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The Incubations
“Ramsey Campbell is the nearest thing we have to an heir to M. R. James” – The Times Companion to the Special, collectable hardcover Edition for Ramsey Campbell's 60 years in publication.
When a weight landed on his legs he raised his head from the violently crumpled pillow. The bed already had another occupant, and as Leo flung the quilt back so that it wouldn’t hinder his escape the creature scurried up his body to squat on his chest, clutching him with all its limbs like half a spider…The English town of Settlesham was twinned with Alphafen in Germany soon after the Second World War. During the war both towns were bombed, even though Alphafen seemed to have no strategic significance. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the postwar reconciliation, pupils at the local schools were set to correspond with their opposite numbers. Leo Parker has been in touch with Hanna Weber ever since but has never previously visited her. As an adult he’s welcomed in Alphafen, but his stay seems idyllic despite the odd incident—a local who blames him for a hostile letter a schoolmate of Leo’s sent, a glimpse of an uncanny figure on an Alpine walk, a flapping intruder that seems to embody Hanna’s night fears, an encounter in a mountain restaurant with an English tourist who turns out to be there for his own disturbing reasons. It’s only after Leo leaves the town that the nightmares an airport turns into a labyrinth, his own words become treacherous if not lethal, a family meal grows unnaturally active, and what are those creatures that have appeared in the photographs he took? The man he met in the mountain restaurant hasn’t finished with him, and he has to deal with the town councillor who sent the warlike letter when they were teenage classmates. A local police inspector has reason to suspect his actions, even though the policeman is a friend of Leo’s parents. Even the therapy Leo undertakes becomes a source of menace. In his bid to cement international relations, Leo may have roused the source of an ancient Alpine legend and brought a supernatural infection home with him. Even once he understands what has travelled with him, his attempts to overcome its influence may lead into greater nightmares still…
The Ramsey Campbell Special Editions. Campbell is the greatest inheritor of a tradition that reaches back through H.P. Lovecraft and M.R. James to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the early Gothic writers. The dark, masterful work of the painter Henry Fuseli, a friend of Mary Wollstonecraft, is used on these special editions to invoke early literary investigations into the supernatural.
When a weight landed on his legs he raised his head from the violently crumpled pillow. The bed already had another occupant, and as Leo flung the quilt back so that it wouldn’t hinder his escape the creature scurried up his body to squat on his chest, clutching him with all its limbs like half a spider…The English town of Settlesham was twinned with Alphafen in Germany soon after the Second World War. During the war both towns were bombed, even though Alphafen seemed to have no strategic significance. To mark the fiftieth anniversary of the postwar reconciliation, pupils at the local schools were set to correspond with their opposite numbers. Leo Parker has been in touch with Hanna Weber ever since but has never previously visited her. As an adult he’s welcomed in Alphafen, but his stay seems idyllic despite the odd incident—a local who blames him for a hostile letter a schoolmate of Leo’s sent, a glimpse of an uncanny figure on an Alpine walk, a flapping intruder that seems to embody Hanna’s night fears, an encounter in a mountain restaurant with an English tourist who turns out to be there for his own disturbing reasons. It’s only after Leo leaves the town that the nightmares an airport turns into a labyrinth, his own words become treacherous if not lethal, a family meal grows unnaturally active, and what are those creatures that have appeared in the photographs he took? The man he met in the mountain restaurant hasn’t finished with him, and he has to deal with the town councillor who sent the warlike letter when they were teenage classmates. A local police inspector has reason to suspect his actions, even though the policeman is a friend of Leo’s parents. Even the therapy Leo undertakes becomes a source of menace. In his bid to cement international relations, Leo may have roused the source of an ancient Alpine legend and brought a supernatural infection home with him. Even once he understands what has travelled with him, his attempts to overcome its influence may lead into greater nightmares still…
The Ramsey Campbell Special Editions. Campbell is the greatest inheritor of a tradition that reaches back through H.P. Lovecraft and M.R. James to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and the early Gothic writers. The dark, masterful work of the painter Henry Fuseli, a friend of Mary Wollstonecraft, is used on these special editions to invoke early literary investigations into the supernatural.
256 pages, Hardcover
Published November 26, 2024
3 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Ramsey Campbell
863 books1,601 followersRamsey Campbell is a British writer considered by a number of critics to be one of the great masters of horror fiction. T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today," while S. T. Joshi has said that "future generations will regard him as the leading horror writer of our generation, every bit the equal of Lovecraft or Blackwood."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 11, 2025
full post is here:
https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/202...
First, my many and grateful thanks to Flame Tree Press for my copy of this book. A new novel by Ramsey Campbell -- definitely not an everyday occurrence, so when I was asked if I might want to read this book and post about it, I jumped at the chance. I wasn't disappointed -- not at all.
When Leo Palmer was a boy, his school had decided to celebrate the twinning of their town with the German town of Alphafen as a way to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II. His teacher had assigned the class the task of writing letters to the children of that town, which like Leo's home town of Settlesham, had been bombed close to the end of the war. While not all students were thrilled about the assignment, Leo chose a girl named Hanna Weber and sent off his letter; they'd been penpals ever since. Now Leo is grown, working for his parents in their family driving-instruction business, and as the novel opens, is not having such a great time of things. He is in the car with a student who is ready to take her driving test. After a couple of minor incidents, they continue on their way, but soon the student has had enough -- Leo's directions and conversation have become so convoluted that he's "talking rubbish" to her, and she wants to go home. He isn't doing it on purpose to mock her dyslexia, as she accuses him of doing once she is back at her house; he has no idea what is happening. But that's not all -- he soon suffers a bout of hysteria when he gets back behind the steering wheel and decides he can no longer drive, a serious problem when you make your living as a driving instructor. After a visit to a psychologist, Leo is off on a scheduled trip to Alphafen to finally meet Hanna and her family in person. And it's at this juncture that the book seriously takes off. While I won't divulge much more about his time in Alphafen, I will reveal that Leo takes home more than simply memories of his visit when he returns to life in Settlesham.
I could not put this book down once I picked it up; Campbell has been writing horror for sixty years now (my favorite is still his Nazareth Hill) and The Incubations shows that he is still going strong and hasn't missed a beat. Not only are the dark moments in this book intensely creepy, but where it excels is in the more mundane moments that slowly morph into something much more sinister. The themes he presents here are powerful and especially pertinent in our current world where technology aids in the rise of the dark forces that exist out there; the issue for me is that it is difficult to say much about this book without ruining it for potential readers, and far be it from me to ruin anyone's reading experience. What I can say is that fans of Ramsey Campbell will certainly not want to miss this one.
Highly recommended.
https://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/202...
First, my many and grateful thanks to Flame Tree Press for my copy of this book. A new novel by Ramsey Campbell -- definitely not an everyday occurrence, so when I was asked if I might want to read this book and post about it, I jumped at the chance. I wasn't disappointed -- not at all.
When Leo Palmer was a boy, his school had decided to celebrate the twinning of their town with the German town of Alphafen as a way to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II. His teacher had assigned the class the task of writing letters to the children of that town, which like Leo's home town of Settlesham, had been bombed close to the end of the war. While not all students were thrilled about the assignment, Leo chose a girl named Hanna Weber and sent off his letter; they'd been penpals ever since. Now Leo is grown, working for his parents in their family driving-instruction business, and as the novel opens, is not having such a great time of things. He is in the car with a student who is ready to take her driving test. After a couple of minor incidents, they continue on their way, but soon the student has had enough -- Leo's directions and conversation have become so convoluted that he's "talking rubbish" to her, and she wants to go home. He isn't doing it on purpose to mock her dyslexia, as she accuses him of doing once she is back at her house; he has no idea what is happening. But that's not all -- he soon suffers a bout of hysteria when he gets back behind the steering wheel and decides he can no longer drive, a serious problem when you make your living as a driving instructor. After a visit to a psychologist, Leo is off on a scheduled trip to Alphafen to finally meet Hanna and her family in person. And it's at this juncture that the book seriously takes off. While I won't divulge much more about his time in Alphafen, I will reveal that Leo takes home more than simply memories of his visit when he returns to life in Settlesham.
