A Short Stay in Hell

By: Steven L. Peck

Narrated by: Sergei Burbank

An ordinary family man, geologist, and Mormon, Soren Johansson has always believed he'll be reunited with his loved ones after death in an eternal hereafter. Then, he dies. Soren wakes to find himself cast by a God he has never heard of into a Hell whose dimensions he can barely grasp: a vast library he can only escape from by finding the book that contains the story of his life.

In this haunting existential novella, author, philosopher, and ecologist Steven L. Peck explores a subversive vision of eternity, taking the reader on a journey through the afterlife of a world where everything everyone believed in turns out to be wrong.

©2012 Strange Violin Editions (P)2012 Strange Violin Editions

Will keep me thinking for quite a while

as an atheist who was raised Mormon I found this to be a fascinating book-almost impossible to imagine it as a reality.

Be the listener devoutly religious, atheist or agnostic, this book should arouse some thoughts about personal belief systems.

I'll be listening to it again and again, I'm sure.

A Book Lover's Hell

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book. I liked the open-ended questions it raised about religion, authority, God, and the afterlife. I enjoyed the book's pacing; it didn't meander or attempt to philosophize for you. The story's rather ambiguous in fact.

What other book might you compare A Short Stay in Hell to and why?

There is J L Borges short story The Library of Babel. I highly recommend that.Recent books I was reminded of include Drew Magary's The Hike (an odd quest/life journey) and Michael Poore's Reincarnation Blues.

All of them concern life and the afterlife in non-preachy, mysterious ways. They're also fun reads.

Which character – as performed by Sergei Burbank – was your favorite?

There was only one main character. He was relatively opaque. More of an outsider to his own emotions.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No

Any additional comments?

The book might've been better longer. Maybe. The author told the story with minimal characterizations, background, descriptions, and events. In some ways it's like a sketch.It worked for me. I'm a bit pleased I didn't have to listen to three 22-hour audios to be told an interesting story.

Riveting and somewhat depressing

I liked this book. It is one view of what Hell could be like, and I have to warn you, the more you think about A Short Stay in Hell, the more you realize what a total drag it would be to be there, and the thought is a little depressing. It is so well written, though, and the characters come through so well, that you may not be able to get it out of your head for a while. I particularly liked the demon at the start of the book, and the way the narrator caught the character.

Wonderfully mind-bending

I love this book and am haunted by its implications. This is a hell that seems real and is motivating. An eternity of monotony, limitations and a death of expectation would indeed be hell.

A short stay in hell

I found this book overall to be super entertaining and also very thought-provoking, regardless of what your spiritual beliefs are. Definitely recommend checking this one out.

Are you sure?

no matter what you believe about life and life hereafter this book gives you something to think about!!

Interesting concept

This book is a unique take on what comes after life. I found the idea of a Mormon man finding out he wasn’t right about heaven just too delicious. The book is short and you may be left with many questions... then again that’s pretty fitting when talking about the afterlife.

If you like to expand your consciousness or like me just needed a short cheap book to read until your next credits hit check it out.

Existentially horrifying, yet optimistic in a strange and warped way

While the unending monotony and tedium of the task sounds nightmarish, the comforts of this hell and the certainty that one day, someday, it will be over, leave me with a certain, optimistic feeling that no matter how much hardship one must suffer, no matter how agonizing the torture, one day it will all come to an end.

Thought provocking

Love the idea, loved the execution. One of the best short stories I’ve read ever

Wow!!

I absolutely loved this!!! The story just kept you wanting to read more. I was sad when it ended.