Dark Matter by Michelle Paver.
This is one of those lovely old fashioned ghost stories that captivates you with its slow but inexorable sense of growing menace. It has the perfect setting for a tale to send shivers down your spine - an isolated scientific outpost in the Arctic.
The story centres on a young scientist who accepts a commission to act as a radio operator to an winter expedition to the remote bay of Gruhuken with four other men. He stifles any qualms he feels, after all it is the depression and it seems too good an opportunity to pass up.
From the outset a series of misfortunes follows the expedition and one by one the other expedition members are forced to leave. Jack remains alone and isolated. Stubbornly, a mix of misplaced loyalty and arrogance keep him there until it is too late and he has to acknowledge the presence of a malevolent force wishing him harm.
What I loved about this book was how it plays with all the good elements of the ghost story. It is set in the recent past which always helps you to suspend belief. I know there are modern horror stories but for me the ones with the best flavour have that element of nostalgia. In true ghost story tradition the warnings are sounded but the characters are all young and over confident so ignore them. Jack stifles all his feelings of unease. During the voyage out the ships Captain makes veiled warnings about the location. Determined that the expedition will be a success, Jack reacts only with irritation and in fact deliberately goes against the advice. He insists on building at the part of the bay that the Captain warns against, insists on building their cabin on the site of the old campsite. And what is the mystery of the blood spattered post outside the cabin, the rusty implements that terrify the dogs and who was the mysterious sailor who stood staring at the cabin?
Despite the 40 degree summer heat I was still chilled by the mood of the story and could easily visualize the growing darkness and cold of the Arctic setting.
If you still are in the mood for ghosts and horror another good read is the latest Susan Hill novel, The small hand : a ghost story. Again it has the classic ghost story scenarios. The main protagonist is an antiquarian book dealer who gets lost on the way to visit a client. He finds and abandoned house and garden and is uncannily drawn to it despite it practically screaming “danger, beware!” As he approaches he has the sensation of a small hand that at tucks itself into his. At first it seems benevolent but as the story moves he becomes aware that whatever is haunting him wishes him harm. I do have to admit that it still wasn’t a patch on that scariest of ghost stories ever – “The woman in black” but still has enough of the elements (old run down manor houses, eccentric ghostly women and picturesque monasteries) to make it a satisfying read.
This is one of those lovely old fashioned ghost stories that captivates you with its slow but inexorable sense of growing menace. It has the perfect setting for a tale to send shivers down your spine - an isolated scientific outpost in the Arctic.
The story centres on a young scientist who accepts a commission to act as a radio operator to an winter expedition to the remote bay of Gruhuken with four other men. He stifles any qualms he feels, after all it is the depression and it seems too good an opportunity to pass up.
From the outset a series of misfortunes follows the expedition and one by one the other expedition members are forced to leave. Jack remains alone and isolated. Stubbornly, a mix of misplaced loyalty and arrogance keep him there until it is too late and he has to acknowledge the presence of a malevolent force wishing him harm.
What I loved about this book was how it plays with all the good elements of the ghost story. It is set in the recent past which always helps you to suspend belief. I know there are modern horror stories but for me the ones with the best flavour have that element of nostalgia. In true ghost story tradition the warnings are sounded but the characters are all young and over confident so ignore them. Jack stifles all his feelings of unease. During the voyage out the ships Captain makes veiled warnings about the location. Determined that the expedition will be a success, Jack reacts only with irritation and in fact deliberately goes against the advice. He insists on building at the part of the bay that the Captain warns against, insists on building their cabin on the site of the old campsite. And what is the mystery of the blood spattered post outside the cabin, the rusty implements that terrify the dogs and who was the mysterious sailor who stood staring at the cabin?
Despite the 40 degree summer heat I was still chilled by the mood of the story and could easily visualize the growing darkness and cold of the Arctic setting.
If you still are in the mood for ghosts and horror another good read is the latest Susan Hill novel, The small hand : a ghost story. Again it has the classic ghost story scenarios. The main protagonist is an antiquarian book dealer who gets lost on the way to visit a client. He finds and abandoned house and garden and is uncannily drawn to it despite it practically screaming “danger, beware!” As he approaches he has the sensation of a small hand that at tucks itself into his. At first it seems benevolent but as the story moves he becomes aware that whatever is haunting him wishes him harm. I do have to admit that it still wasn’t a patch on that scariest of ghost stories ever – “The woman in black” but still has enough of the elements (old run down manor houses, eccentric ghostly women and picturesque monasteries) to make it a satisfying read.
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