Hasty for the Dark (Selected Horrors)

by Adam Nevill

[pamela]

Nevill has written a great collection of short stories here. It's no surprise that he's my favourite horror writer; he creates atmosphere like no other horror writer today. He can build any emotion he wants you to feel through the power of his prose from claustrophobia, through to sweeping dread. I gave myself a break between each story so that I could come to each tale emotionally fresh and experience it new.

Nevill writes about the oppressiveness of reality. It's easy to recognise his characters as parts of ourselves. Their experiences are universal, and the way the horror plays out almost feels like a representation of our own, very human insecurities. With stories written in homage to writers who have inspired him, Nevill nonetheless brings his own unique style. With descriptive, flowing prose it's easy to get caught up in his characters, their sense of dislocation, their alienation and their loneliness.