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jayrothermel's review
5.0
Don't be deceived by the title: this modest supernatural thriller in the Wheatley/Doctor Who style has nothing to do with a movie where Robin Williams mopes his way through the afterlife.
This is one of the least objectionable and obnoxious occult detective novels I have read: free of the pseudo-Carnackiness I detest.
An English village; a local magnate who owns it; a chalk giant on the hill above; a weird megalith by the church cemetary which must be rolled over every July.
This is one of the least objectionable and obnoxious occult detective novels I have read: free of the pseudo-Carnackiness I detest.
An English village; a local magnate who owns it; a chalk giant on the hill above; a weird megalith by the church cemetary which must be rolled over every July.
ctgt's review
4.0
Wellman is another of the greats from the pulp era of the 30's and 40's. I was not familiar with his work but caught a mention of him online, and lo and behold my library had quite a few selections of his titles. This book is based on one of his most popular characters, John Thunstone, whose stories began in Weird Tales in the mid to late 40's. This is a difficult book to categorize, maybe occult/horror? Although, don't go into it looking for gore, this is a creepy feeling, catch something out of the corner of your eye type horror.
Thunstone has traveled to Claines, England to investigate rumors surrounding two stone age relics, Old Thunder, a huge outline cut into a hillside and The Dream Stone, a weathered menhir that vaguely resembles a human form. During his visit he meets a cast of characters that includes Constance Bailey, a local girl who happens to be a "white witch" and Gram Ensley who, in the grand tradition of the American west, owns most of the town including the hillside of Old Thunder. Ensley has steadfastly refused investigation of Old Thunder by scientists and archeologists.
As soon as he arrives, Thunstone begins to have dreams/visions of his room disappearing and being transported(?) to a ancient time before the town was established.
This is not an action packed book or a hack and slash fest, it builds slowly with an underlying feeling of mystery/evil/wrongness. If you enjoy the pulp genre from back in the day, you will enjoy this book.
Thunstone has traveled to Claines, England to investigate rumors surrounding two stone age relics, Old Thunder, a huge outline cut into a hillside and The Dream Stone, a weathered menhir that vaguely resembles a human form. During his visit he meets a cast of characters that includes Constance Bailey, a local girl who happens to be a "white witch" and Gram Ensley who, in the grand tradition of the American west, owns most of the town including the hillside of Old Thunder. Ensley has steadfastly refused investigation of Old Thunder by scientists and archeologists.
As soon as he arrives, Thunstone begins to have dreams/visions of his room disappearing and being transported(?) to a ancient time before the town was established.
This is not an action packed book or a hack and slash fest, it builds slowly with an underlying feeling of mystery/evil/wrongness. If you enjoy the pulp genre from back in the day, you will enjoy this book.
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