A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. PeckMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I usually am disappointed when I read books based on other books or short stories, in this case, Jorge Luis Borges' La biblioteca de Babel (The Library of Babel). In this case, I found several things that interested me: Mormonism, Zoroastrianism, and Existentialism, well, kind of.
The Mormonism and Zoroastrianism are only entry points into this very well thought out and thought provoking Hell. One line that really stands out, also mentioned by another reviewer (Forrest):
"Anticipation is a gift. Perhaps there is none greater. Anticipation is born of hope. Indeed it is hopes finest expression. In hope's loss, however, is the greatest despair."
If you want to try and understand the meaning of eternity, this book will get you there. If you want to understand depression, suicide, some aspects of PTSD, without having to experience them, this book scratches the surface. If you want to walk away from a read that leaves you thinking, wondering, and not sure if you liked it or hated it, this is the novella for you. I have had to go back and re-read the ending several times.
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