(Horror) David takes his family for a weekend visit to the manor house of an old friend. He worries about a “tall man” who seems to be taking too much of an interest in his children. (6,497 words; Time: 21m)
Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average
"Signal," by John Lanchester [bio] (edited by David Remnick), appeared in The New Yorker issue 04/03/17, published on April 3, 2017 by Condé Nast.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: It sends a shiver down your spine when you realize the tall man was a ghost. And it’s faintly amusing that the ghost, a product of our age, is eternally trying to get a signal for his phone.
I realize "horror" is a bit misleading, but I couldn't say "ghost story" without spoiling it, and "modern fantasy" seemed even more misleading. Alternate suggestions for the subgenre will be warmly welcomed.
Con: Little prepares us for this to be a ghost. The rest of the story is just a lengthy account of the revels of the weekend and might as well be mainstream.
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John Lanchester Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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I realize "horror" is a bit misleading, but I couldn't say "ghost story" without spoiling it, and "modern fantasy" seemed even more misleading. Alternate suggestions for the subgenre will be warmly welcomed.
Con: Little prepares us for this to be a ghost. The rest of the story is just a lengthy account of the revels of the weekend and might as well be mainstream.
Other Reviews: Search Web
John Lanchester Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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