Started: November 20, 2023 | Finished: November 27, 2023
The Mammoth Book of Folk Horror
The White People Arthur Machen
Witchcraft. That's what this is about. And it is done in a very creative way. An prologue and epilogue brace the a story at the center, and it's a very curious story because it's written in a different style. It is in fact the diary of a young girl. This story is very atmospheric and it effectively suggests strange things just off to the side of ones vision and under the surface of what is real - something that broods behind the silent innocence of the natural world. It's going to be hard hiking alone once you've read this story.
Jenny Greenteeth Alison Littlewood
I know that Jenny Greenteeth is part of the folklore of the UK - I just don't know what particular part of the UK. But it was Mike Mignola who introduced me to her in the pages of "Hellboy". And yes, this is that Jenny Greenteeth; the one who lives in the water. The buildup of the story is interesting enough but when it was about to end I thought that it was not going to end well - meaning it wasn't going to be a good story. But then I hit the last sentence, the very last sentence and Bam! What a good story. Then a moment later when it had settled a bit more snugly in my head and I was able to go through it again, I thought it was better than good. Comforting really, in a very dark, morbid way.
All I Ever See Mike Chinn
What a challenging job Mike Chinn set for himself: making stick figures seem frightening. That's right, stick figures. I went with the story because, one, I wanted to know if Mike Chinn would be able to make it work, and two, the description of the English countryside and the Inn I found quite endearing. But, still, this story is ridiculous.
Wailing Well M. R. James
This is a about some Boys Scouts camped near a place that the locals have marked as a forbidden area. Unfortunately, one of the scouts is a boy who does not heed warnings. The supernatural incident occurs in broad daylight in the early afternoon. The prose of this story really flows and there is no artifice in the sense of using shadows or personal illness as a lense for the supernatural occurrences and I like that. A straighforward spooky tale.
The Offering Michael Marshall Smith
The supernatural element in this story is by no means incidental but it does take a back seat to the excellent portrayal of family dynamics. This story is about an American family vacationing in Amsterdam. The incident described in this tale is, upon reflection, terrifying, but the wave of emotion that came over me upon reading the last sentence was an intense sorrow. Smith wrote one strong brew of a story.
St. Ambrews Well David A.Sutton
As can be guessed, this is about a supernatural well - an ancient one. My first complaint is that the well did not even look like a well; what kind of well can be accessed through a door? The supernatural element give me the inpression that it was not wholly formed in the author's mind so he could not describe it effectively - it came across as shoddy.
Sticks Karl Edward Wagner
This is about an artist who stumbles upon some strange things in the woods shortly before encountering the undead. The effort to unveil this mystery is part of this narrative. It only strengthens the story that the mystery is never fully revealed. Another factor that heightens enjoyment of the tale is that it is partly based on the real life experiences of artist Lee Brown Coye.
Gravedirt Mouth Maura McHugh
This is a about a troop of Girl Scouts hearing a local forest legend. It's a straightforward folk horror tale with no clever twists and mystery and its simplicity is its strength. This tale also shows a particular weakness of "supernatural rules" - they must be obeyed - at all costs.
Gavin's Field Steve Rasnic Tem
This story uses the haunted town trope. I love the details the buildup but, beyond having a remote location where strange things are happening we are not given any supporting plot elements or additional narrative. Plus I found events in the town building to critical mass right around when the main character arrives in town just a bit too convenient.
The Hound H. P. Lovecraft
Two friends have exhausted the stimulations of their hedonistic lifestyles. In search of excitement, they involve themselves with the occult. Their current preoccupation: grave robbing. In a grave in Holland they come upon a strange amulet. I find this story to be exquisitely crafted, atmospheric, and full of so many elements one hopes to find in a horror story.
The King of Stones Simon Strantzas
This about a backswoods cult. If effectivelly portrays the kind of trauma that one has to undergo in order to change to such an extent that the previous persona is almost unrecognizable.
The Mistake at the Monsoon Palace Christopher Fowler
This is about a personal transformation that occurred because of a trip to India. Although this is not ba bad story I don't think this belongs to a folk horror anthology simply because it has no horror element. I did appreciate the glimpse of India that it offered though.
Wyfa Medj Storm Constantine
This story remembers a time when midwives or "medjwyfa" held the a place in the communtiy now held by health professionals. It is well told, atmospheric, and takes a positive nostalgic look at the ghost of a former time.
The Dark Country Dennis Etchison
This is about a recrational trip to Mexico. There is no folk horror element in this story. Worse than that, there is no structure to this story, it rambles on and on wasting pages until it fritters out.
Ancient Lights Algernon Blackwood
This is a story about an enchanted woodland. Fancy experiencing being lost in an enchanted forest? This is the story for you.
Porson's Piece Reggie Oliver
An excellent piece about death. This is a great example of a story that has no exciting or troubled parts but is nonetheless riveting and pleasurable to read. Telling anymore about it would be spoiling it.
The Fourth Call Ramsey Campbell
I imagine it would be very hard to create a horror story themed after the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". My imagination is confirmed by this story which is just, well, stupid. What makes it worse is that it went on longer than I would want.
The Gypsies in the Wood Kim Newman
This is a novelette about the old Irish folklore that involves "the little people" abducting babies (in this case children) and living behind facsimiles or doppelgangers. The story is set in Victorian England and it has a number or amusing easter eggs for those familir with Victorian literature.