Residue: Paramentals Rising

By John Harrison

Wordfire Press (February 11, 2025)

Review by The Horror Zine Staff Reviewer Jon R. Meyers

Buy the book HERE

I’d like to take a moment of silence before loudly screaming the author’s name into the never-ending sky of the internet. That’s right, John Harrison. The John Harrison; author, television and film director, actor, composer, and screenwriter. Harrison has been involved with a number of influential works of horror on television and film alongside a number of iconic powerhouse genre superstars such as George Romero, Clive Barker, and Stephen King.

Some of his most popular work to date was writing and directing Frank Herbert’s Dune ( the 2000 mini-series), and my personal favorite, his collaborations with none other than the all-time great and fantastic George Romero. Harrison has also written, directed, acted, and composed a number of other influential horror titles in his bingeworthy career; from Dawn of the Dead, Knightriders, Creepshow, Day of the Dead, fake movie trailers in the legendary Grindhouse series, episodes of South Park, Stranger Things, Tales From the Darkside (TV/film), Diary of the Dead, and even music with the year 2000 alternative music act, The Gorillaz. Harrison was even involved in an adaption of Clive Barker’s Books of Blood, and his very own Residue (2015), which aired on Netflix, and leads us beautifully into the discussion of this master work here below.

Aside from the legendary discography of works mentioned above, author John Harrison has also written and published three novels: Destiny Gardens, Passing Through the Veils, and now his horror novel Residue: Paramentals Rising from WordFire Press.

When I first got my hands on this absolute stunner of a book, I must admit I was intrigued. There, right there on the cover, sat a blurb from the one and only Clive Barker, alongside this beautiful dark and dreary and post-apocalyptic cover art that just screamed this was going to be an excellent paranormal thriller.

Immediately after opening the cover, I was drawn into a world created by that very dark, vast imagination. These words written from that very same author whose abundance of previously successful work prior to the release of this very book has thus created such a name, and we, as the reader, begin to see very quickly firsthand as those very dark, very creatively magical and imaginative words begin to capture, take hold, shape, and form such a beautifully dark and unique piece of fiction set before our very eyes.

Not to be confused with the earlier mini-series compiled and released on Netflix in 2015 of the same name, this novel is very much a brilliant continuance of the prior film. If you haven’t watched it yet, I would one-hundred percent recommend watching the film before reading the book because it’s a brilliant introduction to the dark and dreary world of Residue, perhaps even a metaphor for this absolutely brilliant mix-mash of genres ranging from post-apocalyptic, psychological thriller, horror, even the more technological elements of the Cyberpunk genre.

The book Residue: Paramentals Rising somehow falls into this beautifully dark and masterful work of dark fiction presented here. If I had to try and compare this book to another book available on the market, I’d have to say the closest thing that really comes to mind is Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill, which is also a brilliantly masterful work of dark fiction with subjects of paranormal hauntings that are accompanied by real-world human emotions, alongside some of the best character development in the genre.

The writing is top-notch, dark, and very creative throughout the entirety of the book. It’s written with these short, sweet, and snappy sentences that punch the reader in the face with the author’s dark and sophisticated approach to the genre, as we follow alongside Miki Preston as she continues her search for her missing sister.

Fun fact: the 2015 film was the story of Preston’s missing sister that ends with a fantastic cliffhanger, screaming for a sequel, hopefully maybe more? The book picks up where the movie leaves off and it is quite the horror treat.
Residue: Paramentals Rising is ultimately the story of Miki Preston’s whereabouts after a devastating explosion erupts on New Year’s Eve, which has left a futuristic UK metropolis in grim, dark confusion as the government appears to be withholding information on what has caused the explosion. But there are so many secrets, dark secrets.

More importantly, why are so many people dying? And what are these shadow creatures that emerged from the rubble doing? What are they capable of doing? Why is the government lying about what is happening behind the scenes of the established quarantine zone?

That’s what this book is all about as we follow alongside Miki Preston on her quest for the truth, justice, and everything else that happens in-between. The author’s dark, futuristic, and hauntingly cybernetic world that he has created and envisioned here in this novel is nothing short of brilliant, and it’s even better when accompanied by the author’s immense talent and love for the genre. Residue: Paranmentals Rising is a masterwork of fiction for fans of dark fiction, horror, and SF alike.