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Hell Hound

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Hell Hound by Ken Greenhall is a chilling novel that follows the story of Baxter, an English bull terrier who is not a very good dog. Baxter's journey leads him to Carl, a sociopathic thirteen-year-old boy, and his parents, Jason and Sara Fine. The book explores the sinister relationship between Baxter and Carl, showcasing a cycle of violence and manipulation. Through the dual narration of a third person omniscient narrator and Baxter himself, readers are taken on a disturbing and engrossing journey into the darkest corners of the human mind.

Characters:

Characters are complex and morally ambiguous, especially Baxter and Carl, who embody sociopathic traits.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is concise and psychologically intricate, employing dark humor and a unique narrative perspective.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot explores the predicaments of a bull terrier and his relationships with different characters, blending horror with satire and psychological depth.

Setting:

The setting is a seemingly ordinary small community that amplifies the psychological horror.

Pacing:

The pacing is steady, gradually building tension and unease, leading to an impactful conclusion.
Each afternoon as I lie amid the odors of dryness and age I begin to think of the couple, and my excitement grows. I feel the warm patch of sunlight move slowly over my body. My legs twitch, and the d...

Notes:

Hell Hound was originally published in 1977 and reissued by Valancourt Books in 2017.
Ken Greenhall, the author, was born in 1928 and passed away in 2014.
The book features Baxter, an English bull terrier, as a central character and one of the narrators.
Baxter is described as having a malevolent nature, often observing and manipulating humans.
The story explores the dynamics between Baxter and various human characters, including a boy named Carl who is a sociopath.
Hell Hound was part of a limited output by Greenhall, who only published six novels in total.
Grady Hendrix introduced the new edition and highlighted Greenhall's unique approach to horror, which focuses on discomfort rather than terror.
The novel was initially hard to find and has been reprinted as part of the 'Paperbacks from Hell' series.
There is an unsettling blend of humor and horror throughout the book, creating a unique reading experience.
The title 'Hell Hound' does not imply supernatural elements, and the story does not feature traditional good vs evil themes.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book contains themes of violence, sociopathy, and unsettling behavior that may be disturbing to some readers.

From The Publisher:

'What are the possibilities of my strength? That is a thought I have never had before. What if some morning as the old woman stood at the head of the staircase she were suddenly to feel a weight thrusting against the back of her legs? What if she were to lunge forward, grasping at the air, striking her thin skull against the edge of a stair? What would become of me if she were found unmoving at the bottom of the stairway?'

Such are the thoughts of Baxter, a sociopathic bull terrier on the hunt for the perfect master, as he contemplates the demise of his first victim. The basis for the acclaimed 1989 film Baxter, Ken Greenhall's utterly chilling and long-unobtainable Hell Hound (1977) has earned a reputation as a lost classic of horror fiction. This first-ever reissue includes a new introduction by Grady Hendrix.

'An unsung classic of the bizarre that ranks with Crash and The Wasp Factory.' - Fright.com

'Deserves to be much more well-known and not simply as a "cult classic" . . . I cannot recommend it highly enough!' - Too Much Horror Fiction

'An author who has been criminally neglected by modern readers . . . It's time to start celebrating Ken Greenhall.' - Jonathan Janz

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