The Devils of D-Day
by Graham Masterton
horror
copyright 1979
read in November 2015
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
The story begins with an American in rural France. Remember the expression, "the ugly American" ? Well, this American is ugly.
He meets the farmer's daughter. Forces her to invite him to lunch. Thinks that he will enjoy sex with her. He smokes without asking permission -- perhaps just a sign of the times. He doesn't wait for his host to offer a drink, simply says that he would like a brandy. He pressures people into risking their lives to help him.
The stereotypical ugly American.
The story itself is simple but stupid. Do you believe in angels and demons ? Here's a whole pack of them. Are they destroyed at the end ? Of course. Are they destroyed -- just as all hope is lost -- by divine intervention ? Definitely. Will the demons be able to return for another book ? Of course.
This is rote horror by the numbers.
The key skill of the author is to find more synonyms for "disgusting". The demons are ugly. They stink. The atmosphere is full of evil, though there's no explanation of how you can tell when an atmosphere is full of evil. The demon speaks as though his throat were full of black hair... What ?! No, I have no idea how that would sound... Like the atmosphere, I guess... full of evil.
It's rubbish but it's readable.
Are you upset by stories of violent death ? Disgusted by promises (unfulfilled) of violent sex ? Offended by over-the-top stories of demons who are resistant to the standard religious defences ? Avoid this book !
If you see all of the above as harmless cartoon-style special effects, then this book is readable. One violent encounter after another, one stupid demon after another...
It's nasty. It's stupid. Read it to pass the time.
====
"Let not the sands of time get in your lunch" ... per Ginger Meggs
No comments:
Post a Comment