Reviews

A Natural History of Hell by Jeffrey Ford

zacko's review against another edition

dark funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

natixii's review against another edition

5.0

The stories and characters were so well developed it was disappointing whenever one ended. There were only a handful that I didn't enjoy.

sandygx260's review against another edition

5.0

Most of these tantalizing stories hover around a four for me... they are intriguing, bizarre and weird little imps hiding under your bed, anticipating the arrival of your feet on the floor.

Four stories truly made me swoon with delight: "Mount Chary Galore", "A Natural History of Autumn", "Rocket Ship to Hell" and, finest of all, "A Terror." "A Terror" would make such a wonderful movie; the story is intensely visual. What's not to like about Death, Emily Dickinson, and a witch trying to animate her grotesque dead child?

I had previously read "Mount Chary Galore" in an earlier story collection. It stood out there, and it still stands out here.

If you appreciate a walk on the weird side, this collection is a for you!

theduchess93's review against another edition

5.0

I was very impressed by how different each story was. Especially liked the folkloric elements throughout, exploring the limits of what folk horror means.

mehitabels's review against another edition

4.0

Read at reluctant speed, the stories are so good, so creepy, so evocative, didn't want to run out

emheld's review against another edition

4.0

An inventive mix of horror and fable, operating in the same space frequented by Ray Bradbury. There's a sly humor present throughout.

etakloknok's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

orlion's review against another edition

5.0

What a fantastic title, am I right folks? A Natural History of Hell is the first I've read of many works by authors I found out about at 2016's Readercon. Almost immediately, from the first story, I have found that this collection is what I'm looking for from horror, and more characteristics that I didn't even know I wanted in a story! It is at times humorous (subtle and obvious) but can also incite feelings of dread and at times even awe and wonderment.

A natural history is defined, according to Merriam-Webster, as " the study of natural objects especially in the field from an amateur or popular point of view". The characters that populate the multifaceted "Hell" are as varied as the stories themselves. Amongst the damned, and deitrus of humanity, we come across witches, sorcerers, faeries, Death, demons, Satan, ghosts and a donkey named, naturally, Hermes!

Another nice touch is that there are thirteen stories in this collection.

Spanning several genres, perhaps only unified by the ideas conjured by the evocative title, the stories in A Natural History of Hell succeed in being provocative, engaging and highly entertaining. This is a solid collection of short stories, and I'm glad I still have plenty of works by Jeffrey Ford to experience.

tennilles's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

salamymommy's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0