All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes by

Rating:
Summary: As Gripping as a Noose Around the Neck
Review: Farris' book of voodoo sorcery is an intricately weaved work of plot and subplot. Ostensibly about the cursed lineage of the Bradwins, this book takes you from the plantations of Virginia to the countryside of England to the colonial age jungles of the heart of Africa (places Joe Conrad would not have even stepped foot in). This range of settings, times, and characters, apparently disconnected yet insidiously linked by dark, ancient forces, gives this book an almost Lovecraftian feeling. It is as if these forces can and are affecting each and every individual on this planet, yet we are naively and mercifully unaware of these unseen powers. That is, until those powers wish to make themselves known. This virtual omnipresence is illustrated in one scene where the character of Early Boy is talking to the self confessed voodoo priest. The old man tells Early Boy that voodoo is not primitive superstition or nonsensical sorcery but a sophisticated and very ancient religion predating and even the basis of modern religions. He says that Moses himself learned magic from powerful voodoo masters in the African jungles and therefore pretty much all of Christianity and Judaism is based on voodoo.
Instead of giving us a simple "voodoo men raise demons and other boogeymen with curses" type plot, which is straight out of a B movie, Farris structures the story so that it is believable, frightening, sophisticated, and chilling in its insinuations. Nor is this the type of story that has a predictable plot. You never guess the horror of the first few pages and you will never see the ending coming. Farris also never fails to give us great action throughout the story. A character jumping out of a window sending shards of glass flying is just the norm in this story. And they do get cut. "What do you think this is, a western?" as Early Boy says. Farris not only gives us a masterfully woven plot, he also delievers great action, and a pretty good scary story.

Rating:
Summary: Promising beginning that never quite follows through
Review: I bought this book after seeing it listed on several "10 Best" lists. And the beginning certainly packs a punch. However, the excitement of the opening scenes is not sustained. The rest of the book drags. In addition, characters are introduced never to be heard or seen again, information is presented but nothing is ever done with it, you are never given anything more than a surface glance at these characters, and nothing is ever truly resolved.

Is the "big bad" of this novel worthy of our fear or our pity? And what about those that helped bring it about? The resolution shuffles to a finish, and is wrapped up in about 25 pages. The rest of the novel discusses plot points that either go nowhere or end up so lackluster that when you finally uncover the mystery it's more of an "oh" than a "oh wow!"

How exactly did the main family of this novel become what it is? There are hints on the book jacket that this family has a secret evil past, but it's never proven. Why exactly did this evil visit this family? It's explained in about two sentences. Those looking for a book with a big payoff should look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Five-plus stars. A masterpiece. How did he do it?
Review: I can't believe this book is out of print. And I can't believe it
hasn't been made into a movie. It's up there in the pantheon of the gods...Lovecraft, Blackwood. I believe I have glimpsed influences on Stephen King and Clive Barker...
esp. "It" and "Galilee."

It's a classic. A smart publisher will bring it back. The public deserves it. Great, great writing...poetry and magic and a riveting story with one of the greatest opening chapters in literature.