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Judge Pursuivant Trilogy #1
The Hairy Ones Shall Dance
The first spellbinding novel in multi-fantasy award winner Manley Wade Wellman's classic horror trilogy about Judge Hilary Pursuivant, the jurist so deeply seeped in the lore of deviltry and supernatural evil, that no one or thing, not even the most powerful of dark forces, can stand against him.
Talbot Wills, a skeptic, gave up his career as a stage magician to study psychic phenomena—and once and for all prove or disprove its existence to himself. Learning this, his friend Doctor Otto Zoberg, an expert in occult subjects brings him to an isolated hamlet to attend a séance at the home of a spirit medium whose powers are legendary. There Talbot meets Susan Gird, an intelligent and likable young woman, and after an afternoon together finds himself attracted to her. The séance is held that night—and though everyone is handcuffed to someone else, a strange wolf-like shape moves in the dark. When Susan Gird's father cries out some sort of accusation, the shape leaps upon him and slaughters him.
The town constable investigates and, since Wills is a magician and escape artist, arrests him for the crime. Later, while Talbot is locked in jail, an angry mob gathers to lynch him. With his knowledge of locks, Talbot breaks out his cell and in eluding his pursuers finds himself in the Devil's Croft, a mysterious grove which most locals are afraid to approach. As he enters it, Wills falls, exhausted. What happens next shatters his skepticism for good.
Fleeing, Talbot meets Judge Pursuivant, a giant of a man both physically and mentally, and a man with an almost uncanny knowledge of the occult who promises to help him and Susan.
Thus begins this classic novel of hideous, stark horror from Weird Tales, the magazine that gave birth to the works of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu mythos. Soon Susan and Talbot find their only hope of saving themselves from sudden and frightful death is to battle side-by-side with Judge Pursuivant against the frightful thing that lives in the Devil's Croft.
Talbot Wills, a skeptic, gave up his career as a stage magician to study psychic phenomena—and once and for all prove or disprove its existence to himself. Learning this, his friend Doctor Otto Zoberg, an expert in occult subjects brings him to an isolated hamlet to attend a séance at the home of a spirit medium whose powers are legendary. There Talbot meets Susan Gird, an intelligent and likable young woman, and after an afternoon together finds himself attracted to her. The séance is held that night—and though everyone is handcuffed to someone else, a strange wolf-like shape moves in the dark. When Susan Gird's father cries out some sort of accusation, the shape leaps upon him and slaughters him.
The town constable investigates and, since Wills is a magician and escape artist, arrests him for the crime. Later, while Talbot is locked in jail, an angry mob gathers to lynch him. With his knowledge of locks, Talbot breaks out his cell and in eluding his pursuers finds himself in the Devil's Croft, a mysterious grove which most locals are afraid to approach. As he enters it, Wills falls, exhausted. What happens next shatters his skepticism for good.
Fleeing, Talbot meets Judge Pursuivant, a giant of a man both physically and mentally, and a man with an almost uncanny knowledge of the occult who promises to help him and Susan.
Thus begins this classic novel of hideous, stark horror from Weird Tales, the magazine that gave birth to the works of H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu mythos. Soon Susan and Talbot find their only hope of saving themselves from sudden and frightful death is to battle side-by-side with Judge Pursuivant against the frightful thing that lives in the Devil's Croft.
99 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 7, 2022
Classic Manly Wade Wellman
A tale of fantasy and horror originally serialized in three 1938 issues (January - March) of Weird Tales magazine. Mr. Wellman was one of the better know contributors to that publication. Born in Portuguese West Africa, Wellman lived most of his life in North Carolina. He often used lore and legend of the Appalachians in his work.
This short novel begins in a vein similar to the relationship between Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle . Doyle traveled about speaking on spiritualism and mediums. Houdini sometimes followed him and demonstrated that the mediums were frauds. Wellman acknowledges both in this story. Other real people are also part of the tale.Including the maybe.not so reverend Montague Summers through his writing and research.
Wellman was well known for his fantasy, horror and sci-fi writing but also wrote historical fiction, mysteries, juvenile fiction and non-fiction including a notable biography of Wade Hampton. Author Karl Edward Wagner referred to him as "the dean of fantasy writers."
Just as the reader begins to understand this book as a story of spiritualism, seances and perhaps satanic evil, Wellman takes another direction with an interesting plot twist or two. If you are a devotee of modern blood and gore tales, this one may not appeal to you. If you want the surprises which Wellman wrote, avoid the description of the book on Goodreads.
A tale of fantasy and horror originally serialized in three 1938 issues (January - March) of Weird Tales magazine. Mr. Wellman was one of the better know contributors to that publication. Born in Portuguese West Africa, Wellman lived most of his life in North Carolina. He often used lore and legend of the Appalachians in his work.
This short novel begins in a vein similar to the relationship between Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle . Doyle traveled about speaking on spiritualism and mediums. Houdini sometimes followed him and demonstrated that the mediums were frauds. Wellman acknowledges both in this story. Other real people are also part of the tale.Including the maybe.not so reverend Montague Summers through his writing and research.
Wellman was well known for his fantasy, horror and sci-fi writing but also wrote historical fiction, mysteries, juvenile fiction and non-fiction including a notable biography of Wade Hampton. Author Karl Edward Wagner referred to him as "the dean of fantasy writers."
Just as the reader begins to understand this book as a story of spiritualism, seances and perhaps satanic evil, Wellman takes another direction with an interesting plot twist or two. If you are a devotee of modern blood and gore tales, this one may not appeal to you. If you want the surprises which Wellman wrote, avoid the description of the book on Goodreads.
May 5, 2021
This was an interesting read. I was first keyed into Manly Wade Wellman after reading that he was a friend, and somewhat of a mentor, to Karl Edward Wagner - an author who is quickly rising into my top teir of favorites. Furthermore, Wellman's heyday of writing began during the pulp era of the 1930s, and this happens to be a period which I've always been drawn to: I adore authors such as Lovecraft, Blackwood, Onions and more.
Now having said that - this particular novella was somewhat middling. I actually enjoyed the setup and the story, and there can be little doubt that Wellman was well acquainted with the paranormal scholarship of the way: he extensively quotes Summers, for instance. And no one an doubt that he was incredibly well versed in the folklore and history of the Appalachia and the South (of note: Wellman was a Southron nationalist at heart, though his Lost Cause leanings don't come out in this story at all). I found myself learning some things, and also hearing about books that I would actually rather like to look into! The story is also a quick read, with fast and exciting pacing.
However, The Hairy Ones Shall Dance, does have its weaknesses. The characters are rather flat and one or two dimensional. Although the ending is set up as a mystery and a twist, there weren't all that many clues given to the reader to figure it out on their own. Also, certain characters exist solely to pontificate and provide exposition (actually, Judge Pursuivant, is one of these - though that doesn't stop him from being one of the most engaging and fun characters in the story!). Which is a longwinded way ot saying that the writign can occassionally be clunky. Part of this may be because this is one of Wellman's earlier works and he was still finding his voice - I have recently purchased a collection of his shortstories so I suppose I will soon find out. And another part may be the venue and the time of publication - though I've read a fair bit of that era and am acquainted with it's stlyistic tropes and the like.
All in all, I'd recommend The Hairy Ones Shall Dance for those looking for a fun, snappy horror story.
Now having said that - this particular novella was somewhat middling. I actually enjoyed the setup and the story, and there can be little doubt that Wellman was well acquainted with the paranormal scholarship of the way: he extensively quotes Summers, for instance. And no one an doubt that he was incredibly well versed in the folklore and history of the Appalachia and the South (of note: Wellman was a Southron nationalist at heart, though his Lost Cause leanings don't come out in this story at all). I found myself learning some things, and also hearing about books that I would actually rather like to look into! The story is also a quick read, with fast and exciting pacing.
However, The Hairy Ones Shall Dance, does have its weaknesses. The characters are rather flat and one or two dimensional. Although the ending is set up as a mystery and a twist, there weren't all that many clues given to the reader to figure it out on their own. Also, certain characters exist solely to pontificate and provide exposition (actually, Judge Pursuivant, is one of these - though that doesn't stop him from being one of the most engaging and fun characters in the story!). Which is a longwinded way ot saying that the writign can occassionally be clunky. Part of this may be because this is one of Wellman's earlier works and he was still finding his voice - I have recently purchased a collection of his shortstories so I suppose I will soon find out. And another part may be the venue and the time of publication - though I've read a fair bit of that era and am acquainted with it's stlyistic tropes and the like.
All in all, I'd recommend The Hairy Ones Shall Dance for those looking for a fun, snappy horror story.
February 1, 2025
Manly Wade Wellman's "The Hairy Ones Shall Dance" is a horror novel, and the opening book of the 'Judge Pursuivant' trilogy. The story begins with a skeptic of psychic phenomena attending a seance in the company of a friend who has much to say about the reality of the supernatural. After a slow buildup, the seance gets underway, leading to an encounter with a legendary creature, with grimoires, delicious folklore and the pitting of science against the occult with the two often coming together throughout the rest of this tale.
I appreciated the investigative angle here, and enjoyed the pacing throughout. The characters are well drawn and frequently challenged by the events unfolding around them. The author doesn't offer much in the way of clues - a decision that pleased me - and a letter dictated to the judge near the end supplies a compelling backstory of just how we got here. Fans of the macabre with a taste for snatches of cosmic horror and pseudo-scientific theories will find much to enjoy here and this audiobook is a fine way to experience the story. A few words of praise for the narrator are due. Gene Blake is excellent at conveying the necessary atmosphere of fear and high tension and also handles the different accents so very well. His voice is clear and enjoyable to listen to as he switches from character building to passages of high suspense while always keeping in tune with the spirit of this opening book. "The Hairy Ones Shall Dance" is a fun read. Nothing heavy and perfect for the dark nights in front of a fire.
Steve Langton at 07:03
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I appreciated the investigative angle here, and enjoyed the pacing throughout. The characters are well drawn and frequently challenged by the events unfolding around them. The author doesn't offer much in the way of clues - a decision that pleased me - and a letter dictated to the judge near the end supplies a compelling backstory of just how we got here. Fans of the macabre with a taste for snatches of cosmic horror and pseudo-scientific theories will find much to enjoy here and this audiobook is a fine way to experience the story. A few words of praise for the narrator are due. Gene Blake is excellent at conveying the necessary atmosphere of fear and high tension and also handles the different accents so very well. His voice is clear and enjoyable to listen to as he switches from character building to passages of high suspense while always keeping in tune with the spirit of this opening book. "The Hairy Ones Shall Dance" is a fun read. Nothing heavy and perfect for the dark nights in front of a fire.
Steve Langton at 07:03
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August 10, 2025
I'm continuing to read more of Manly Wade Wellman's stories. Judge Pursuivant is mentioned in the John Thunstone stories and like him is an occult investigator.
Wellman's stories tend to follow a certain rhythm, but I found this one particularly interesting. I'm moving on to the second of the books.
Wellman's stories tend to follow a certain rhythm, but I found this one particularly interesting. I'm moving on to the second of the books.
March 27, 2024
On "The Hairy Ones Shall Dance"
Found this title referenced in one of Anne Rice's novels. It was a great, quick read. Highly recommend. I'm definitely going to try and read the others in the series.
Found this title referenced in one of Anne Rice's novels. It was a great, quick read. Highly recommend. I'm definitely going to try and read the others in the series.
March 12, 2024
Dated in writing style but a fun read.
December 4, 2024
I love these stories...part horror, part mystery.
November 23, 2025
Fun story and well paced. You can read for free at project guttenberg .
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews