In Jonathan Janz’s newest novel, Veil, he turns our gaze to the horrific unknown. How, you may ask? When we think of alien-based books, UFO’s and little green men may come to mind. But Veil is not a traditional science fiction tale of laser beams and flying space crafts. Janz has long been recognized for his fearless approach to horror, and Veil is something far more powerful, harrowing and unflinchingly brutal than your usual sci-fi fare. Janz flawlessly blends an alien invasion narrative with human-centered dread. Let’s talk about it.
Veil transports us to small-town America during what is seemingly a usual day. Then, without warning, people begin to vanish. One moment to the next they are simply gone, snatched by forces no one understands. The seeming randomness of the sudden disappearances are utterly terrifying. There is no discernable pattern and no real way of keeping anyone safe. Among the taken is a young man, ripped from his family’s life in an instant. This moment marks an emotional anchor to Veil‘s story development. This has become not simply an alien invasion. It is a story of a father losing everything and clawing at the impossible to get his son back.
As the chaos escalates, our father, John Calhoun, finds himself further hollowed out when his wife and daughter are among the taken. Their absence is marked by wounds, fresh ones layering themselves upon guilt and grief. John’s marriage was fracturing prior to this invasion. Janz laces these memories of a happy past now gone with regrets which fuel John to act. This makes Veil such an effective piece of horror. It is not simply about fear of the unknown but about the unbearable ache of loss. The aliens are horrific, yes, but this frightening invasion exposes and intensifies the fractures that live inside our characters.
Veil departs from typical alien-invasion narratives in the “solution” our survivors discover. John ends up crossing paths with a group who is trying to find a way to get their lost loved ones back. After some of their own frightening encounters, they stumble upon a startling revelation. There is a way they can see these invaders that, up until now, have been invisible and impossible to fight. A near-fatal car accident has given one of their group members the ability to see what normal human eyesight cannot. And they believe they can replicate the brain injury that will enable them to obtain this sight. Our group wants answers, to discover how they’re invading our world and fight them. Desperate to save his family, John volunteers.
This is an unsettling concept, marrying body horror with existential despair, minus the gory bits. The idea that salvation requires the destruction of one’s own mind speaks to Janz’s examination of the fragility of humanity. What are we willing to sacrifice to save the ones we love? If we destroy our own minds, will there be a part that remains to recognize them? Our survivors must wrestle with the logistics of harming themselves and also a deeper terror: what happens if they succeed?
Photo courtesy of publisher
Stylistically, Veil has a tight narrative and leaves you breathless. Janz’s prose balances visceral details with moments of stark lyricism. The abductions are rendered with shock and awe, while the scenes of human suffering are written with such rawness, they leave marks on your heart. Veil is steeped in dread not only because of the threat of the invasion, but also its relentless stripping away of human normalcy.
At it’s core, Veil is a story of those broken down then bound together by desperation. John’s arc is particularly wrenching. He begins as a man already feeling empty at the deterioration of his marriage. His relationship with his son is marked by the pains of a child growing up and a parent who has made their own mistakes. These details are only magnified once John’s son gets taken. He is a man haunted by his own perceived shortcomings, determined to find his family even if that means mutilating himself at a chance for a reunion.
Ultimately, Veil stands as a bold work of fiction. A novel that fuses alien terror and deeply human grief. It demands readers to confront hard topics and perhaps, some may strike a chord within us. This is sci-fi horror stripped to its rawest nerve endings, unafraid to portray how salvation may require a level of self-destruction. Brutal, heartbreaking, and unforgettable, Veil confirms why Janz remains one of the most vital voices in contemporary horror.
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Thank you to Blackstone Publishing for sending me a copy. Veil is available now wherever you buy your books. I could not recommend it more. Horror is not having a moment, it IS the moment and always has been. “Horror with heart” has been knocking it out of the park, especially this year, and this novel is absolutely in that category.
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Jonathan Janz is the author of more than a dozen novels and numerous short stories. His work has been championed by authors like Joe R. Lansdale, Jack Ketchum, and Brian Keene. He has also been lauded by Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novel Children of the Dark was chosen by Booklist as a Top Ten Horror Book of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter, and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and Goodreads.
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