Jago

Kim Newman

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Jago by Kim Newman is a nightmare hallucination filled story of a religious cult in the English West Country. The plot flits between supernatural, science fiction, fantasy, religion, superstition, Armageddon, and folklore with a dollop of horror. The world begins to break down around the festival goers and the villagers, with horror manifesting itself in weird, bizarre behavior and 'acting out'. The book is set in the small village of Alder in the West Country where there's soon to be a festival of huge proportion, similar to Woodstock, and the population of Alder is invaded by a sea of visitors. The main novel has disturbingly real characters, strong imagery, and some disturbingly comic moments interspersed throughout the narrative.

Characters:

Characters are well-defined, with Jago as a memorable antagonist representing darker societal themes.

Writing/Prose:

The writing combines graphic horror with dark humor and a complex narrative style.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot weaves together supernatural elements, cult dynamics, and apocalyptic horror around a music festival.

Setting:

The setting is a supernatural-infused version of Alder Somerset, reflecting rural culture and horror.

Pacing:

The pacing includes a slow build-up followed by an accelerated climax, with some uneven sections.

Notes:

The story is set in Alder Somerset, a small town in Britain known for its supernatural events.

The town is said to have leylines, which might explain its supernatural phenomena.

Anthony William Jago, the antagonist, is a cult leader known to his followers as 'Beloved.'

The plot involves a chaotic annual music festival that resembles Woodstock.

The book explores a mix of horror, religion, and supernatural themes.

The narrative features a small group of immune individuals trying to save the town from Jago's influence.

The writing style is characterized as crude with moments of dark humor.

Jago was published in 1991 and predates Kim Newman's more famous works.

The book includes shocking imagery and graphic content, balanced by comedy to relieve tension.

The characters are well-defined, presenting a contrast between good and evil, old and young.

Readers have noted the narrative's complexity, with multiple perspectives making it occasionally confusing.

The story has elements reminiscent of 1970s and 1980s horror, with psychedelic themes.

The novel blends different genres: supernatural fiction, fantasy, horror, and folklore.

Several readers found the book long but gripping, with unexpected twists throughout.

Three bonus short stories included in the book provide alternative perspectives on Jago's characters.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes strong imagery, body horror, sexual content, and themes of violence and cult behavior.

From The Publisher:

Paul, a young academic composing a thesis about the end of the world, and his girlfriend Hazel, a potter, have come to the tiny English village of Alder for the summer. Their idea of a rural retreat gradually sours as the laws of nature begin to break down around them. The village, swollen by an annual rock festival of cataclysmic proportions, prepares to reap a harvest of horror.

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