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AUTHOR INFO: John Langan is the author of two novels, The Fisherman (Word Horde 2016) and House of Windows (Night Shade 2009), and two collections of stories, The Wide, Carnivorous Sky and Other Monstrous Geographies (Hippocampus 2013) and Mr. Gaunt and Other Uneasy Encounters (Prime 2008). With Paul Tremblay, he co-edited Creatures: Thirty Years of Monsters (Prime 2011). He's one of the founders of the Shirley Jackson Awards, for which he served as a juror during its first three years. Currently, he reviews horror and dark fantasy for Locus magazine.

Publisher: Word Horde (June 30, 2016) Page count: 282

The Fisherman impressed me with its eerie atmosphere and elegant writing style. Fans of stories within stories and cosmic horror will get their money's worth here.

Abe loves country music and fishing, two hobbies that ease his longing for his late wife. He eventually befriends Dan, one of his co-workers at IBM, who lost his wife and twins in a car accident. The two fish together in the creeks around Woodstock. One day Dan suggests they visit Dutchman's Creek, a new fishing spot not marked on any map or mentioned in local fishing guides. The locals think this is a bad idea and try to dissuade the two by telling them a horrific tale about the history of Ashokan Reservoir.

The story within the story is long; one might assume it's the actual story, while Abe's narrative is merely a frame connecting past and present. Such a structure won't appeal to everyone; some readers will be tempted to skim this part of the book. My advice? Please don't. It's fascinating and crucial to appreciate The Fisherman's structure. It begins quite banally with the immigrant story but soon delves into the hellish world that lurks behind ours. Langan explores the otherworldly and metaphysical while introducing terrifying folklore and mythology.

On the other hand, the reader might get the impression that Langan meant to build up the suspense for something truly epic that never comes. And they aren't wrong. But it's a deliberate choice. We experience (through Abe) a terrifying world and the creatures that lurk within it. The ending adds to the feeling of cosmic/existential dread.

The Fisherman isn't for everyone. Fans of fast-paced and straightforward tales will probably feel it drags too often. Readers who appreciate slow-burn books written in elegant and minimalistic style will appreciate Langan's craft. Those who crave cosmic dread will find lots of it here. And more - it's also a fascinating tale about love, loss, grief, reality, and the supernatural.

A deeply weird story, tailored for a very specific type of audience, and brought to life by Langan's excellent writing and ideas.