Amazing

Stephen Swing who? H.P. Hatecraft - is that some kind of ship? Dean Doontz - never heard of her. There's only one legit horror writer in these parts - Andrew C. Piazza!
 
"A Song for the Void" is a 2020 historical horror novel by Andrew C Piazza. Whether you've read Piazza's other fiction (some of which is in the same genre) or not, "A Song for the Void" is a truly outstanding work that is well worth your time.

I was so delighted to see Mr. Piazza return to the unique (and under-served) genre of historical horror. His 2012 novel "One Last Gasp" is a masterpiece of the genre, a real groundbreaking effort that is equal parts historical fiction, action thriller, and horror novel. Now, with "A Song for the Void," Piazza gives a similar fictional treatment to a different time and place in history--the rather obscure conflict known as the Opium Wars. Set during the second of the two Opium Wars (somewhere between 1856-1860), "A Song for the Void" is told from the perspective of a British doctor who serves as an officer on a British naval ship tasked with hunting down Chinese pirates. After an intense battle with a sizable Chinese fleet, main character Doctor Pearce and the men aboard the HMS Charger notice a strange phenomenon in the sky. When hallucinations and other bizarre events begin to occur amongst the crew on the Charger, Doctor Pearce begins to suspect that the strange object in the sky may be connected. As events devolve more and more into the chaotic, Doctor Pearce and the crew must overcome a most powerful cosmic force and their own personal demons in order to survive a harrowing ordeal.

After opening with a bang, " A Song for the Void" slows down to a more deliberate pace, and becomes an oh-so-satisfying creepy slow burn. This slower pace gives us time to get to know the crew aboard the Charger and gives us a taste of life aboard a British warship in the 19th century. Author Piazza quickly proves his masterful grasp of the setting and writes with a real sense of authority. The backdrop is a totally believable one, and you'll find you love spending time there. Quality of research is impeccable. Fortunately, though, it doesn't get in the way of the great storytelling, which "Void" brings in spades. When the book does pick up, however, you won't be able to pry your eyes from the page and will want to bask in every exciting, sordid, gory, frightening detail.

Quality of writing in "Void" is very high, and helps the book stand out from the competition. In the modern world e-publishing there is some lackluster prose on the market, but Piazza proves once again to be one the best in the biz. Every description, every detail, every discussion is right on the money and puts you right in the thick of things. The combination of history, action, horror, and philosophy that permeate the pages of the novel is quite simply the best mashup of genres I've ever seen. I would caution the reader that there are some disturbing scenes of violence and gore in the story, so if that bothers you, take note. The more intense material is spread out enough that it doesn't lose it shock value, so each and every instance of violence is startlingly effective. There is also some incredibly compelling discussion in the story about life, death, loss, and transcendence. While it does slow down the story, the discussions are so elegantly written that I couldn't help but enjoy them and consider their implications in my own life. Said discussions also come to play an important role in the story.

It's difficult to steal a show when the entire show is incredible, but Piazza manages to do it with characterization. Doctor Pearce is nothing short of phenomenally conceived. His past, personality, struggles, and everything else about the character are so well done. The author delves into the psyche of Pearce like a virtuoso psychologist, and turns over every stone in the protagonist's life in a manner believable and compelling. The struggle of addiction also plays an important role in the story; the protagonist is plagued by an addiction that turns out to be pivotal in the development of the plot. I always admire when authors use main characters with baggage. There is much believability to those types of characters and so much room development--as is the case in "A Song for the Void." Supporting players are also well-developed and there is not a two-dimensional character in the bunch.

All this to say: heck yeah, read the book! Congratulations to Andrew Piazza for adding yet another winner to his stable of winners. "A Song for the Void" is the beau ideal of historical horror, the standard against which all others are measured. If you're looking for a master class on how to do something perfectly, you've found it. Please keep 'em coming, Mr. Piazza!