The Rejects

by Philip Fracassi

From the author of the award-winning collection BEHOLD THE VOID comes a new story of evil and madness.

When a military space official is given a VIP tour of a secret discovery on Earth's moon, he is forced to come to terms with a history - and a possible future - of Earth's inhabitants that flies against all human knowledge, and reason.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Science Fiction

19 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2015

About the author

PHILIP FRACASSI is the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award-nominated author of the novels A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, Boys in the Valley, The Third Rule of Time Travel, and The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre. He is also the author of the story collections Behold the Void, Beneath a Pale Sky, and No One is Safe!

His stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Black Static, Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Interzone, and Southwest Review.

Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Copps Literary Services, Circle M + P, and WME. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or visit pfracassi.com.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blake is ordered to have a look at some excavations on the moon. There seems to be a parallel development to life on earth. Is this all he comes across? What about his colleagues? This is a very spaced off tale about the dark side of the moon and some species lurking there. It was okay but a bit too far gone in my opinion. Also the ending didn't fully convince me. Recommended for those loving alien horror and outer space settings.

[Richard Derus · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, old-fashioned outer space horror story with a few also old-fashioned sexist stereotypes (deliberately deployed, I suspect). It was like going back to the Gronkuary 1957 issue of Rocket Tales Magazine and reading The Big Deal Story that got the cover illo! Because ASTRONAUT meets SCIENCE BABE on the MOON!!

The ending was vintage Twilight Zone. If that sounds good to you, go get it while it's free on Amazon by clicking on the Amazon button below the synopsis. Offer lasts through Monday, 3 June 2019.

Thanks, Author Fracassi! You wiled away a happy half-hour.

[Theresa Braun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story to read in one sitting. Fracassi effectively builds atmosphere and tension. Before you know it, you're at the startling conclusion. Well-written and imaginative. I was left wanting this to be a much longer experience...

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snagged this when I saw Philip offer it up for free. Only 19 pages, this is a quick read but boy does it pack a ton of possibility into that page count.
I loved the idea behind the characters heading deeper into the Moon, seeing what's been discovered.
This reminded me of an old 'Heavy Metal' cartoon.
Really dug it and wished it was 400 pages longer!

[Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and unusual story written with precision and skill, I only wish it was longer as the concept really hooked me in!

[Heidi Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. That was unexpected! A quick read that delivers an original punch. Awesome. 5 stars!

[Matthew Barbeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story with an interesting concept that feels more like a proof of concept/exploration than a self-contained story. That said, I dug it, and if there was a full length novel based on this short story, I'd read it.

[Duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

More specfic than weird but excellent all the same. No spoilers -- this would do very well as a 70s manster movie. There's not enough Fracassi out in the world.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptionally cool story!

[steven duane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I require more of this story please!!!

One of the best little space horror stories I have read in awhile.

Fracassi has quickly become one of the fresh new faces in horror.

[Matthew Lambert · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are evolving!

This was a great short burst of a story! I haven't quite finished "Behold the Void" but there are 2 things I've noticed about Mr. Fracassi thus far -
This guy can flat-out write!- and, his stories seem to come upon you all at once. Cosmic horror meets the the Dark Side of the Moon. Wonderful!

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read but I didn't feel it merited a stand alone story. Would have been better as part of a collection.

[Rina · Rating 2 out of 5]

wait… what?

I love Philip Fracassi’s writing. Having loved Gothic by him I figured I’d check out a short story by him… but that ending had me feeling so dumb. I even read the last chapter twice and still didn’t get it. Lol I usually love ambiguous endings, not so much in this book. Someone please explain to me what the hell I just read because I loved the beginning, the ending just went over my head.

[Serenity · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too vague

Hard to follow. Feels like you're missing out on vital information that would help you understand the story better. Rushed. When they see the creature, there is no detailed information given about it. But supposedly, when they see it, it brings a great fear to them. Why though? This story made absolutely no sense to me. Extremely vague. Would not recommend.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do Yourself A Favor…Jump In

Philip Fracassi has the ability to take a story to a place you never saw coming. As soon as you think you know where the narrative is headed, Fracassi takes your legs out from underneath you, and leaves you stunned and marveling at his originality. Do yourself a favor and devour all you can of this amazing storyteller.

[SUSAN · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, crisp but chilling horror story that involves a trip to the moon, some curiously and deeply discarded bones (a giant giraffe? what?) and a revelation. Kinda sorta like a Biblical one?

#scifihorror #moonelevators

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like everything else I've read from Fracassi, this was highly entertaining. I definitely wish there was more, because every little bit of this short story had me hanging on his words. And as usual, NOBODY is safe in a Fracassi story.

[Aaaaaaaaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt rushed, exceptionally short. Great set up but he takes it absolutely nowhere. I'm still confused about the ending. Not sure why this one got a stand alone either, he's got better short stories in his anthologies.

[Roland · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read with involving atmosphere.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great science fiction story. I love the way Fracassi writes a story.

[Terry and dog · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very creative idea. I didn’t have a clue where it was headed at the beginning. I would have loved it to be a little more fleshed out to make it a real adventure and learn more.

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate ambiguous endings 😭😭😭😭 and I wanted so much more of this….

[Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummm WTF did I just read?!?

[Killah Moon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and chilling.

[Slayge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip’s books always end right when it gets to the good part, like a giant 🐓tease.
I would happily read a full length book set in this world.

[Chloe Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would like to see this fleshed out more but it was interesting

[Joseph Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rejects

What is on the other side, the dark side of the moon? Blake and Barbera are about to find out.

Short Sci-Fi fiction.

[fried_stickbugs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of stuff to absorb in 18 pages, so take your time. Very creative—borderline Lovecraftian. Weird and wild. Great quick read 👍

[Belial · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m trying to get into space horror, this was fun! If it was a full novel id definitely read it.

[Brittanni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting concept. Ending was a little confusing for me