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The Rain Dancers
He arrives in darkness, in the middle of a violent downpour...an affable old man with tales to tell... When Will and Betty Colby return to Betty's hometown to settle her late father's affairs and prepare his house for sale, they assume they'll be faced with some cleaning, basic repairs and making runs to the local dump. Will also hopes it will afford Betty a chance to reflect on the difficult relationship she had with her father. But something more is happening in this quiet little town, in this dark old house at the end of this seemingly deserted dirt road. In the middle of a rainstorm, a man calling himself Bob Laurent appears in the night on their doorstep, claiming to be an old family friend. He seems harmless enough, only Betty has no memory of him. Yet he knows everything about her, her father and their lives. He even knows intimate details about Will and his life. While the storm rages on, a cauldron of tension, suspicion and fear builds between the couple and the stranger, dragging Will and Betty to the very brink of madness. A vile and unrelenting evil has returned to claim what was taken from it long ago, and all the demons of the past, present and probable future have come home to roost. Before the storm clears and the sun rises, Will and Betty Colby will come to know the horrifying truth. People live and die...but the evil they do is eternal.
77 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
22 people are currently reading
1266 people want to read
About the author
Greg F. Gifune
79 books352 followersCalled "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, Greg F. Gifune is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. His work has been published in a wide range of magazines and anthologies all over the world, and has recently garnered interest from Hollywood. His novels include The Bleeding Season, Deep Night, Saying Uncle, A View From The Lake, Night Work, Drago Descending, Blood In Electric Blue and Dominion.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 25, 2014
When Will and Betty Colby are at her recently deceased father's house preparing it for sale, an old man shows up out of the rain. Bob Laurent claims to be a friend of the family. But why can't Betty remember him? And why is he putting his hands all over her...
The Rain Dancers is one creepy little novella. It's basic premise reminds me of Joe Lansdale's Mr. Weedeater a bit. Bob Laurent shows up, undermines Will, and has some pretty sinister intentions. In addition to Mr. Weedeater, The Rain Dancers reminds me of Stephen King's It as well.
Gifune's writing conveys a growing feeling of unease from Will very well. The story goes down a dark path and events Betty herself can't remember come to light.
Since it's a novella, that's about all I'm prepared to reveal at this time. The Rain Dancers is a worthwhile entry in to the DarkFuse novella series and will likely prove to be a very memorable read. Four out of five stars.
The Rain Dancers is one creepy little novella. It's basic premise reminds me of Joe Lansdale's Mr. Weedeater a bit. Bob Laurent shows up, undermines Will, and has some pretty sinister intentions. In addition to Mr. Weedeater, The Rain Dancers reminds me of Stephen King's It as well.
Gifune's writing conveys a growing feeling of unease from Will very well. The story goes down a dark path and events Betty herself can't remember come to light.
Since it's a novella, that's about all I'm prepared to reveal at this time. The Rain Dancers is a worthwhile entry in to the DarkFuse novella series and will likely prove to be a very memorable read. Four out of five stars.
April 7, 2014
Brilliant writing. Everything a short novella should be. There are twists on twists, multiple layers under the layers, clever misdirection and the whole story is open to multiple interpretations. The first thing I had to do immediately after finishing was start again and read it over more slowly - paying attention to the little cues that alluded me on the first read, simply because I made assumptions rather than asking the obvious questions
That’s why you never ask the right questions. The ones you really want and need to ask.
On the surface of things this reads like a well written ghost story. Long time married couple, Will and Betty make a trip to Betty's country home town to prepare her recently deceased father's home for sale. It's a dark and stormy night and Will and Betty are finishing up cleaning the house when they get an unexpected visitor - an old friend of Betty's father. Creepiness ensues. We learn of a past so dark that those involved buried it deep - to the extent of inventing a fiction that they choose to believe rather than face the truth.
But truth doesn't stay buried forever. Every now and then, on dark and stormy nights, you may see it dancing in the rain. The Rain Dancer invites you to come and kill it, or be killed by it.
And that would have made a pretty good story on it's own - but it was not to be. Right at the end another truth emerges. One a little more current than the afore mentioned dark past and just as disturbing. But I had to reread the whole story from start to finish to begin to work out what exactly that truth was. And I'm still not entirely sure. There are a number of ways to read and interpret this story but I suspect one has to go back to piece all those alternatives together. The clues and what they mean are littered right through the book, tantalising and teasing and inviting the reader to think up the craziest alternate meanings.
For those who have read the book, here's some of what I came up with.
5 blood-soaked stars (Unless I just made them up in my dreams)
That’s why you never ask the right questions. The ones you really want and need to ask.
On the surface of things this reads like a well written ghost story. Long time married couple, Will and Betty make a trip to Betty's country home town to prepare her recently deceased father's home for sale. It's a dark and stormy night and Will and Betty are finishing up cleaning the house when they get an unexpected visitor - an old friend of Betty's father. Creepiness ensues. We learn of a past so dark that those involved buried it deep - to the extent of inventing a fiction that they choose to believe rather than face the truth.
