Rating: 
Summary: Stylish, Dickensian Tale of the Macabre
Review: This tale is written with a great degree of style, with obvious borrowings from Dickens, both in terms of the language and composition of the narrative, as well as the bevy of Pickwickian characters. Similarly set within an alternate world that could easily front for 19th century England, but for the presence of Pleistocene mammals and a post-apocalyptic destruction of Europe, the author goes to great lengths to echo and reinvent the Victorian master¹s prose within the context of contemporary fantasy fiction. In terms of the prose, he is largely successful, recapturing Dickens¹ often mocking, at times sardonic humor in his portrayal of his characters, using authorial intrusion to emphasize observations of character and setting, as well as to establish authorial imprimatur. If the author had achieved as much in terms of the content of his story as he has in terms of style, this story would have proven more successful. Unfortunately, the plot at times seems more in the service of the author¹s stylish characterizations and compositional conventions, in the end too neatly wrapped up and declaratively presented to be convincing.Despite an earlier reviewer¹s observations, I found this story more macabre than frightening, offering little in the way of true suspense. Though several short episodes of horror take place early in the story, they are presented in a manner more strange than horrifying, the bulk of the first two hundred pages devoted primarily to characterization and setting than any unfolding of plot. As events begin to progress in the latter half of the book, more often than not the foundation of what is happening is presented as exposition, doing much to enervate any real presence of suspense, as well as contributing to a sense of contrivance in the manner of which the author has chosen to handle and reveal his plot line. Everything falls in place at the story¹s conclusion too abruptly and conveniently to be convincing, and the summation taking place in the postscript, while a common 19th century literary convention, true to the author¹s stylistic choice of composition, only contributes further to the reader¹s sense of mild disappointment after having been led on for almost five hundred pages. While I do feel this novel represents an example of style superseding substance, there is little question as to the author¹s success in terms of his prose. As this is a first novel, and the author shows great skill in his composition, characterization and description, as well as his ability to mirror literary mannerisms, little doubt exists in my mind that, should the author be able to develop and improve his story telling abilities, one could expect great things of Mr. Barlough in the future. He is an author who I will continue to watch.
Rating: 
Summary: Dark Sleeper Keeps the Reader Wide Awake
Review: Though you find this book categorized under Science Fiction, you shouldn't expect any spaceships. 'Dark Sleeper' is a complex work of realistic fantasy, and only the first in a series of books that the reader will look forward to reading even before finishing this introductory novel. Yes, there are hints of possible parallel universes, and some ties to the world we are familiar with. But the tenor of this novel is such that it reads like the horror novel Dickens never wrote, the lost collaboration between HP Lovecraft and Arthur Conan Doyle. There are explicit references to both 'The Call of Cthulhu' and the Holmes and Watson stories, but the combination that Barlough strikes is very unique, and never seems derivative. Barlough uses a rich, Victorian-style prose to create a world much like our own, but one in which mammoths and 'sabre-cats' co exist with stagecoaches and gas-lit streets. To the inhabitants of this Victorianized Wild West that never was, these things are normal. It's the walking dead, the flying demons, the breached ship in the harbor that refuses to sink that send the characters into action. Like Dickens, Barlough spends a lot of time with his characters, filling in every detail so that the readers can better enjoy their predicaments and better believe in this unreal world he creates. The storytelling style that Barlough uses is a character as well, for we are occasionally reminded that someone is narrating the tale. The finished weave is complex and satisfying. Fans of Stephen King and Peter Straub's 'The Talisman' will enjoy this book, as well as those who liked Mark Frost's 'The List of Seven' and Tim Powers' 'The Anubis Gates'. It's a surprising blend of the weird and the gentle, for unlike many books in the Dark Fantasy/almost horror genre, it doesn't go overboard with violence, gore or general depravity, and it certainly doesn't suffer as a result. 'Dark Sleeper' is highly recommended; it's worth your time, your money, and when you're finished, you'll certainly want to visit Barlough's peculiar corner of the world again.
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