I could not put this book down once I picked it up; Campbell has been writing horror for sixty years now (my favorite is still his Nazareth Hill) and The Incubations shows that he is still going strong and hasn't missed a beat. Not only are the dark moments in this book intensely creepy, but where it excels is in the more mundane moments that slowly morph into something much more sinister. The themes he presents here are powerful and especially pertinent in our current world where technology aids in the rise of the dark forces that exist out there; the issue for me is that it is difficult to say much about this book without ruining it for potential readers, and far be it from me to ruin anyone's reading experience. What I can say is that fans of Ramsey Campbell will certainly not want to miss this one.
Highly recommended.
March 31, 2025
Muh boi Ramsey is back with a brand new book! Apparently we're honoring the 60th anniversary of his entering the publishing biz. He's been writing books that feel like A24 movies since the people who own A24 were in nappies.
Once again, all Ramsey Campbell's characters are insanely awkward and hostile. It feels like Peep Show if Peep Show characters dealt with cosmic horror problems in between pissing people off.
Once again, all Ramsey Campbell's characters are insanely awkward and hostile. It feels like Peep Show if Peep Show characters dealt with cosmic horror problems in between pissing people off.
November 22, 2024
I am embarrassed to admit that this is the first book I'd read by Ramsey Campbell, but now I want to read all of his books.
This was a great story ,one witch I admittedly found it hard to follow at first. However, it's a story I was rewarded for not giving up.
Because this book was made for me-it was odd, creepy, atmospheric, delusional... It gave me a nightmares.
If you are looking for straight-up horror, this book isn't it.
But it is a deeply unsettling and creepy book. So I highly recommend giving it a go.
This was a great story ,one witch I admittedly found it hard to follow at first. However, it's a story I was rewarded for not giving up.
Because this book was made for me-it was odd, creepy, atmospheric, delusional... It gave me a nightmares.
If you are looking for straight-up horror, this book isn't it.
But it is a deeply unsettling and creepy book. So I highly recommend giving it a go.
January 10, 2025
The Incubations is a thriller horror novel, written by Ramsey Campbell, published by Flame Tree Press. A novel that excels at playing with classic horror tropes, slowly building the tension, with the threat growing in the background while apparently nothing is happening, blending the lines between reality and nightmares.
Our main character, Leo, worked as driving instructor until he had an incident with a student; after that, he feels unable to drive and teach, something that hurts his family business. As he needs to disconnect, he decides to accept the opportunity given by his penpal Hanna, who invites him to visit her on Alphahen, the German town that is sister to Leo's; despite a lovely time, after Leo returns, he finds that those around him are experiencing their own kind of strange affection, with him realizing that something was brought with him from Alphahen. If he doesn't stop it, more people will suffer.
It is interesting how this novel's plot is tied to Leo's journey, how he starts simply struggling, but slowly evolves into something bigger; a character that you can tell is genuinely a good person, and that only wants to alleviate the suffering of those near to him. In comparison, Hanna and her family are a bit more complex, especially because there's more behind their facade; they seem to be good people, but we can see how they are focused on getting vengeance, not caring of who they will damage.
The setting plays with the post-war relationship between England and Germany, exploring the mysticism around the German city, and playing with that frontier between reality and nightmares, that slowly crawls into the story. The pacing is relatively slow, but in this case, it plays in favour of the story, as it complements that quiet horror idea that Campbell is leaning in this novel.
The Incubations is an excellent horror novel, that I especially recommend to read if you like that kind of horror that slowly enters into you, that prefers to build instead of the jumpscares. A memorable novel by a master of the genre.
Our main character, Leo, worked as driving instructor until he had an incident with a student; after that, he feels unable to drive and teach, something that hurts his family business. As he needs to disconnect, he decides to accept the opportunity given by his penpal Hanna, who invites him to visit her on Alphahen, the German town that is sister to Leo's; despite a lovely time, after Leo returns, he finds that those around him are experiencing their own kind of strange affection, with him realizing that something was brought with him from Alphahen. If he doesn't stop it, more people will suffer.
It is interesting how this novel's plot is tied to Leo's journey, how he starts simply struggling, but slowly evolves into something bigger; a character that you can tell is genuinely a good person, and that only wants to alleviate the suffering of those near to him. In comparison, Hanna and her family are a bit more complex, especially because there's more behind their facade; they seem to be good people, but we can see how they are focused on getting vengeance, not caring of who they will damage.
The setting plays with the post-war relationship between England and Germany, exploring the mysticism around the German city, and playing with that frontier between reality and nightmares, that slowly crawls into the story. The pacing is relatively slow, but in this case, it plays in favour of the story, as it complements that quiet horror idea that Campbell is leaning in this novel.
The Incubations is an excellent horror novel, that I especially recommend to read if you like that kind of horror that slowly enters into you, that prefers to build instead of the jumpscares. A memorable novel by a master of the genre.
November 19, 2024
I was quite eager to read something from Ramsey Campbell (how did I not read anything before?) and I was very positively surprised. It wasn’t what I was expecting at all and different from the horror I read so far.
I consider this story the epitome of quiet horror, with its sombre and dark tones and apparent calm background. This kind of horror is what unsettles me as it is very psychological and has a way of infiltrating the reader’s mind without no one noticing until your eyes start seeing something that’s not there or your ever present tinnitus becomes something different, without any apparent prompt. This is quiet horror for me and Campbell made me feel uncomfortable more than once with this story.
What if nightmares have a way of manifesting and worse what if they spread like an infection, subtly but effectively? That’s what Leo is left to deal with after his visit to a pen friend in the German Alps, and as he battles with this, he realises that he probably won’t be able to stop it after all.
If you’ve got an appetite for something different and a horror story that will make you feel unsettled with its minimalist writing style and dialogue, then try this one!
Thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Random Things Tours for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
I consider this story the epitome of quiet horror, with its sombre and dark tones and apparent calm background. This kind of horror is what unsettles me as it is very psychological and has a way of infiltrating the reader’s mind without no one noticing until your eyes start seeing something that’s not there or your ever present tinnitus becomes something different, without any apparent prompt. This is quiet horror for me and Campbell made me feel uncomfortable more than once with this story.
What if nightmares have a way of manifesting and worse what if they spread like an infection, subtly but effectively? That’s what Leo is left to deal with after his visit to a pen friend in the German Alps, and as he battles with this, he realises that he probably won’t be able to stop it after all.
If you’ve got an appetite for something different and a horror story that will make you feel unsettled with its minimalist writing style and dialogue, then try this one!
Thanks to the author, Flame Tree Press and Random Things Tours for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
November 22, 2024
After an unusual event causes Leo to pause his career as a driving instructor, he visits the Alps to renew an acquaintance with an old penpal. But after his trip even stranger things start to happen. Odd experiences in the airport, a slide show event with sinister undertones, and when even the police start behaving in an accusatorily manner towards him, Leo starts to wonder if something happened to him in Alphafen and if something is still happening to him now. Or, is it simply all in his imagination?
This is very much a slow burn, creeping along with an increasing sense of paranoia and unease. It’s subtly and skilfully done and really ramps up the tension when it starts to become tricky to distinguish between fact and fiction. There’s a hint of folklore throughout (which I loved); the ties with Alphafen are both chilling and fascinating and add a sense of ominous foreboding. Something is definitely not right in that place, but what?
This isn’t a terrifying read, it’s more of a psychological unravelling. It’s picking apart the drama and mundanity of one person’s life, carefully and coldly. Prepare to be fascinated!
This is very much a slow burn, creeping along with an increasing sense of paranoia and unease. It’s subtly and skilfully done and really ramps up the tension when it starts to become tricky to distinguish between fact and fiction. There’s a hint of folklore throughout (which I loved); the ties with Alphafen are both chilling and fascinating and add a sense of ominous foreboding. Something is definitely not right in that place, but what?
This isn’t a terrifying read, it’s more of a psychological unravelling. It’s picking apart the drama and mundanity of one person’s life, carefully and coldly. Prepare to be fascinated!
November 29, 2024
I was beyond excited when I spotted this new release by an author who I only discovered just over a year ago.
In my youth I was obsessed with reading horror and having recently been creeping back to the genre, I was so happy to come across The Lonely Lands and The Nameless both by Campbell.
These were both pretty dark and classic horror themed which I loved - but moreso, Campbell's writing style, which managed to completely immerse me into the storylines right from the start until the final pages ....and beyond.
I had high hopes for this new read and I was not disappointed!
In fact, I feel as though I connected even more with this book than the others.
In this story, we follow a much more psychological theme and see our main character and some of those around him, afflicted with some kind of strangeness that can't be explained.