But truth doesn't stay buried forever. Every now and then, on dark and stormy nights, you may see it dancing in the rain. The Rain Dancer invites you to come and kill it, or be killed by it.
And that would have made a pretty good story on it's own - but it was not to be. Right at the end another truth emerges. One a little more current than the afore mentioned dark past and just as disturbing. But I had to reread the whole story from start to finish to begin to work out what exactly that truth was. And I'm still not entirely sure. There are a number of ways to read and interpret this story but I suspect one has to go back to piece all those alternatives together. The clues and what they mean are littered right through the book, tantalising and teasing and inviting the reader to think up the craziest alternate meanings.
For those who have read the book, here's some of what I came up with.
5 blood-soaked stars (Unless I just made them up in my dreams)
September 24, 2016
"He arrived in darkness, in the middle of a violent downpour.......I let him in."
In RAIN DANCERS, you know something's off from the very start with the creepy-touchy old guy who stops by for a visit, that you just can't seem to remember.......yet......but as the never-ending rain continues to pound away, the memories slowly begin to resurface from a buried past with fear and recognition of the presence of evil.
Great (short) spooky October read!
April 19, 2015
An unforgiving old house, an apprehension that something isn't quite as it should be, and rain. Powerful, driving, unrelenting rain. Childhood memories, dead and buried. Ignore whoever it is knocking at the door. Please.
December 10, 2013
It's dark outside. The rain is pouring down. There's a stranger at the door, claiming to be an old friend of the family. The couple at the house do not remember the man, but they invite him in anyway, to be polite. And so, The Rain Dancers begins.
This novella is a masterpiece of building unease and tension. Who is this stranger? What does he want? Why is he touching the man's wife in that familiar manner? More importanly, why is the wife not bothered by this?
From there the story just explodes. In the darkness and the rain, the truth is revealed. In the darkness and the rain, he dances. Treat yourself to a nightmarish story with a poignance that is not often found in dark fiction. It is a story you will not soon forget. Mr. Gifune guarantees that.
Merged review:
The Rain Dancers by Greg Gifune
It's dark outside. The rain is pouring down. There's a stranger at the door, claiming to be an old friend of the family. The couple at the house doesn't remember the man, but invites him in anyway, to be polite. And so, The Rain Dancers begins.
This novella is a masterpiece of building unease and tension. Who is this stranger? What does he want? Why is he touching the man's wife in that familiar manner? More importantly, why is his wife not bothered by this?
From there the story just explodes. In the darkness and the rain, the truth is revealed. In the darkness and the rain, he dances.Treat yourself to a nightmarish story with a poignance that is not often found in dark fiction. It is a story you will not soon forget. Mr. Gifune guarantees that. Highly Recommended!
This novella is a masterpiece of building unease and tension. Who is this stranger? What does he want? Why is he touching the man's wife in that familiar manner? More importanly, why is the wife not bothered by this?
From there the story just explodes. In the darkness and the rain, the truth is revealed. In the darkness and the rain, he dances. Treat yourself to a nightmarish story with a poignance that is not often found in dark fiction. It is a story you will not soon forget. Mr. Gifune guarantees that.
Merged review:
The Rain Dancers by Greg Gifune
It's dark outside. The rain is pouring down. There's a stranger at the door, claiming to be an old friend of the family. The couple at the house doesn't remember the man, but invites him in anyway, to be polite. And so, The Rain Dancers begins.
This novella is a masterpiece of building unease and tension. Who is this stranger? What does he want? Why is he touching the man's wife in that familiar manner? More importantly, why is his wife not bothered by this?
From there the story just explodes. In the darkness and the rain, the truth is revealed. In the darkness and the rain, he dances.Treat yourself to a nightmarish story with a poignance that is not often found in dark fiction. It is a story you will not soon forget. Mr. Gifune guarantees that. Highly Recommended!
May 14, 2022
A dark and chilling story
He arrived in darkness, in the middle of a violent downpour.
It was raining heavily that night. The night he answered the door and invited a foul, evil entity inside his house. The night that everything changed. The night, his nightmare began.
Evil is real. Sometimes you can touch it.Sometimes it hides, waits awhile, but it's always there. Watching.
January 12, 2016
This is a disturbing, atmospheric, entirely creepy novella that is best read in one sitting late at night. On a rainy, stormy night, married couple Will and Betty Colby are visited by an old man that neither of them recognize, but who knows details about both of their pasts. Before the night is over, they will have to face old demons and confront painful memories. A sense of foreboding permeates through the entire story and you can literally feel the oppressive rain falling throughout. Gifune is one of those writers that make it seem easy. He doesn't write with fancy, flowery prose but he manages to choose just the right words to sneak up on you with sadness and pensive mystery, as the details of the plot are slowly revealed. I really enjoyed it.
December 10, 2014
Second read from Gifune and I would now consider myself a fan of his. This novella was easy to read (I actually finished it a week ago, just now getting time to review) and from the beginning the mood is ominous. With each page, it gets darker, until menace seems to drip from the pages.
Great job is done infusing just the right amounts of supernatural and psychological horror with realistic characters.
