Requiem

Bram Stoker Award winner Palisano (Night of 1,000 Beasts) puts a suspenseful twist on the classic sci-fi/horror trope of a space crew targeted by an unknown threat. In the 22nd century, an overcrowded Earth no longer has any available burial plots, a crisis the Vita Nova corporation capitalizes on with the launch of Eden, a satellite that serves as an orbital cemetery. In 2111, Eden’s operations are suspended following a system failure that causes toxic fluids to leak, creating a PR crisis for Vita Nova. The following year, with a backlog of bodies piling up, a select crew of five, “representing people from all walks of life and different cultures,” is sent to Eden to demonstrate that the problem has been resolved and reestablish public trust. The mission is led by Ava Duvay, who is grieving her missing spouse Roland, and includes star musician Tessa Nightingale, whose purpose is to “compose a new requiem for Eden and its tenants.” Upon arrival on Eden, the visitors are haunted by a disturbing entity, which threatens their sanity and survival. Palisano’s evocative prose makes the setting both eerie and enthralling. Fans of Event Horizon will be riveted. (May)