Author John Palisano, known for his award-winning horror fiction, takes readers deep into the psychological and cosmic unknown in his newest novel, Requiem. Set aboard a moon-sized mortuary spacecraft named Eden, Requiem blends gothic romance, speculative science, and haunting cosmic horror into a story that resonates far beyond its eerie setting.
Eden is a ship designed to hold the dead. Its clear, fluid-filled coffins are embedded with nanobots that preserve not just bodies, but fragments of memories. When a disaster compromises this system, a plan is hatched to rebrand the ship. Enter Tessa, a famous musician tasked with composing a new Requiem—one that, unknowingly, awakens something ancient and malevolent.
But Requiem is not just about otherworldly horrors. Palisano crafts a layered story about grief, love, and memory. Every character on Eden is processing profound loss: Ava mourns her partner who vanished on a moon base, while others carry the weight of families lost to tragedy. This undercurrent of sorrow gives emotional depth to the novel’s already tense atmosphere.
What makes Requiem stand out is its emotional intelligence. Palisano isn’t just telling a scary story; he’s asking questions about who we are without our memories, and what it means to grieve in a world where even death isn’t final. These existential questions, paired with a darkly imaginative setting and a psychological edge, make Requiem one of the most thought-provoking horror novels in recent memory.
While there’s no sequel planned yet, the world Palisano has built lingers in the mind, much like the haunting song at its center. For fans of literary horror, gothic sci-fi, or introspective thrillers, Requiem is a must-read.
