Agents of Dreamland
by Caitlín R. Kiernan

Where cultists become infected with alien spores, time travelers work with American investigators, and TVs prophesize about aliens.

Overall the prose is… undoubtedly modern and American. I think it’s a little too married to its culture, using a lot of references to Western canon, but otherwise the language flows fast and smoothly. For a packed novella, it establishes character interactions and atmosphere with no wasted strokes.

World building wise, it’s like an urban–dystopian–sci-fi combo.

He wrapped me in a musty leather duster that I think he stole from a Clint Eastwood movie, and he put me in the front seat of that old red Buick station wagon he drives, and he ferried me back to life good as if Charon had changed his mind.

The story does a good job of hooking you in with little mysteries. The backstories of the protagonists are hinted at, but not delved into. You only get to see some of their motivations. If you are in the mood and fancy being weirded out, check out Agents of Dreamland.

Fun Stats

Word Count: 23569
Average Readability (US Grade Level): 7.75
Percent dialogue: 17.77%