Crescent

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Crescent is a page turner -- one of those great stories you can't stop thinking about and can't put down. Phil Rossi's superb story-telling and his fantastic ability to create a visual novel that haunts makes this a must read. Get your copy, grab a warm blanket, dim the lights and prepare to enter a dark world. PERFECT for Halloween reading.

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Crescent praise

brilliant dialouge, interesting characters, and a vivid setting. Phil Rossi's Crescent is a must read for anyone who enjoys the scifi thriller genre.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It will scare the pants off of you

Deep space...supernatural horror..darkness..badass characters..hot chicks..what more could you ask for. If you are into Sci fi and horrow you will not be dissapointed. Tip: read with the lights on !

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Tension in spades

I prefer my horror without a bunch of (usually) unnecessary gore and this book delivers on that score. I found the writing similar in feel to Stephen King's without being a copycat. The tension built upseveral times toward the key scenes to such a degree and I would feel the need to set the book down for a seconds before reading further. This is not a bad thing to me when reading horror, it's the literary equivalent of 'covering your eyes'. I certainly hope to read more from Mr. Rossi in the future.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Yee haw and a scream... in SPACE!

This is a helluva honky-tonkin' root'n toot'n space opera wrapped up in a coat of noir and thrust into a cold and hostile Lovecraftian universe. But then again, Crescent Station has kind of always been there, a last, cramped, barely functioning outpost on the extreme edge of human-settled space: imagine Babylon 5 if the dockworkers' strike had never ended AND a band of shogguths took up residence in the neglected cisterns (but no friendly anthropomorphic aliens to provide comic relief or comprehensible drama).

But as is often the case these days, the actual book isn't the whole of it. CRESCENT started out as a podcast novel and a series of audio vignettes, read with disturbingly sexy intimacy by the author himself, Phil Rossi, whose Virginia drawl heightens the tension unbearably; indeed it's almost a relief to see these words put in their place without this diverting and inviting distraction; I've already found details I'd clean missed when this was a story I could only listen to--so while I cannot recommend the original podiobook highly enough, it's no substitute, ultimately, for being able to take in this intricate and creepy tale at its own pace.

And once you've bought this book for yourself - you're clicking now, aren't you? Go ahead. I'll wait - take a look at the inside back cover, where you will find a code that will allow you to acquire the CRESCENT soundtrack. That's right: soundtrack. Rossi, renaissance man that he is, is also a musician and composed a truly kickass score to go with the story; on the podiobook it's mixed in and serves merely as moodsetter as scores do, but I'm thinking it stands up rather brilliantly on its own. Indeed, I find myself listening to it more and more often on my iTunes as the months go by.

A final word: if nyctophobia is a serious problem for you, read in full sunlight. I'm a bit more afraid of the dark than I used to be (JC Hutchins' fans know why) but I still like the thrill, curled up in a shadowy nighttime nook with an itty bitty book light clipped to the binding, titilated and scared.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Remember when horror was scary?

Phil Rossi's CRESCENT is fun, engaging, and just plain scary. CRESCENT is full of interesting characters and settings. The hero is flawed, the bad guys are slimy, and the women are hot (but still strong where applicable). Phil even managed to create a robotic (of sorts) sidekick who successfully provides comic relief without ever becoming obnoxious. We go from spaceships, to space stations, to desolate planet surfaces, and even the old stand-by dark alleys.

From the horror aspect, Phil is reminiscent of classic Stephen King and Dan Simmons, two guys who are obviously no strangers to gore, but don't rely on it to drive their stories. The same is true here; CRESCENT is very dark and gritty, but never relies on cheap shock value.

If you like sci-fi/horror where the author scares and fascinates you the old-fashioned way (by showing you what's scary, and never telling you to be scared), give Phil Rossi's CRESCENT a shot.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An exciting descent into a deranged mind.

Occasionally, a novel will come along that will go beyond the simple suspension of disbelief. A novel that will grab the reader's attention and carry them right beyond any sort of belief or reality and transport them directly into the mind of the writer.

Phil Rossi manages to do this with Crescent. From what begins as a seemingly simple story, he artfully expands the boundries of the reader's senses beyond simple imagination provoked by the written word, the tremors are felt, the smells are vivid, the fear and terror are real.

