A Short Stay in Hell
Page turning
Tragic
Unique

A Short Stay in Hell

A damned man struggles to find meaning in a library, the dimensions of which are measured in light years.
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Reviews

Photo of Jasper
Jasper@jpev19
1 star
Mar 14, 2025

I wanted to DNF this halfway through so I guess this book was my short stay in hell

Photo of BC Hark
BC Hark@vaporvisions
2 stars
Nov 8, 2024

A really fun concept. I think the book had a few great moments that one could easily imagine within the setting that it builds in your own personal Hell. Some of the religious commentary -- if you want to call it that -- was also on point. I enjoyed it, but the final result was a little unsatisfying, but still worth a read despite a bit of a let down. I don't know if the story could've avoided that though as a consequence of the setting in the book. Really fun concept to put into the imagination though. 

+3
Photo of BC Hark
BC Hark@vaporvisions
2 stars
Nov 8, 2024

A really fun concept. I think the book had a few great moments that one could easily imagine within the setting that it builds in your own personal Hell. Some of the religious commentary -- if you want to call it that -- was also on point. I enjoyed it, but the final result was a little unsatisfying, but still worth a read despite a bit of a let down. I don't know if the story could've avoided that though as a consequence of the setting in the book. Really fun concept to put into the imagination though.

+3
Photo of Alex
Alex@books_alex_reads
5 stars
Aug 30, 2024

This book makes me feel so utterly small and unsubstantial

+3
Photo of Julie G
Julie G@juriiang
4 stars
Jul 16, 2024

thought-provoking.

Photo of danakim
danakim@danak
5 stars
Jul 2, 2024

my only gripe is that is isn't eons longer

Photo of Air
Air@airhorn
3.5 stars
May 20, 2024

At my core, I can never be a true existentialist. There’s so much suffering to be had when there is no sense to be held.

+2
Photo of Molly M
Molly M@molsmcq
5 stars
May 1, 2024

wow this messed me up existentially

Photo of starry.
starry.@strrynyt
3 stars
Jan 7, 2024

Nice ang concepttt and it reminds me of The Good Place with how it describes hell and the absurdity of it

Photo of Sarah Panek
Sarah Panek@sarahpanek
3.5 stars
Dec 25, 2023

A slow existential burn. Something to really wrap your head around. For my taste, lacked a significant twist?

Photo of andy f
andy f@spam
4 stars
Nov 4, 2023

Welcome to hell! You might be out of luck…unless you’re into Astrozorianism.

Although hell’s not exactly the place you’d expect it to be, this book closely bridges our darkest thoughts of eternal damnation and the potential reality we face in our day to day lives.

Who’s to say we’re not already there? Touching on love and connections with other—fulfillment, the mundane. The similar polarities we experience in isolation and companionship. Experiencing what the infinite might look like, but leaving glimpses of the human experience to be reflected in the after life.

+4
Photo of (˘•̥ω•̥˘)
(˘•̥ω•̥˘)@gokurakuji
4 stars
Mar 28, 2025
Photo of Emma Daniels
Emma Daniels@pudgethefish
5 stars
Feb 6, 2025
+3
Photo of greta
greta@notgabriela
3.5 stars
Oct 29, 2024
+2
Photo of Igor
Igor@curious
5 stars
Sep 5, 2024
+3
Photo of catherine nguyen
catherine nguyen@catherinengu
5 stars
Aug 9, 2024
Photo of Lindy
Lindy@lindyb
4 stars
Jul 20, 2024
Photo of Grace M
Grace M@thecoupdegrace
4.5 stars
Apr 18, 2024
+2
Photo of kamille
kamille@starlostme
3 stars
Mar 12, 2024
+2
Photo of Alyssa Mastrocco
Alyssa Mastrocco@alyssaa
4 stars
Jan 1, 2024
Photo of marisa calegari
marisa calegari@marisa_c
4.5 stars
Jun 19, 2023
+3
Photo of Adam Goehrig-Bawany
Adam Goehrig-Bawany@adambawany
4 stars
Jun 7, 2023
+1
Photo of puroi
puroi@puroi
4 stars
Apr 2, 2024
Photo of Gerardo González
Gerardo González@geragp
5 stars
Mar 14, 2024

Highlights

Photo of Air
Air@airhorn

“Did I know her only for so short a time? Strange, how a moment of existence can cut so deeply into our being that while ages pass unnoticed, a brief love can structure and define the very topology of our consciousness ever after.”

Page 7
Photo of kamille
kamille@starlostme

But what worse fate could there be? To remember love and know it is unattainable? To know love wanders somewhere light-years and light-years distant, ever knowing it is forever out of reach? Forever hidden?

Photo of kamille
kamille@starlostme

I think our love could have lasted forever. I'm sure it would have. She was so ... no, I won't cheapen it by trying to express it in words and short sentences. I loved her. That is enough.