This plays on your nightmares and fears and rather than being wholly horror, this blurs the lines between reality and dreaming - or is it really just a bad mental health period!?
This was one of those reads where you just can't blink, don't want to leave the room in the dark and definitely cannot put it down until the last page.
This had me on the edge of my seat for the duration!
As ever, this was such an atmospheric read and so skillfully written that it's so easy to see why this author is one of the most popular and accomplished within this genre.
I was over the moon to get this absolutely gorgeous special edition copy that celebrates Ramsey Campbell's 60th year in publication!
What an amazing accomplishment and what a great gift for us horror fans!
I cannot recommend this author enough and cannot wait to add even more titles to my shelves in the near future!
In my youth I was obsessed with reading horror and having recently been creeping back to the genre, I was so happy to come across The Lonely Lands and The Nameless both by Campbell.
These were both pretty dark and classic horror themed which I loved - but moreso, Campbell's writing style, which managed to completely immerse me into the storylines right from the start until the final pages ....and beyond.
I had high hopes for this new read and I was not disappointed!
In fact, I feel as though I connected even more with this book than the others.
In this story, we follow a much more psychological theme and see our main character and some of those around him, afflicted with some kind of strangeness that can't be explained.
This plays on your nightmares and fears and rather than being wholly horror, this blurs the lines between reality and dreaming - or is it really just a bad mental health period!?
This was one of those reads where you just can't blink, don't want to leave the room in the dark and definitely cannot put it down until the last page.
This had me on the edge of my seat for the duration!
As ever, this was such an atmospheric read and so skillfully written that it's so easy to see why this author is one of the most popular and accomplished within this genre.
I was over the moon to get this absolutely gorgeous special edition copy that celebrates Ramsey Campbell's 60th year in publication!
What an amazing accomplishment and what a great gift for us horror fans!
I cannot recommend this author enough and cannot wait to add even more titles to my shelves in the near future!
November 16, 2024
The Incubations by Ramsey Campbell, Leo is a driving teacher and works for his dad‘s driving company and while taking one of his students out name Lucy he starts talking weird knowing the town like he does he knows the name of the streets aren’t the names he’s familiar with. When Lucy finally has enough and cannot stretch her good manners any further she tells him she just wants to go home. She believed he was mocking her dyslexia… Which I didn’t get that because really? This will not be the first time reality and delusion converge at least not in Leo’s life and soon in the lives of those close to him. When he gets invited to visit his longtime penpal in Germany he decides to go. He started being friends with Hannah Weber in Germany doing a classroom activity when he was 12 and he is the only one who stayed in touch with his penpal but after his trip there things only get stranger in it seems the more he tries to figure it out and fix it the more trouble he finds. I want to say I loved this book and although I found it interesting at times, especially when he got robbed at the ATM and had the book been more like that it would’ve been so good but I found this leaning towards a fictional narrative with a bit of the supernatural I don’t know it just isn’t what I’ve come to expect from the author. I would still recommend this book just don’t go into it expecting the traditional Campbell roller coaster read. #NetGalley, #FlametreePress, #RamsayCampbell, #TheIncubation‘s,
November 18, 2024
Leo Parker, who works as a driving instructor for the family and Hanna Weber's penpals, she's a local of Alphafen, Germany. Leoand Hanna's hometowns are twinned. Now years on Leo is welcomed to Alphafen by Hanna and her family. Not sure what has been happening to him while away, Leo was glad to back home, but not everything is that simple. What has he brought back with him, it's not just him, but also his parents are also having strange things happening to them. What is happening?
I have read other books by Ramsey, but I found this one different in many ways. I found the pace slow, but I think this added to the storyline. He knows how to pull you in and just as you think it's ok, that's when the horror side catches you.
I have read other books by Ramsey, but I found this one different in many ways. I found the pace slow, but I think this added to the storyline. He knows how to pull you in and just as you think it's ok, that's when the horror side catches you.
November 5, 2024
As an instructor in his parents’ driving school, Leo Parker should always maintain proper control while teaching. However, when his language skills degenerate during his most recent trip on the roads, he finds his control over basic functions slipping. The pupil believes he is teasing at first, but ultimately assumes he’s making fun of her dyslexia. He is doing neither of these things. He is caught up in strangeness.
Might this have to do with a trauma from long ago, witnessing the death of a school chum while he was young? Or does it perhaps have to do with a trip he took to Germany, visit a pen pal he’s had since his youthful school days? Or could he possibly be the target of some sinister external force he can neither explain or understand?
Soon, he discovers the strangeness is not only affecting him, but those around him. His father loses his driving skills for a time. Leo’s mother loses her confidence in cooking … and her desire for food at all. And their livelihood is called into question when the car stinks of cannabis, convincing the local authorities it might be used to smuggle illegal drugs. Only Leo’s fiancé Ellen seems unaffected by these odd circumstances. But how long will she be exempt from the weird rash?
And when a presentation he gives to his town about the location he visited reveals some curious, unidentifiable fauna in the snapshots, Leo starts to believe that he may have brought a supernatural force back with him. The Alphafen region has a troubled history. Even before it became a favored vacation spot for Adolf Hitler, it was home to fiendish folklore. But why would his chum Hanna Weber or her kindly family expose him to such things? Perhaps the folks he thought friends are not as friendly as they seem.
If Leo is infected with horror instead of suffering from simple psychological issues, as Ellen believes, then he will have to find a way to cure his affliction. Otherwise, he will simply continue sowing misrule and misery among those he interacts with. Ramsey Campbell weaves folk horror and psychological horror elements together in his latest novel, The Incubations.
Some of the best horror fiction does not aim for conventional “horror” at all but veers into the realms of unease. Ramsey Campbell evokes this kind of dread through his fiction with enviable proficiency. This latest work is a psychological piece, a look into the unraveling life of a man who may be suffering mental breakdowns or a supernatural affliction. Either way, Leo’s journey is one that takes him into disquieting terrain and carries Campbell’s readers along for the ride.
His prose is carefully crafted, suggesting just enough to get the imaginations filling in the blanks and galloping into nightmare. Large buildings that somehow become inescapable labyrinths, peculiar butterflies appearing in photographs in places they were not visible in life, vermin in foodstuffs, rooms that feel close enough to squeeze the air from the lungs, loss of control … Campbell is playing with all manner of surreal fears here, putting a plethora of phobias to wonderful effect. Much of the horror here is of the quieter variety, but there is a set piece in the final quarter that ought to appeal to readers looking for a more visceral shock like those found in, say, the stories found in the author’s Scared Stiff collection.
However, the author is also playing with folklore. There’s a linguistic playfulness at work in the title, relating to a mythical beastie. But Campbell builds up some local legends for the region Leo ventures to and eventually returns from, which is steadily revealed over the course of the book. Although Leo is no academic, there is a sense of his undergoing an M. R. Jamesian journey into unsettling folk tales and the very real horrors that gave rise to them. The nods to dark fiction explorers of the past abound, but this is no pastiche. The Incubations is a wholly original product of Campbell’s imagination, which continues to synthesize his own unique vision with the methods and elements found in Machen, James, Lovecraft, Smith, and other purveyors of nightmare fiction.
Here, we also get a sense of satiric jabs at the social scene both in Britain as well as over on the continent. Leo’s trip to meet his pen pal Hanna is seen by locals as nothing less than some kind of international coming together, with the protagonist as ambassador. His trip is greeted warmly by many, and less so by a handful of folks in each location. One of the local naysayers is Paddy Bloore, a politician in the Brian Johnson mold, loud and brash and bandying about Brexit-type ideologies. On the other side is a fellow who despises Leo as being cast from the same mold as Bloore.
Campbell also employs the wry, dark humor he’s known for. In addition to the complications of language, the social awkwardness of dealing with people who cannot help but read too much into what one another says, there are some more overtly comic situations. Uneasy ones, to be sure. For example, as Leo’s situation progresses, he soon discovers the one person who might have the answers he seeks is a German historian he met while in Alphafen, a loud individual who turned out to be a Nazi sympathizer. Jerome Pugh is someone whose ideology Leo cannot condone, but he is repeatedly put in the man’s company, and each instance is both unsettling and played for situational humor. As well, Leo’s parents have a cop for a neighbor, and he stops by to mention the deepening mess Leo finds himself caught up in. Each appearance of the copper adds additional levels of absurd bureaucratic complications to his already overwhelming difficulties. And absurdity is found somewhere between the disturbing and the humorous.
Some readers may have issues with the pacing. Reading Campbell’s fiction is a much more active endeavor than some readers might anticipate or wish in their leisure reading. This book features a slow burn opening that may turn off readers looking for fright from the first page. Instead, they are given a day in the life of a protagonist who is slowly losing control of his words, offering cheeky spins on more or less traditional names and terms. There is not even a whiff of a supernatural presence until later chapters and even then, we are left to wonder if this aspect is for real. Keeping a balance between the “is this paranormal or not” for any length of time is no small feat. But Campbell performs it nicely, giving us plenty of glimpses into Leo’s experiences and interpretations while also giving Ellen and Leo’s therapist Dr. Chattopadhyay as voices of reason, trying to penetrate magical thinking with far more mundane solutions. This is all cleverly done, adding to the mystery.
In the final analysis, The Incubations is a slow burn chiller of the best sort, showcasing Ramsey Campbell’s talent for manipulating mundane details in such a sly way to reveal terrors dwelling just out of sight. Drawing upon some intriguing folklore and elements of classic horror fiction, Campbell weaves a loose but compelling narrative, inviting readers to plumb the darkest depths that high quality psychological horror has to offer. Campbell long ago proved his mastery at this sort of material, and here we find him trying new angle and approaches with eagerness, style, and no small amount of wit. This darkly comic horror with a satiric punch is another terrific release from one of the UK’s finest horror writers.
Might this have to do with a trauma from long ago, witnessing the death of a school chum while he was young? Or does it perhaps have to do with a trip he took to Germany, visit a pen pal he’s had since his youthful school days? Or could he possibly be the target of some sinister external force he can neither explain or understand?
Soon, he discovers the strangeness is not only affecting him, but those around him. His father loses his driving skills for a time. Leo’s mother loses her confidence in cooking … and her desire for food at all. And their livelihood is called into question when the car stinks of cannabis, convincing the local authorities it might be used to smuggle illegal drugs. Only Leo’s fiancé Ellen seems unaffected by these odd circumstances. But how long will she be exempt from the weird rash?
And when a presentation he gives to his town about the location he visited reveals some curious, unidentifiable fauna in the snapshots, Leo starts to believe that he may have brought a supernatural force back with him. The Alphafen region has a troubled history. Even before it became a favored vacation spot for Adolf Hitler, it was home to fiendish folklore. But why would his chum Hanna Weber or her kindly family expose him to such things? Perhaps the folks he thought friends are not as friendly as they seem.
If Leo is infected with horror instead of suffering from simple psychological issues, as Ellen believes, then he will have to find a way to cure his affliction. Otherwise, he will simply continue sowing misrule and misery among those he interacts with. Ramsey Campbell weaves folk horror and psychological horror elements together in his latest novel, The Incubations.
Some of the best horror fiction does not aim for conventional “horror” at all but veers into the realms of unease. Ramsey Campbell evokes this kind of dread through his fiction with enviable proficiency. This latest work is a psychological piece, a look into the unraveling life of a man who may be suffering mental breakdowns or a supernatural affliction. Either way, Leo’s journey is one that takes him into disquieting terrain and carries Campbell’s readers along for the ride.
His prose is carefully crafted, suggesting just enough to get the imaginations filling in the blanks and galloping into nightmare. Large buildings that somehow become inescapable labyrinths, peculiar butterflies appearing in photographs in places they were not visible in life, vermin in foodstuffs, rooms that feel close enough to squeeze the air from the lungs, loss of control … Campbell is playing with all manner of surreal fears here, putting a plethora of phobias to wonderful effect. Much of the horror here is of the quieter variety, but there is a set piece in the final quarter that ought to appeal to readers looking for a more visceral shock like those found in, say, the stories found in the author’s Scared Stiff collection.
However, the author is also playing with folklore. There’s a linguistic playfulness at work in the title, relating to a mythical beastie. But Campbell builds up some local legends for the region Leo ventures to and eventually returns from, which is steadily revealed over the course of the book. Although Leo is no academic, there is a sense of his undergoing an M. R. Jamesian journey into unsettling folk tales and the very real horrors that gave rise to them. The nods to dark fiction explorers of the past abound, but this is no pastiche. The Incubations is a wholly original product of Campbell’s imagination, which continues to synthesize his own unique vision with the methods and elements found in Machen, James, Lovecraft, Smith, and other purveyors of nightmare fiction.
Here, we also get a sense of satiric jabs at the social scene both in Britain as well as over on the continent. Leo’s trip to meet his pen pal Hanna is seen by locals as nothing less than some kind of international coming together, with the protagonist as ambassador. His trip is greeted warmly by many, and less so by a handful of folks in each location. One of the local naysayers is Paddy Bloore, a politician in the Brian Johnson mold, loud and brash and bandying about Brexit-type ideologies. On the other side is a fellow who despises Leo as being cast from the same mold as Bloore.
Campbell also employs the wry, dark humor he’s known for. In addition to the complications of language, the social awkwardness of dealing with people who cannot help but read too much into what one another says, there are some more overtly comic situations. Uneasy ones, to be sure. For example, as Leo’s situation progresses, he soon discovers the one person who might have the answers he seeks is a German historian he met while in Alphafen, a loud individual who turned out to be a Nazi sympathizer. Jerome Pugh is someone whose ideology Leo cannot condone, but he is repeatedly put in the man’s company, and each instance is both unsettling and played for situational humor. As well, Leo’s parents have a cop for a neighbor, and he stops by to mention the deepening mess Leo finds himself caught up in. Each appearance of the copper adds additional levels of absurd bureaucratic complications to his already overwhelming difficulties. And absurdity is found somewhere between the disturbing and the humorous.
Some readers may have issues with the pacing. Reading Campbell’s fiction is a much more active endeavor than some readers might anticipate or wish in their leisure reading. This book features a slow burn opening that may turn off readers looking for fright from the first page. Instead, they are given a day in the life of a protagonist who is slowly losing control of his words, offering cheeky spins on more or less traditional names and terms. There is not even a whiff of a supernatural presence until later chapters and even then, we are left to wonder if this aspect is for real. Keeping a balance between the “is this paranormal or not” for any length of time is no small feat. But Campbell performs it nicely, giving us plenty of glimpses into Leo’s experiences and interpretations while also giving Ellen and Leo’s therapist Dr. Chattopadhyay as voices of reason, trying to penetrate magical thinking with far more mundane solutions. This is all cleverly done, adding to the mystery.
In the final analysis, The Incubations is a slow burn chiller of the best sort, showcasing Ramsey Campbell’s talent for manipulating mundane details in such a sly way to reveal terrors dwelling just out of sight. Drawing upon some intriguing folklore and elements of classic horror fiction, Campbell weaves a loose but compelling narrative, inviting readers to plumb the darkest depths that high quality psychological horror has to offer. Campbell long ago proved his mastery at this sort of material, and here we find him trying new angle and approaches with eagerness, style, and no small amount of wit. This darkly comic horror with a satiric punch is another terrific release from one of the UK’s finest horror writers.
November 28, 2024
Ramsey Campbell is a Grand Master of Horror and the finest Horror author from the U.K. if not the planet. He recently celebrated his 60th anniversary serving up wonderful horror and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon.
His latest effort, THE INCUBATIONS, simply has it all --- gothic horror, historical subtext, and best of all revenge! To begin, let’s provide the historical pretext that drives this chilling novel. During WWII, Winston Churchill ordered the bombing of the German village of Alphafen located in the Alps. Our protagonist, Leo Parker, lives in the small British town of Settlesham, which was ravaged by the Nazis during the war. Following WWII, young schoolboy Leo had a teacher named Mr. Turvey who organized a civil pairing of these two ill-fated villages by having his students befriend young German schoolchildren via pen pal letters. This program became known as where teen-aged Leo was paired with German student Hanna Weber.
At the start of the story, Leo is taking a young female student for a driving lesson in one of his families Pass With Parker vehicles. They run a business that trains people how to drive and prepare for their road tests. This particular day, Leo is having trouble speaking and most of the driving commands he dictates come out jumbled. The student, who happens to be dyslexic, takes this personally as she believes he is mocking her disability. She leaves the vehicle at the end of a lesson in a huff and tells her father who is more than a little angry.
