THE HAUNTING OF CHAS McGILL And Other Stories

by Robert Westall ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 7, 1983

Eight British stories of ghosts, time-warps, and futurist fantasy--less consistent than the tales in Break of Dark (1982), with very little particular appeal to teenage readers. The most distinctive item is the most adult one: ""The Dracula Tour,"" in which a prim English housewife (""I should have felt worried but thought of Mary Stewart's heroine in Touch Not the Cat and tried to remain pert and insouciant"") finds herself being seduced by a certain count during a package tour to Transylvania. And ""The Vacancy"" is a strong, quick blend of 1984 futurism with a speck of sci-fi--as a bright, rebellious young man looks for a job in an England of epic unemployment. But, though ""The Night Out"" is an intriguing variation on the pressure-to-conform story (with a rough biker as the ambivalent hero), the other pieces are far less fresh: two excessively similar re-runs of Twilight Zone-style time travel; and several cats, ghosts, and creatures, including one that preys on ""women alone; women in despair."" Solid enough work, then, but--with British allusions and few youth concerns--no special treat.

Pub Date: Nov. 7, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Greenwillow

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1983

Categories: FICTION