A review by bethkemp
The Dead Men Stood Together by Chris Priestley

4.0

Really enjoyed this reimagining of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (which doesn't require knowledge of the poem to enjoy). I loved the new character of the Mariner's nephew (who relates the tale) and the voice created for him. The main plot points are all taken from the original poem - Priestly has just added in some explanation for the nephew being on board the ship with the mariner and some additional details that make the story more logical (without losing any of the unworldly creepiness) or add texture/depth to support it becoming a novel rather than a long poem. The structural elements of the frame and the seven parts are also retained and used really well. While there is clearly plenty for those familiar with the original text to enjoy, I would definitely recommend this as a story in its own right for lovers of horror/chiller novels.