benthewriter 's review for:

The Willows by Algernon Blackwood

4.0

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This story is, to me, the very embodiment of weird fiction - not quite horror, not quite fantasy, and not quite science-fiction. Each line is carefully crafted to add to a subtle, unsettling ambiance that builds methodically through the text. The story is rich with metaphor and allusion, but what really brings it home as a masterpiece is the expert pacing; it starts slowly, lazily, and builds to a frenzy. I believe Blackwood bridges the gap between Poe and Lovecraft and anyone who enjoys either of those authors should read The Willows.