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Harry Erskine #2
The Djinn
Book by Masterton, Graham
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
44 people are currently reading
498 people want to read
About the author
Graham Masterton
424 books1,983 followersGraham Masterton was born in Edinburgh in 1946. His grandfather was Thomas Thorne Baker, the eminent scientist who invented DayGlo and was the first man to transmit news photographs by wireless. After training as a newspaper reporter, Graham went on to edit the new British men's magazine Mayfair, where he encouraged William Burroughs to develop a series of scientific and philosophical articles which eventually became Burroughs' novel The Wild Boys.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
At the age of 24, Graham was appointed executive editor of both Penthouse and Penthouse Forum magazines. At this time he started to write a bestselling series of sex 'how-to' books including How To Drive Your Man Wild In Bed which has sold over 3 million copies worldwide. His latest, Wild Sex For New Lovers is published by Penguin Putnam in January, 2001. He is a regular contributor to Cosmopolitan, Men's Health, Woman, Woman's Own and other mass-market self-improvement magazines.
Graham Masterton's debut as a horror author began with The Manitou in 1976, a chilling tale of a Native American medicine man reborn in the present day to exact his revenge on the white man. It became an instant bestseller and was filmed with Tony Curtis, Susan Strasberg, Burgess Meredith, Michael Ansara, Stella Stevens and Ann Sothern.
Altogether Graham has written more than a hundred novels ranging from thrillers (The Sweetman Curve, Ikon) to disaster novels (Plague, Famine) to historical sagas (Rich and Maiden Voyage - both appeared in the New York Times bestseller list). He has published four collections of short stories, Fortnight of Fear, Flights of Fear, Faces of Fear and Feelings of Fear.
He has also written horror novels for children (House of Bones, Hair-Raiser) and has just finished the fifth volume in a very popular series for young adults, Rook, based on the adventures of an idiosyncratic remedial English teacher in a Los Angeles community college who has the facility to see ghosts.
Since then Graham has published more than 35 horror novels, including Charnel House, which was awarded a Special Edgar by Mystery Writers of America; Mirror, which was awarded a Silver Medal by West Coast Review of Books; and Family Portrait, an update of Oscar Wilde's tale, The Picture of Dorian Gray, which was the only non-French winner of the prestigious Prix Julia Verlanger in France.
He and his wife Wiescka live in a Gothic Victorian mansion high above the River Lee in Cork, Ireland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
June 27, 2017
√(2GM/R) is the escape velocity formula (no, I didn't remember, I just looked it up) and substituting earth values will give you about 11.2 km/s. That's how much you need to accelerate your disbelief to when you tackle a Graham Masterton (because suspension does not cover it - you need to have that weightlessness that comes with space flight). When that's done, get ready to ignore a very stale-feeling view on women or two. Done? Ok, now you can enjoy a bit of pulp horror.
The Djinn is not the first choice of supernatural beings when it comes to horror fiends, and that's a gutsy plus for this book! And Masterton sure gives us horrible images for our money - the descriptions are quite horrible! The character's actions and conclusions are quite horrible to, unfortunately... I could not bring myself to give this 3 stars, but the "it was ok"-two-stars is certainly a "thanks for the entertainment"-rating.
The Djinn is not the first choice of supernatural beings when it comes to horror fiends, and that's a gutsy plus for this book! And Masterton sure gives us horrible images for our money - the descriptions are quite horrible! The character's actions and conclusions are quite horrible to, unfortunately... I could not bring myself to give this 3 stars, but the "it was ok"-two-stars is certainly a "thanks for the entertainment"-rating.
August 18, 2018
If you really want to know an exciting different version of Ali Bahbah and the 40 thieves this is the novel you were waiting for! Absolute page turning novel on a djinn in a bottle. Will the evil be released or is there a possibility to stop it? I extremely liked the historical research the author did on those old arabic lores and legends. Clear recommendation!
