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NEL Horror
Night Creature
The brass in the Derbyshire village church depicts Sir Humphrey and Sybil de Latours. Strangely, despite the clear detail elsewhere, the face of Sybil is obliterated. However, Sally Fenton takes a rubbing to hang in the bedroom. The rubbing takes on a life of its own. Soon life in the village becomes a nightmare, and Sally and her partner are powerless to stop the evil spreading...
159 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1974
About the author
Brian Ball
61 books1 followerUK author (Also writes as Brian N. Ball.), until 1965 a teacher and lecturer, subsequently freelance, who began publishing sf with "The Pioneer" for New Worlds in February 1962, soon after editing a juvenile anthology, Tales of Science Fiction (anth 1964). His first novel, Sundog (1965), is one of his better books, in which – though restricted by incomprehensible and uncomprehending Aliens to the solar system and by itself to a rigidly policed Dystopia, – mankind transcends its limitations. The trigger factor is the simple-seeming Spaceship pilot Dod, who slowly discovers himself to be a rather more formidable Scientist who was subjected to "blocking" (see Memory Edit) when his researches frightened the regime.
There followed a projected five-book sequence involving an ancient Galactic Federation, its relics, Time Travel, and rebirth: Timepiece (1968), Timepivot (1970) and Timepit (1971). A second series, The Probability Man (1972) and Planet Probability (1973), follows the exploits of Frame-Director Spingarn in his heterodox construction of reality-spaces (frames) for the delectation (and voluntary destruction) of billions of bored citizens. Singletons include Night of the Robots (April 1965 Science Fantasy #71 as "The Excursion"; exp rev 1972; vt The Regiments of Night 1972), in which assorted visitors to a Ruined Earth inadvertently waken an ancient AI-controlled military installation. Though he sometimes aspires to the more metaphysical side of the sf tropes he utilizes, Ball's style tends to reduce these implications to routine action-adventure plots, competently executed.
There followed a projected five-book sequence involving an ancient Galactic Federation, its relics, Time Travel, and rebirth: Timepiece (1968), Timepivot (1970) and Timepit (1971). A second series, The Probability Man (1972) and Planet Probability (1973), follows the exploits of Frame-Director Spingarn in his heterodox construction of reality-spaces (frames) for the delectation (and voluntary destruction) of billions of bored citizens. Singletons include Night of the Robots (April 1965 Science Fantasy #71 as "The Excursion"; exp rev 1972; vt The Regiments of Night 1972), in which assorted visitors to a Ruined Earth inadvertently waken an ancient AI-controlled military installation. Though he sometimes aspires to the more metaphysical side of the sf tropes he utilizes, Ball's style tends to reduce these implications to routine action-adventure plots, competently executed.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 21, 2017
What a quick and thrilling read! I really liked this modern vampire story with the old deserted church and the dark family secret. Extremely well done short novella and clear recommendation to everyone interested in horror literature!
May 17, 2024
I rarely buy books solely based on their covers anymore. I need to know something about it or the author besides the back cover copy, and have at least some interest in reading it at some point, as my bookshelves are well past the point of ridiculous. Plus, there are too many potentially excellent books out there for me to be taking wild stabs in the dark (note to self: I really need a smartphone so I can look these things up while I'm at the bookstore). I made an exception for this one, and I'm glad I did, overall.
This was an atmospheric, classic-style ghost story, and the very definition of a "slow burn." If it hadn't been for the slightly more modern-seeming prose and a few 70s references here and there -- such as the young couple protagonists being total hippies -- I would have thought this contemporaneous with MR James as opposed to being post-Exorcist and released the same year as Carrie. But that's not a knock. I'm a sucker for the classic tropes as long as I'm absorbed in the story.
Of course, there has to be something to set it apart from what came before. Here, it was a pretty unique take on the vampire. Actually, it's more of a combination of ghost and undead bloodsucker, brought about by a brass rubbing depicting a faceless gowned woman and her dog-like creature/familiar. It was taken from an ancient, crumbling church in the English countryside by the live-in girlfriend of the main protagonist, and hung up in their converted barn, which they both live in and sell antiques out of. Soon, spectral shapes begin appearing in the house, and animal deaths and mutilations begin occurring around the nearby farms. He thinks the rubbing is responsible and wants to be rid of it, but she has no intention of letting it go so easily.
As a regular reader of the horror genre, I rarely get freaked out by anything while reading anymore, though I still enjoy the genre and love seeing different takes on well-worn themes. This, though barely longer than a novella, had a handful of rather chilling moments, but I won't spoil them. Ball has a way provoking unease and dread within the reader in only a few short sentences. In fact, some of the scenes were unnerving just because of Ball's expert descriptions. If I were to give a basic summary of the more frightening moments, you'd probably yawn and politely say, "that's nice." In this author's hands it could send chills up your spine, if you're anything like me and enjoy this sort of thing.
I'll be on the lookout for more of Brian Ball's horror work. Anybody into traditional ghost tales could do much worse than The Night Creature*. Just don't go in expecting some non-stop fright-fest, but more of a quiet, somewhat cozy read, where the unsettling moments will slowly creep up on you.
3.5 Stars.
(*Also released as The Venomous Serpent)
This was an atmospheric, classic-style ghost story, and the very definition of a "slow burn." If it hadn't been for the slightly more modern-seeming prose and a few 70s references here and there -- such as the young couple protagonists being total hippies -- I would have thought this contemporaneous with MR James as opposed to being post-Exorcist and released the same year as Carrie. But that's not a knock. I'm a sucker for the classic tropes as long as I'm absorbed in the story.
Of course, there has to be something to set it apart from what came before. Here, it was a pretty unique take on the vampire. Actually, it's more of a combination of ghost and undead bloodsucker, brought about by a brass rubbing depicting a faceless gowned woman and her dog-like creature/familiar. It was taken from an ancient, crumbling church in the English countryside by the live-in girlfriend of the main protagonist, and hung up in their converted barn, which they both live in and sell antiques out of. Soon, spectral shapes begin appearing in the house, and animal deaths and mutilations begin occurring around the nearby farms. He thinks the rubbing is responsible and wants to be rid of it, but she has no intention of letting it go so easily.
As a regular reader of the horror genre, I rarely get freaked out by anything while reading anymore, though I still enjoy the genre and love seeing different takes on well-worn themes. This, though barely longer than a novella, had a handful of rather chilling moments, but I won't spoil them. Ball has a way provoking unease and dread within the reader in only a few short sentences. In fact, some of the scenes were unnerving just because of Ball's expert descriptions. If I were to give a basic summary of the more frightening moments, you'd probably yawn and politely say, "that's nice." In this author's hands it could send chills up your spine, if you're anything like me and enjoy this sort of thing.
I'll be on the lookout for more of Brian Ball's horror work. Anybody into traditional ghost tales could do much worse than The Night Creature*. Just don't go in expecting some non-stop fright-fest, but more of a quiet, somewhat cozy read, where the unsettling moments will slowly creep up on you.
3.5 Stars.
(*Also released as The Venomous Serpent)
October 4, 2022
"Lady and lapdog roamed the night, learning the gorging, insatiable, and disgusting joys of vampirism."first time I've read about a vampire lapdog! this is a mild tale of a young couple trying to create a life in the countryside but coming across a brass etching that leads to much moonlit horror. the first half is pleasant scene-setting and character-building; the second half is frenetic freak-outs in the rain as our earnest protagonist tries to track down the truth and then his wayward, vampire-enchanted girlfriend. nicely written with no blatant flaws. a genteel book, in its way. also a forgettable one.
February 29, 2024
Very enjoyable. A young couple of artists gently fleecing tourists in the Lake District make a huge mistake when entering the ruins of an ancient church.
For once, the characters in this horror story are likeable, realistic and fun. The increasing horror of their predicament is elegantly described.
A wonderful find. No wonder the author’s horror novels still fetch high prices. But please avoid the Lindford reprints - they
have been slghtly rewritten and toned down.
For once, the characters in this horror story are likeable, realistic and fun. The increasing horror of their predicament is elegantly described.
A wonderful find. No wonder the author’s horror novels still fetch high prices. But please avoid the Lindford reprints - they
have been slghtly rewritten and toned down.
February 21, 2025
A quick and easy horror read. Not great, but a good mindless horror. I would compare it to a 60s cult horror movie that still manages to entertain you.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews