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Deep Like the River
It was supposed to be fun. A chance to get away. An opportunity for two sisters to bond and for one sister to heal. It was a small river, calm, slow-moving. Perfect for a leisurely canoe trip on a beautiful summer day.
But then they hear a baby crying on the shore, abandoned and overheated. Alie and Carin have to take her with them. They can't just leave her there.
A simple canoe trip becomes a rescue mission. But there's something on the shore, hidden by the trees. Something that's following them every step of the way - watching, waiting . . .
Around every bend, the river becomes stranger, darker, more dangerous, until Alie isn't sure what's real and what isn't. The river wants the child for itself, but no matter what it throws at her, Alie's determined to get the baby to safety. She's already lost one child. But she'll have to fight the darkness that haunts the river - as well as the darkness within herself - if she doesn't want to lose another.
"Waggoner's new work is a new high water mark for him. Its chilling waters will take you into dark places...and weirdly enough you'll have a great time. Recommended. Wear a life jacket." - John Shirley author of Doyle After Death
"A descent into the madness of a ruined psyche, 'Deep Like the River' puts Waggoner's talent for the eerie, desolate, and unpredictable in the spotlight. A must-read for those who like their horror tinged with desperation and guilt." - Ronald Malfi, author of Cradle Lake
"I don't know if I've ever read a story quite like Tim Waggoner's DEEP LIKE THE RIVER. With its high emotional and metaphysical content and weird, surrealistic imagery, it reads a bit like Algernon Blackwood's "The Willows" with Kafka collaborating and Carl Jung offering occasional advice. Or maybe it's an adventure story that's taken a sudden turn into The Twilight Zone. However you characterize Waggoner's approach, the result is a fine piece of writing exploring the mysteries of a mind struggling with the guilt, pain, and terror of grief." - Steve Rasnic Tem, author of Blood Kin
But then they hear a baby crying on the shore, abandoned and overheated. Alie and Carin have to take her with them. They can't just leave her there.
A simple canoe trip becomes a rescue mission. But there's something on the shore, hidden by the trees. Something that's following them every step of the way - watching, waiting . . .
Around every bend, the river becomes stranger, darker, more dangerous, until Alie isn't sure what's real and what isn't. The river wants the child for itself, but no matter what it throws at her, Alie's determined to get the baby to safety. She's already lost one child. But she'll have to fight the darkness that haunts the river - as well as the darkness within herself - if she doesn't want to lose another.
"Waggoner's new work is a new high water mark for him. Its chilling waters will take you into dark places...and weirdly enough you'll have a great time. Recommended. Wear a life jacket." - John Shirley author of Doyle After Death
"A descent into the madness of a ruined psyche, 'Deep Like the River' puts Waggoner's talent for the eerie, desolate, and unpredictable in the spotlight. A must-read for those who like their horror tinged with desperation and guilt." - Ronald Malfi, author of Cradle Lake
"I don't know if I've ever read a story quite like Tim Waggoner's DEEP LIKE THE RIVER. With its high emotional and metaphysical content and weird, surrealistic imagery, it reads a bit like Algernon Blackwood's "The Willows" with Kafka collaborating and Carl Jung offering occasional advice. Or maybe it's an adventure story that's taken a sudden turn into The Twilight Zone. However you characterize Waggoner's approach, the result is a fine piece of writing exploring the mysteries of a mind struggling with the guilt, pain, and terror of grief." - Steve Rasnic Tem, author of Blood Kin
- GenresHorror
76 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2014
8 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
About the author
Tim Waggoner
280 books757 followersTim Waggoner's first novel came out in 2001, and since then, he's published over sixty novels and eight collections of short stories. He writes original dark fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. He's written tie-in fiction based on Supernatural, The X-Files, Alien, Doctor Who, Conan the Barbarian, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Grimm, and Transformers, among others, and he's written novelizations for films such as Ti West’s X-Trilogy, Halloween Kills, Terrifier 2 and 3, and Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. He’s also the author of the award-winning guide to horror Writing in the Dark. He’s a four-time winner of the Bram Stoker Award, a one-time winner of the Scribe Award, and he’s been a two-time finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award and a one-time finalist for the Splatterpunk Award. He’s also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 29, 2014
A story that starts out with two sisters, Carin and Alie, going out for a leisurely canoe ride, that turns out to be anything "but". This dramatic tale takes us to the emotion depths of heartache and denial, drudges up an agonizing childhood, and captivates your attention from first to last page.
