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Post by killercrab on Jun 17, 2008 1:37:37 GMT
WOLFCURSE by Guy N . Smith - Nel , 1981. ' This was no hallucination. It was for real. He was a hunted killer. A WEREWOLF! 'In 1981 Guy N. Smith returned to the subject of lychanthropy - albeit it in a non traditional way. Visions of comicbook wolfmen were replaced by a more modern interpretation for audiences craving visceral body horror - in this case a man who believes himself a lychanthrope and acts with according ferocity. Ray Tyler , an bank employee finds three hooligans breaking into his car. Rather than walking away , he confronts them and a dramatic fight ensues , one of them having his throat torn by the savage Tyler. Returning home , his wife Lil notices he's changed. That night he rapes her brutally . Fleeing to her Mother's - she leaves Ray to slowly spiral out of control - he rapes his neighbour after she starts playing mind games with him. Ray believes a book on self sufficiency containing chapters on vampires and werewolves is responsible ( pretty odd self sufficuency book ?). The more Ray reads - the more he believes he suffers from lychanthropy. Ray posts the book to a hated enemy in a bid for freedom - but the violent episodes continue , increasing in savagery , until with the police on his tail , he flees looking for salvation... Though some critics argue that this book is somewhat a cheat , adorned by a cover image that suggests a supernatural threat - I'd put forth the counter argument that it's in fact a symbolic cover , no background details are evident indicating it is not a literal scene at all - summing up visually the inner beast of the protagonist. Smith exhibits a maturity in his writing , characters are rounded , the language intense - perfectly fitting the very powerful urges of the protagonist. There is also a cathartic resonance to the book - like Smith is working out unfinished business from his past. Of course I suspect his tongue was in his cheek too , but there's a definite anger with higher authorities , bankers and such that is hard to ignore. WOLFCURSE isn't in any way a traditional Smith novel , but still retains many of his pulpy strengths - violent and sexual by degree , Ray Tyler's journey into oblivion is hard to put down. Ade
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Post by bushwick on Jun 17, 2008 19:15:00 GMT
Nice review chap. I picked this up last year sometime, it's the only one of his werewolf books I have.
Mentioning the characterisation, and the quality of writing in generally, I am ashamed to say I was a bit disparaging re: Mr Smith's skills on the old board. The first things I read by him were Origin Of The Crabs then The Sucking Pit, which are of course great, but hilarious, ludicrous cheese. I've read a few more since then and have been very impressed by the way his writing progresses over the years. Really enjoyed Satan's Snowdrop, and The Black Fedora's a very unusual book with some really well written passages. He's a true original, and strikes me as kind of old-fashioned and 'establishment' in some ways but very rebellious and anarchic in others...
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Post by killercrab on Jun 18, 2008 2:29:45 GMT
Nice review chap. I picked this up last year sometime, it's the only one of his werewolf books I have. >>
Thanks! I got very lucky in securing the three original werewolf books and I rather prize them now. I've just started my 5th GNS in a row ( I'll keep it a surprise for now) - but will say I'm back in nature amok territory again.
Really enjoyed Satan's Snowdrop, and The Black Fedora's a very unusual book with some really well written passages. He's a true original, and strikes me as kind of old-fashioned and 'establishment' in some ways but very rebellious and anarchic in others... >>
Oh I agree - he's got much more ability than he's given credit for at times. I will admit I don't read his books for any literary pretence - I just look for a damn entertaining tale to pass a few hours. Not read either of the above you cite - but I do have them. I've amassed quite a collection of his work - so the time feels right now to read a few! Of course some classic Nel might suddenly upset the applecart like THE VENOMOUS SERPENT did!
ade
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Post by bushwick on Feb 4, 2009 19:23:29 GMT
Just finished reading this, and it's by far the grimmest and most disturbing GNS I've read so far. It's well-written, intense and nasty with no 'chuckle to yourself' moments. A bit like the Michael Douglas film 'Falling Down', the psychological collapse of the 'man on the street', or a little like Romero's 'Martin' - is he a monster or is he just going mad? Strong stuff, unrelenting with some very nasty violence. Recommended...not a cheerful book though!
