Mysterion, August 2025
Reviewed by Eric Kimminau
I spent my early ’20s living in Dallas and spending weekends in Galveston, windsurfing, jet skiing, and camping on the beach. I had heard plenty of stories about the 1900 hurricane, so the first two paragraphs of “Timestorm” by L.H. Phillips grabbed me immediately and pulled me in.
The story follows Martin, who moves to Galveston for a new job as a claims reviewer at a large health insurance company and rents a cheap Victorian house “ten minutes away” from his office. It turns out the house comes with a mysterious past.
Martin is practical, emotionally distant, and uninterested in the home’s history—until strange things start happening. A chilling message in the shower condensation becomes a turning point: “He lived in a haunted house.”
Soon after, vivid dreams begin, in which Martin observes a warm, loving family from 1900. Over time, he comes to know them all, though only a young girl named Lizzie seems to notice him.
As the dreams grow more detailed, Martin becomes emotionally attached to the family, which stands in stark contrast to his own lonely, disconnected life. He later learns the family truly existed, and that Lizzie died in the devastating 1900 hurricane.
In a twist that mirrors the past, a modern tropical storm approaches Galveston. The night before landfall, Martin dreams of Lizzie’s final hours. But this time, she warns him. He follows her outside, just in time to avoid being crushed by a tree limb that crashes into his bedroom.
To my amazement, Martin is then offered refuge by his nearly unknown neighbor, Eric.
In the end, Martin realizes Lizzie wasn’t a ghost trying to haunt him, she was a guardian trying to save him. His “guardian angel.” Her compassion shakes him awake emotionally. For the first time, Martin begins to feel a genuine connection—with the past, with others, and with himself.
I was fully invested in this story, not just because of my personal connection to Galveston, but because the style and flow were both engaging and thought-provoking. A fantastic read!
Eric Kimminau is a BBS geek turned IT professional seeking the next Great Adventure. Let’s Go!