Ghostland: In Search of a Haunted Country

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I’m sure most people, whether open to the supernatural or not, have a story like this. We live in a haunted world and ghosts – or at least their stories – surround us. GHOSTLAND, by Duncan Ralston, is a novel that felt like it covered epic proportions with the scope of its idea. In this world of technological advances, it seems that most anything is possible. Abrams, Simon (22 June 2018). " "Incident in a Ghostland" Is a Disturbing and Effective Critique of Misogynist Torture Porn". The Village Voice . Retrieved 12 July 2018.

The format seemed a little over the place too. The chapters weren't focused on one thing and one area of the country it just jumped around. The only thing that was organized was that it went with one part being about graveyards, parks and another on hotels etc. But I think those could have also been spread out more and more organized by area like I already mentioned. Parnell is nothing, if not stoic in parts, leaving no stone unturned in his quest to find where and why the heroes of his beloved ghost stories undertook their work. We see him champion MR James and Arthur Machen (and rightly so), and each chapter oozes admiration for supernatural stories and their creators. Jurassic Park for ghosts with some 13 Ghosts thrown in for good measure. Ghosts have recently been discovered to be real so someone comes up with the idea to move all the most haunted buildings in the world into one location and create a theme park for them. Nothing could go wrong with that! An inventor has come up with a way to trap the ghosts and people can view them through special glasses. Don't pay much attention to the junk science because the author didn't either. Of course the ghosts take over the park leaving Ben, Lillian and some friends they meet along the way scrambling to escape the park before they are viciously murdered. Oh yeah, this is very bloody and graphic. Originalmente, pensé que sería un recuento de los lugares embrujados más emblemáticos de Estados Unidos; que el autor recogería los testimonios paranormales de aquellas personas que los hubieran experimentado y quizá los mezclara con un contexto histórico que pudiera de algún modo respaldarlas.Paying attention to the way ghost stories change through the years -- and why those changes are made -- can tell us a great deal about how we face our fears and our anxieties. Even when these stories have a basis in fact and history, there's often significant embellishment and fabrication before they catch on in our imagination, and teasing out these alterations is key to understanding how ghosts shape our relationship to the past. A place where a breakthrough in technology allows visitors to witness ghosts repeating their final acts in life. And no expense has been spared to gather some of the most violently haunted buildings and objects known in paranormal circles. Be first in line for the most haunted theme park in the park in the world - GHOSTLAND! Discover and explore hundreds of haunted buildings and cursed objects! Witness spectral beings of all kinds with our patented Augmented Reality glasses! Experience all the terror and thrills the afterlife has to offer, safely protected by our Recurrence Field technology! Visit Ghostland today - it's the most terrifying place on earth! ________ An intellectual feast for fans of offbeat history, Ghostland takes readers on a road trip through some of the country's most infamously haunted places — and deep into the dark side of our history.

For 7 FREE dark fiction short stories/novellas including the prequel to GHOSTLAND, "The Moving House," signed copies of Woom, bookplates and merch, please visit www.duncanralston.com. Right now, there is a plethora of ‘reality’ shows that feature paranormal activities, hauntings and ghost hunters. Ghosts are highly sought after, and are endlessly fascinating. Joining them on what may be their final day as corporeal beings is Dr Allison Wexler, Lilian’s therapist. Having your therapist along for the ride is not awkward at all … a b "Programmation" (in French). Festival international du film fantastique de Gérardmer. Archived from the original on 24 February 2018 . Retrieved 24 February 2018.

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He also mixes in popular culture (American Horror Story) along with horror books that reference some of the hauntings that he provides more details on for readers.

As I said earlier, I would have rated this much higher if the ending hadn't been so MUCH and there was more focus with the plot, technology and ghosts.Ghostland by Duncan Ralston is as close to Scooby Doo on an acid trip as you're likely to find. It's also a prime example of what indie authors should aspire to do--not just tell a good story, but do it in a completely innovative way. The author often pauses after setting up the story he is about to teach us about, to explain the era of time, the history behind the story, the people at the heart of it, and the real, logical explanation for the hauntings, which of course takes the fun out of it a little. But, the true story was also interesting. I've seen Ghostland compared to Jurassic Park but with ghosts, and it's a ripe comparison. A theme park whose creators have brought together every haunted house and cursed object they could find, yet set behind a "recurrence field" which keeps these spirits from doing more than being observed (with your special augmented reality goggles, of course). It's a killer idea that's expanded upon with just enough science to balance things out without ever losing its focus on entertaining the hell out of you. Former best friends and gaming partners Ben Laramie and Lilian Roth reunite at Ghostland on opening day with ulterior motives. Lilian has come with her therapist as "exposure therapy," to face her fear of death dead on. Ben has come seeking revenge on his former idol, deceased horror author Rex Garrote, whose haunted house is the park's star attraction.

I’ve read a few of Mr. Ralston’s works, and well… he hasn’t let me down yet. When he first started talking on social media about the trilogy, my first instinct was to smile politely, say “Wow, that sounds fun!” and then quietly not read it. But eventually, I looked closer, and realized that in fact, Ghostland is not a good story and its sequels, but one single story. One incredible, immense, heartbreaking, breathtaking story. Even the author Duncan Ralston mentions this in his afterword about hoping he got the technology correct or that it worked for the reader. The park, and the ghosts inside, have other plans for opening day that involve an unexpected virus, many deaths and complete chaos.

The author obviously is not a believer, although at times he grudgingly admits he has found himself in a place that seemed to have an aura around it, although he seems unable to call it a haunting. Ghostland is both haunting and entertaining, echoing with an enthusiast's love for that which is out of kilter with the everyday; things not quite right glimpsed from the corner of the eye' Stuart Maconie, Mail on Sunday The author posits that ghost stories are malleable, changing throughout the years to accommodate society's various needs: A lively assemblage and smart analysis of dozens of haunting stories… absorbing…[and] intellectually intriguing.”— The New York Times Book Review Overall, I loved the idea presented here, the dynamics between Ben and Lilian, and the execution of the novel. I did utilize the "ghost index" while reading, and felt that learning about these individual horrors as we come across them added another layer of enjoyment to the reading experience. This was an incredibly unique approach, and made for a story I'm still thinking about over a week later. I've enjoyed books by this writer in the past, and will continue to look forward to all of his future releases.