(I read 'Spawn' by Shaun Hutson very recently too...Christ, I'm really helping myself through this cold, dark miserable February eh??)
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Feb 4, 2009 20:11:32 GMT
When you rate something as grim and disturbing Bushwick I get worried - then very curious
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Post by erebus on Feb 5, 2009 18:52:37 GMT
Wow donn't recall this one being that good. Although it is yonks since I read it. Think I may have to re read it. Although Ive just started Stephen Kings Four Past Midnight. And thats a proper big bugger.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Feb 6, 2009 6:54:20 GMT
Kings Four after Midnight... I found the format - with as I remember, short novels very readable
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Post by benedictjjones on Feb 6, 2009 10:53:35 GMT
this wolfcurse sounds great. i'll be having a search for this. cheers!!!
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Post by franklinmarsh on Feb 6, 2009 12:56:02 GMT
I'm glad Wolfcurse is provoking interest. It's such an odd book. I've owned it twice, read it twice, enjoyed it while reading it, then disposed of it after - and instantly wanted to pick it up again. Is anyone aware if this theme (possible spoiler)- of someone believing that they are a monster - has been dealt with before? I may have mentioned this on the old board but the only example that springs to my mind is one of the worst films I've ever seen - Vampire's Kiss with Nic Cage. Memory's a bit vague now but I seem to recall the sheer banality of the 'hero's life may cause him to go...erm..off the rails a bit. And become a bit of a boho later on.
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Post by bushwick on Feb 6, 2009 17:27:47 GMT
Is anyone aware if this theme (possible spoiler)- of someone believing that they are a monster - has been dealt with before? yeah, I compared it to the George Romero film 'Martin' - a confused teenager believes himself to be a vampire. Years since I've seen it, but it's a quiet film, sensitively handled, and we never know how much is teenage angst and how much is genuine vampirism. 'Wolfcurse' is definitely not a quiet book though - full of rape, rage, confusion, social tension and male frustration. Found it genuinely disquieting, really did surprise me. This may be stretching things a LOT, but it also made me think of Mike Leigh's 'Naked' for some reason, can't really rationalise why...
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Post by corpsecandle on Feb 9, 2009 23:26:04 GMT
I loved the fact the hero drove a Lada Riva Such a Guy touch
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Post by erebus on Mar 12, 2009 18:24:56 GMT
Almost finished this and enjoying it so much. Poor Ray has some serious issues. Dodgy wife, slut ( but then prude ) lass at the house at the back plus the nagging old f*rt next door. Kind of felt sorry for him until he murdered the nocturnal rabbit visitor at the back door. Now that did it for me .
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Post by steppedonwolf on Apr 25, 2009 12:46:53 GMT
This is one of the best werewolf books ever written.
It works so well because it's more of a psychological thriller, it implies that the lycanthropy is all in Ray's mind - a real departure from GNS' previous werewolf outings.
Shame it's not as well-regarded, but as all GNS fans know there are some real hidden treasures he's produced that would appeal to a wider market. The same people who turned their noses up at the thought of giant crabs would reconsider their opinion of Guy if they read this - as well as Dead End and The Island.
By the way - the best werewolf novel ever written? Got to be The Wolf's Hour, by Robert McCammon.
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Post by funkdooby on Apr 25, 2009 16:14:36 GMT
I remember GNS mentioning once that he was tired of being pigeonholed after the success of Night of the Crabs, so wrote an uncommissioned psychological novel to prove a point - I'm pretty sure Wolfcurse was that novel, and it gives a good insight to the kind of thing he's capable when given a free hand (which the vast majority of the time he wasn't).
I also love the cover - no need anything there except the title, the author's name and the wolf.
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Post by andydecker on Apr 26, 2009 21:28:15 GMT
Nick Pekearo´s The Wolfman is a close contender
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