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The Old One
A man finds himself stranded in a small Pacific Northwest town when a landslide blocks the highway.
Over the next few days he meets the locals, learns about the area's history, and discovers a terrible secret in the woods.
A horror story in the tradition of King and Lovecraft.
Over the next few days he meets the locals, learns about the area's history, and discovers a terrible secret in the woods.
A horror story in the tradition of King and Lovecraft.
ebook
First published January 1, 2011
11 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Todd Brabander
9 books3 followersTodd Brabander is an author, musician, and artist from Portland OR. His projects range in style from comedy, to absurdist, to horror, and usually have a Pacific Northwest flavor.
His work aims to capture a twisted and often humorous view of the normal world.
He has been in several music groups, had his writing published online, and has publicly displayed visual art.
He is a big fan of the Oxford comma.
His work aims to capture a twisted and often humorous view of the normal world.
He has been in several music groups, had his writing published online, and has publicly displayed visual art.
He is a big fan of the Oxford comma.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 29, 2014
Pacific Northwest holds a sort of dank misty cloudy fascination. Brabander made it all the more eerie by putting a giant monster in the woods near a small coastal town. Because nature can be seriously creepy. The writing was somewhat flat, possibly deliberately very plain, but this was a nice tale, not great, but solid, good way to pass an hour. Entertaining quick read.
June 12, 2015
Interesting novella with a Lovecraftian feel about a traveler stranded for a few days in a sleepy little town in the Pacific northwest after torrential rains make the roads in and out of town impassable. The residents are reluctant to speak of the legend about a monster of immense size sleeping in the wooded hills that might just break about the end of the world if awakened...
December 22, 2022
Incredible Plot, Writing Style Needs Work
Don’t get me wrong. Once the story gets rolling, you’ll be in for a wild ride as Brabander introduces us to a monster the likes I’ve never seen in prose before.
The only problem is the author describes everything in detail to what people are wearing, what they are eating, and even how a door opens and shuts. The overly descriptive prose contributes nothing to the story and has a tendency to knock the reader out of the story.
Aside from that and a few logic problems, I thought the story just great and I was certainly entertained.
Don’t get me wrong. Once the story gets rolling, you’ll be in for a wild ride as Brabander introduces us to a monster the likes I’ve never seen in prose before.
The only problem is the author describes everything in detail to what people are wearing, what they are eating, and even how a door opens and shuts. The overly descriptive prose contributes nothing to the story and has a tendency to knock the reader out of the story.
Aside from that and a few logic problems, I thought the story just great and I was certainly entertained.
January 28, 2020
I loved this book! I could totally visual the title character. I won't say more about that character because to so would spoil things. Just read it and enjoy.
July 2, 2022
Very imaginative!
Something totally different from what I normally read, but it absolutely kept me intrigued! Great read, didn't expect the turn of events or end!
Something totally different from what I normally read, but it absolutely kept me intrigued! Great read, didn't expect the turn of events or end!
May 31, 2012
A very well done short horror story, The Old One was a fun read. Built with the right amount of suspense, crazy people, and a horrific monster that you only really get the barest of glimpses of, this story handles its theme really well. The characters are well done for the most part, some of them feel a little thin, but all in all it's such a minor detail among everything else you barely notice.
Two problems I did have with this story have nothing to do with the plot, characters, or any aspect of the horror itself. (all of which were well done) My main problem with the story is the use of 'OK' rather than 'Okay' throughout the story, something that most word processors will catch. When you have a sentance going on with all lower case letters, and suddenly a fully capitalized 'OK' appears it tends to drag readers out of the story where a lower case 'okay' would have worked better.
My second problem was the author's love of short sentances. Usually used for high tension situations to denote a faster pace, when used for things such as descriptions of people and settings, it just feels like you're being bombarded by factual rocks. It really detracked from the story, especially when combined with the smattering of 'OK's hiding within the story.
