Existential Crucible, Book 1, written by Ryan W. Aslesen and narrated by Jeffrey Kafer, is a sci-fi horror thriller that promised to deliver a nightmarish secret hidden in the Alaskan wilderness. However, it falls short of the expectations, leaving much to be desired. Clocking in at a hefty 3000 words, this review will delve into the aspects that make this audiobook a mediocre experience.
The story begins with a billionaire named Elizabeth Grey investing millions in a mysterious archaeological project located in the Alaskan wilderness. When all communication is lost with the team at the site, an elite group of military contractors, led by the haunted former Marine Max Ahlgren, is called in for a rescue mission. What follows is a struggle for survival against a terrifying and shape-shifting enemy, where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
As a fan of John Carpenter’s “The Thing,” I was initially drawn to this audiobook with the hopes of encountering a thrilling homage to the classic film. Unfortunately, Existential Crucible falls short in this regard. While it shares some thematic elements, the connection to the iconic movie is rather superficial and lacks the depth and tension that made “The Thing” a masterpiece. The audiobook takes a painfully long time to get to the crux of the story, with the ship and alien contact being introduced only when there are about 6 hours left in the book. This extended buildup is quite tedious and hampers the overall pacing.
One major issue is the unnecessary subplot involving a man dying of cancer, which feels like a forced addition to the story. This character’s prominence and the attempts to use alien abilities to cure his ailment disrupt the narrative flow and divert attention from the primary horror elements. These sections could have been kept to a minimum, as they don’t contribute significantly to the plot.
The narration by Jeffrey Kafer is another letdown. His monotonous voice lacks the necessary emotion and inflection to bring the characters to life. The characters themselves are quite one-dimensional, making it challenging to establish any connection with them. The main character, Max Ahlgren, comes across as repetitive and unremarkable, making it hard to invest in his journey.
The audiobook does have some redeeming qualities, including its premise and the depiction of gory elements, which are well-executed. However, these positives are overshadowed by the lackluster narration and the underdeveloped characters.
Overall, Existential Crucible, Book 1, is a book that falls short of expectations. Despite some promising elements, it fails to deliver a memorable or engaging horror experience. If you’re looking for a gripping, original story in the sci-fi horror genre, you might want to explore other options. This audiobook feels more like a derivative mash-up of familiar themes and lacks the depth and suspense needed to make it truly stand out.