say.
Hinton’s writing seems clearly influenced by the works of Cormac McCarthy: a dystopian atmosphere, desolate and rife with misery, delivered with a dry prose that intends to elicit emotion through its atmosphere. But the message of the story never comes into focus, and any semblance of understanding its intention becomes more bewildering by the story’s end. This is a short novel and it moves rather quickly, so if the above premise sounds interesting, then you might enjoy it. But it’s confusing resolution and its inability to present clear arguments left me wanting.
eARC provided by Edelweiss
2.75 / 5