Darkness on the Edge of Town

Brian Keene

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small town horror

mysterious evil

survival struggle

psychological tension

anarchy and chaos

first person perspective

mildly creepy atmosphere

characterization weaknesses

dez character depth

slow and uneven pacing

lack of plot progression

lack of thrill in horror

isolation theme

human nature in crisis

Darkness on the Edge of Town by Brian Keene is a novel that follows the story of a small town, Walden, Virginia, enveloped by a mysterious, evil darkness that traps its residents within. The plot focuses on the struggle for survival as the inhabitants face anarchy, deprivation of essentials, and the worst of human nature emerging in a fight for existence. The writing style is engaging, with a first-person perspective that keeps readers intrigued, even though the story is not particularly scary but rather mildly creepy at times.

Characters:

Characterization is largely viewed as weak, with one notable exception in Dez, who provides some depth to the otherwise flat cast.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is straightforward and first-person, though many readers felt it lacked depth and excitement.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around a small town engulfed by an encroaching darkness, leading to psychological turmoil and chaos among its residents, yet significant plot progression is lacking.

Setting:

The setting depicts a small town overtaken by darkness, creating an atmosphere of isolation and psychological tension.

Pacing:

Pacing is generally slow and uneven, leading to a lack of engagement for many readers.

In the beginning was the word. I know this because the Bible tells me so. The Bible tells me a lot of things. It says that Jesus loves me, and that you shouldn’t suffer a witch to live, and in the beg...

Notes:

The book centers around a town engulfed in an impenetrable darkness.

The characters in the story, particularly Robbie, keep journals about their experiences.

There's an absence of significant plot twists and action, leading to a feeling of stagnation.

The Darkness has the ability to take familiar forms to lure people in, creating a psychological horror element.

Some readers found the story reminiscent of Stephen King's works, particularly The Mist and Under the Dome.

The narrative includes a commentary on human nature and societal breakdown under pressure.

Many reviewers noted the lack of character development, with only a few characters feeling multidimensional.

The ending is notably open-ended, prompting readers to imagine their own conclusions.

There's a mix of horror and psychological themes in the writing, with some moments considered mildly creepy but not fully terrifying.

Fans of Brian Keene might appreciate how this novel connects to his larger mythos, including elements from his other works.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

High content warnings for themes of horror, despair, societal breakdown, and potential psychological triggers.

From The Publisher:

One morning the residents of Walden, Virginia, woke up to find the rest of the world gone. Just . . . gone. Surrounding their town was a wall of inky darkness, plummeting Walden into permanent night. Nothing can get in - not light, not people, not even electricity, radio, TV, internet, food, or water. And nothing can get out. No one who dared to penetrate the mysterious barrier has ever been seen again. Only their screams were heard. But for some, the darkness is not the worst of their fears. Driven mad by thirst, hunger, and perpetual night, the residents of Walden are ready to explode. The last few sane prisoners of this small town must prepare a final stand against their neighbors, themselves, and something even worse . . . something out there . . . in the darkness .

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