The Orchard

I think the goings-on in this book are actually referred to in one of the earlier Oxrun Station novels. Its truly amazing that people don't realize that this is not only the worst suburb of Hartford, but maybe the worst suburb in the world. Arkham, Dunwich, and Innsmouth are vacation spots compared to Oxrun Station.

Oxrun Station is still a terrible place to live; people have problems losing weight, girlfriends, going to movies, the hospital, and always stay away from the old largely torched Armstrong orchard (a formerly popular lovers' lane). No prior knowledge of the "Station" is required to enjoy this book.

This is another great Oxrun Station book by Grant. Four longish stories with a framing story that loosely connects the whole. show more Overall better than Nightmare Seasons because the stories are more consistent. Grant's formula, if you can call it that, is to build up disconcerting details before he starts to spring the real weirdness on you. The creeps generally build on you slowly and there is always a measure of suspense about what is really going on. His endings, even when enigmatic, are always solid. Grant's writing is atmospheric and sets just the proper eerie tone. There is no more grue than necessary to fuel the plot.

This Oxrun series would all be great Halloween reads. show less

Hmm, gotta say, of the Oxrun series, this has been--by far--the best of the bunch. I was actually expected a novel, but instead got four novellas, very much like [book:Nightmare Seasons|1527531]. Unlike that book, that had some great writing, but only one good story out of four, this one had some good writing as well, but three of the four novellas were great.

That last one? Yeah, I have no fucking clue what was going on there, to be honest.

But the first three? Loved them. Grant's best work so far. I think everything that didn't quite jibe for Nightmare Seasons, such as the ten-year span between stories, and a loose connection only through the four seasons of the year, were both corrected here, with each story falling only a month or show more two after the previous one, and each one connected through an event at the titular orchard.

Quite enjoyed this one. show less

Nifty quartet of horror tales disguised as a novel, demonstrating Charles L. Grant's knack for creating unease through the steady accretion of mood. During the '80s paperback horror boom he was one of the few authors who relied on atmospheric effects rather than mayhem and gore, and The Orchard proves Grant to have been a master of his craft. Particularly in the final story, "Screaming, in the Dark," he comes very close to plumbing the sinister depths explored by a handful of his predecessors (Henry James, Oliver Onions, Robert Aickman).

Steer clear only if unresolved endings are a deal-breaker for you. Three and a half stars.

Weak.