Read this when you have a couple of hours one night, alone in the dark with no one around. I dare you.
Great job is done infusing just the right amounts of supernatural and psychological horror with realistic characters.
Read this when you have a couple of hours one night, alone in the dark with no one around. I dare you.
February 17, 2022
When Will and Betty Colby return to Betty's hometown to settle her late father's affairs and prepare his house for sale, they assume they'll be faced with some cleaning, basic repairs and making runs to the local dump. Will also hopes it will afford Betty a chance to reflect on the difficult relationship she had with her father. But something more is happening in this quiet little town, in this dark old house at the end of this seemingly deserted dirt road. In the middle of a rainstorm, a man calling himself Bob Laurent appears in the night on their doorstep, claiming to be an old family friend. He seems harmless enough, only Betty has no memory of him. Yet he knows everything about her, her father and their lives. He even knows intimate details about Will and his life. While the storm rages on, a cauldron of tension, suspicion and fear builds between the couple and the stranger, dragging Will and Betty to the very brink of madness.
A haunting psychological thriller about the horrors of repressed memories. Bob Laurent is a terrific villain, capturing the gross and slimy feeling that emotional predators often excrete. He's a sweet, playful old man one moment and a disgusting, perverted psycho as soon as he's in the company of someone vulnerable. His presence in the story matches the mood of a somber house with dark secrets, an oppressive rain that soaks you in tension and the unraveling of repressed memories that reveal what kind of monster he truly is. Though the ending can be a bit difficult to piece together, it feels incredibly well done once you look back and pick up on all the hidden clues in the clever choices of dialogue and the way certain things were phrased to have sinister double meanings.
A haunting psychological thriller about the horrors of repressed memories. Bob Laurent is a terrific villain, capturing the gross and slimy feeling that emotional predators often excrete. He's a sweet, playful old man one moment and a disgusting, perverted psycho as soon as he's in the company of someone vulnerable. His presence in the story matches the mood of a somber house with dark secrets, an oppressive rain that soaks you in tension and the unraveling of repressed memories that reveal what kind of monster he truly is. Though the ending can be a bit difficult to piece together, it feels incredibly well done once you look back and pick up on all the hidden clues in the clever choices of dialogue and the way certain things were phrased to have sinister double meanings.
December 13, 2013
The Raindancers is another stunning novella from Greg F Gifune, again the author creates a wonderful foreboding tension and a creepy atmosphere that craves your complete attention.
Married couple Will & Betty return to her father’s house after his death to settle his affairs and ready the house to be sold. Amidst the heavy rain, an old man arrives to offer his condolences, claiming to be an old family friend, Betty is charmed by his tales of her father and herself as a young girl. However Betty just doesn’t remember Bob Laurent and Will is immediately mistrustful of a man who appears to be way too friendly and familiar. When the old man starts to get inside Will’s head, taking seemingly innocuous liberties, something has to give, dark and deadly secrets are forthcoming and this soon turns into a chilling night for Will & Betty.
Bob Laurent is the perfect antagonist, seemingly harmless, yet at the same time unnerving and the moment he reveals his true nature, after all your suspicions is masterfully told and a touch disturbing.
This story begs to be read in one sitting, my advice, buy this, settle down for a couple of hours and read some of the finest dark fiction around. Highly recommended, just reading through the synopsis again a few weeks after finishing the story stirs my emotions.
I’ve only read 3 stories from Greg F Gifune but already I have acquired 7 more and am really looking forward to reading the next one.
Married couple Will & Betty return to her father’s house after his death to settle his affairs and ready the house to be sold. Amidst the heavy rain, an old man arrives to offer his condolences, claiming to be an old family friend, Betty is charmed by his tales of her father and herself as a young girl. However Betty just doesn’t remember Bob Laurent and Will is immediately mistrustful of a man who appears to be way too friendly and familiar. When the old man starts to get inside Will’s head, taking seemingly innocuous liberties, something has to give, dark and deadly secrets are forthcoming and this soon turns into a chilling night for Will & Betty.
Bob Laurent is the perfect antagonist, seemingly harmless, yet at the same time unnerving and the moment he reveals his true nature, after all your suspicions is masterfully told and a touch disturbing.
This story begs to be read in one sitting, my advice, buy this, settle down for a couple of hours and read some of the finest dark fiction around. Highly recommended, just reading through the synopsis again a few weeks after finishing the story stirs my emotions.
I’ve only read 3 stories from Greg F Gifune but already I have acquired 7 more and am really looking forward to reading the next one.
June 24, 2015
I have several titles by this author sitting on my Kindle and many of my friends have read and almost universally loved this book. So I finally broke down and decided to give this one a shot. I'm such a moron! I don't know if the rest of his books are like this but this title was perfect for my tastes. I don't get off on the gore side of horror, I'm all about tension, suspense and the psychological side. If that is also your cuppa, then pick this up and read it....now. It's short so I'm not gonna' give you any details,(I know what you're thinking, "the lazy bastard") but the details don't really matter, it's all about the atmosphere and this book has it in spades.
