Station Grand
An astronaut suffering from insomnia is stalked by a presence aboard a space station in the ominous graphic novel Station Grand.
Michael returns to Station Grand for a long solo assignment. His only company is a computer, which tracks his shortening sleep cycles over the weeks. A drop in the ship’s oxygen levels indicates the possibility of another life form aboard, though the computer determines no cause for the anomaly. When Michael sees a terrible vision from his past, he investigates further, risking his health and his life in a quest for the truth.
Claustrophobic and creepy, the book is an effective psychological horror story with satisfying scares. It also probes into the long-term effects of trauma, its narration steady and confident. The black-and-white illustrations reflect different styles—realistic line art that depicts Michael’s regular, wakeful actions and dark, grainy images that cover his excursions from consciousness.
A bonus story and an enlightening afterword reveal the creators’ fascinating connections to the book through their own experiences with insomnia-induced visions and sleep paralysis. These elements are innovative and intriguing, expanding on the subject of sleep trauma and using a “tri-narrative” to reveal three different points of view, piece by piece, as the pages unfold.
Station Grand is a tense graphic novel in which an astronaut clings to reality, confronting his past while battling insomnia.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