May 25, 2022
Czerpiący z legend, czerpiący z baśni, miejscami dziwny, miejscami pulpowy „Dżinn” Grahama Mastertona, absolutny współczesny klasyk, powieść napisana w 1977 roku, dwa lata po debiutanckim „Manitou”.
Historia krwiożerczego dżinna sięgająca stuleci to jedno, ale całość zahacza o całkiem realny problem, który był rzeczywisty tak pod koniec lat 70. (w latach powstania „Dżinna”), jak i dzisiaj, czyli niemal pięćdziesiąt lat później. Tajemniczy dzban ma nie tylko wartość kolekcjonerką, ale – co ważniejsze – miałby nieocenioną wartość jak archeologiczny, historyczny artefakt dla kultury Wschodu. Nieprzypadkowo, jedną z bohaterek „Dżinna” jest specjalistka w dziedzinie wyszukiwania takich archeologicznych perełek. Dzban został nie tylko skradziony, nie tylko nielegalnie odsprzedany, ale przede wszystkim wywieziony daleko poza świat, w którym przyszło mu powstać. Dzisiaj również poszukiwacze zabytków krążą po świecie, trwają śledztwa i akcje, które mają na celu zwrócenie utraconych artefaktów do miejsc, do których naprawdę przynależą.
Tym samym, niby taka zwykła horrorowa opowiastka, jaką jest historia „Dżinna”, kryje gdzieś między słowami zalążek do podjęcia ciekawej dyskusji, która dzisiaj jest tak aktualna, jak wtedy. Ale to tak na marginesie.
Najważniejsza bowiem zdaje się ta jakże klasyczna przestroga, by nie bawić się tym, przed czym przestrzegają baśnie, legendy i starożytne podania. I horrory, takie jak „Dżinn” Grahama Mastertona.
Historia krwiożerczego dżinna sięgająca stuleci to jedno, ale całość zahacza o całkiem realny problem, który był rzeczywisty tak pod koniec lat 70. (w latach powstania „Dżinna”), jak i dzisiaj, czyli niemal pięćdziesiąt lat później. Tajemniczy dzban ma nie tylko wartość kolekcjonerką, ale – co ważniejsze – miałby nieocenioną wartość jak archeologiczny, historyczny artefakt dla kultury Wschodu. Nieprzypadkowo, jedną z bohaterek „Dżinna” jest specjalistka w dziedzinie wyszukiwania takich archeologicznych perełek. Dzban został nie tylko skradziony, nie tylko nielegalnie odsprzedany, ale przede wszystkim wywieziony daleko poza świat, w którym przyszło mu powstać. Dzisiaj również poszukiwacze zabytków krążą po świecie, trwają śledztwa i akcje, które mają na celu zwrócenie utraconych artefaktów do miejsc, do których naprawdę przynależą.
Tym samym, niby taka zwykła horrorowa opowiastka, jaką jest historia „Dżinna”, kryje gdzieś między słowami zalążek do podjęcia ciekawej dyskusji, która dzisiaj jest tak aktualna, jak wtedy. Ale to tak na marginesie.
Najważniejsza bowiem zdaje się ta jakże klasyczna przestroga, by nie bawić się tym, przed czym przestrzegają baśnie, legendy i starożytne podania. I horrory, takie jak „Dżinn” Grahama Mastertona.
September 12, 2022
This 1970s horror novel, in common with a lot of books of the period, is short so at least the story is not drawn out. The basic idea is that the Arabian Nights tale of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves is a sanitised version of a horrific reality in which Ali Baba was a powerful practitioner of black magic who would stop at nothing for political advantage and who engaged the most powerful djinn (spirit) to achieve his goal. The djinn itself is the Forty Thieves which were really forty forms into which it could transform itself to deliver ghastly forms of death to Baba's enemies. To obtain the djinn he agreed to an appalling bargain where he turned over a young girl to an evil sect.
