“Redemption” by John Everson – The Best of Horror (Review)
John Everson is one of the most prolific horror authors of the decade. His decadent prose combined with his usually strong narrative arcs make for a match made in horror heaven. Everson’s third book in The Curburide Chronicles, Redemption, proves why Everson is a flawless auteur with a progressive writing style that makes my knees buckle.
His usage of adjectives and adverbs is pure perfection; he describes without being onerous; he speaks without being laborious. Everson is like the gingerbread cookie that subtly slips into our coffee mugs without leaving crumbs behind. As a critic, it’s my duty to find flaws in an author’s work, yet much like Terry M. West, Everson lacks the “flaw” gene.
Instead of focusing on Redemption, I want to (need to) bring Everson’s talent to light. Reading his work is akin to being bathed in a deep red autumn dusk. His prose flows fluently with fluidity. The characterization, made sense in its fictional narrative.
Everson’s characters are entirely devoid of the cardboard-munching cliché which befalls so many other characters in horror fiction. Their stories and actions are succinct, smooth and soulful.
Soulful.
That is what Everson’s writing contains – a soulful ambience which I graciously accept without prejudice. I am pleased by Everson’s work. And you should be too. Because, dear readers, only a handful of horror authors “get it” at the end. Horror is a fickle genre. One moment it’s zombies and the next we’re reading about sparkling vampires with odd sexual urges. Clichés come and go in horror, therefore it takes a stalwart to rise above the rest.
Everson is that stalwart.
And I thank him for giving me a renewed interest in horror fiction.
RATING: 5/5
Reviewed by Renier Palland.
