Tag Archive: Residue


Review of Parasite, by Steve Diamond

Filed under: Book Reviews, Fantasy, Fiction Reviews, Science Fiction — 1 Comment
March 25, 2024

Parasite is the sequel to Residue, which I reviewed previously. After the events of the last book, Jack Bishop has been relocated to Sacramento as part of an elaborate game of evil-mastermind chess between two genetic research firms, one of which is holding his father prisoner, and both are attempting to control Jack.

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the sequel. Obviously, I expected more of the same blend of urban fantasy, urban sci-fi, and Diamond’s brand of action-horror; but the back-cover description showed things escalating far beyond what I thought the series was going for. Turns out that was deliberate. The first novel was effectively a stand-alone, almost entirely self-contained, with just a few loose threads intended to lead into a sequel. Another mystery, another secret investigation, another delightful Thin Man-esque back-and-forth between Jack and his mind-reading, gun-toting girlfriend Alex.

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Review of Residue, by Steve Diamond

Filed under: Book Reviews, Fantasy — 2 Comments
December 10, 2023

I do not typically enjoy horror stories.

It’s been that way for a long time. Movies and novels alike; I just haven’t enjoyed horror. I don’t edit it either, because I don’t understand it well enough as a genre to give someone an acceptable return on their money. To edit something properly, you have to understand its context and audience; and to do that, you have to enjoy stories like it. Never go to someone who doesn’t enjoy your kind of story.

Oh, I’ve enjoyed an occasional entry in the genre, most notably Dan Wells’ I Am Not a Serial Killer (which was made into a very good low-budget movie, which can be enjoyed on its own even though the book is better); and I greatly appreciated the explanation of horror that Steve Diamond gave way back at the start of the WriterDojo podcast (in their thirteenth episode, appropriately enough). But overall the genre just didn’t speak to me.

Which means, despite getting to know Steve Diamond (online and for a brief meeting in person), I have had absolutely no interest in reading his debut novel, Residue, because it’s primarily supernatural horror. Now, though, after many years, I finally felt like I owed it to him to at least try the book. So when the book was re-released with an audio edition, I bought it and started listening.

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