Yet despite all that, this is a good read and I really enjoyed it. The way the monster was handled was wonderful and I liked the fact that you reall never see it, nor does its existance ever really get explained. It just is, which fits it perfectly. Definatly a good story to pick up.
Two problems I did have with this story have nothing to do with the plot, characters, or any aspect of the horror itself. (all of which were well done) My main problem with the story is the use of 'OK' rather than 'Okay' throughout the story, something that most word processors will catch. When you have a sentance going on with all lower case letters, and suddenly a fully capitalized 'OK' appears it tends to drag readers out of the story where a lower case 'okay' would have worked better.
My second problem was the author's love of short sentances. Usually used for high tension situations to denote a faster pace, when used for things such as descriptions of people and settings, it just feels like you're being bombarded by factual rocks. It really detracked from the story, especially when combined with the smattering of 'OK's hiding within the story.
Yet despite all that, this is a good read and I really enjoyed it. The way the monster was handled was wonderful and I liked the fact that you reall never see it, nor does its existance ever really get explained. It just is, which fits it perfectly. Definatly a good story to pick up.
April 3, 2013
A Pacific Northwest Horror Story
By Todd Brabander
Smashwords Edition
B005FQN3AI
Submitted by the author
Rating: 2
A stranger passing through town on his way to somewhere else is waylaid by mud slides blocking the roads. With nowhere to go and nothing better to do, he hangs out and collects stories at the local watering hole and all of these stories seem to contain a note of menace, of poorly concealed fear. So, of course, just as in the movies where the teenage girl walks through the unexpectedly open door of her home, when there's a storm outside and all the electricity is out and the phone line has been cut and her boyfriend has mysteriously disappeared, when obviously there is a psychotic serial killer lying in wait, the stranger decides to investigate. He recruits a few of the locals and they get a little ambitious: "...that was what they planned to do; save the world. It sounded simple enough."
This tale is spun with promise by Todd Brabander. It is clearly in the tradition of Stephen King. In my opinion, Mr. Brabander should keep at his writing, especially of the horror genre.
Please visit the author at : http://www.todd13.com/
And Smashwords at: http://www.smashwords.com/
P.S. He did a marvelous job with the ending, just the right tone.
By Todd Brabander
Smashwords Edition
B005FQN3AI
Submitted by the author
Rating: 2
A stranger passing through town on his way to somewhere else is waylaid by mud slides blocking the roads. With nowhere to go and nothing better to do, he hangs out and collects stories at the local watering hole and all of these stories seem to contain a note of menace, of poorly concealed fear. So, of course, just as in the movies where the teenage girl walks through the unexpectedly open door of her home, when there's a storm outside and all the electricity is out and the phone line has been cut and her boyfriend has mysteriously disappeared, when obviously there is a psychotic serial killer lying in wait, the stranger decides to investigate. He recruits a few of the locals and they get a little ambitious: "...that was what they planned to do; save the world. It sounded simple enough."
This tale is spun with promise by Todd Brabander. It is clearly in the tradition of Stephen King. In my opinion, Mr. Brabander should keep at his writing, especially of the horror genre.
Please visit the author at : http://www.todd13.com/
And Smashwords at: http://www.smashwords.com/
P.S. He did a marvelous job with the ending, just the right tone.
November 21, 2011
A small town in the Pacific Northwest, just 20 miles from the sea, has been cut off from the world by mudslides. David was just passing through, trying to find a town in which to settle and start a new life when he is stranded in Myrtle. While sitting in the roadhouse that first night, he is accosted by a strange, red-headed man who claims that David is “the one” – while questioning other townsfolk, David learns about a disturbing local legend – there is a monster in the woods, and there is a bell, and if that bell is rung, the monster will awaken and destroy the world … What David learns in that small town will change his life … forever…
This was a wonderfully perverse novella, a great little horror story. I’ve love to see more of Brabander’s work – he has a truly gifted sense of the macabre and horrific. If you enjoy good horror, you will adore “The Old One.” Check it out!
