Incubus

I had to add my two-cent worth and agree with those readers who reviewed this book and found it to be a wonderfully written novel of a woman's, and a towns, descent into hell. Arensberg has taken the myth of the incubus, (an evil spirit that lies on women in their sleep, pinning them down to have sexual intercourse with them), and has asked the question "What if?". What makes this story truly frightening is the way she blends the myth of the incubus into a 21st century setting, a small town in Maine in 1974. Told in retrospective by Cora Whitman, the wife of the local Episcopal minister, she begins to notice the subtle changes that are happening to the people of Dry Falls. But then things take a nasty turn, and Cora finds herself a victim of the evil that has settled over Dry Falls. Arensberg writes with a slow, matter of fact pace yet she is able to evoke a sense of doom and despair. She is a wonderful writer, the scenes she creates pull you in with characters that are real and fully developed. Arensberg has written a horror novel of a higher caliber, and she is one hell of a storyteller.

As opposed to the reviews given to a book I bought at the same time ("Wither" by Passarella)which claim that book as a "masterpiece" (and I think the average reviewer must be 16 years old), this book comes poorly reviewed in its wake.This, from the very first lines is an anguish inducing, very haunting novel. Its only problem (in the eyes of the readers, I think) is that it lacks blood and gore and though it has an erotic undercurrent it also lacks sex, which is what most people associate with horror.Cora's pilgrimage (so to speak) is actually a horrifying experience. Her life will NEVER be the same and that is what horror stands for: the utter, abrupt and irreversible change in our lives against our wills is what we fear the most. Ms. Arensberg creates a palpably (if slow-paced) atmospheric story, that uncoils in utter horror.Nowadays a "good" horror novel must deal with vampires and/or killers, with lots of gore and smut... this on the other hand is a novel, and it is a supernatural horror odyssey too well crafted. Pity for those who couldn't get the point at all. It's like never knowing the difference between champagne and cheap fizz.

Cora Whitman, the narrator of this tale, helps us through bizarre and disturbing material through her erudite use of denial, humor and distraction. These devices are as much for the protection of the narrator as they are for us, as she is as fully prepared to deny the existence of some pretty kinky supernatural events as we are. Throughout most of the book she objectively describes the goings on and makes it clear that she is having none of it, all the while tempting her readers with interesting menus, recipes and (really good) gardening tips. Given the mastery of this author, such distractions alone make for a delightful page-turner. Yet, while the underlying horror of what's really happening is far beyond the narrator's understanding -- and ours, the author builds a story from which there is no escape -- either from the mounting fear and tension in the plot or from her brilliant writing. The fact that she always leads us away from the horrible truth while nagging us with its in-your-face evidence, is what is so compelling about this book. This reader found herself grateful for Cora's denial and was far happier comtemplating the smell of fresh gingerbread than the miasmic substances hovering over people's beds. Alas, despite her denial, the sinister corruption prevails until Cora and her readers can no longer resist consideration of a parallel universe. If you can't deal with such possibilities, don't read this book. Be warned, however, that if you don't, you'll miss an awesome piece of literature!

This is a brilliant novel, which should not be pigeonholed in the "horror" genre or compared to anything by Stephen King. Ann Arensberg has written a perfect novel for 1999. For she writes, "there is a clandestine traffic from the underworld in every era, but particularly at the end of a millenium... The inhabitants of the underworld smell our panic..." This is a powerful, haunting, sexy book with plenty of commentary on religion and friendship and family life. And it is driven by a gripping plot about the supernatural invasion of a small town in Maine in 1974. Like Isabel Walker, the narrator of Diane Johnson's stunning novel "Le Divorce," Arensberg's narrator, Cora Whitman, is a lot more astute and knowing than she would have us believe. She is a cook, a gardener, and the wife of a minister-- all occupations that soothe us as she leads us into this macabre and disturbing tale of the supernatural. This is one of those rare books that signal to you that you are in the hands of a master writer. Highly recommended.