This odd and worrisome experience makes Leo schedule an appointment with a local psychiatrist to see if something may be going on within in his mind that caused this unfortunate mishap. It is at this point that Leo recounts his recent trip to the German village of Alphafen to finally meet in person his long-time pen pal Hanna. From the moment he is picked up straight through his departure, the entire experience is surreal for Leo. The first indication, which a sleepy Leo fails to recognize, is when he asks on the ride from the airport ‘Have we reached the Alps?’ to which Hanna replies ‘They come to us.’ Readers will get a chill down their spine later on when they put together the true meaning of her answer.
Hanna’s parents, Emil and Gitte, all speak the same broken English she does and seem to be overjoyed at Leo’s presence. His first night in their village he is taken to a huge German beer hall and given a heroes welcome by the entire population including the Mayor. It is like that everywhere he goes until he runs into a fellow Brit at a restaurant. The man named Pugh seems to be a historian who latches on to Leo and seems to be warning him by way of pounding him with information about the role Adolf Hitler played in this part of Germany, particularly the infamous area known once at the Eagle’s Nest.
The end of Leo’s stay is not nearly as triumphant as the start as he later accosted by a townsperson who is badmouthing one of Leo’s former classmates named Bloore, who was quite antagonistic in his pen pal letters to Alphafen. During his stay, Leo suffered from odd dreams and visions, specifically the feeling that he was surrounded by bugs and constantly noticing the strange butterflies and moths that flew around him. At his departure, Hanna’s family refuses to give Leo a book on the history of the Alps that he wanted, which he finds to be quite out of character for their usual hospitable nature.
This brings us back to the current time, where Leo sat with his psychiatrist following his strange experience while driving. It becomes just the first of many out of character behaviors that Leo seems to be the harbinger of. He passes on whatever ‘illness’ he brought back with him to anyone he comes in contact with, particularly his own parents. The outcome of these maladies grow worse and worse and Leo’s own partner, Ellen, is quite concerned about the drastic change in his behavior. I will not spoil any of the horrors the Mr. Campbell has created for the town of Settlesham here, all I will note is that whatever Leo had brought back with him was of ancient legend and intended to do harm to the recipient. The actual truth and motivation behind it is far worse than you can imagine and the paranoia created as a result of this drives this intense novel to its ending.
THE INCUBATIONS is a terrific horror novel full of all the dread you look for and want as a reader of the genre. The buildup throughout the story is orchestrated in a way that only a true horror master like Campbell could design and the overall experience is just what his long-time readers have come to expect from his work.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
His latest effort, THE INCUBATIONS, simply has it all --- gothic horror, historical subtext, and best of all revenge! To begin, let’s provide the historical pretext that drives this chilling novel. During WWII, Winston Churchill ordered the bombing of the German village of Alphafen located in the Alps. Our protagonist, Leo Parker, lives in the small British town of Settlesham, which was ravaged by the Nazis during the war. Following WWII, young schoolboy Leo had a teacher named Mr. Turvey who organized a civil pairing of these two ill-fated villages by having his students befriend young German schoolchildren via pen pal letters. This program became known as where teen-aged Leo was paired with German student Hanna Weber.
At the start of the story, Leo is taking a young female student for a driving lesson in one of his families Pass With Parker vehicles. They run a business that trains people how to drive and prepare for their road tests. This particular day, Leo is having trouble speaking and most of the driving commands he dictates come out jumbled. The student, who happens to be dyslexic, takes this personally as she believes he is mocking her disability. She leaves the vehicle at the end of a lesson in a huff and tells her father who is more than a little angry.
This odd and worrisome experience makes Leo schedule an appointment with a local psychiatrist to see if something may be going on within in his mind that caused this unfortunate mishap. It is at this point that Leo recounts his recent trip to the German village of Alphafen to finally meet in person his long-time pen pal Hanna. From the moment he is picked up straight through his departure, the entire experience is surreal for Leo. The first indication, which a sleepy Leo fails to recognize, is when he asks on the ride from the airport ‘Have we reached the Alps?’ to which Hanna replies ‘They come to us.’ Readers will get a chill down their spine later on when they put together the true meaning of her answer.
Hanna’s parents, Emil and Gitte, all speak the same broken English she does and seem to be overjoyed at Leo’s presence. His first night in their village he is taken to a huge German beer hall and given a heroes welcome by the entire population including the Mayor. It is like that everywhere he goes until he runs into a fellow Brit at a restaurant. The man named Pugh seems to be a historian who latches on to Leo and seems to be warning him by way of pounding him with information about the role Adolf Hitler played in this part of Germany, particularly the infamous area known once at the Eagle’s Nest.
The end of Leo’s stay is not nearly as triumphant as the start as he later accosted by a townsperson who is badmouthing one of Leo’s former classmates named Bloore, who was quite antagonistic in his pen pal letters to Alphafen. During his stay, Leo suffered from odd dreams and visions, specifically the feeling that he was surrounded by bugs and constantly noticing the strange butterflies and moths that flew around him. At his departure, Hanna’s family refuses to give Leo a book on the history of the Alps that he wanted, which he finds to be quite out of character for their usual hospitable nature.
This brings us back to the current time, where Leo sat with his psychiatrist following his strange experience while driving. It becomes just the first of many out of character behaviors that Leo seems to be the harbinger of. He passes on whatever ‘illness’ he brought back with him to anyone he comes in contact with, particularly his own parents. The outcome of these maladies grow worse and worse and Leo’s own partner, Ellen, is quite concerned about the drastic change in his behavior. I will not spoil any of the horrors the Mr. Campbell has created for the town of Settlesham here, all I will note is that whatever Leo had brought back with him was of ancient legend and intended to do harm to the recipient. The actual truth and motivation behind it is far worse than you can imagine and the paranoia created as a result of this drives this intense novel to its ending.
THE INCUBATIONS is a terrific horror novel full of all the dread you look for and want as a reader of the genre. The buildup throughout the story is orchestrated in a way that only a true horror master like Campbell could design and the overall experience is just what his long-time readers have come to expect from his work.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
November 30, 2024
Ramsey Campbell is one of the world’s greatest horror writers. He recently celebrated his 60th anniversary serving up wonderful horror and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. His latest effort, THE INCUBATIONS, has it all --- including gothic horror, historical subtext and, best of all, revenge.
During World War II, Winston Churchill orders the bombing of Alphafen, a German town located in the Alps. Teenager Leo Parker lives in the small British town of Settlesham, which has been ravaged by the Nazis. Following the war, Leo’s teacher organizes a civil pairing of these two ill-fated towns by having his students befriend German schoolchildren via letters. Leo’s pen pal is Hanna Weber.
At the start of the story, Leo is taking a young female student for a driving lesson in one of his family’s vehicles. They run the business Pass With Parker, which trains people how to drive and prepare for their road tests. On this particular day, Leo is having trouble speaking, and most of the driving commands he dictates come out jumbled. The student, who happens to be dyslexic, takes this personally as she believes he is mocking her disability. She leaves the car in a huff and tells her father, who is more than a little angry.
This odd and worrisome encounter makes Leo schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist to see if something may be going on in his mind that caused this unfortunate mishap. It is at this point that Leo recounts his recent trip to Alphafen to finally meet Hanna in person. The entire experience is surreal. The first indication, which a sleepy Leo fails to recognize, is when he asks on the ride from the airport if they have reached the Alps, to which Hanna replies, “They come to us.” Readers will get a chill down their spine later on when they put together the true meaning of her answer.
Hanna’s parents speak the same broken English that she does and seem to be overjoyed by Leo’s presence. On his first night there, he is taken to a huge beer hall and given a hero’s welcome by everyone, including the Mayor. It is like that everywhere he goes until he runs into a fellow Brit at a restaurant. Jerome Pugh latches on to Leo and seems to be warning him by way of pounding him with information about the role that Hitler played in this part of Germany, particularly the infamous area once known as the Eagle’s Nest.
During his stay, Leo suffers from odd dreams and visions. He feels that he is surrounded by bugs and notices the strange butterflies and moths that constantly fly around him. Upon his departure, Hanna’s family refuses to give Leo a book on the history of the Alps, which is quite odd considering their hospitable nature.
This brings us back to the present day, where Leo sits with his psychiatrist following his bizarre driving experience. It becomes just the first of many out-of-character behaviors of which Leo seems to be the harbinger. He passes on whatever “illness” he has caught to anyone he comes in contact with, including his parents. The outcome of these maladies grows increasingly worse, and Leo’s girlfriend, Ellen, is quite concerned about the drastic change in his behavior.
I will not spoil any of the horrors that Campbell has created for Settlesham. I will just note that whatever Leo has brought back with him is of ancient legend and intends to do harm to the recipient. The actual truth and motivation behind it is far worse than you can imagine, and the resulting paranoia drives this intense novel to its ending.
THE INCUBATIONS is an outstanding book. The buildup throughout the story is orchestrated in a way that only a true horror master like Ramsey Campbell could design, and the overall experience is just what his readers have come to expect from his work.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
During World War II, Winston Churchill orders the bombing of Alphafen, a German town located in the Alps. Teenager Leo Parker lives in the small British town of Settlesham, which has been ravaged by the Nazis. Following the war, Leo’s teacher organizes a civil pairing of these two ill-fated towns by having his students befriend German schoolchildren via letters. Leo’s pen pal is Hanna Weber.
At the start of the story, Leo is taking a young female student for a driving lesson in one of his family’s vehicles. They run the business Pass With Parker, which trains people how to drive and prepare for their road tests. On this particular day, Leo is having trouble speaking, and most of the driving commands he dictates come out jumbled. The student, who happens to be dyslexic, takes this personally as she believes he is mocking her disability. She leaves the car in a huff and tells her father, who is more than a little angry.
This odd and worrisome encounter makes Leo schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist to see if something may be going on in his mind that caused this unfortunate mishap. It is at this point that Leo recounts his recent trip to Alphafen to finally meet Hanna in person. The entire experience is surreal. The first indication, which a sleepy Leo fails to recognize, is when he asks on the ride from the airport if they have reached the Alps, to which Hanna replies, “They come to us.” Readers will get a chill down their spine later on when they put together the true meaning of her answer.
Hanna’s parents speak the same broken English that she does and seem to be overjoyed by Leo’s presence. On his first night there, he is taken to a huge beer hall and given a hero’s welcome by everyone, including the Mayor. It is like that everywhere he goes until he runs into a fellow Brit at a restaurant. Jerome Pugh latches on to Leo and seems to be warning him by way of pounding him with information about the role that Hitler played in this part of Germany, particularly the infamous area once known as the Eagle’s Nest.
During his stay, Leo suffers from odd dreams and visions. He feels that he is surrounded by bugs and notices the strange butterflies and moths that constantly fly around him. Upon his departure, Hanna’s family refuses to give Leo a book on the history of the Alps, which is quite odd considering their hospitable nature.
This brings us back to the present day, where Leo sits with his psychiatrist following his bizarre driving experience. It becomes just the first of many out-of-character behaviors of which Leo seems to be the harbinger. He passes on whatever “illness” he has caught to anyone he comes in contact with, including his parents. The outcome of these maladies grows increasingly worse, and Leo’s girlfriend, Ellen, is quite concerned about the drastic change in his behavior.
I will not spoil any of the horrors that Campbell has created for Settlesham. I will just note that whatever Leo has brought back with him is of ancient legend and intends to do harm to the recipient. The actual truth and motivation behind it is far worse than you can imagine, and the resulting paranoia drives this intense novel to its ending.
THE INCUBATIONS is an outstanding book. The buildup throughout the story is orchestrated in a way that only a true horror master like Ramsey Campbell could design, and the overall experience is just what his readers have come to expect from his work.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
October 7, 2024
After the end of the Second World War, in an effort to promote unity and forgiveness, the English town of Settlesham was twinned with Alphafen in Germany. Schoolboy Leo Parker began a pen-pal correspondence with Hanna Weber, and for decades the two have continued this long-distance relationship. Now an adult, he decides at last to visit Hannah in her hometown.
His stay in Alphafen seems enjoyable and enlightening. But as soon as he leaves the town, his life begins to unravel. An experience at the airport is disconcerting and troublesome, a family meal becomes grotesquely nightmarish, and when he attends a council meeting to report on his trip, the images appear to have taken on a life of their own. Is Leo losing his grip on reality or has his trip awakened some ancient Alpine legend from its slumber? Has he returned to England with more than just memories of his trip?
The Incubations is published by Flame Tree Press to mark the 60 years since Ramsey Campbell’s first book was released. Campbell is one of Britain’s finest exponents of the weird tale, and The Incubations is a fitting testament to the author’s career. The novel’s central character, Leo Parker, works for his parents’ driving instructor company, and there’s a refreshingly down-to-earth feel to this. Which makes it all the more frightening when the line between reality and nightmare becomes blurred. This element of Campbell’s writing style is so masterful that it feels almost a trademark part of him. The novel is laced with black humour – albeit much of it due to the characters’ linguistic confusion or through the author’s clever word-play – and there’s an overriding sense of impending threat that propels the story forward.
It would impossible to overstate Ramsey Campbell’s impact and influence on the horror scene – he’s won more awards than any other writer in the field – and The Incubations is a terrific novel, deeply unsettling and dazzlingly original. His early work displayed obvious influences from such writers as HP Lovecraft, MR James and Arthur Machen, but over his career he has carefully honed his own distinct style and created his unique mythos, allowing his own voice to be heard. And what a voice it is. I’ve been a fan of his work since I first came across The Doll Who Ate His Mother back when I was a teenager, and I looked forward to reading his latest short stories in the annual Best New Horror series edited by Stephen Jones. A quick scan of his bibliography will evidence titles that are classics of the genre. After 60 years at the top of his game, his latest novel shows no sign of him losing his touch. The Incubations is yet another fantastic entry into the annals of weird fiction. Highly recommended.
His stay in Alphafen seems enjoyable and enlightening. But as soon as he leaves the town, his life begins to unravel. An experience at the airport is disconcerting and troublesome, a family meal becomes grotesquely nightmarish, and when he attends a council meeting to report on his trip, the images appear to have taken on a life of their own. Is Leo losing his grip on reality or has his trip awakened some ancient Alpine legend from its slumber? Has he returned to England with more than just memories of his trip?
The Incubations is published by Flame Tree Press to mark the 60 years since Ramsey Campbell’s first book was released. Campbell is one of Britain’s finest exponents of the weird tale, and The Incubations is a fitting testament to the author’s career. The novel’s central character, Leo Parker, works for his parents’ driving instructor company, and there’s a refreshingly down-to-earth feel to this. Which makes it all the more frightening when the line between reality and nightmare becomes blurred. This element of Campbell’s writing style is so masterful that it feels almost a trademark part of him. The novel is laced with black humour – albeit much of it due to the characters’ linguistic confusion or through the author’s clever word-play – and there’s an overriding sense of impending threat that propels the story forward.
It would impossible to overstate Ramsey Campbell’s impact and influence on the horror scene – he’s won more awards than any other writer in the field – and The Incubations is a terrific novel, deeply unsettling and dazzlingly original. His early work displayed obvious influences from such writers as HP Lovecraft, MR James and Arthur Machen, but over his career he has carefully honed his own distinct style and created his unique mythos, allowing his own voice to be heard. And what a voice it is. I’ve been a fan of his work since I first came across The Doll Who Ate His Mother back when I was a teenager, and I looked forward to reading his latest short stories in the annual Best New Horror series edited by Stephen Jones. A quick scan of his bibliography will evidence titles that are classics of the genre. After 60 years at the top of his game, his latest novel shows no sign of him losing his touch. The Incubations is yet another fantastic entry into the annals of weird fiction. Highly recommended.
December 26, 2024
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.5 of 5
Leo Parker is a driving instructor at his parents' driving school in Settlesham. Many years ago, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Second World War, Leo and the students in his school were tasked with corresponding with students at a school in Alphafen, Germany. Both cities were bombed during the war, though neither seemed to have any significance. Leo's Alphafen pen-pal has been Hannah Weber.
Leo has stayed in touched with Hannah through the years, though they've never met in person. When Hannah invites Leo to visit, he gladly accepts. But what he thought was an idyllic setting in Alphafen turns out to be not quite so welcoming.
When Leo returns home he can't shake the feeling that he may have brought some of the darkness of Alphfen with him. Friends and acquaintances with whom he's been friendly seem to have it in for him, and the harder he works to 'fix' whatever is wrong, the worse it gets. And once he realizes what has made the journey with him from Alphafen to Settlesham, the nightmares get worse.
As I've said with every Ramsey Campbell book - be prepared for a slow build-up of terror, suspense, and horror. Campbell is not someone who hits you over the head with the grotesque and fear. This is a delightful examination of one character who has the most mundane of lives who experiences something dark and unusual, but because he's not expecting it, reacts more with wonder. But slowly that terror creeps into Leo's consciousness.
It's hard to pinpoint precisely when things turn. There are moments early in the book that seem just a little 'off' for Leo, but certainly things get stranger once he arrives in Alphefen, and darker still when he returns home.
I did feel that this slow-building horror tale was just a tad slower than I would typically enjoy. I grew a bit bored with each section (pre-Alphafen, in Alphafen, post-Alphafen).
I'm always glad to read a little Ramsey Campbell (he's been publishing for 60 years - I've only been reading him for 45 years) but I wouldn't recommend this for a first read of a Ramsey Campbell book.
Looking for a good book? The Incubations by Ramsey Campbell is a slow-building horror story - perhaps just a little too slow-building.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Leo Parker is a driving instructor at his parents' driving school in Settlesham. Many years ago, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Second World War, Leo and the students in his school were tasked with corresponding with students at a school in Alphafen, Germany. Both cities were bombed during the war, though neither seemed to have any significance. Leo's Alphafen pen-pal has been Hannah Weber.
Leo has stayed in touched with Hannah through the years, though they've never met in person. When Hannah invites Leo to visit, he gladly accepts. But what he thought was an idyllic setting in Alphafen turns out to be not quite so welcoming.
When Leo returns home he can't shake the feeling that he may have brought some of the darkness of Alphfen with him. Friends and acquaintances with whom he's been friendly seem to have it in for him, and the harder he works to 'fix' whatever is wrong, the worse it gets. And once he realizes what has made the journey with him from Alphafen to Settlesham, the nightmares get worse.
As I've said with every Ramsey Campbell book - be prepared for a slow build-up of terror, suspense, and horror. Campbell is not someone who hits you over the head with the grotesque and fear. This is a delightful examination of one character who has the most mundane of lives who experiences something dark and unusual, but because he's not expecting it, reacts more with wonder. But slowly that terror creeps into Leo's consciousness.
It's hard to pinpoint precisely when things turn. There are moments early in the book that seem just a little 'off' for Leo, but certainly things get stranger once he arrives in Alphefen, and darker still when he returns home.
I did feel that this slow-building horror tale was just a tad slower than I would typically enjoy. I grew a bit bored with each section (pre-Alphafen, in Alphafen, post-Alphafen).
I'm always glad to read a little Ramsey Campbell (he's been publishing for 60 years - I've only been reading him for 45 years) but I wouldn't recommend this for a first read of a Ramsey Campbell book.
Looking for a good book? The Incubations by Ramsey Campbell is a slow-building horror story - perhaps just a little too slow-building.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2024
Here is my review for The Incubations by Ramsey Campbell
This was quite an interesting read which I really enjoyed. I got into it easily right from the start of the book. It was an intriguing horror and a good one. It was set in Alphafen and Settlesham where Leo Parker lived. He went to Alphafen to meet his pen pal, Hanna, from when they were at school and he was treated like their saviour. His first evening there the whole village had turned out to see him. When the family were sleeping that night, Hanna had a bad dream and Leo heard her so went across to try and help her. Actually, he was just in time to save her from a creature that was about to attack her. Then, her parents got up as well to see what was happening, Leo explained and Hanna was okay so everyone went back to bed. He made the most of the rest of his stay there. This story was superbly written and I really enjoyed reading it. I enjoy horror and this story was right up my street. The story was extremely well plotted and thought out. Most of the characters are likeable but poor Leo Parker really goes through it once everything starts going wrong for him. I have not read this author before but I would like to read more of this work.
Blurb :
When a weight landed on his legs he raised his head from the violently crumpled pillow. The bed already had another occupant, and as Leo flung the quilt back so that it wouldn’t hinder his escape the creature scurried up his body to squat on his chest, clutching him with all its limbs like half a spider…
Leo Parker's stay in Alphafen seems idyllic, but after he leaves, the nightmares begin: an airport turns into a labyrinth, his own words become treacherous if not lethal, and what are those creatures in the photographs he took? Even the therapy Leo undertakes becomes a source of menace.
Perhaps Leo has roused an ancient Alpine legend. Even once he understands what he brought back, his attempts to overcome its influence may lead into greater nightmares still…
This was quite an interesting read which I really enjoyed. I got into it easily right from the start of the book. It was an intriguing horror and a good one. It was set in Alphafen and Settlesham where Leo Parker lived. He went to Alphafen to meet his pen pal, Hanna, from when they were at school and he was treated like their saviour. His first evening there the whole village had turned out to see him. When the family were sleeping that night, Hanna had a bad dream and Leo heard her so went across to try and help her. Actually, he was just in time to save her from a creature that was about to attack her. Then, her parents got up as well to see what was happening, Leo explained and Hanna was okay so everyone went back to bed. He made the most of the rest of his stay there. This story was superbly written and I really enjoyed reading it. I enjoy horror and this story was right up my street. The story was extremely well plotted and thought out. Most of the characters are likeable but poor Leo Parker really goes through it once everything starts going wrong for him. I have not read this author before but I would like to read more of this work.
Blurb :
When a weight landed on his legs he raised his head from the violently crumpled pillow. The bed already had another occupant, and as Leo flung the quilt back so that it wouldn’t hinder his escape the creature scurried up his body to squat on his chest, clutching him with all its limbs like half a spider…
Leo Parker's stay in Alphafen seems idyllic, but after he leaves, the nightmares begin: an airport turns into a labyrinth, his own words become treacherous if not lethal, and what are those creatures in the photographs he took? Even the therapy Leo undertakes becomes a source of menace.
Perhaps Leo has roused an ancient Alpine legend. Even once he understands what he brought back, his attempts to overcome its influence may lead into greater nightmares still…
November 15, 2024
QOTD: Have you read any Lovecraft? If not, how about the next best thing... Ramsey Campbell?
If you'd like to read my full... complex thoughts on his latest, you can do so by going to fanfiaddict.com, or the link in my bio and highlights.
"A beautiful looking book, that (personally) tragically fails to live up to Campbell’s name, “The Incubations,” feels bland and pedestrian, something that frankly is more likely to lull readers to sleep than keep them up at night. Even Lovecraft had his sleeper stories (cough cough, “The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath,”) and in this respect, Campbell continues to follow in his predecessors footsteps. I adored his earlier work, and have indulged in some of his contemporary writing too, most recently “The Wise Friend,” however, in my experience, this was a hazy, horror-lite swing and stumble. Regardless, I’d like to thank Flametree Press for getting this one out to me, and Anne Cater at Random Things Tours, for organising.
We follow Leo Parker, who is a driving instructor, and long-time penpal of Hanna Weber, a local of Alphafen, Germany. Since the war, Leo’s hometown has always been paired with Alphafen, where Hitler used to enjoy looking out over the alps, hence why his entire class are tasked with writing to their German counterparts. This includes Paddy Bloore, still resentful of the whole country following the war, who writes a hate-filled and xenophobic letter to Dietriech Gebhardt- a character that Leo has the misfortune of running into all these years later. Having had a strange episode, forcing him to question his ability to both teach, and drive, the pleasant week away spent with Hanna and her parents was exactly what he needed- upon his return to the UK, these issues seem to resurface. Paranoid he has been followed home, particularly following a strange episode in the airport, his confusion grows and worsens."
If you'd like to read my full... complex thoughts on his latest, you can do so by going to fanfiaddict.com, or the link in my bio and highlights.
"A beautiful looking book, that (personally) tragically fails to live up to Campbell’s name, “The Incubations,” feels bland and pedestrian, something that frankly is more likely to lull readers to sleep than keep them up at night. Even Lovecraft had his sleeper stories (cough cough, “The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath,”) and in this respect, Campbell continues to follow in his predecessors footsteps. I adored his earlier work, and have indulged in some of his contemporary writing too, most recently “The Wise Friend,” however, in my experience, this was a hazy, horror-lite swing and stumble. Regardless, I’d like to thank Flametree Press for getting this one out to me, and Anne Cater at Random Things Tours, for organising.
We follow Leo Parker, who is a driving instructor, and long-time penpal of Hanna Weber, a local of Alphafen, Germany. Since the war, Leo’s hometown has always been paired with Alphafen, where Hitler used to enjoy looking out over the alps, hence why his entire class are tasked with writing to their German counterparts. This includes Paddy Bloore, still resentful of the whole country following the war, who writes a hate-filled and xenophobic letter to Dietriech Gebhardt- a character that Leo has the misfortune of running into all these years later. Having had a strange episode, forcing him to question his ability to both teach, and drive, the pleasant week away spent with Hanna and her parents was exactly what he needed- upon his return to the UK, these issues seem to resurface. Paranoid he has been followed home, particularly following a strange episode in the airport, his confusion grows and worsens."
October 10, 2024
Although many of Campbell’s recent novels have been top drawer – check out
Thirteen Days by Sunset Beach
(2018),
The Wise Friend
(2020),
Somebody's Voice
(2021) and
The Lonely Lands
(2023) – his latest, The Incubations, tested my patience. It might not be a long book, and I never came close to abandoning it, but it ends just when things are warming up after way too much faffing around. The fact there is barely anything supernatural for large parts of the novel is another aspect which might frustrate readers.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
January 1, 2025
I do not think I have ever read a horror before. I was not sure how I would feel or just how scared I would be when done. So I tried. And I liked it! There's no need to triple check the locks for this one. It wouldn’t have helped. Oh wait, I think I read some Halloween horror this year. Haha.😂🎃
Leo Parker, a witness to a horrendous accident as a child, is starting to experience some challenges in his everyday life.
He decides to visit his long-time pen pal Hanna, who was a pupil at school in their twin city, Alphafen.
And his life turns from challenging to worse. A nightmare, even.
With a development so suddle as a toads "bath",
I realise that I, just as Grethel, am following the delicious crumbs towards the gingerbread house of an ending.
It all falls into place elegantly, and I smile as I realise. I enjoyed my first book from this author.
Did you notice the cover? It is even better in real life!💙📚
The creature made me think of a vette. It is not, though.😉
I will leave you with this as this is one of those books that just needs to be experienced.
When a weight landed on his legs, he raised his head from the violently crumpled pillow. The bed already had another occupant, and as Leo flung the quilt back so that it wouldn’t hinder his escape the creature scurried up his body to squat on his chest, clutching him with all its limbs like half a spider…
Leo Parker, a witness to a horrendous accident as a child, is starting to experience some challenges in his everyday life.
He decides to visit his long-time pen pal Hanna, who was a pupil at school in their twin city, Alphafen.
And his life turns from challenging to worse. A nightmare, even.
With a development so suddle as a toads "bath",
I realise that I, just as Grethel, am following the delicious crumbs towards the gingerbread house of an ending.
It all falls into place elegantly, and I smile as I realise. I enjoyed my first book from this author.
Did you notice the cover? It is even better in real life!💙📚
The creature made me think of a vette. It is not, though.😉
I will leave you with this as this is one of those books that just needs to be experienced.
When a weight landed on his legs, he raised his head from the violently crumpled pillow. The bed already had another occupant, and as Leo flung the quilt back so that it wouldn’t hinder his escape the creature scurried up his body to squat on his chest, clutching him with all its limbs like half a spider…
April 11, 2025
This was difficult for me to get through - the style of the writing, the dialogue, and the characters all felt like a stage set or a very slow-moving film. It wasn't bad, but it felt plodding, and the tone went from squeamish/grotesque/true horror to what felt comic and just plain strange. The dialogue didn't strike me as totally realistic, and that was a big stumbling block. I couldn't immerse myself totally. I did feel it picked up in the last third or so, but I also felt the ending was unsatisfying. Atmospherically, I enjoyed it when it gained some steam, so giving it 3 stars and not 2. If you like horror, this is definitely of the mythological/historical variety, a little coy and leaving lots to the imagination. Creepy, but left nothing lingering on the palate.
November 13, 2024
Having read and loved The Nameless by Ramsey Campbell earlier in the year, I could not wait to get my hands on this new release!
Let me just start by saying, I was not disappointed! I love Ramsey’s style of writing and his dark gothic horror themes that he portrays throughout his writing.
This book explores mental health and psychological aspect as we question what is real and what is all in the minds of the main character and others around him. This book is definitely going to stay with me for a long time as I am still processing what actually happened - in a good way!
The book was exciting, nail biting and honestly… a bit terrifying!
Let me just start by saying, I was not disappointed! I love Ramsey’s style of writing and his dark gothic horror themes that he portrays throughout his writing.
This book explores mental health and psychological aspect as we question what is real and what is all in the minds of the main character and others around him. This book is definitely going to stay with me for a long time as I am still processing what actually happened - in a good way!
The book was exciting, nail biting and honestly… a bit terrifying!
November 19, 2024
Having read the brilliant Nameless a while back by the same author, I had an idea of what to expect from The Incubations, and let me tell you, it certainly did not disappoint.
It's another top quality horror that's deep, thoughtful and atmospheric. But it's somewhat different to your average horror, and different to the usual Ramsey Campbell horror. It has more of a muted style, quiet and sombre, dark and foreboding.
It's psychological horror that will play on your insecurities, on your fears and your nightmares.
It's brilliantly written, with an intelligent plot and well developed characters that feel real.
I read this in three sittings.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
It's another top quality horror that's deep, thoughtful and atmospheric. But it's somewhat different to your average horror, and different to the usual Ramsey Campbell horror. It has more of a muted style, quiet and sombre, dark and foreboding.
It's psychological horror that will play on your insecurities, on your fears and your nightmares.
It's brilliantly written, with an intelligent plot and well developed characters that feel real.
I read this in three sittings.
5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
December 7, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC!
In true Ramsey Campbell fashion, I had no idea what was happening for long stretches of this book and I mean this in the best, most unsettled/disturbed way. The opening few chapters with the protagonist losing his language and retelling his childhood trauma were some of the most upsetting content I've read recently. I, too, think butterflies and moths are creepy, and enjoyed reading about them going after neo-Nazis.
In true Ramsey Campbell fashion, I had no idea what was happening for long stretches of this book and I mean this in the best, most unsettled/disturbed way. The opening few chapters with the protagonist losing his language and retelling his childhood trauma were some of the most upsetting content I've read recently. I, too, think butterflies and moths are creepy, and enjoyed reading about them going after neo-Nazis.
January 16, 2025
I once read Reddit that described Ramsey Campbell's writing as PhD level literature. He is definitely able to, with words, create a comfortable feeling of witty British family life, then turn that comfort into an addictive feeling of dread. The lure of what could be lurking in the shadows, keeps the pages turning. I limited myself to 3 chapters a day, so I could lengthen the slow burn effect of this wonderful book.
February 6, 2025
Knowing what Ramsey Campbell is capable of, I found this one a little disappointing. In his best work the supernatural threat can be mysterious and ambiguous, but here it just felt muddled. Characters, setting and threat all felt underdeveloped, as if rather than a novel this was a very long short story with chapters.
Campbell's trademark hostile, hard-to-parse dialogue didn't help, either.
Ah well, here's to the next one.
Campbell's trademark hostile, hard-to-parse dialogue didn't help, either.
Ah well, here's to the next one.
March 11, 2025
The Incubations is a great novel, from a master of British horror, there is a wonderful sense of eerie mystery that slowly builds up throughout the book as we follow our main character through his daily life and on his eventual journey to peril. I really enjoyed the nature of the threat which was wonderfully original and calling upon some folklore I was unfamiliar with, definitely worth picking up.
December 14, 2024
Ramsey Campbell excels at describing feelings of dread and getting the reader to feel it too. I wish he was better at characterization. Al the characters seem nearly interchangeable with similar ways of speaking that generally ring false. I’ll continue to read Campbell for the cosmic horror but I do wish he had characters I could believe as well.
May 26, 2024
ARC from NetGalley.
I’m giving this a three on the strength of it being a really terribly paced first book in a trilogy as opposed to a really terrible stand alone book. Very little gels and there are a lot of extraneous elements.
I’m giving this a three on the strength of it being a really terribly paced first book in a trilogy as opposed to a really terrible stand alone book. Very little gels and there are a lot of extraneous elements.
October 4, 2024
Another great read from Ramsey Campbell. Never disappoints. Great characters, a great story/plot, and great pacing. Always look forward to a new release from Ramsey Campbell. #TheIncubations #NetGalley
November 25, 2024
Decent example of subtle, low-key horror, though some readers may feel that too many strands lack much of a payoff. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
November 11, 2024
The master of psychological horror does it again
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