Oh, and then you get to the end.....that really messed with my head.
BTW Thanks to Charlene and David for giving me the kick in the pants to finally read this.
Oh, and then you get to the end.....that really messed with my head.
BTW Thanks to Charlene and David for giving me the kick in the pants to finally read this.
November 22, 2015
Will returns with Betty to attend his father-in-law's funeral and settle his estate. While staying at the house on a rainy night, a stranger arrives claiming to be an old friend of Betty and her dad. Although Betty has no recollection of Ed, they let the elderly gentleman in and she soon becomes enchanted by his stories of her and her dad from when she was young. Will, feeling like the left out stranger, finds it strange that this man knows so much about his wife and yet she doesn't remember anything about him. Even more strange is how comfortable she becomes with him, a trait he has never seen her display in 20 years of marriage. Is he being paranoid or is there more to Ed that meets the eye?
The Rain Dancers is a great tale by Gifune. The man knows psychological horror better than about any other author out there. He paints an amazingly uncomfortable setting that you keep putting yourself in Will's place and asking yourself, "What would I do if I were in his shoes?" As the story unfolds, the tension ratchets up to point where it almost feels hallucinating. This is Gifune at his best. Highly recommended.
5 rain soaked strangers out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
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The Rain Dancers is a great tale by Gifune. The man knows psychological horror better than about any other author out there. He paints an amazingly uncomfortable setting that you keep putting yourself in Will's place and asking yourself, "What would I do if I were in his shoes?" As the story unfolds, the tension ratchets up to point where it almost feels hallucinating. This is Gifune at his best. Highly recommended.
5 rain soaked strangers out of 5
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
May 7, 2015
Wow.
It absolutely floors me just how good of a writer Greg Gifune is. Why I have waited so long to read a title by Greg Gifune is beyond my comprehension. The writing in Rain Dancers makes me feel like I am there, inside the story, inside the house, and on the yard. Nothing is left to the imagination and that is perfect in this case. Laurent is a scary character. Greg writes him like a nightmare come to life. Will and Betty are fleshed out perfectly. I can not wait to pick up my next title by Greg. If you are a fan of horror andhaven't read him, you should correct that. You will be happy you did.
September 25, 2016
Will and Betty have returned to Betty's childhood home to prepare her deceased father's house to sell. During a heavy rainstorm, an elderly man, Bob Laurent, turns up on their doorstep claiming to be a good friend of Betty's father. Whilst she doesn't remember Bob, they invite him in and listen to him reminiscing about her father. Will begins to feel uncomfortable with the man, especially his over familiarity with Betty and his strange attitude towards Will. As the night progresses the old man will bring up childhood memories that Betty has tried hard to suppress and Will learns some horrifying truths about his wife's small town life.
This was one creepy, atmospheric read. Pretty much as soon as Bob shows up the tension starts and is slowly ratcheted up as his true persona is revealed. Bob made my skin crawl and his scenes with Will are especially nerve shredding.
With the other characters, Will is well written and I felt I got to know him more than Betty whom I think the author left a bit more blank for maximum shock value once all is revealed.
Pacing was excellent and it's definitely something you'll want to read all in one sitting. The author's usual ambiguity is missing in this novella and it's a welcome change not to wonder if you've got the story worked out right.
Well written, engaging novella that has one of the most evil antagonists I've come across in a while.
Recommended.
This was one creepy, atmospheric read. Pretty much as soon as Bob shows up the tension starts and is slowly ratcheted up as his true persona is revealed. Bob made my skin crawl and his scenes with Will are especially nerve shredding.
With the other characters, Will is well written and I felt I got to know him more than Betty whom I think the author left a bit more blank for maximum shock value once all is revealed.
Pacing was excellent and it's definitely something you'll want to read all in one sitting. The author's usual ambiguity is missing in this novella and it's a welcome change not to wonder if you've got the story worked out right.
Well written, engaging novella that has one of the most evil antagonists I've come across in a while.
Recommended.
January 27, 2016
Thanks, Dan, for letting me borrow this one!
This lyrical novella tells an intriguing story that I don't fully grasp, but still enjoyed, with the writer's creative use of wording revving up both the creepy aspect and the tragic one. The "bad" character stood out the most, enjoyed him. When I first started reading this, it reminded of the eerie dead Indian guy walking up to the house in Poltergeist 2, knocking on the door and asking to be let in, being creepy in the rain. The ending was a surprise, twisted, dark, but marginally confusing.
Writing pace is held strongly so - while technically little action happens during the story - it's still hard to put down and flies by quickly. Gifune is talented with creating subtle tension and highlighting the harmony of how slight abnormalities can turn out to be the scariest things of all.
Psychology gives a nice nod to the ending when things are explained. Or...err, felt, shown, and slightly understood by yours truly. :)
This lyrical novella tells an intriguing story that I don't fully grasp, but still enjoyed, with the writer's creative use of wording revving up both the creepy aspect and the tragic one. The "bad" character stood out the most, enjoyed him. When I first started reading this, it reminded of the eerie dead Indian guy walking up to the house in Poltergeist 2, knocking on the door and asking to be let in, being creepy in the rain. The ending was a surprise, twisted, dark, but marginally confusing.
Writing pace is held strongly so - while technically little action happens during the story - it's still hard to put down and flies by quickly. Gifune is talented with creating subtle tension and highlighting the harmony of how slight abnormalities can turn out to be the scariest things of all.
Psychology gives a nice nod to the ending when things are explained. Or...err, felt, shown, and slightly understood by yours truly. :)
April 5, 2015
It was suggested in a review by a GR friend to "read this book at night all in one sitting". I took that suggestion too far. I started reading this book one very dark night while camping in a very isolated camp site where the only things you could hear were the crackling of brittle tree branches and occasional weird animal/bird squeaks (oh and did I mention I was the only one awake). However, the noise that put me over the edge was hearing a car (or truck!) in the distance slowly driving along the old campsite roads. Well that was enough for me. I stopped reading immediately and ended up finishing this novella in the middle of the day safely locked in my house with my two big dogs beside me. Trust me, this highly recomennded novella was still creepy even in daylight....
June 28, 2012
I was totally entranced by this wonderful work of literature. The characters, the way the story unfolded...it was perfect. Before I knew it this read was over, (read it in one sitting) but I was totally satisfied. I will definitely read more of Gifune's work. Highly recommended.
January 13, 2013
5 Stars
The Rain Dancers is a perfect little horror novella that does things right. The pacing is fast and smothered in a great deal of tension and suspense. The location is real feeling and the rain storm adds to the story making it surreal and a bit fantastical too. The cast is small and intimate. Will and Betty are a couple that has been married for more than 20 years and have come to a place in their lives and with their marriage that may be too predictable and too every day. Enter Laurent, the stranger, the old man that claims to be an old friend of the family and of Betty’s as well. He comes to them at her now deceased father’s house on a rain stormy night and that is where things get interesting. You see, Betty has no idea who he is and Will has a really bad feeling about him.
“Behind me, wind tossed rain against the window over the sink, spraying the pane with a quick drumming sound. Suddenly, I was confronted with a strange vision of the woods behind the house in the darkness and rain, and a sense that someone or something was watching the house, watching us.
Baffled, I sipped my beer and banished the peculiar visual from my head.
Laurent was relaying a story about how years before he and Betty’s father had gone on a hunting and fishing trip up in Maine. As he told Betty the story, he nonchalantly slid his arm around her. I didn’t think much of it at first, but he did seem awfully comfortable physically with my wife. Maybe he’s just one of those touchy-feely types, I thought. I wasn’t sure I liked this latest development, but Laurent hardly seemed the stuff of predator or dirty old man, so I let it go and listened to him babble on about what fun he and Earl had on their fishing trip. Betty was enthralled, and if Laurent’s arm bothered her, she gave no indication.”
The story quickly ramps up the suspense and the tension between Will and Laurent as well as Will and Betty. Why would his wife act the way that she is??? Why would she side with the stranger? Why is Will so bugged by Laurent? By the storm? By the lights in the backyard???
I loved Gifune’s writing style, and already have considered myself a fan. This novella is a great afternoon read with a really good payoff at the end. I never liked the short story format but now, with stories like this, look forward to reading them more and more. I Highly recommend The Rain Dancers and Greg Gifune as well.
The Rain Dancers is a perfect little horror novella that does things right. The pacing is fast and smothered in a great deal of tension and suspense. The location is real feeling and the rain storm adds to the story making it surreal and a bit fantastical too. The cast is small and intimate. Will and Betty are a couple that has been married for more than 20 years and have come to a place in their lives and with their marriage that may be too predictable and too every day. Enter Laurent, the stranger, the old man that claims to be an old friend of the family and of Betty’s as well. He comes to them at her now deceased father’s house on a rain stormy night and that is where things get interesting. You see, Betty has no idea who he is and Will has a really bad feeling about him.
“Behind me, wind tossed rain against the window over the sink, spraying the pane with a quick drumming sound. Suddenly, I was confronted with a strange vision of the woods behind the house in the darkness and rain, and a sense that someone or something was watching the house, watching us.
Baffled, I sipped my beer and banished the peculiar visual from my head.
Laurent was relaying a story about how years before he and Betty’s father had gone on a hunting and fishing trip up in Maine. As he told Betty the story, he nonchalantly slid his arm around her. I didn’t think much of it at first, but he did seem awfully comfortable physically with my wife. Maybe he’s just one of those touchy-feely types, I thought. I wasn’t sure I liked this latest development, but Laurent hardly seemed the stuff of predator or dirty old man, so I let it go and listened to him babble on about what fun he and Earl had on their fishing trip. Betty was enthralled, and if Laurent’s arm bothered her, she gave no indication.”
The story quickly ramps up the suspense and the tension between Will and Laurent as well as Will and Betty. Why would his wife act the way that she is??? Why would she side with the stranger? Why is Will so bugged by Laurent? By the storm? By the lights in the backyard???
I loved Gifune’s writing style, and already have considered myself a fan. This novella is a great afternoon read with a really good payoff at the end. I never liked the short story format but now, with stories like this, look forward to reading them more and more. I Highly recommend The Rain Dancers and Greg Gifune as well.
January 20, 2013
The Rain Dancers was a pleasant surprise. I have heard of Gifune's writing from the Goodreads group Horror Aficionados for some time now, but never really took the plunge. Recently, I joined the DarkFuse book club, and this is one of the novellas that I got for free for joining.
Getting the novella for free wasn't the pleasant surprise, though that was pleasant enough. No, what grounded me and got my head spinning was the great characterization and dialogue within this short, intense masterpiece.
Will and Betty return to Betty's hometown a year after her father's death to clean out his house and put it up for sale. On their first night a terrible rainstorm hits, and with it comes Bob Laurent. Bob claims that he's an old friend of Betty's father who moved away when Betty was only a teenager. He says they were so close that Betty used to call him "Uncle Bob." This appears to be true, because he knows an awful lot about Betty and her family.
The only problem is, Betty doesn't remember Bob Laurent. As the night, and Bob's visit, wears on, Betty slowly begins to remember Laurent. More importantly, she remembers what he is.
The Rain Dancers is tense from beginning until the end and I had a lot of fun reading it. It read very well as a novella, but I could see it being adapted as a play and/or a movie as well. A very engaging story and highly recommended.
Getting the novella for free wasn't the pleasant surprise, though that was pleasant enough. No, what grounded me and got my head spinning was the great characterization and dialogue within this short, intense masterpiece.
Will and Betty return to Betty's hometown a year after her father's death to clean out his house and put it up for sale. On their first night a terrible rainstorm hits, and with it comes Bob Laurent. Bob claims that he's an old friend of Betty's father who moved away when Betty was only a teenager. He says they were so close that Betty used to call him "Uncle Bob." This appears to be true, because he knows an awful lot about Betty and her family.
The only problem is, Betty doesn't remember Bob Laurent. As the night, and Bob's visit, wears on, Betty slowly begins to remember Laurent. More importantly, she remembers what he is.
The Rain Dancers is tense from beginning until the end and I had a lot of fun reading it. It read very well as a novella, but I could see it being adapted as a play and/or a movie as well. A very engaging story and highly recommended.
February 3, 2015
An incredible book. A page turner with a long half life even after you're finished. Quick, concise, but challenging.
Gifune is a master at tone, painting the pages with isolation, loneliness, desperation. My kindle was wet from sheets of rain coming down sideways when I was through with this story. It hit me as not only about a stranger coming in from the rain, but about how each individual brings their fractured selves into a relationship, and how lonely and isolated one can feel even though married. Couples must eventually unite to battle the ghosts of yesteryear or face the isolation alone.
There is a Bob Laurent in all of our lives. Yours is at the door.
Gifune is a master at tone, painting the pages with isolation, loneliness, desperation. My kindle was wet from sheets of rain coming down sideways when I was through with this story. It hit me as not only about a stranger coming in from the rain, but about how each individual brings their fractured selves into a relationship, and how lonely and isolated one can feel even though married. Couples must eventually unite to battle the ghosts of yesteryear or face the isolation alone.
There is a Bob Laurent in all of our lives. Yours is at the door.
June 9, 2015
If it's late at night and the rain is beating down outside, then be careful to whom you open the door. Sound advice at any time, but it'll be branded into your skull with a hot poker once you get through reading The Rain Dancers.
The story opens as Will and Betty Colby are reaching the end of a long day, spent tidying up the estate affairs of Betty's late father. The arrival of an uninvited, though seemingly harmless visitor, immediately puts Will on edge. There is something decidedly 'off' about this family friend. It is a feeling compounded by the fact that Betty doesn't remember him, and yet he possesses disturbing and intimate knowledge about her life.
Confession time: A third of the way in I was convinced I knew which road Mr. Gifune was taking us down - hell, I even knew where he planned on parking the truck... yeah, I got that totally wrong!
This really is an absolute masterpiece of a novella, from start to finish. You should read it. But, be advised, if you are looking for action driven, tongue-in-cheek slash 'em up horror, then this ain't the kiddy for you.
The Rain Dancers is chilling to the core, and it will in all likelihood stay with you, rattling around inside your skull, haunting you long after you have reached that last page.
The story opens as Will and Betty Colby are reaching the end of a long day, spent tidying up the estate affairs of Betty's late father. The arrival of an uninvited, though seemingly harmless visitor, immediately puts Will on edge. There is something decidedly 'off' about this family friend. It is a feeling compounded by the fact that Betty doesn't remember him, and yet he possesses disturbing and intimate knowledge about her life.
Confession time: A third of the way in I was convinced I knew which road Mr. Gifune was taking us down - hell, I even knew where he planned on parking the truck... yeah, I got that totally wrong!
This really is an absolute masterpiece of a novella, from start to finish. You should read it. But, be advised, if you are looking for action driven, tongue-in-cheek slash 'em up horror, then this ain't the kiddy for you.
The Rain Dancers is chilling to the core, and it will in all likelihood stay with you, rattling around inside your skull, haunting you long after you have reached that last page.
February 19, 2019
This story was overflowing with suspense and tension. What a great read!
February 6, 2016
Will and Betty have arrived at her late father Earle’s house to arrange for the property to be cleared and the contents sorted prior to its imminent sale. As they set about the sad task and as Betty reacquaints herself with her childhood there is a knock at the door......After a slight hesitation, I opened the door. “Come in.”..."Much obliged.” He stepped inside, bringing a gust of wind and a spray of rain with him. “Great Gosh Almighty, nasty night out there, isn’t it?”..."Quite a rain,” I said. He made sure the storm door closed and latched behind him. “Apologize for showing up announced like this,” he said, “but when I heard Earl had passed I felt it only right to stop in and pay you and your lovely bride my respects.”
Thus the reader is introduced to the deeply disturbed, overtly friendly and thoroughly evil “good ole southern boy” Bob Laurent. Greg F Gifune has done a wonderful job of introducing a seemingly harmless, friendly stranger and yet from the moment we meet him his evil intent is apparent. “The inexplicable fear I’d initially felt had subsided, but in its wake was an equally baffling sense of unease.” It is this growing fear and the knowledge that something terrible is about to befall Will and Betty that makes The Rain Dancers such an unforgettable experience. I read with such a sense of foreboding and fear as I waited for the fate of Will and Betty to be decided...
The reason for Laurent’s visit and the unravelling of Betty Colby’s past come together in an explosive and brilliant conclusion making this one of the best short novellas I have ever read. Greg F Gifune is a writer of such emotive and descriptive power and this short story as a showcase for his undoubted writing talent.
Thus the reader is introduced to the deeply disturbed, overtly friendly and thoroughly evil “good ole southern boy” Bob Laurent. Greg F Gifune has done a wonderful job of introducing a seemingly harmless, friendly stranger and yet from the moment we meet him his evil intent is apparent. “The inexplicable fear I’d initially felt had subsided, but in its wake was an equally baffling sense of unease.” It is this growing fear and the knowledge that something terrible is about to befall Will and Betty that makes The Rain Dancers such an unforgettable experience. I read with such a sense of foreboding and fear as I waited for the fate of Will and Betty to be decided...
The reason for Laurent’s visit and the unravelling of Betty Colby’s past come together in an explosive and brilliant conclusion making this one of the best short novellas I have ever read. Greg F Gifune is a writer of such emotive and descriptive power and this short story as a showcase for his undoubted writing talent.
May 15, 2012
The Rain Dancers was really fun to read. I love books that hook me right away and keep me in suspense until the end.
The basic premise is a stranger shows up in the middle of a rain storm claiming to be an old friend of Betty's family. This stranger is a sweet old man with wonderful stories about the family's past. He's seemingly harmless, but Betty doesn't remember him. At all.
The build up of tension and suspense in The Rain Dancers was awesome. I was glued to the story. In a horrible twist of fate, my Kindle battery died just before I got to the end. I woke up in the middle of the night and could not go back to sleep knowing my Kindle was now charged. I had to get up and finish reading it! The Rain Dancers was pretty impossible to put down.
If you've read Gifune, you know he is a master of atmosphere. If you haven't read Gifune, you should. He is taking up residence on my 'must read' list.
The basic premise is a stranger shows up in the middle of a rain storm claiming to be an old friend of Betty's family. This stranger is a sweet old man with wonderful stories about the family's past. He's seemingly harmless, but Betty doesn't remember him. At all.
The build up of tension and suspense in The Rain Dancers was awesome. I was glued to the story. In a horrible twist of fate, my Kindle battery died just before I got to the end. I woke up in the middle of the night and could not go back to sleep knowing my Kindle was now charged. I had to get up and finish reading it! The Rain Dancers was pretty impossible to put down.
If you've read Gifune, you know he is a master of atmosphere. If you haven't read Gifune, you should. He is taking up residence on my 'must read' list.
June 9, 2014
Greg Gifune is always a treat.
So far his stories have slightly fallen short of the five star mark for me, but there is one attribute that always hits five-star quality: his writing.
This guy is tough to beat. His prose is engaging, he is descriptively gifted, and his dialogue is genuine.
The Rain Dancers is a 77 page novella that tells the story of a couple who have returned to her small town to settle her late father's affairs, namely preparing his house for sale. On a rainy night, a stranger shows up at the door...
Yes, this is very creepy, and I loved how Gifune pulled me through it. I finished it yesterday, and I am still thinking about it.
I started out this review thinking that I would give this one four stars, but the quality of storytelling really deserves more. Let's say four and a half. And let's round it up, he deserves it.
So far his stories have slightly fallen short of the five star mark for me, but there is one attribute that always hits five-star quality: his writing.
This guy is tough to beat. His prose is engaging, he is descriptively gifted, and his dialogue is genuine.
The Rain Dancers is a 77 page novella that tells the story of a couple who have returned to her small town to settle her late father's affairs, namely preparing his house for sale. On a rainy night, a stranger shows up at the door...
Yes, this is very creepy, and I loved how Gifune pulled me through it. I finished it yesterday, and I am still thinking about it.
I started out this review thinking that I would give this one four stars, but the quality of storytelling really deserves more. Let's say four and a half. And let's round it up, he deserves it.
February 16, 2016
Will Colby has returned with his wife to the house and the town where she spent her childhood. The death of Betty's father has left the couple with a number of tasks as they seek to wrap up the old man's affairs.
During one dark and stormy night, a man named Bob arrives, and it soon becomes clear he knows an awful lot about Betty. Although Bob claims to be a lifelong friend of the family, Betty appears to have no memory of him.
Will had already taken a dislike to the man, and given his wife's inability to explain who Bob may be, the tension soon begins to mount. This really is a superbly written tale of cloying despair, and the truth revealed by a dreadful evil returned.
During one dark and stormy night, a man named Bob arrives, and it soon becomes clear he knows an awful lot about Betty. Although Bob claims to be a lifelong friend of the family, Betty appears to have no memory of him.
Will had already taken a dislike to the man, and given his wife's inability to explain who Bob may be, the tension soon begins to mount. This really is a superbly written tale of cloying despair, and the truth revealed by a dreadful evil returned.
May 7, 2012
Gifune is definitely a master. I found myself squirming and uncomfortable throughout this story as the sense of unease grew stronger and more concrete. A testament to the concept that, contrary to Shakespeare, the evil that men do does live beyond the interment of their bones in the form of scars and even ghosts that haunt the living. In fact, evil never truly dies.
5 stars. As others have said, if you are not reading Gifune, you should be.
5 stars. As others have said, if you are not reading Gifune, you should be.
June 6, 2012
Greg Gifune has been creating some of the most memorable dark fiction for the past decade with critically acclaimed works like "The Bleeding Season," "Deep Night," "Heretics," and "Saying Uncle," just to name a few. Now you can add his latest novella "The Rain Dancers" to his ever-growing list.
Will and Betty Colby have returned to Betty's hometown to clean out and sell her late father's home, but her "Uncle Bob" has decided to drop in for a visit to pay his condolences. Arriving at the old ramshackle house at the end of a deserted dirt road in the middle of a calamitous rainstorm, seemingly harmless and caring Uncle Bob regales the couple with tales of old, stories of Betty's youth, and remembrances of Betty's father. The only problem is, neither of them know who Uncle Bob is, and Will is certain that he's making blatant passes at his wife.
Through a haze of beer and wine while the storm ravages the landscape outside, Will tries desperately to convince his wife that there's something wrong with the old man, who seems to know secrets about Will himself, all leading to a shocking and heartbreaking finality, but maybe the only ending possible for those involved...because when the past comes calling, you must answer.
Gifune's prose is fluid, his pacing perfectly plotted, and his characters full of life. These components always seem to be true of Greg's work, and "The Rain Dancers" is no exception.
Will and Betty Colby have returned to Betty's hometown to clean out and sell her late father's home, but her "Uncle Bob" has decided to drop in for a visit to pay his condolences. Arriving at the old ramshackle house at the end of a deserted dirt road in the middle of a calamitous rainstorm, seemingly harmless and caring Uncle Bob regales the couple with tales of old, stories of Betty's youth, and remembrances of Betty's father. The only problem is, neither of them know who Uncle Bob is, and Will is certain that he's making blatant passes at his wife.
Through a haze of beer and wine while the storm ravages the landscape outside, Will tries desperately to convince his wife that there's something wrong with the old man, who seems to know secrets about Will himself, all leading to a shocking and heartbreaking finality, but maybe the only ending possible for those involved...because when the past comes calling, you must answer.
Gifune's prose is fluid, his pacing perfectly plotted, and his characters full of life. These components always seem to be true of Greg's work, and "The Rain Dancers" is no exception.
June 4, 2016
I always enjoy Gifunes writing. He is a very good story teller and even in parts of a story that aren't particularly scary, he has this eerie feel about him. You can almost sense the darkness in the tale.
This was a decent story, but not as good as some of the others I've read from him. Mainly because I guessed the outcome very early on. I won't go into that as I don't want to ruin it.
This is worth a go if you fancy a quick read, but if you want to sample some of Gifunes stronger work then I would highly recommend The Bleeding Season.
This was a decent story, but not as good as some of the others I've read from him. Mainly because I guessed the outcome very early on. I won't go into that as I don't want to ruin it.
This is worth a go if you fancy a quick read, but if you want to sample some of Gifunes stronger work then I would highly recommend The Bleeding Season.
March 6, 2020
Will and Betty are cleaning up her recently deceased father’s house when an old man arrives. The man claims to be a friend of the family and seems to know so much about Betty as a child and her family that it seems unconscionable not to let him come in out of the rain. Strangely, however, Betty has no memory of him. And so the mystery begins. It is a fairly solid genre piece, but it is so skillfully done, and even if the core of the story is easy to work out early on, the end is both unusual and satisfying.
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