Beyond the Shroud is a Wraith: The Oblivion novel released in 1996, authored by Rick Hautala.
Summary[]
From the seller's page:
- It doesn't end with death.
- David Robinson's life has taken several turns for the worse: first his daughter dies, then his marriage crumbles and his career as a mystery writer falls apart. But after he is killed in a hit-and-run accident, David quickly learns that he will face his most harrowing challenges - as a Wraith in the Shadowlands.
- Unable to contact or influence the world of the living, David's agony is made worse when he learns that his ex-wife's relationship with a dangerous man named Tony Ranieri has put her life at risk. Tony possesses - and is possessed by - a relic filled with such awesome powers of destruction that dark forces within the Shadowlands will stop at nothing to obtain it. They'll even spur Tony to murder and manipulate the soul of David's daughter to force his cooperation.
- But David is already dead, and he knows that power is a blade that cuts two ways.
- "Rick Hautala's writing shines with dedication, hard-earned craft, and devotion to that sacred element, story itself." -Peter Straub
- Note: The Black & White print editions of this book are not full-bleed. Because of printing requirements there is a small white border around the edge of the pages.
Contents[]
- Prologue
- 1 Awakening
- 2 Deserted Streets
- 3 Fetters
- 4 The Storm Breaks
- 5 A Taste Of Oblivion
- 6 Preparations
- 7 Burial
- 8 Ferryman
- 9 RIP Her
- 10 A Dead Man's Dreams
- 11 The Shadow Whispers
- 12 The Deception Ends
- 13 Into The Depths
- 14 Crossing Over
- 15 Bargaining For Souls
Background Information[]
- Beyond the Shroud would be reprinted in the Omnibus, The Quintessential World of Darkness.
- Beyond the Shroud does a "Does the Dog Die?" by having Tony kill Sarah's cat Bingley off-screen, but the cat's corpse is described in graphic detail in later scenes.
Memorable Quotes[]
'"One of you... one of you is an imposter," David whispered, cringing at the weakness he could hear in his own voice.' - Beyond the Shroud
Characters[]
- Sarah Robinson - Mortal, David's Ex-Wife
- David Robinson - Wraith, Sarah's Ex-Husband
- Karen Robinson - Wraith, David and Sarah's Daughter
- Bingley - Sarah's Cat, Described as a Wraith, Plasmic
- Officer Murray - Mortal, Cop
- Tony Rainieri - Mortal, becomes a Wraith near the end, Destroyed
- Alexander - Mortal, Tony's Roommate
- Professor Morgan - Mortal, Teacher
- Carol - Mortal, Sarah's Friend
- Sam Lowell - Mortal, Landlord
- Morris Green - Mortal, Oaks Funeral Home
- Cindy - Mortal, Sarah's Friend
- Ruth - Mortal, Sarah's Friend
- Mrs. Burke - Wraith, Second-Grade Teacher
- Reverend Harry Grant - Mortal, Minister
- Mrs. Abbiati - Mortal, Librarian
- Bill Relling - Mortal, Literary Agent
- Elizabeth McDonald - Mortal, Sarah's Boss
- Marilyn Crosby - Mortal, Librarian
- Janice - Mortal, Librarian
- Margaret Harkness - Mortal, Died, Killed by Tony, Receptionist at Dixon Brothers Oil Company
- Sy Warner - Mortal, Sy's North Windham Firing Range
- Alan Lindwall - Mortal, Writer
- George Rich - Mortal, Twin Brothers
- Ralph Rich - Mortal, Twin Brothers
- Hope Parker - Mortal, Married to Mike Harlow
- Mike Harlow - Mortal, Married to Hope Parker
- Alexander Courtland - Mortal, Investment Counselor
- Bernie Ryerson - Mortal, Principal at Buxton High School
- Dianne Warner - Mortal, Sy's Wife
Terminology[]
Augusta (Location), Auras, Barghests, Brighton Medical Center, Buxton High School, Byways, Caul, Cemetery Dance (Magazine), Chains, Charon, Chicago, Corpse, Corpus, Corsetti's (Store), Dead, Death, Death-mark, Dixon Brothers Oil Company, Embodying, England, Fallen Angels by David Robinson (Novel), Far Shores, Ferryman, Ferrymen, Fetters, Ghost, Haunt, Heaven, Hell, Hierarchy, Hollow Reed (Restaurant), Jack the Ripper's Knife (Relic), James Moore's Complete Encyclopedia of Mass Murderers (Book), Keening, London, Maelstrom, Maine, Mt. Rainey, New York, Nynex Yellow Pages, Oblivion, Painted Horse (Store), Phantasm, Phantom, Pine Knoll Elementary School, Portland, Portland Press Herald (Newspaper), Possessed, Possession, Possesses, Puppetry, Realm, Reaper, Relic, Riverside Cemetery, Shadow, Shadowlands, Skinlands, Skinriding, Soul, Spirit, Stygia, Stygian, Stygian Steel, Sy's North Windham Firing Range, Tempest, Transcendence, Trustworthy Hardware (Store), Vietnam, Wraith,
References[]
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WTO: Buried Secrets  |
Wraith: The Oblivion books | WTO: Shadow Players Guide 
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