I finally finished this sucker. Far from being a page turner, I found it tedious. For me the novel has four big problems: the writing is bad, okay it's pulpy, it hasn't dated well, the main character who tells the story from a first person perspective is a fool that we NEVER sympathize with, and lycanthropy is my least favorite horror trope, so it already had a poor chance to do more than show with me.

As far as being dated one might say "it is of its time." but so is [b:The Colour Out of Space|26041218|The Colour Out of Space|H.P. Lovecraft|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1439179205s/26041218.jpg|45969254] but we don't feel that about the story while reading it. It doesn't overwhelm the other factors in favor of it. The writing is pulp bad, 'nuff said. Barbee is just a pitiful character from a characterization standpoint, a fool and a wimp. He is so unbelievably gullible for an otherwise intelligent guy it goes beyond our suspension of disbelief.

Lastly, let's just say it: I hate werewolves. Werewolves and shape-shifters just don't work for me, never have. You are already on the wrong foot with me. At best they are actually pitiable imprisoned beings that just don't frighten and there are so many things you have to put aside to believe them it just becomes too self-conscious for me. Just my personal bias.

In the end I just cannot find that much to say good about this. I have never read anything else by Williamson (maybe that's a blessing), but he is certainly venerated within the sf community. Maybe if I was a kid in about 1947 reading this in my tree house with nothing to compare it to, I might like it, but that doesn't say much now. ( )

Great story. Very atmospheric. I read this and the visions produced were like watching a black and white horror movie. ( )

This book is much more fantasy then SF but I enjoyed it anyway. Jack Williamson could really tell a story. This would make a good horror movie. ( )

I wish I'd read this years ago, it creates a compelling mythos. ( )

Read as part of the Retro Hugo Voters' Packet - although it was disqualified as a nominee: "The finalist “Darker Than You Think” by Jack Williamson was mistakenly categorized as a novelette. The story is a novella, but did not receive enough nominations to be a finalist as a novella."

Personally, I'd say this is definitely an actual novel - the pacing and structure give it that feel. It's really not that short, either.

Wait... ah-ha!

"Darker Than You Think by Jack Williamson, originally a novelette, was expanded into novel length and published by Fantasy Press in 1948. The short version was published in Unknown in 1940."

I'm pretty sure that I actually read the 1948 novel-length version. (Because it kept not-ending. Not that it really dragged on, but I thought I was reading a short piece, and I wasn't...)

Either way, I thought this would've made a great 1970's or 1960's horror film. It would sit on the shelf comfortably next to The Wicker Man and Rosemary's Baby.

Journalist Will Barbee is ready to meet the returning members of an expedition to far-off lands. He's sure that he'll get the scoop on whatever their discoveries were, because it just so happens that he was college friends with the researchers. However, while waiting for them to meet the press, he finds himself next to a young woman, April Bell, who introduces herself as a budding journalist and is eager for him to give her professional tips. Barbee feels an intense mix of attraction and mysterious repulsion regarding the young woman. The press conference ends up being prevented due to a shocking tragedy - and Barbee's feelings toward April begin to include a suspicion that she might somehow be guilty of a terrible crime. That doesn't stop him from asking her out to dinner, though.

As events progress, we learn that whatever ancient secrets or artifacts were discovered on the expedition may be a threat to a modern cult of witches or other supernatural beings. Against his will, Barbee is drawn into diabolical doings...

Not bad; glad I read it.

I wouldn't have voted for it to win a Hugo, however, mainly because it's horror and not speculative fiction.
( )