Old-school horror at its best

Fear
von Ronald Kelly

Bewertet mit 5 Sternen

Creature feature, dark fairy tale, backwoods horror: this book has it all and much more...

This was such a fantastic book on so many levels!

First, and most personally, this is what I call a perfect work of old-school horror. I felt like taking a nostalgic trip back into my youth, when I first started to explore the literary world of horror. Of course, reading King was unavoidable at that time (not much else on display in local bookstores anyway back then), and the beginning of 'Fear' resembles that writing very much. But that impression changes very soon, because here the horror starts right away instead of taking it slow.

Second, I love creature horror, and here we have a very nasty and evil creature, the 'snake-critter', that terrorizes the town of Mangrum county, first feeding of the livestock, then abducting children to satisfy its insatiable blood-lust.

Third, this is not only a creature feature, but a much more profound and complex story, covering a wide variety ranging dark fairy tale to brutal backwoods horror and many other shades in between.

Fourth, I love it when the main character in the fight against evil is both a kid and an antihero: meet Jeb Sweeny, who lives a poor life on a farm with his grandmother and father. I immediately fell for that insecure boy who has his heart at the right place.

Fifth, I love it when the 'sidekicks' are no super heroes either - like Jeb's father Sam, who came home from war with a head-wound that reduced his mind to that of a big child. Then there is Roscoe, a black musician who visits Mangrum County every summer to play his 'git-box' and sing the blues in the streets. He is also the one telling Jeb of the granny woman, a good witch living right in the middle of the neighboring Fear County, where everything is dark, evil and dangerous, even the plants and animals.

Sixth, the plot still held a lot of surprises despite taking some foreseeable paths. Which each chapter I read, my mind created a different ending for the book, wondering if a dream could be a premonition or if some inconsiderable comment hinted at future events. The bittersweet ending shared sadness and happiness in equal measure, which made it believable and satisfying.

Seventh - last but not least - the writing. The author has a way to describe each detail that makes it easy to visualize, taste and feel every step of the journey Jeb and his companions take: torturous summer heat, disturbing sounds and disgusting smells, even the changing textures of the ground under their bare feet, the overwhelming aura of fear. But, above all, the determination of the small group, especially Jeb, to save Mangrum County and his family from the evil spilling over from Fear County, even at the risk of his own young life.

The edition I read included a short story called 'Seedling', which is a great addition as it also takes place at the border of 'Fear County'. However, it features different characters in a different time and a different, but equally horrific surprise from Fear County.

I hope the world in and around Fear County will be explored many more times in future stories. Anyway, 'Fear' now takes its well-earned place among my favorite reads. Highest recommendation!