In contemporary (70s) America, the protagonist, Harry, attends the funeral of his godfather and soon realises all is not well with his godfather, Max. He learns that Max, a keen student of Arabian artefacts, myths and magic, became obsessed with a tall jar decorated with poppies and eyeless horses, to the point where he secured it in a tower room and removed all portrayals of faces from the house including pictures in the paper and even a carving on his favourite pipe. This obsession led to the tragedy of his death, a rather nasty one.
At the funeral, Harry meets Anna and they 'hit it off' and begin a joint investigation. Anna knows a lot about Arabic culture and even obscure dialects, and later the reason for that is revealed - which I found implausible.
The story starts off nicely creepy and builds. However, the prologue and also the later development of the story consist of truly horrifying forms of sexual assault on women so I would red flag that as a content warning. For that reason, my initial assessment of between 3 to 4 stars dropped drastically and I can now only rate this as 2 stars.
In contemporary (70s) America, the protagonist, Harry, attends the funeral of his godfather and soon realises all is not well with his godfather, Max. He learns that Max, a keen student of Arabian artefacts, myths and magic, became obsessed with a tall jar decorated with poppies and eyeless horses, to the point where he secured it in a tower room and removed all portrayals of faces from the house including pictures in the paper and even a carving on his favourite pipe. This obsession led to the tragedy of his death, a rather nasty one.
At the funeral, Harry meets Anna and they 'hit it off' and begin a joint investigation. Anna knows a lot about Arabic culture and even obscure dialects, and later the reason for that is revealed - which I found implausible.
The story starts off nicely creepy and builds. However, the prologue and also the later development of the story consist of truly horrifying forms of sexual assault on women so I would red flag that as a content warning. For that reason, my initial assessment of between 3 to 4 stars dropped drastically and I can now only rate this as 2 stars.
October 17, 2024
There's no way genies are scary! Christina Aguilera told me they're just cute girls who want to be rubbed the right way.
March 24, 2020
Wow. Where to begin.
Well lets start with the fact Erskine is a character! At times he made me laugh even when the situation in the book was tense.
I loved the characters and the story and the twists were magnificent!
I can't decide if I liked this book more than The Manitou or not, but I must say I will continue reading Graham Masterton, that is for sure!
Overall, Five Star book!
Well lets start with the fact Erskine is a character! At times he made me laugh even when the situation in the book was tense.
I loved the characters and the story and the twists were magnificent!
I can't decide if I liked this book more than The Manitou or not, but I must say I will continue reading Graham Masterton, that is for sure!
Overall, Five Star book!
May 15, 2023
PAMIĘTAJCIE, ZOSTAWCIE STARE DZBANY W SPOKOJU
December 25, 2024
Fun, quick read. I guess was hoping for more personality in Erskine, and more gore/insanity through. The tension never really grabbed me, but it had a cool/horrific take on the Djinn/Ali Babbah mythology.
Might have rounded up to four, but Masterton at one point dedicated a paragraph to Erskine passing a truck for no reason... Like, just thrown in there, he passed a truck. That's it. No other description of the drive. The things that stick with you...
Might have rounded up to four, but Masterton at one point dedicated a paragraph to Erskine passing a truck for no reason... Like, just thrown in there, he passed a truck. That's it. No other description of the drive. The things that stick with you...
May 5, 2016
Worthy sequel of The Manitou. The final chapter is horrifying.
More detailed review in Bulgarian here:
http://citadelata.com/the-djinn/
More detailed review in Bulgarian here:
http://citadelata.com/the-djinn/
March 5, 2020
This turned out to be a good read in the "Paperbacks from Hell" type genre. So we find out the tale of Ali Baba and the 40 thieves didn't happen exactly like the story. Instead, Ali Baba was a magician and the 40 thieves where really the 40 forms his genie (or Djinn) could use to kill.
Now we come to modern times and the jar containing the evil Djinn is in the hands of a private collector. And it wants out.
The main character in the story, Harry Erskine, reminds me a lot of Kolchak the Night Stalker. You could pretty much insert Kolchak in Harry's place and have a very good Night Stalker story.
