Rating: 
Summary: A disappointment
Review: It is great to have this pulp classic (first published in the pages of "Unknown" in the early forties and expanded in 1947) back in print. This is the best in "epic horror"; every chapter has a new suprise, a new shock, a new monster -- but Williamson keeps it all together in his focus on a tortured and confused protagonist, caught between his friends and his confusing "lust". Although supposedly a werewolf novel, the author expands the story into a titanic struggle of humanity and the dark unknown, a struggle that lasts through all time and infects all of us. Impossible to put down, and worth it for the surprising emotional climax that reverses all conventions of horror (at least as horror was known then). Get it now!
Rating: 
Summary: And better than you could hope...
Review: It is great to have this pulp classic (first published in the pages of "Unknown" in the early forties and expanded in 1947) back in print. This is the best in "epic horror"; every chapter has a new suprise, a new shock, a new monster -- but Williamson keeps it all together in his focus on a tortured and confused protagonist, caught between his friends and his confusing "lust". Although supposedly a werewolf novel, the author expands the story into a titanic struggle of humanity and the dark unknown, a struggle that lasts through all time and infects all of us. Impossible to put down, and worth it for the surprising emotional climax that reverses all conventions of horror (at least as horror was known then). Get it now!
Rating: 
Summary: What a grand tale
Review: It's sad that this has been unavailable
for a while. This fantasy tale from one
of the SF giants is very plainly from its
time period, but nevertheless has aged
well, and continues to entertain. Williamson
manages to maintain a balance in the struggle
between good and evil that doesn't grate
yet keeps one on edge.
Rating: 
Summary: Much darker than amyone thinks
Review: Jack Williamson's Darker Than You Think is an unusual, fascinating, and disturbing tale. Unusual because it's a werewolf story that isn't just a werewolf story. The shape-shifters can take any form they can imagine, such as sabre-tooth tigers, anacondas, and others. And when transformed, they're invisible, which makes them doubly formidable. Williamson offers a scientific explanation of this lycanthropic phenomena which is unconvincing, but imaginative. His werewolves exist not as a random force of nature, living only to kill and feed; no, they have a higher, more sinister purpose -- to rule mankind!It's fascinating because we see a man, Will Barbee, weak, ineffectual, and alcoholic, slowly being seduced, not just by the beautiful April Bell, but by Evil itself, and finally succumbing to the temptations of ultimate power and strength in his transformed state. The alluring April Bell apparently has limited abilities -- she can only transform into a white wolf, or a naked version of her own shapely human form, in which she rides astride Barbee in his more ferocious shapes! It's disturbing because there are four cold-blooded murders that go unpunished by any authority, an innocent man is framed for one of the murders, the forces of Good are overthrown by the forces of Evil, and the Inquisition of the Middle Ages is depicted as a "just and noble" cause that did "good work" in combating witchcraft. The Inquisition actually persecuted perceived heretics more than witches, and tortured and executed thousands of innocent people. To see it used as a plot device here is understandable, but still a little jarring. About halfway through the book I found myself sympathizing more with the resolute, though hapless, Sam Quain than with the benighted Will Barbee, and hoping he and his mysterious green box and its secret weapon would somehow pull it off and win the ancient battle between mankind and the elder race of witches. But it was not to be. The book ends with mankind seemingly on the run, and Will Barbee and April Bell fulfilling their dark destiny.
Rating:
Summary: Much darker than amyone thinks
Review: Jack Williamson's Darker Than You Think is an unusual, fascinating, and disturbing tale. Unusual because it's a werewolf story that isn't just a werewolf story. The shape-shifters can take any form they can imagine, such as sabre-tooth tigers, anacondas, and others. And when transformed, they're invisible, which makes them doubly formidable. Williamson offers a scientific explanation of this lycanthropic phenomena which is unconvincing, but imaginative. His werewolves exist not as a random force of nature, living only to kill and feed; no, they have a higher, more sinister purpose -- to rule mankind! It's fascinating because we see a man, Will Barbee, weak, ineffectual, and alcoholic, slowly being seduced, not just by the beautiful April Bell, but by Evil itself, and finally succumbing to the temptations of ultimate power and strength in his transformed state. The alluring April Bell apparently has limited abilities -- she can only transform into a white wolf, or a naked version of her own shapely human form, in which she rides astride Barbee in his more ferocious shapes! It's disturbing because there are four cold-blooded murders that go unpunished by any authority, an innocent man is framed for one of the murders, the forces of Good are overthrown by the forces of Evil, and the Inquisition of the Middle Ages is depicted as a "just and noble" cause that did "good work" in combating witchcraft. The Inquisition actually persecuted perceived heretics more than witches, and tortured and executed thousands of innocent people. To see it used as a plot device here is understandable, but still a little jarring. About halfway through the book I found myself sympathizing more with the resolute, though hapless, Sam Quain than with the benighted Will Barbee, and hoping he and his mysterious green box and its secret weapon would somehow pull it off and win the ancient battle between mankind and the elder race of witches. But it was not to be. The book ends with mankind seemingly on the run, and Will Barbee and April Bell fulfilling their dark destiny.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Escapism
Review: Sure, this is a period piece, written originally when Harry Truman was in the White House. And, sure, style, prose, and writing technique have changed greatly. So maybe it doesn't "flow" like some of today's better writers. But remember, this started out as a novella and then was expanded to book length, so there will be some disjointing. Also rememeber, however, that Jack Williamson remains a giant in the field of science fiction and horror. This is novel of lycanthropy, but not of lycanthropy. It is a novel about evil, pure and simple. While Will's jumping into that "relationship" of evil with April is, at first, a little far fetched, it gets the story going. What is the secret of the archaeological dig? We don't find out until the end. A combination of Wagner the Wehr-Wolf meets Indiana Jones, for pure escapism, it has something for every one. I can picture the movie being made starring Kurt Russell! It even cries for a sequel as we find out, as Douglas Winter mentions in the prologue, that the answer of why there is evil lies within.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Escapism
Review: Sure, this is a period piece, written originally when Harry Truman was in the White House. And, sure, style, prose, and writing technique have changed greatly. So maybe it doesn't "flow" like some of today's better writers. But remember, this started out as a novella and then was expanded to book length, so there will be some disjointing. Also rememeber, however, that Jack Williamson remains a giant in the field of science fiction and horror. This is novel of lycanthropy, but not of lycanthropy. It is a novel about evil, pure and simple. While Will's jumping into that "relationship" of evil with April is, at first, a little far fetched, it gets the story going. What is the secret of the archaeological dig? We don't find out until the end. A combination of Wagner the Wehr-Wolf meets Indiana Jones, for pure escapism, it has something for every one. I can picture the movie being made starring Kurt Russell! It even cries for a sequel as we find out, as Douglas Winter mentions in the prologue, that the answer of why there is evil lies within.
Rating:
Summary: Pure Escapism
Review: Sure, this is a period piece, written originally when Harry Truman was in the White House. And, sure, style, prose, and writing technique have changed greatly. So maybe it doesn't "flow" like some of today's better writers. But remember, this started out as a novella and then was expanded to book length, so there will be some disjointing. Also rememeber, however, that Jack Williamson remains a giant in the field of science fiction and horror. This is novel of lycanthropy, but not of lycanthropy. It is a novel about evil, pure and simple. While Will's jumping into that "relationship" of evil with April is, at first, a little far fetched, it gets the story going. What is the secret of the archaeological dig? We don't find out until the end. A combination of Wagner the Wehr-Wolf meets Indiana Jones, for pure escapism, it has something for every one. I can picture the movie being made starring Kurt Russell! It even cries for a sequel as we find out, as Douglas Winter mentions in the prologue, that the answer of why there is evil lies within.
Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: This book came to me highly recommended, but I had to force myself to finish it. I know that many people consider this book a classic, but the writing style was simply too distracting for me to get into the story and enjoy myself. No one can seem to speak normally. They gasp, whisper, purr, rasp, drone, etc. It was very distracting. I don't feel that this book has stood the test of time. It may have been something special back when it was first printed, but it has not aged well. The premise behind the book was interesting, but the writing style was just too old fashioned and borderline silly for my tastes. Despite all the other rave reviews of this book, I felt very let down and disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Suspense? Terror? Science Fiction? All in one
Review: This is the perfect book to be retaken by a Hollywood script writer and give it a more modern approach. At least one in which the "hero" is not such an imbecile. Additionally, the reason why the crucial release of information is being delayed by the "good guys" does not make sense and such secret sustains the plot, so the reader always feels that some tension is missing and that on a suspense novel is a terrible flaw. Nevertheless is fun to read and is quite likely to keep you engaged.
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