DARK GODS: Four Tales

by T.E.D. Klein ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 1, 1985

Four horror novellas from the editor of Twilight Zone and author of The Ceremonies (1984)--and, like the latter, plodding, drawn-out, and unscary. ""Children of the Kingdom"" concerns an unpleasant race of worm-like humanoids who occupy the sewers of New York City; skeptical narrator Klein learns about them from eccentric priest Father Pistachio. Then, during a blackout, the creatures emerge; among other things, they snatch Father Pistachio and rape Klein's wife. Despite all this, Klein feels no urge to take any counteraction. In ""Petey,"" some guests at a housewarming party slowly (so slowly!) learn of the existence of a dark, hungry beast, a friend of the mad former owner of the house. ""Black Man with a Horn"" is about an evil Malaysian death-god who, just because he's mean and nasty, pursues a fleeing missionary to America and goes about sucking the insides out of people who come into contact with the unfortunate fugitive. And Nadelman of ""Nadelman's God"" once, unwittingly, wrote a formula for evoking, a garbage-god; a paranoid fellow named Huntoon gets hold of the formula, summons the god, and orders it to take vengeance on Huntoon's largely imaginary enemies. Unconvincing yams, strong on workaday details but lacking drama and urgency, and with at best feebly-motivated evildoers: more enervating than terrifying.

Pub Date: July 1, 1985

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1985

Categories: FICTION