I recommend Crescent by Phil Rossi to anyone who enjoys a good tale. I also recommend it to anyone who enjoys horror and the macbre. Heck, I recommend it to anyone above the age of let's say 14 or so. Once you're done reading make sure you visit Phil Rossi's home page for more great content.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Dark Horror in Deep Space

Tending to prefer science fiction to horror, I still found Crescent to be an intriguing tale that excelled in what has become a standard sci/fi trope. Trapped in space with an unassailable enemy or force. The storytelling was excellent and kept me reading through to the end.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Shirley Jackson meets Arthur C. Clark

A classic haunted house story if by house you mean space station and by classic you mean absolutely fantastic. Crescent is one helluva good read. Just remember, maybe in space no one can hear you scream but your neighbors will. So read with all the lights on. 'Nuff said.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

(expletive)-ing AWESOME!!

I listened to this book on Phil's podcast, (which is amazing by the way), TWICE.
It is the most surreal, exciting, dark, sexy, raw experience that I've had in a long, long time. And I've had plenty of experiences...
Everything this guy writes is on FIRE.
The only thing that I hate is waiting for him to repease more fiction.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Hard Sci-Fi Horror at its best

Take the movie Event Horizon, mix it liberally with the space grime of FireFly and add conspiracy, intrigue, and megalomania, and you get Cresent. Phil Rossi has created a universe where technology pales in comparison to the real power of terror.

Some things should never be awakened. And once Crescent Station awakes, there is no turning back.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great space horror.

This is a great book. I listened to it as a podcast and waited with baited breath between episodes. The suspense and chilling atmosphere was amazing but tempered nicely with a science fiction edge. Great characters, great settings and some great twists and turns along the way. I'd give it six stars if I could.

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You will thank me later.

The reviews I have read for this novel all seem to come to the same conclusion; that this is an awesome story which defies genre classification, and has to be described by combining other known titles. In that vein, here goes: Clearly, it is Sci Fi, but so much more. The decrepit space station concept alone offers much dark potential for storytelling. Combine that with Battlestar Galactica's gritty characterization, Alien's sense of doom and claustrophobia, and a healthy dose of Stephen King and Clive Barker, and for spice, a little Sopranos, and you may come close to getting the idea of what this book has to offer. I highly recommend this to any fan of dark suspense, horror, and Sci Fi. Drop that stuff you are reading and read this novel. You will thank me later.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Some of the best dark Sci-fi being written today

Rossi creates a world that feels very dark, old, and vast. Crescent feels like a small window into this vast sinister world. Like all good sci-fi the characters are easy to relate to and you find yourself wondering how you react if you caught in the dark tunnels of crescent station.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

OMG Scarific!

You have never been truly frightened until you put your step unto Crescent Station. Although, neither the science fiction nor the some of the main characters are fully developed; this novel will frighten you away from deep space. There are things there you just don't want to find. This horror adventure will alternately have you screaming like a little girl with every odd sound or shivering beneath the covers with every last word. I don't know about you but I can hardly wait to hear more about Gerald and Marisa, but I'm quite sure I don't want to know any more about the Black, the Red, or the Purple, or any other colors like that. Despite or maybe because of their obvious humanity you can't wait to read more, or maybe see them in action; these guys would make a great grunge movie. Thanks, Phil and keep them coming.

An outstanding, dark and very human tale

"Crescent" is a gritty, disturbing, truly outstanding thrill ride. Rossi excels at crafting a believable far-future universe filled with the same beauty and sin that will probably haunt mankind forever. It's equal parts ghost story in space and tale of vice in the Wild West. Add in some splashes of Lovecraftian madness and allusions to a very grim Big Picture, and you have something truly special. My highest recommendation.

Crescent is a very creepy & eerie outer space experience

Phil Rossi has a way with words that allows you to visualize and experience the eeriness and darkness that haunts and plagues the inhabitants of Crescent station. This book will suck you and keep you there until the last page is turned. Crescent is a excellent blending of science fiction and ghost story. Add to that dealing with personal conflicts such as a character of high position that is nothing more than self serving egotist that can make your life (or death) hell on Crescent. All these elements come together to create one hell of a fascinating tale of horror in deep space! Phil Rossi scares me.....

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