In the ever-expanding genre of space horror, S.A. Barnes has carved out a distinctive niche with her latest novel, Cold Eternity. Following the critical success of Dead Silence and Ghost Station, Barnes once again demonstrates her mastery of blending claustrophobic isolation with existential dread. Cold Eternity takes readers on a harrowing journey aboard the Elysian Fields, a massive ship housing cryogenically frozen bodies from a bygone era—a premise that quickly unfolds into something far more sinister and complex than it initially appears.
Plot: Political Intrigue Meets Cosmic Horror
The story follows Katerina Weiller (using the alias Halley Zwick), a former political staffer who finds herself on the run after becoming entangled in an election fraud scandal. Seeking anonymity, she takes a job as a security monitor on the Elysian Fields, a derelict vessel housing cryogenically preserved bodies from Earth’s elite—the legacy of trillionaire tech genius Zale Winfeld’s attempt to conquer death.
What begins as an ideal hiding place rapidly deteriorates into a nightmare. Within the ship’s vast, echoing corridors, Halley encounters strange phenomena: creatures crawling through the vents, disturbing sounds in the night, and an AI hologram of Aleyk Winfeld who seems eerily aware and desperate to communicate with her. As Halley investigates these mysteries, she uncovers the horrifying truth: the ship harbors an ancient parasitic entity that has possessed Zale Winfeld himself, using the cryogenic facility as both feeding ground and hunting preserve.
Barnes skillfully melds political intrigue with cosmic horror, constructing a narrative that examines both external threats and the internal demons of guilt, indecision, and self-doubt that plague her protagonist.
Character Development: The Weight of Choices
Perhaps the greatest strength of Cold Eternity lies in its protagonist. Halley/Katerina is deeply flawed yet sympathetic—a character who made morally ambiguous choices in her past and now finds herself forced to confront the consequences. Her journey from someone who runs from difficult situations to someone who ultimately makes a stand forms the emotional core of the novel.
Barnes excels at portraying Halley’s internal struggles:
“This is the problem with relying on others to do the right thing, to step up and intervene when you can’t. Or think you can’t. The only certain way is to take the risk and step up yourself.”
The relationship between Halley and Aleyk is particularly compelling. Through their interactions, Barnes explores themes of connection, sacrifice, and what it means to be truly alive. Aleyk—trapped in a simulated existence—becomes a mirror for Halley’s own feelings of being trapped by her past decisions.
The antagonists are equally well-crafted. Karl, the ship’s engineer with sinister motivations, and Niina, Halley’s former mentor who embodies political ruthlessness, serve as effective foils to Halley’s growing moral resolve. The ultimate antagonist—Behloth, the parasitic entity—represents a primordial horror that transcends human understanding.
Atmosphere: The Art of Unease
Barnes demonstrates remarkable skill in creating a suffocating atmosphere of dread. The Elysian Fields itself becomes a character—a decaying mausoleum drifting through the void, its long corridors and sealed rooms holding secrets both technological and supernatural.
The author’s descriptions are vivid and unsettling:
“It reeks up here, despite the higher level. Beneath the bacon-flavored soy dogs rotating on a spit, the sweet-salty scent of teriyaki noodles from the stand farther down, and the hot-oil aroma of paddle cakes behind me, a strong odor of rotten eggs and old fish lingers.”
This sensory approach to world-building creates an immersive reading experience, drawing us into Halley’s mounting sense of isolation and paranoia. The contrast between the opulent quarters of the Winfeld family and the utilitarian areas of the ship effectively highlights themes of class division and privilege that persist even after death.
Pacing and Structure: The Slow Build to Terror
Cold Eternity takes its time establishing its premise and characters before accelerating into a breathless final act. This deliberate pacing might test some readers’ patience, but it pays dividends in tension and investment. By allowing us to experience Halley’s growing unease and discovery of the ship’s secrets alongside her, Barnes creates a more immersive horror experience.
The novel’s structure cleverly mirrors Halley’s psychological journey. The early chapters, characterized by routine and repetition, give way to increasingly chaotic and desperate situations as both the external and internal threats escalate.
Thematic Depth: More Than Monsters
While delivering effective scares, Cold Eternity also explores substantive themes:
The price of immortality – Through Zale Winfeld’s obsession with cheating death, Barnes examines how the pursuit of eternal life can lead to monstrous outcomes
Political corruption and moral compromise – Halley’s backstory involving election tampering serves as a parallel to the main narrative about power and its corrosive effects
Identity and authenticity – Questions about what makes someone “real” arise through Aleyk’s existence as an uploaded consciousness
Responsibility and redemption – Halley’s arc revolves around her journey from someone who runs from difficult choices to someone who accepts the burden of confronting evil, even at personal cost
These layered themes elevate the novel beyond mere genre fiction, giving readers substance to contemplate long after the scares have faded.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What Works:
Character development: Halley’s emotional journey feels authentic and earned
The central horror concept: The parasitic entity and its relationship with Zale creates a unique antagonist
The setting: The Elysian Fields is a perfectly realized horror location—isolated, decaying, and filled with literal and figurative ghosts
The relationship between Halley and Aleyk: Their connection forms an emotional anchor amid the terror
What Could Be Stronger:
Pacing in the middle sections: The repetitive nature of Halley’s rounds and button-pushing, while thematically relevant, occasionally slows momentum
Some secondary characters: While the primary characters are well-developed, a few of the supporting cast feel less distinct
The ending: While emotionally satisfying, some readers might find the resolution arrives somewhat abruptly after the extended build-up
Political elements: The integration of the political subplot with the main horror narrative sometimes feels slightly forced
Comparison to Barnes’ Previous Work
Fans of Barnes’ previous novels will recognize her signature elements: isolated settings, protagonists wrestling with past trauma, and horror that blends psychological and supernatural elements. However, Cold Eternity pushes further into body horror territory than her previous works, with the parasitic entity and its physical manifestations providing some of the novel’s most disturbing moments.
Where Dead Silence focused on the haunted ship concept and Ghost Station explored isolation in a different context, Cold Eternity feels like a thematic continuation that examines isolation from both external sources (the physical setting) and internal ones (Halley’s guilt and fear).
Who Should Read This?
Cold Eternity will appeal to:
Fans of space horror like Tade Thompson’s Rosewater or Philip K. Dick’s explorations of identity
Readers who enjoy psychological horror with substantive character development
Those who appreciate horror that balances visceral scares with thematic depth
Anyone interested in stories that examine the darker side of technological “progress”
It’s not for those seeking light reading or those particularly sensitive to body horror, as some scenes are genuinely disturbing in their imagery.
Final Verdict: A Haunting Journey Worth Taking
Cold Eternity represents another strong entry in S.A. Barnes’ growing catalog of space horror. Through its compelling protagonist, unsettling setting, and thematic richness, it delivers a reading experience that lingers in the mind long after the final page.
The novel succeeds both as a genre piece—delivering genuine scares and tension—and as a character study examining how people respond when faced with overwhelming circumstances. It asks profound questions about mortality, responsibility, and what makes life meaningful, all wrapped in the trappings of an effective horror narrative.
While not without minor flaws, Cold Eternity establishes Barnes as a significant voice in contemporary horror fiction, one who understands that the most effective scares come not just from monstrous entities, but from forcing characters—and by extension, readers—to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and the world they inhabit.
For those willing to venture into its cold, echoing corridors, Cold Eternity offers a journey into darkness that ultimately finds flickers of humanity and hope amid the terror. Just don’t expect to sleep soundly after turning the final page.