Despite those, I really enjoyed my time in the library from Hell (or, I guess, the library in Hell). I love libraries, but it would drive me crazy to be in a library like that.ĭespite being a novella-and therefore fairly short-there were parts where I felt the narrative lost focus a little, or jumped too much in time. I can only imagine how frustrating it would be to find myself in a place like that, but that helped create a realness to A Short Stay in Hell and to the experiences of the characters there. The concept of an endless library was interesting, too. He was an interesting character throughout the story. He made friends and enemies on his journey through the great library, and even went through loss again-multiple times. I found it interesting how Johansson progressed from his initial disbelief to basically accepting things for what they were.

Some go with the flow and accept what happens, others are rendered incapable of doing anything, and still others form violent gangs and and make the afterlife a hell for everyone they meet. Peck presents an interesting conundrum in A Short Stay in Hell: How do you deal with an afterlife that is not as you imagined? Through various characters with various backgrounds, the author addresses this question. Should he find it, he will be able to leave Hell. To his surprise, he finds himself in a Zoroastrian Hell instead, doomed to spend eternity looking through an infinite number of books for the one which is about his life. The protagonist, Soren Johansson, is a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or “Mormons”) when he dies, and believes that he will be reunited with his family and live with them forever after he dies, provided he remains faithful. I now have my copy (and signed, too…thanks, Steven!) The idea sounded interesting, but I kept forgetting to pick up a copy of the novella. Peck, a few years ago from one of my friends while at a convention. Peck.I heard about A Short Stay in Hell, by Steven L.

A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck