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Post by lukemorningstar on Sept 7, 2008 13:03:32 GMT
Well I have finished Pan 24 - and will cover the last couple of stories in the other thread (don't get too excited). Love On The Farm by Alan Temperley is, I understand, the stuff of legend around here, rivalling 'Kowlongo Plaything' as THE grossest and most horrible Pan horror story of them all.
So I thought perhaps rightly or wrongly it derserves another thread of it's own. In a very slim volume, this is an epic at around sixty pages, and compared to the inconsistent and pretty tame stories that make up the rest of Pan 24, this stands out a mile...
It is basically the story of Myra, mid forties (which isn't old OK!) a widow and pig farmer who is facially disfigured, and Duggie, the lad of 19 who works on the farm, does odd jobs (both on the farm and in the bedroom - and I'm not talking about putting some three-in-one on a squeaky wardrobe door here)
Myra is a bit of an Annie Wilkes (Misery) type character, prone to 'Dark Moods' and Duggie is a bit of a randy young reprobate, prone to biking off to the nearby village in search of clandestine sexual encounters with girls nearer his own age.
Things go horribly wrong when Myra catches him at the farmhouse with his latest conquest, and believe me it just gets more and more horrible from there on.
I wont give any more of the plot away, but I kid you not, this is one story that will make you cringe. There is no supernatural horror here, just loads of human cruelty, sadism and cold calculated nastiness as both characters descend further into madness and evil....
So, anyone read it? what do you think? Does it deserve a thread of it's own?
All the best to all,
Colin
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Post by bushwick on Sept 7, 2008 15:27:56 GMT
I must say I'm fascinated by this story. I've heard a lot about it, but have not read it. It's the cold, nasty, sadistic stories that attracted me to the Pans (hello Alex White!). There's just something about the vibe. I remember reading the Pan with the worm-face man when I was very young, too young really - my mum had a copy and I found it disturbing...'Punishment by Proxy' was in there, and the one about the special needs kid ('lubly fish eyes'...jeez...).
I'm digressing. Might have to grab this volume from Amazon. What's 'Kowlongo Plaything' all about? I'm sure I've read some of his from the other volumes, but they didn't stick in my mind. He writes kids' books now, doesn't he?
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Post by dem on Sept 7, 2008 19:19:13 GMT
Yep, definitely worth a thread to itself, Colin, and a terrific post. Who ain't gonna be at least a little bit curious about it now? The story has intrigued me ever since a BFS member commented to the effect that, much as they'd enjoyed the Pan Horrors up to that point, Love On The Farm was taking things way too far and they gave up on the series as a result. Bush. Kowlongo Plaything is from Pan Horror #23 and put in a very strong showing on the "It Almost Put Me Off Horror For Good ...." thread. "Cold, Nasty, Sadistic" sums it up rather well if I'm any judge. I'm sure you'll ADORE it! Steve gave us the gel on Mr. Temperley in an earlier post and I'm sure he mentioned that the former Godfather of Gross was now a respected children's author. I'll see if I can hunt it down. Inspired by these posts i've set aside another story that caused a certain amount of controversy on publication for tonight's read: Graham Masterton's Eric The Pie from the first issue of Frighteners which apparently so upset one High Street chain they refused to stock it. As far as I remember, Eric is another lad with a flair for unsavoury farmyard frolics ... |
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Post by erebus on Mar 23, 2009 13:17:01 GMT
It is a brilliantly violent story . And I totally agree with the Annie Wilkes thing too. Although this time it isnt no sledge hammer to the feet its..... Ah well read the story and you will see. Just hurts thinking about it.
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Post by footeater on Apr 10, 2009 0:59:07 GMT
Kowlongo Plaything is the foulest, sickest horror story I've ever read, and I've lived a good few decades and read a fair shedload of vileness in my time. I'm constantly on the search for the ultimate horror story, though; so based on the recommendations here - and especially yours, Colin - I've breached my own newly instigated protocol and have ordered Pan 24 from Amazon.
It, and your farm tale in particular, had better be good. I look after my friends, rest assured of that. But try to soft-soap me or screw me over and you'll wish you'd never been born.
Will get back later.
Foot Eater
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Post by footeater on Jul 6, 2009 21:53:10 GMT
Well, I've now read Love on the Farm, and much as I enjoyed it (depraved and unhygienic though that makes me) I must say it doesn't come close to toppling Kowlongo Plaything from its pedestal. Here's why. 1. The truly horrible bit comes halfway through the story. Everything after that is an anticlimax as far as horribleness is concerned (and I might add that murder and rape make up much of the second half of the action). 2. There's something approaching a happy ending  . It's an ending I liked, but what's so appalling about Kowlongo Plaything is that the horror mounts and mounts (ahem) until the utterly desolate final lines. So, full marks for effort... but KP rules, still. |
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. It's an ending I liked, but what's so appalling about Kowlongo Plaything is that the horror mounts and mounts (ahem) until the utterly desolate final lines.