The horror and disorientation felt by the one sister in particular are gut-wrenchingly real, and I felt myself swept up into the current with turmoil--both internal and external. If you're looking for a story that will take hold of your emotions and render you utterly speechless for a time, DEEP LIKE THE RIVER is just the story you need.
Highly recommended!
The horror and disorientation felt by the one sister in particular are gut-wrenchingly real, and I felt myself swept up into the current with turmoil--both internal and external. If you're looking for a story that will take hold of your emotions and render you utterly speechless for a time, DEEP LIKE THE RIVER is just the story you need.
Highly recommended!
July 9, 2014
A leisurely canoe run turns into a hauntingly surreal journey tinged with desperation, guilt and an almost selfish grasp for atonement.
Sisters Alie and Carin make quite an unbelievable and shocking discovery on the riverside, and this triggers a chain of events that can only be described as manic. Bringing back memories of a troubled childhood, a tragic loss that truly epitomizes the depths of parental behaviour and the anguish that encompasses it.
Deep Like The River is a far from predictable story with a slightly ambiguous ending but more than anything it’s an ill-fated journey of redemption and the unravelling of a soul.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Sisters Alie and Carin make quite an unbelievable and shocking discovery on the riverside, and this triggers a chain of events that can only be described as manic. Bringing back memories of a troubled childhood, a tragic loss that truly epitomizes the depths of parental behaviour and the anguish that encompasses it.
Deep Like The River is a far from predictable story with a slightly ambiguous ending but more than anything it’s an ill-fated journey of redemption and the unravelling of a soul.
http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
July 29, 2025
A moody, surreal novella about two sisters confronting past trauma (father and death of a child) during a river trip. Waggoner excels at the eerie atmosphere and disturbing imagery, but the characters lack depth and the story leans too hard into ambiguity. This is a decent psychological horror, but it's emotionally distant and more style than substance.
June 15, 2014
Note: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Having never read anything from Waggoner I didn't know how I would like his writing, but I had heard good things about him and the story sounded good, so I was happy to have the chance to review this title.
First off, I very much enjoyed this novella. There are some horror elements in the story, but it more of a dark thriller to me than anything.
This story is about mistakes, about confronting your own mistakes and owning up to them. It is about acknowledging those mistake instead of making excuses or living in denial about what happened (whatever that may be). It is also about how we are doomed to repeat their mistakes if they do nothing to take responsibility for their actions and work to correct the reasons for those mistakes.
Finally, this story is also about the potential for freedom from repeating those mistakes when you stop passing the blame onto other people or circumstances.
Having never read anything from Waggoner I didn't know how I would like his writing, but I had heard good things about him and the story sounded good, so I was happy to have the chance to review this title.
First off, I very much enjoyed this novella. There are some horror elements in the story, but it more of a dark thriller to me than anything.
This story is about mistakes, about confronting your own mistakes and owning up to them. It is about acknowledging those mistake instead of making excuses or living in denial about what happened (whatever that may be). It is also about how we are doomed to repeat their mistakes if they do nothing to take responsibility for their actions and work to correct the reasons for those mistakes.
Finally, this story is also about the potential for freedom from repeating those mistakes when you stop passing the blame onto other people or circumstances.
January 18, 2016
Sisters, Alie and Carin are going to spend the day enjoying a peaceful canoeing trip, down the Little Clearwater River. While going down the river, Alie thinks that she might of heard a baby cry. A simple canoeing trip, turns into a rescue mission. The sister's and baby Trouble take to the river to get her to safety. Each curve and bend of the river becomes stranger and darker to them. The river wants the child and will not stop until that happens. Alie, has lost one child and is hell bent that nothing is going to take Trouble away from her. This novella is an emotional roller coaste ride with plenty of horror and darkness from the unknown. This is the first book that I have read by Tim Waggoner but it will not be the last. I highly recommend this novella.
September 4, 2018
Great little novella! Weird ass ending
August 6, 2016
Reality is rapidly heading downstream as Alie struggles to cope with a horrific incident in her past and piece together some thread of sanity in order to save Trouble. The past won’t stay buried, however, and Alie is seemingly powerless to stop it, as she is sucked into the chilly current of her own psyche.
This one is a bleak journey into the waters of regret and mental deterioration. A dark and brooding tale that is very well written and evenly paced. I look forward to more from Mr. Waggoner. (It doesn't hurt to have Daniele Serra cover artwork either.)
This one is a bleak journey into the waters of regret and mental deterioration. A dark and brooding tale that is very well written and evenly paced. I look forward to more from Mr. Waggoner. (It doesn't hurt to have Daniele Serra cover artwork either.)
July 31, 2014
This is my kind of horror story. It starts innocently enough but it isn't long before you realise that all is not as it appears to be. From then on, the tension, suspense and terror build up, forcing you to keep reading. I devoured this in one highly enjoyable sitting. The story kept me guessing from beginning to end...and then some. Brilliant twist in the tale. I shall have to read it again because I know I missed some clues...
June 3, 2014
Review copy
A short, yet powerful read from Tim Waggoner.
Sisters, Alie and Carin, are spending a day leisurely canoeing down Little Clearwater river when they discover the unexpected. I know how vague that sounds, but I really don't want to give anything away. Most of the joy in this read is from the discovery process.
Deep Like the River is a journey of the mind with a wonderful intensity building as the perils the sisters face become more dangerous and more frequent.
From Dark Regions Press, Deep Like the River, is available now as a signed Limited Edition hardcover, paperback and ebook direct from the publisher, as well as through Amazon.com for the paperback and Kindle versions. Plus, if you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owner's Lending Library.
If you've never read Tim Waggoner before, Deep Like the River, is an excellent starting point.
Highly recommended.
A short, yet powerful read from Tim Waggoner.
Sisters, Alie and Carin, are spending a day leisurely canoeing down Little Clearwater river when they discover the unexpected. I know how vague that sounds, but I really don't want to give anything away. Most of the joy in this read is from the discovery process.
Deep Like the River is a journey of the mind with a wonderful intensity building as the perils the sisters face become more dangerous and more frequent.
From Dark Regions Press, Deep Like the River, is available now as a signed Limited Edition hardcover, paperback and ebook direct from the publisher, as well as through Amazon.com for the paperback and Kindle versions. Plus, if you have an Amazon Prime membership, you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owner's Lending Library.
If you've never read Tim Waggoner before, Deep Like the River, is an excellent starting point.
Highly recommended.
June 25, 2014
DEEP LIKE THE RIVER is a bleak and haunting novella about a woman whose guilt for an unforgivable crime takes on a fantastical and horrific life of its own during a canoe trip along a river. There's a lot of symbolism in the monsters the main character sees and interacts with throughout the story. I did feel like I knew where the story was going, but it was still an enjoyable read.
August 1, 2014
A wild, harrowing journey along the bleeding river of one grieving woman's soul. Mind-bending, and evocative stuff from Tim Waggoner.
February 29, 2016
Review forthcoming
September 10, 2017
A nice little atmospheric horror novella. The story follows sisters Alie and Carin on a lazy canoe float down the river, mostly told through flashbacks, however as they progress things get increasingly more unusual. At first it seems their minds may be playing tricks on them, but there are unexpected connections to their past that become glaring as they try to hurry home.
June 28, 2018
A short read, but a fun and dark read.
The story starts with two sisters going down the river in a canoe. When they see a small baby on the banks of the river, everything begins to change. The deeper they get down the river, the darker things get in the story.
The story starts with two sisters going down the river in a canoe. When they see a small baby on the banks of the river, everything begins to change. The deeper they get down the river, the darker things get in the story.
November 16, 2018
Am I the only one that finished reading this and was just like huh?
January 16, 2015
Back in 2011, I came across Nekropolis by Tim Waggoner, thanks to the recommendations on my Amazon account. I read the synopsis, and since it sounded like something right down my alley, I picked it up. After finishing the novel (which I highly enjoyed, along with the other two entries in the series), Tim had a brand new fan. I've picked up a number of collections featuring short stories by him, but Deep Like the River (published by Dark Regions Press) is the first long form work (in this case, a novella) I've read by him since the Nekropolis series. This is also my first review on one of his works, and I must say that his latest release is a doozy. One of the things I've learned about Tim is that his writing style is not set in stone, he adapts from story to story, character to character. The only constant is the sheer quality of his tales. Deep Like the River is no exception to this rule, and I had quite a journey reading through it. In my opinion, he's outdone himself with this release. Poignant, surreal, and gripping, this is the type of story I absolutely live for. Now that I'm done gushing (for now), let's get to the review. First, a synopsis, like usual, and then my thoughts on this really great story. Read on, if you will...
In Deep Like the River, we are introduced to two sisters, Alie and Carin. Alie has recently lost her baby girl, and her husband has left her after the tragedy. On what would have been her daughter's first birthday, Alie's older sister Carin has organized a canoeing trip, hoping to take Alie's mind off the tragedy. The day is interrupted when they find an abandoned baby girl, left on the river's shore. The parents are nowhere to be found, and the two sisters decide to take her with them to safety. Alie dubs the baby Trouble (after the heading on her Onesie, which reads "Here Comes Trouble!"), and they move on down the river. The little girl's new moniker seems to be prophetic, as the ensuing journey becomes more and more dangerous. The two sisters are left to question the very reality of the situation, and if Trouble is at all what she seems to be. As their journey becomes more surreal by the minute, the reader is left to wonder whether any of them will get out alive...
Deep Like the River is a rather brilliant story. Alie and Carin's tragic history is emotionally gripping, and creates a bond between the characters and the reader that is unshakable throughout. Alie's deep attachment to Trouble is clearly evident, and in the end, there is quite a good reason (beyond the obvious one) for this. Even after discovering what actually happened to her daughter, all I felt was sadness and compassion. When it comes down to it, the story is about second chances and redemption. Carin's love and compassion for her sister is also a huge element in the plot. Basically all they ever had as children were each other, and it was because of one another that they managed to survive their childhood abuse. As I've said above, the story has a distinct dreamlike feel to it, and is very surreal. There are no outright answers given to whether this is really happening, or for that matter, on what plane of existence it's taking place. Tim leaves all of this up to interpretation, so there will be many different views on what is actually taking place. All I can add to this, is that many of the threats to the trio are fears that are drawn from their own minds, so take that as you will. When you finally see the main architect (or is he/it?) behind their troubles, you probably be saying a mental "AHA!" to yourself. Many questions still remain after the ending, however, and I appreciate this greatly. I'll be thinking about the details of this story for a long time to come, and will no doubt revisit it multiple times to see if I can glean some kind of new insight that I had previously missed... In closing, I have to say that this subtle, unique horror novella is one of the best of the genre that I have read in recent memory. Tim is overflowing with talent, and has many different sights to show you. You should really take a look at what he has to offer, you wont be disappointed...
In Deep Like the River, we are introduced to two sisters, Alie and Carin. Alie has recently lost her baby girl, and her husband has left her after the tragedy. On what would have been her daughter's first birthday, Alie's older sister Carin has organized a canoeing trip, hoping to take Alie's mind off the tragedy. The day is interrupted when they find an abandoned baby girl, left on the river's shore. The parents are nowhere to be found, and the two sisters decide to take her with them to safety. Alie dubs the baby Trouble (after the heading on her Onesie, which reads "Here Comes Trouble!"), and they move on down the river. The little girl's new moniker seems to be prophetic, as the ensuing journey becomes more and more dangerous. The two sisters are left to question the very reality of the situation, and if Trouble is at all what she seems to be. As their journey becomes more surreal by the minute, the reader is left to wonder whether any of them will get out alive...
Deep Like the River is a rather brilliant story. Alie and Carin's tragic history is emotionally gripping, and creates a bond between the characters and the reader that is unshakable throughout. Alie's deep attachment to Trouble is clearly evident, and in the end, there is quite a good reason (beyond the obvious one) for this. Even after discovering what actually happened to her daughter, all I felt was sadness and compassion. When it comes down to it, the story is about second chances and redemption. Carin's love and compassion for her sister is also a huge element in the plot. Basically all they ever had as children were each other, and it was because of one another that they managed to survive their childhood abuse. As I've said above, the story has a distinct dreamlike feel to it, and is very surreal. There are no outright answers given to whether this is really happening, or for that matter, on what plane of existence it's taking place. Tim leaves all of this up to interpretation, so there will be many different views on what is actually taking place. All I can add to this, is that many of the threats to the trio are fears that are drawn from their own minds, so take that as you will. When you finally see the main architect (or is he/it?) behind their troubles, you probably be saying a mental "AHA!" to yourself. Many questions still remain after the ending, however, and I appreciate this greatly. I'll be thinking about the details of this story for a long time to come, and will no doubt revisit it multiple times to see if I can glean some kind of new insight that I had previously missed... In closing, I have to say that this subtle, unique horror novella is one of the best of the genre that I have read in recent memory. Tim is overflowing with talent, and has many different sights to show you. You should really take a look at what he has to offer, you wont be disappointed...
August 25, 2017
Deep like the River by Tim Waggoner
It was supposed to be fun. A chance to get away. An opportunity for two sisters to bond and for one sister to heal. It was a small river, calm, slow-moving. Perfect for a leisurely canoe trip on a beautiful summer day.
But then they hear a baby crying on the shore, abandoned and overheated. Alie and Carin have to take her with them. They can’t just leave her there.
A simple canoe trip becomes a rescue mission. But there’s something on the shore, hidden by the trees. Something that’s following them every step of the way – watching, waiting . . .
Rivers are mystical places; twisting veins of life and death that cut into the land, carving their own path wherever they like. Magic can happen on them, but they can also transport us to darker places downstream, somewhere we don’t want to go, but are carried there regardless.
Deep like the River could’ve quiet easily been another hillbilly horror of modern civilisation versus the creeping horror of buckteeth in the undergrowth, but manages to transcend the (Wo)man vs nature genre and be something much more, something almost otherworldly.
Waggoner gives us two characters with little introduction and plunges them to the strange scenario of finding a screaming infant on the bank of the river, giving the tale a biblical feel from the get go. But things get curiouser and curiouser as they decide to take the baby to safety, but soon find themselves under threat from something lurking behind the cover of the trees.
From here, the pressure gradually increases with each turn as the safety of the foundling is challenged by threats from the shore and the river itself, all leading towards a shocking and unexpected finale.
Tim Waggoner has created an exemplary piece of American fiction, which feels like a missing episode of The Twilight Zone in its delivery. Atmospheric, brooding and pressurised to the point where you feel it could explode on any page.
5/5
It was supposed to be fun. A chance to get away. An opportunity for two sisters to bond and for one sister to heal. It was a small river, calm, slow-moving. Perfect for a leisurely canoe trip on a beautiful summer day.
But then they hear a baby crying on the shore, abandoned and overheated. Alie and Carin have to take her with them. They can’t just leave her there.
A simple canoe trip becomes a rescue mission. But there’s something on the shore, hidden by the trees. Something that’s following them every step of the way – watching, waiting . . .
Rivers are mystical places; twisting veins of life and death that cut into the land, carving their own path wherever they like. Magic can happen on them, but they can also transport us to darker places downstream, somewhere we don’t want to go, but are carried there regardless.
Deep like the River could’ve quiet easily been another hillbilly horror of modern civilisation versus the creeping horror of buckteeth in the undergrowth, but manages to transcend the (Wo)man vs nature genre and be something much more, something almost otherworldly.
Waggoner gives us two characters with little introduction and plunges them to the strange scenario of finding a screaming infant on the bank of the river, giving the tale a biblical feel from the get go. But things get curiouser and curiouser as they decide to take the baby to safety, but soon find themselves under threat from something lurking behind the cover of the trees.
From here, the pressure gradually increases with each turn as the safety of the foundling is challenged by threats from the shore and the river itself, all leading towards a shocking and unexpected finale.
Tim Waggoner has created an exemplary piece of American fiction, which feels like a missing episode of The Twilight Zone in its delivery. Atmospheric, brooding and pressurised to the point where you feel it could explode on any page.
5/5
June 29, 2014
There is a river of emotion within all of us. Sometimes we are able to stay afloat, and paddle through the rough parts of our lives. And sometimes we lose that paddle, the rapids bubble over the bow of our consciousness, and we sink into the depths of our own failings.
That’s what Alie undergoes in Tim Waggoner’s Deep Like the River. A mother who has lost her child, Alie allows her sister to taker her canoeing along the Little Clearwater River. It’s hot, the water is shallow, civilization is just fifteen minutes away—no risks, just a day to relax, a day to forget the past. As the river slowly draws Alie and her sister along its banks, though, they discover an abandoned baby girl. One that resembles Alie’s own deceased infant.
Against her sister’s judgment, Alie takes the baby girl along with them in the canoe. Dubbed Trouble due to the name on her clothes, the child brings all of Alie’s buried memories to the surface, like muck stirred from a river bottom. Alie sees things along the riverbank, and large shadows pass over their canoe. Serpentine forms slither through the water, threatening to overturn their vessel. Alie and her sister paddle faster as the sun saps their strength, melts their patience with one another, and dehydrates the infant.
What follows is not only a harrowing journey downriver, but a trek through Alie’s abusive past. As the river deepens, and all hope of escape drifts by with the current, so too does Alie’s recollections sink deeper into her wounded soul. Trouble becomes a pediatric stowaway, not just in Alie’s canoe, but also in her heart. Redemption might be just around the next bend in the stream, but the shore seems farther away, and the anger buried within Alie threatens to surface again, like it did right before her own child died…
This story has some very touching, poignant moments, draped with an angst-ridden guilt. Just as you are about to grasp them, these moments sink into your own emotional river. This made me want to paddle along with Alie, to see if we could reach the end together, for one more chance. But paddling drains our strength, and the sun scorches away our humanity. The river is deep, filled with all our fears and pain.
But our hearts are just as deep, brimming with the determination not to drown.
See if you too can break the water’s surface, and read Tim’s wonderful story.
That’s what Alie undergoes in Tim Waggoner’s Deep Like the River. A mother who has lost her child, Alie allows her sister to taker her canoeing along the Little Clearwater River. It’s hot, the water is shallow, civilization is just fifteen minutes away—no risks, just a day to relax, a day to forget the past. As the river slowly draws Alie and her sister along its banks, though, they discover an abandoned baby girl. One that resembles Alie’s own deceased infant.
Against her sister’s judgment, Alie takes the baby girl along with them in the canoe. Dubbed Trouble due to the name on her clothes, the child brings all of Alie’s buried memories to the surface, like muck stirred from a river bottom. Alie sees things along the riverbank, and large shadows pass over their canoe. Serpentine forms slither through the water, threatening to overturn their vessel. Alie and her sister paddle faster as the sun saps their strength, melts their patience with one another, and dehydrates the infant.
What follows is not only a harrowing journey downriver, but a trek through Alie’s abusive past. As the river deepens, and all hope of escape drifts by with the current, so too does Alie’s recollections sink deeper into her wounded soul. Trouble becomes a pediatric stowaway, not just in Alie’s canoe, but also in her heart. Redemption might be just around the next bend in the stream, but the shore seems farther away, and the anger buried within Alie threatens to surface again, like it did right before her own child died…
This story has some very touching, poignant moments, draped with an angst-ridden guilt. Just as you are about to grasp them, these moments sink into your own emotional river. This made me want to paddle along with Alie, to see if we could reach the end together, for one more chance. But paddling drains our strength, and the sun scorches away our humanity. The river is deep, filled with all our fears and pain.
But our hearts are just as deep, brimming with the determination not to drown.
See if you too can break the water’s surface, and read Tim’s wonderful story.
June 7, 2014
“As a history teacher, the first thought that came to her was those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat.”
We all have regrets, some more profound than others. We all transgress, sometimes we can forgive and other times we cannot, especially when it is our self that needs forgiving.
In Tim Waggoner’s novella we meet Alice, a school teacher. She and her sister Carin are on a day trip, canoeing. Today would have been Alice’s daughter’s 1st birthday but alas little Marie is no longer with us. Carin the older sister has planned this day of fun as a way to help Alice forget about the day. Instead we ride along and watch helplessly as Alice begins to disintegrate.
The day starts out pleasant enough until first Alice, then Carin hear the cries of a baby. After locating the child on shore and with no evidence of anyone else being around, they decide to row back to the canoe rental shop and call the authorities. As we wind back down the river, we realize that this is no simple story told in black and white, oh no, this allegorical tale is deep and rich in the telling. Alternating between flashbacks and present day, the distinction between reality and fantasy becomes blurred as we are taken further along and eventually deeper into the river.
This is a powerful story, one that we all can take a lesson from. Sometimes the monsters within us are the scariest of all. Another great read from http://www.darkregions.com/ . Pick up your copy today!
We all have regrets, some more profound than others. We all transgress, sometimes we can forgive and other times we cannot, especially when it is our self that needs forgiving.
In Tim Waggoner’s novella we meet Alice, a school teacher. She and her sister Carin are on a day trip, canoeing. Today would have been Alice’s daughter’s 1st birthday but alas little Marie is no longer with us. Carin the older sister has planned this day of fun as a way to help Alice forget about the day. Instead we ride along and watch helplessly as Alice begins to disintegrate.
The day starts out pleasant enough until first Alice, then Carin hear the cries of a baby. After locating the child on shore and with no evidence of anyone else being around, they decide to row back to the canoe rental shop and call the authorities. As we wind back down the river, we realize that this is no simple story told in black and white, oh no, this allegorical tale is deep and rich in the telling. Alternating between flashbacks and present day, the distinction between reality and fantasy becomes blurred as we are taken further along and eventually deeper into the river.
This is a powerful story, one that we all can take a lesson from. Sometimes the monsters within us are the scariest of all. Another great read from http://www.darkregions.com/ . Pick up your copy today!
February 7, 2016
I’m a bit torn on this one. Let me start by saying this short book involves a dead baby. Not in graphic detail, but that may creep some of you out. Moving on...
Deep Like The River is the story of two sisters on what would otherwise be a peaceful canoeing trip. One sister planned it to take the other sister’s mind off the 1 year anniversary of her baby’s death. Mid-way through the trip they find a baby sitting along the edge of the river, and insanity ensues. Don’t go into this looking for an eventual answer to “why did that happen” because you won’t find it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Memories become a twisted reality and their trip goes to shit while they do all they can to save random baby...that happens to resemble the dead one. Yeah, dead babies. I warned you.
This was my first time reading the author’s work, and I found it well written and engaging. However (and this is why I feel torn) it also felt so polished as to have lost some of the spark that generally keeps me reading. As odd as it may sound, a few times I had to stop reading to marvel at the lengths taken to ensure everything was properly written, rather than written in a way I could just read. Yes, I’m giving this book a bit of shit for being too well-written. Feel free to start throwing things.
Bottom line for me is it was a well-written, cool story that felt like something I would have read in English class. That’s also not a bad thing.
Deep Like The River is the story of two sisters on what would otherwise be a peaceful canoeing trip. One sister planned it to take the other sister’s mind off the 1 year anniversary of her baby’s death. Mid-way through the trip they find a baby sitting along the edge of the river, and insanity ensues. Don’t go into this looking for an eventual answer to “why did that happen” because you won’t find it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Memories become a twisted reality and their trip goes to shit while they do all they can to save random baby...that happens to resemble the dead one. Yeah, dead babies. I warned you.
This was my first time reading the author’s work, and I found it well written and engaging. However (and this is why I feel torn) it also felt so polished as to have lost some of the spark that generally keeps me reading. As odd as it may sound, a few times I had to stop reading to marvel at the lengths taken to ensure everything was properly written, rather than written in a way I could just read. Yes, I’m giving this book a bit of shit for being too well-written. Feel free to start throwing things.
Bottom line for me is it was a well-written, cool story that felt like something I would have read in English class. That’s also not a bad thing.
February 18, 2016
I'll keep this review short, for a short book: I wanted to like this more than I did. In the end, it was predictable, and the "twist ending" did not come as a surprise. Waggoner's writing is serviceable, though there was a tendency to interrupt escalating action with blocks of information that completely halted the story's momentum. The story's use of objects and people from the protagonist's past as symbols/creatures in the present felt like an overused trope seen all too often in the horror/psychological thriller genre, especially in movies.
It was a quick read, and I did enjoy parts of it in the end. The two sisters Carin and Alie were likeable enough and their sisterly banter, often antagonistic, kept me engaged, and the story managed to keep its momentum up most of the time, thanks to the clever usage of the everflowing 'river'/stream.
My last and final complaint would be the amount of typos in Deep Like the River. For a scant 70 pages, this thing was riddled with them - I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of frustration every couple pages as yet another reared its ugly head. Considering how much I paid for it, I'd expect a more superior product, but this seems to be a common problem in the small presses, so I guess I should let it go?
It was a quick read, and I did enjoy parts of it in the end. The two sisters Carin and Alie were likeable enough and their sisterly banter, often antagonistic, kept me engaged, and the story managed to keep its momentum up most of the time, thanks to the clever usage of the everflowing 'river'/stream.
My last and final complaint would be the amount of typos in Deep Like the River. For a scant 70 pages, this thing was riddled with them - I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of frustration every couple pages as yet another reared its ugly head. Considering how much I paid for it, I'd expect a more superior product, but this seems to be a common problem in the small presses, so I guess I should let it go?
June 18, 2014
Review Copy
The strength of this novlla is the pacing and the way that Waggoner has a knack for immersing you into the story and while it may not be your typical horror novella but it's just creepy enough to make even the most jaded horror fan take notice.
This may be short but don't let the length fool you. It's a short satisying read that keeps you guessing until the very end. This is the sort of story that reveals pieces of plot at a time. You're given clues as to who these sisters are and as you reach the end it's the kind of ending you couldn't even begin to imagine.
If you're looking for a surreal horror story Deep Like The River is exactly the type of novella you're looking for. Classic horror is alive and well and while I love a good gore infested horror story I also love stories like these that rely on pacing and atmosphere to tell a story.
The strength of this novlla is the pacing and the way that Waggoner has a knack for immersing you into the story and while it may not be your typical horror novella but it's just creepy enough to make even the most jaded horror fan take notice.
This may be short but don't let the length fool you. It's a short satisying read that keeps you guessing until the very end. This is the sort of story that reveals pieces of plot at a time. You're given clues as to who these sisters are and as you reach the end it's the kind of ending you couldn't even begin to imagine.
If you're looking for a surreal horror story Deep Like The River is exactly the type of novella you're looking for. Classic horror is alive and well and while I love a good gore infested horror story I also love stories like these that rely on pacing and atmosphere to tell a story.
August 18, 2014
This is a very dark, moody, and surreal novella, and one of the most traditionally literate pieces I've read for a long time. Nothing is what it seems (or not -only- what it seems), and I halfway expected a professor to pop up at the end of the tale and assign me to write an essay exploring the evocative imagery and symbolism. Two sisters are taking a canoe trip, find a baby seemingly abandoned along the river bank.... and then things get weird. It's one of the best, most thought-provoking pieces that I've read recently. I was a little thrown and confused by a math error on page 27, which shows how carefully I was reading in order to catch as much as I could. The book is well-produced with nicely-sized type on good paper and has a very good cover by Daniele Serra.
October 30, 2014
Tim Waggoner has always been one of the most underrated horror writers in recent years. His writing is consistent, original, and most of all, unpredictable. This latest novella is a thoroughly enjoyable read; a psychologically intense and suspenseful read. Complex characters with authentic dialogue in a unique setting will keep you hooked throughout.
While I wish the ending was wrapped up a little more clearly, the journey to get there made it worth reading and ultimately worth the purchase. A perfect 90 minute story if you are looking for a dark tale, one that doesn't spell out all the answers, but gives you enough to leave you mostly satisfied.
While I wish the ending was wrapped up a little more clearly, the journey to get there made it worth reading and ultimately worth the purchase. A perfect 90 minute story if you are looking for a dark tale, one that doesn't spell out all the answers, but gives you enough to leave you mostly satisfied.
July 15, 2014
I received a copy of this title from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Not only does this river run deep; this river runs pretty dark as well.
This is a story of facing one's fears and seeking redemption.
It's a fairly short story—weighing in around 70-something pages or so—and I'd like to avoid giving anything away, so I'll keep this short and sweet.
If you're in the mood for a dark tale, I highly recommend reading this.
Not only does this river run deep; this river runs pretty dark as well.
This is a story of facing one's fears and seeking redemption.
It's a fairly short story—weighing in around 70-something pages or so—and I'd like to avoid giving anything away, so I'll keep this short and sweet.
If you're in the mood for a dark tale, I highly recommend reading this.
July 23, 2014
Well, Waggoner comes through again with a very interesting tale. This was a very short read, at just around 70 pages, and is a real page turner. This is a story of reflection, and redemption of ones past. Also, there is a very unexpected twist at the end.
This is my second Waggoner read (The Men Upstairs being my first), and I must say that I really enjoy his writing.
This is my second Waggoner read (The Men Upstairs being my first), and I must say that I really enjoy his writing.
August 12, 2014
What a wonderful book! It goes from the perfect, quiet melancholy story to sheer lunacy, and one barely notices when the shift comes (although the giant bird is a good clue). To top it all off, it somehow comes off like a fairy tale, too, if fairy tales were populated by creatures from Tool videos. This is a quick read, but you're not likely to forget it.
January 7, 2016
This book was extremely good. However it is like walking through a dream....you are disoriented and confused and do not know which way is up from down. There is suspense...there is drama...but I did see the ending coming. Maybe I read to many books like this one but it was good nonetheless.
May 21, 2015
Wow! A creepy novella that sticks with you. To give any other synopsis would spoil the ending. Kudos to Mr. Waggoner.
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