The wave: an Egyptian aftermath

by Algernon Blackwood

Set in Egypt, The Wave is an engrossing example of the 'weird' tale that Blackwood helped to pioneer. If your idea of the perfect horror story is more about small, spine-chilling details and big ideas, rather than a nonstop parade of grisly gore, you should explore the work of Algernon Blackwood. It is a story of a love triangle in ancient Egypt that had a tragic ending, resulting in two deaths. Now, it is England, and the protagonist is a young boy who dreams of a wave. He believes that one day that huge wave will crash down on his life destroying everything in its path. His entire life is driven by this dream, as he gets more information from it - the love triangle resurfaces, he is one of the players that has been reincarnated for a specific purpose. Will they play out their same roles, or achieve new ones?

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Short Stories, Fantasy, Classics

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1916

About the author

Algernon Henry Blackwood (1869–1951) was an English broadcasting narrator, journalist, novelist and short story writer, and among the most prolific ghost story writers in the history of the genre. The literary critic S. T. Joshi stated, "His work is more consistently meritorious than any weird writer's except Dunsany's" and that his short story collection Incredible Adventures (1914) "may be the premier weird collection of this or any other century".

Blackwood was born in Shooter's Hill (today part of south-east London, but then part of northwest Kent) and educated at Wellington College. His father was a Post Office administrator who, according to Peter Penzoldt, "though not devoid of genuine good-heartedness, had appallingly narrow religious ideas." Blackwood had a varied career, farming in Canada, operating a hotel, as a newspaper reporter in New York City, and, throughout his adult life, an occasional essayist for various periodicals. In his late thirties, he moved back to England and started to write stories of the supernatural. He was very successful, writing at least ten original collections of short stories and eventually appearing on both radio and television to tell them. He also wrote fourteen novels, several children's books, and a number of plays, most of which were produced but not published. He was an avid lover of nature and the outdoors, and many of his stories reflect this.

H.P. Lovecraft wrote of Blackwood: "He is the one absolute and unquestioned master of weird atmosphere." His powerful story "The Willows," which effectively describes another dimension impinging upon our own, was reckoned by Lovecraft to be not only "foremost of all" Blackwood's tales but the best "weird tale" of all time.

Among his thirty-odd books, Blackwood wrote a series of stories and short novels published as John Silence, Physician Extraordinary (1908), which featured a "psychic detective" who combined the skills of a Sherlock Holmes and a psychic medium. Blackwood also wrote light fantasy and juvenile books.

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is long and involved. It is a story of a love triangle in ancient Egypt that had a tragic ending, resulting in two deaths. Now, it is England, and the protagonist is a young boy who dreams of a wave. He believes that one day that huge wave will crash down on his life destroying everything in its path. His entire life is driven by this dream, as he gets more information from it - the love triangle resurfaces, he is one of the players that has been reincarnated for a specific purpose. Will they play out their same roles, or achieve new ones? Our hero is hoping for new, even though he has little to no information to work from. They eventually work out the triangle dynamics in their own time, but with the overlay of past personalities helping them along.

This is a very emotional story, much passion, angst, drama and I feel it could have been shorter, actually much shorter. The emotional torture scenes were vivid and rather longer than I preferred. I wrestled with a three or four star rating for this, and I gave it three because it is so immersive, but I really feel that a shorter version with a more elucidating ending would have been better. By the the time I got to the end my response was Duh! Of course it ended that way - it had to, after everything that was foreshadowed a million times, how could it be any different?

This is the first Blackwood I would say to read at your own risk. It is long, so it takes time, so know what your getting into before you start it. I must admit, I'm glad it's over, and I won't repeat this experience.

[Nancy Butts · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interminable novel, where nothing much happens outwardly, but we participate almost relentlessly in the subtle, repetitive inner turmoil of a man involved in the Eternal Triangle: truly eternal, with hints of reincarnation from ancient Egypt. The writing is evocative at times, and Blackwood shows deep insight into what it’s like to love someone passionately, idealistically, and at times hoplessly. But the book is so slow.

[Estott · Rating 2 out of 5]

POSSIBLE SPOILERS




Blackwood was a master of atmosphere. The opening section of this book is very effective- a child's dream vision of an enormous wave towering over him, seemingly ready to crash but never actually doing so. Unfortunately this promising opening doesn't develop into anything spooky or threatening as you'd expect from Blackwood, and eventually he recognizes what is going on when as an adult he is out among the sand dunes on an archaeological expedition. It's a somewhat confused romance with some spiritualism thrown in. Still, the opening is memorable.

[Pat ra sche · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel with most excellent prose, perhaps better—more clean and entrancing—than anything else I've read from Blackwood thus far; yet a subject matter that, though poignantly accurate, is also endlessly frustrating, which caused some inner turmoil. The otherworldly high the first few chapters give the reader doesn't last the whole novel through, but a keen sense of beauty accompanies each and every sentence to the very last. I had my gripes, but I cannot deny, this was a deliciously exquisite read, and I did not regret it, not even at the plot's most grievous nadirs.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK listening 🎶😬

Another will written British romantic relationship adventure thriller novel by Algernon Blackwood about a young man 🚹 who is going on with his daily life with lots of twist and turns. I would recommend this novel to readers looking for something different. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa as I do 2022

[J · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was remarkably similar to Blackwood's previous novel, Julius LeVallon. Love triangle with a twist, similar characters, hints of past lives, etc.

Try as I might, I couldn't find a single good reason for the supernatural elements in this story. There were visions, mentions of fate, psychical notions... none of it amounted to anything. None of it was needed for the story or even helped the story in any way. It would also be generous to call this a "story" as very little plot is discernible. Another Blackwood novel disappointment.