[books 2011] Ramsey Campbell

[inulro]

38. The Grin of the Dark by Ramsey Campbell

This is the first novel I've read of Campbell's, having previously only encountered his short stories.

The premise is a young journalist between jobs, given a lucrative job to write a book about lost silent film stars, in particular to rehabilitate a slapstick comedian called Tubby Thackeray. Weird things start to happen around him, and his life turns completely awful, and all proof of Tubby's existence is obliterated as soon as the character watches it.

One of the endorsements on the cover of the book says something to the effect of Campbell giving you nightmares while you're still awake. That just about sums it up. This is a really scary book, and very well written. I thought the ending was a little disappointing, but even so I thoroughly recommend this book.

Comments

[zenithed.livejournal.com]

So it's sort of about Fatty Arbuckle? I've not read anything by Ramsey Campbell for a while but this sounds really good.

[inulro.livejournal.com]

Tubby is compared to Fatty Arbuckle a bit; the point is that he's someone who is even more erased from the history of film than Arbuckle.