This was a wonderfully perverse novella, a great little horror story. I’ve love to see more of Brabander’s work – he has a truly gifted sense of the macabre and horrific. If you enjoy good horror, you will adore “The Old One.” Check it out!
September 7, 2011
I really enjoyed this book! I read it in an afternoon! Had to!! It kind of had a Twlight Zone feel to it… getting stuck in a small town where everyone and everything is just a little off but no one really wants to talk about it! The way it slowly but persistently builds to the end… then it’s more intense than any TZ I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them! Todd does a great job of describing the area, the weather, the people… the monster!!! It was easy to feel for these characters and be interested in what was happening to them! The monster was awesome! So different, but I could easily picture what I thought it would look like. It’s something I could have read more about because I found myself saying “wait… where did it come from and why… what would happen if they…??”(oops... can’t give too much away!) but it lets your imagination run wild which is really interesting and fun too!
September 28, 2011
The Old One is a quick read and is quite different than most horror stories out there that focus on blood, gore, and murder, instead focusing on an ancient creature in the woods that has been killing people for countless years. From the brief tales shared by several characters, you begin to understand the effect the creature has had on the townspeople. Each of these characters has a past with this "mountain" and many have lost friends or acquaintances to its wrath. I found the writing to be very short and straightforward, incorporating just the right amount of fright. While I wouldn't say I found The Old One terrifying, it certainly speaks to the old cautionary tales of 'stay out of the woods'.
September 24, 2013
Overall I enjoyed the book (kindle). I got it because of where the story takes place (I live in Oregon). I thought the premise was good. There are a couple things that 'bothered' me. There were too many short sentences which led to some breaks in the flow of the story. The other 'issue' I had was that surely someone must have rung that bell sometime in the past. How did the monster become trapped again?
December 4, 2014
Interesting Mythology
If you are looking for a quick read that will keep you engaged from start to finish, look no further. Brabander weaves a tale of horrific small town mythology that will stay with readers for some time to come. What evil is hidden in the unpopulated wilderness surrounding small-town America? Read "The Old One" and discover it for yourself.
If you are looking for a quick read that will keep you engaged from start to finish, look no further. Brabander weaves a tale of horrific small town mythology that will stay with readers for some time to come. What evil is hidden in the unpopulated wilderness surrounding small-town America? Read "The Old One" and discover it for yourself.
February 16, 2012
This was a short, but interesting story about a drifter who finds himself stuck in a small town, discovers a horrifying local legend and stays to protect the the towns secrets. This was quite intriguing and an absorbing read. Recommended.
July 28, 2012
Nice taut horror novella. Our intrepid hero, David, is out of work and stuck in the small town of Myrtle. After a run in with the town oddity, David learns there is something in the woods something big, dangerous and very old. Fun story and and a great way to spend time in the sun
February 22, 2013
The Old One is a quick, spine-chilling read that reminds me of the best kind of X-Files episode. I look forward to reading more from Todd Brabander.
Received via LibraryThing Member Giveaway.
Received via LibraryThing Member Giveaway.
June 27, 2013
Very good story, showing the influence of Lovecraft and also, I thought, Arthur Machen. Nice sense of growing tension, and it features the most impressive monster I'm come across in ages (Size does matter!!!).
October 26, 2013
I just reread the synopsis for this and it says it's "A horror story in the tradition of King and Lovecraft." I guess I can see that...and it is an interesting premise, but there just wasn't enough excitement for me.
May 11, 2014
It was okay. I think it was too short. I wish there was a chapter where the history of the giant monster was discussed. The ending could have been different, a real resolution like the death of the monster or the victory of it. The story hasn't even reached its climax.
February 19, 2014
I thought this was an excellent story! Great plot, well written.
March 25, 2014
Pretty good short story.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews