The Fiends in the Furrows: An Anthology of Folk Horror

"The Fiends in the Furrows" is subtitled, "An Anthology of Folk Horror." Folk horror dwells in the pagan rituals, quaint traditions, family secrets, ancient superstitions, and/or sorceries of European-American rural village life. Often-times there are spiritual laws in effect, laws that are enforced by a malevolent being ruling over a village, wood, or mountain region where the horror takes place. The horror emerges when an outsider or heretic of some sort inadvertently violates or purposefully challenges an obscure taboo associated with the folk locale and all hell literally breaks out. In the days of the pulps, folk horror was called "weird fiction." The American, HP Lovecraft, wrote weird fiction for the pulps while the English master of folk horror, MR James, crafted his tales purely for the thrill of sharing them with friends. I would mention Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and Stephen King's "Children of the Corn" as two of the more famous modern examples of this genre.
The Fiends in the Furrows is an above average collection of short, folk horror stories. Like many short story collections, the quality of the storytelling is uneven depending on the author. Some of the stories here, like "The Jaws of Ouroboros" are more dystopian fantasy than folk horror. Others are somewhat farcical or tongue-in-cheek and never achieve pure horror for me. Thus, I was leaning toward a three star review for this package. However, the writing here is really good. Even if the story doesn't quite pan out, the phenomenal prose will win you over. That amps up the rating to four-stars for me as I love a well-written narrative.
My favorite tale was "Back along the Old Track" by Sam Hicks. It's the most evocative of the masters like MRJ and HPL. It's a simple story but creepy. Good folk horror must produce creepy atmospherics.
"Sire of the Hatchet" by Coy Hall is what you get when you cross Robert E. Howard with MR James while "The Fruit" by Lindsay-King Miller is a classic skin-crawler with many unanswered questions.
Two of the stories, strangely enough, deal with snake-handling Christians. This was unexpected for me and I usually approach such tales with caution as they often contain an overabundance of adolescent barbs aimed at Church people. But both these tales (Eric Guignard and ST Gibson) are quite good. Both feature good snake-handlers and bad ones. And the bad ones have a well-deserved, horrifying end... as it should be for those who violate God's laws or his people!
The remaining stories are well-written but resemble fever dreams more than folk horror stories. I prefer more straight forward story-telling with the traditional plot in which an unwitting outsider uncovers the creepy underbelly of a rural idyll, then seeks to escape it, leading to the inevitable demise of said transgressor for the sake of protecting the horrifying social order that has been long imposed on the locals.
This book is recommended for those who love short fiction, folk horror, or a well-turned prose narrative.
Enjoy!

This is the perfect read or gift for someone who gets a little too into fall. By nature of the beast, the stories are so rooted in our recent human history that a strange comfort accompanies any chill down the reader's spine. Especially enjoyed S. T. Gibson's contribution.

This collection of folk horror short stories runs through various key ideas in the genre (or subgenre) of horror: rural isolation, occult weirdness, spiritualism run amok.

The shadow of religion/belief hangs over all of the stories, without beating the reader over the head with it. Particular favorites include "Sire of the Hatchet" -- Coy Hall brings a lot of evocative imagery in his story. Lindsay King-Miller's "The Fruit" explores the evolution (or devolution?) of a gay relationship in the midst of a truly hellish orchard. "The Way of the Mother" by Stephanie Ellis was horrifying, while S.T. Gibson's "Revival" was like THE BAD SEED set to a religious hymn (that's a good thing). Eric Guignard's "The First Order of Whaleyville's Divine Basilisk Handlers" was like Mark Twain laced with Lovecraft, and Steve Toase conjured up something terrifying in "The Jaws of Ouroboros" that could almost be science fiction viewed through a badly cracked and darkened lens.

These aren't uniformly gory stories; they're far more atmospheric and quietly horrifying, and have imagery that will linger in the nightmares of readers. Perfect for Halloween chills!

The first three to four stories were fantastic; the dark, old world tone I was looking for. The rest of the books stories were just nowhere near as griping and I couldn't even get through them all. One story in particular had potential but was so riddled with distracting errors it was obvious that it hadn't been proofread. All in all, the book is well done and the writing is professional. I love the illustration on the cover. The great first-half is worth the price I paid.

Absolutely fantastic collection of stories. Every single one was great, creating their own weird worlds. My only complaint is that I wish each story was longer because each had such vivid imagery and I love the feel of creeping dread that folk horror exudes.

Perfectly timed for the upcoming chill in the air, this collection is sure to have you leaving the lights on all night.

Usually I find myself disappointed in these types of books, but not the case here! All the stories are very different, but certainly lend themselves to the "folk" horror genre. From eclectic to downright creepy to overtly frightening, I think most people who enjoy these types of stories will be highly satisfied. I will be following most of the authors to see what else they offer. More!

Fiends in the Furrows parts I and II are both some of the best anthologies I've ever read and probably THE best FOLK anthologies I've ever read. So many of the stories stuck out to me through them both. I highly recommend them both. If you like folk horror, you're going to love these.

Folk Horror is a favorite subgenre of mine, and I wasn't disappointed by this first volume in Nosetouch Press's anthology series. Anthologies are tough, and there is almost always a range of opinions about which stories land and which might not for any given reader. However, there is a lot to love in each of these stories. My three favorites include "Sire of the Hatchet," "The First Order of Whaleyville's Divine Basilisk Handlers," and "The Fruit".

"Sire of the Hatchet" by Coy Hall
This story really sets the table for the whole anthology. Hall's prose is exceptional, the characters are fully drawn (which is no small task in short stories), and the classic Folk Horror mood has the requisite contrast between the mysterious and the threatening. Witchcraft, executioners, Puritanical ideologues, and something old stirring in the forests on the outskirts of town. One of the best in the anthology.

"Back Along the Old Tracks" by Sam Hicks
This is one is very well written and one of two stories that follows the core motif of a metropolitan visitor getting a peek behind the rural curtain. There are also echoes of Lovecraft here in two ways. First, the outsider runs afoul of a family whose consanguinity and cursed condition has made them feared throughout the village. And second, Hicks hints, teases, implies, and suggests much, and allows our imagination to expand into the spaces he doesn't fill explicitly.

"The Fruit" by Lindsay King-Miller
This one is eerie, seductive, and dangerous. The world building is both lush and menacing. King-Miller's mastery of language and "voicey" narration makes it my favorite story in the whole anthology. I could go on and on about this one, but it really is a perfect slice of Folk Horror.

"The Jaws of Ouroboros" by Steve Toase
Initially I had mixed feelings about this story. Compared to the others, it is not straightforward Folk Horror, but operates more as a gritty noir story. However, I think it might represent a completely new subgenre, almost a postmodern Folk Horror. Traditionally, much of Folk Horror deals with the modern world's intrusion into the rural spaces where old ways clash with modernity. This one turns that on its head, and instead it is as if the story begins sometime after the rural elements have played out and the pastoral darkness has begun leaking out into the wider world. As a result, the insatiable hunger of ancient standing stones has provided a lucrative commodity for the criminal underworld, which is all too happy to sell the horrors of the countryside to city folk for the right price.

"The First Order of Whaleyville's Divine Basilisk Handlers" by Eric J. Guignard
I live in a state that does still have a few churches where snake handling is practiced, though technically illegal, so this story was a hoot. While there was a lot of rather morbid events, the story is probably one of two in the anthology that could maybe be considered joyful, probably because of the youth of the protagonist. It's wonderfully written, and other than "Back Along the Old Tracks" is the only one that really delves into the sense of community that small, rustic towns often have. Barn dances, get togethers, neighbors-as-family...but also town rivalries, gossips, religious hypocrites, and neighborly jealousies. This one was one of my favorites.

"Pumpkin, Dear" by Romey Petite
While the plot is straightforward, there's a lot going on in this story. There's an ebb and flow between when the narration is true and when it's unreliable. Adultery (maybe), mental illness (maybe), possession (maybe), body horror, homunculi alchemy, murder, resurrection, reincarnation, misogyny, feminism, prudishness, sexual liberation...yeah, lots going on. On the one hand, it has a dream-like, fairy tale quality; and on the other, there's a more modern and voyeuristic element where we watch the slow disintegration of a marriage. Of the list, this one feels like it has the most to offer if re-read a few times.

"The Way of the Mother" by Stephanie Ellis
This story made me mad. I mean that as a compliment. Occasionally good stories do that. I personally hate it when Puritanical busybodies have a measure of authority, and that plays out in force here. It features a closed society that has walled itself off from the modern world, and requires its residents to remain perpetually stuck in a different era or suffer deadly consequences. The absolutist, authoritarian qualities of the antagonist (who, admittingly, others might not consider an antagonist) really hit all of my buttons. I absolutely despised him. I literally stopped reading this anthology for a few days after this story because I hated him so much. It takes a lot of talent as an author to make a character evoke that much emotion. The writing is truly wonderful, and the imagery is maybe the best in the anthology.

"Leave the Night" by Zachary Von Houser
This is the second of two stories that follow an outsider visiting the countryside. I had recently read "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" for the first time, and this story's first half reminded me of Irving's tale. Von Houser (or his protagonist) had a love for or keen eye for nature. The descriptions of the landscapes were beautifully written. It would be difficult not to cite The Wicker Man here, as it felt like this story was playing with similar thematic pieces. My only complaint was about an imagery shift that occurs. A lot of work goes into establishing a bird-like mythology throughout the first 95% of the story, but at the last possible moment the imagery switches to a totally different set of animal symbols. It feels like there's a reason for it, but not knowing it created a lack of resolution for me.

"Revival" by S.T. Gibson
Much like "The First Order of Whaleyville's Divine Basilisk Handlers", this story has snake handling, a young protagonist, and a generally joyful disposition. "Young" is probably an understatement, as this is the only story where the main character is a child, and she's one of the best characters in the anthology. There's some really interesting internecine religious imagery here, juxtaposing rural, Pentecostal-style beliefs with traditional Catholic theology. That collision is often messy in real life, and has created a delicate fault line in the girl's family. There's revenge, religious ecstasy, and family dysfunction. It's a great send off for this volume.

Folk Horror is experiencing a boom right now, and this anthology is a great addition to the subgenre. I highly recommend it.

3.5 Stars

My passion for folk horror continues to grow.

Rootsy, folky music is my cup of tea, so it makes sense that folk horror is hitting me so solidly. Folk horror feels like roots horror. It feels like back to the basics stories that center around time and place. Stories that are steeped in legend and folklore. Stories that while recently composed, ooze the age and fine-tuning of classic folk tales passed down through the generations.

So in my mind, if I love folk music then of course it makes sense that I love folk horror.

I've stumbled on the side of twelve misty mountains
I've walked and I've crawled on six crooked highways
I've stepped in the middle of seven sad forests
I've been out in front of a dozen dead oceans
I've been ten thousand miles in the mouth of a graveyard
And it's a hard, and it's a hard, it's a hard, and it's a hard
It's a hard rain's a-gonna fall
--Bob Dylan

For me it was more about that feel of age and history, than it was a love of one single story. It was more about the spirit of the whole. The atmosphere( damn, I didn't want to use that word again). These 9 stories, while completely unrelated, felt like interlocking puzzle pieces. The book would have been incomplete without one of these pieces. The stories had a bit of a feel of a museum exhibit and the editors, in my mind, were the curators.

All of these authors were new to me except for 2. I had previously read work by Stephanie Ellis and Eric J. Guignard.

A common theme that I have come to really enjoy is religion based horror. This book is full of stuff like that. For me, it's such a believable element of horror fiction. Horror and religion sleep in the same bed.

The stories:
1. Sire Of The Hatchet - Coy Hall - executioners called out to mete punishment on an alleged witch, hell of a tone-setter for the anthology
2. Back Along The Old Track - Sam Hicks - that family. That family that it's best to just steer clear of, don't even look at em wrong.
3. The Fruit - Lindsay King-Miller - an orchard. The townspeople harvest the dangerous fruit every year to keep it trimmed back. We ain't pickin' apples here.
4. The Jaws Of Ouroboros - Steve Toase - earth consuming, man eating stone circles. There's value to be gained if you can get close enough to clean the residue off the massive stone teeth.
5. The First Order Of Whaleyville's Divine Basilisk Handlers - Eric J. Guignard - old time religion, snake handling, a basilisk hunt, and a pretty young thing named Rosalie.
6. Pumpkin, Dear - Romey Petite - a farmer catches his wife in the act. Moonlit trysts in the pumpkin patch with another.
7. The Way Of The Mother - Stephanie Ellis - a village outside the grasp of modern society. The people of Weald are bound only by Nature's cycle.
8. Leave The Night - Zachary Von Houser - A man vacations in a rustic village during a summer festival. Definitely a Midsomar/Wicker Man feel to this one. I am not saying it's not original, but I felt those same feelings.
9. Revival - S.T. Gibson - young Callie makes pets of papaw's snakes. More religion, more snake handling. Callie is reponsible for delivering the snakes to her papaw and father on stage at the revival.

Hard to pick from these 9, but if I was pressed, I think I would say that my top 2 were:
1. The Jaws Of Ouroboros - just the originality of the whole thing
2.The Fruit - pretty love story even though the circumstances are a bit wild. There's a bit about being selfless on page 62 that I really liked. And, as dark as it was, I really liked the ending to this one. "It stung like a good whiskey".