Overall this was a great read if you enjoy these type of horror paperbacks. It's basically weird and wild pulp fiction, and very entertaining.
Now we come to modern times and the jar containing the evil Djinn is in the hands of a private collector. And it wants out.
The main character in the story, Harry Erskine, reminds me a lot of Kolchak the Night Stalker. You could pretty much insert Kolchak in Harry's place and have a very good Night Stalker story.
Overall this was a great read if you enjoy these type of horror paperbacks. It's basically weird and wild pulp fiction, and very entertaining.
January 21, 2022
Dżin nie jest złą książką. Ma świetny pomysł, ale po dość intrygującym początku, w samym środku powieści tempo siada, by znów przyspieszyć na koniec. Jedyny poważny problem książki to niekonsekwencja: główny bohater, który mimo tego, że przeżył naprawdę wiele w "Manitou", wykazuje nadmierną niechęć w kwestii uwierzenia w zjawiska nadprzyrodzone. Psuje to odbiór całości, wprowadzając czytelnika w konsternację.
November 17, 2017
I loved it but then again was there ever the slightest doubt that I wouldn't? - it was a re-read after all! :o) I'd forgotten this was a Harry Erskine tale, gonna have to dig the rest of the series out now....
October 12, 2025
Harry Erskine, zanim prowadził boje z Misquamacusem, miał wątpliwą przyjemność spotkać się ze starym, arabskim demonem. Wszystko zaczęło się od pogrzebu jego dziadka, po którym dowiedział się, że zmarły miał obsesję na temat starego glinianego naczynia, które przywiózł ze Środkowego Wschodu. Według legendy był to dzban potężnego maga Ali Baby, a znajdował się w nim okrutny dżinn, który potrafił przybierać czterdzieści różnych postaci. Starszy człowiek przed śmiercią zachowywał się bardzo dziwnie, nakazując żonie usunięcie z domu wszystkich podobizn ludzkiej twarzy, a dzban zabezpieczył i zapieczętował w pokoju, do którego zakazał żonie wstępu. Po czym popełnił samobójstwo przez odcięcie własnej twarzy. Początkowo Harry nie wierzy zupełnie w opowieści o dżinnie, ale kiedy zaczynają się dziać rzeczy, które coraz trudniej wyjaśnić przy użyciu standardowych metod, będzie musiał zweryfikować swoje poglądy.
Wariacja na temat historii o Ali Babie i czterdziestu rozbójnikach, co samo w sobie nie było złym pomysłem. Wykonanie to też taki standardowy Masterton, bez szału, ale też da się przez to bezboleśnie przebrnąć w jeden wieczór. Miło było jeszcze raz spotkać Harry’ego Erskine’a, nawet na tak krótko.
6/10
Wariacja na temat historii o Ali Babie i czterdziestu rozbójnikach, co samo w sobie nie było złym pomysłem. Wykonanie to też taki standardowy Masterton, bez szału, ale też da się przez to bezboleśnie przebrnąć w jeden wieczór. Miło było jeszcze raz spotkać Harry’ego Erskine’a, nawet na tak krótko.
6/10
December 30, 2020
Un bon roman d'horreur et de fantastique, qui met en avant les légendes du Moyen-Orient. Il a plutôt bien vieilli et rappelle l'ambiance des vieux films d'horreur américains. Je ne suis pas très fan du style "horreur" mais là cela passe très bien, ce n'est pas gore et les scènes horribles sont bien racontées.
https://lauryn-books.blogspot.com/202...
https://lauryn-books.blogspot.com/202...
April 19, 2021
3.5 stars
February 6, 2012
It's the return of Harry Erskine, first seen in The Manitou. This time Harry's tangling with The Djinn, an Arabian supernatural entity (from which we get the English word "genie"). But this is no lantern-bound wish-granting jokester; it has 40 monstrous manifestations and they're all, well, fatal for humans. At 200 pages, you can read it in one night enjoying pulp horror goodness.
Plot ***Spoilers***
It begins with the funeral of Harry's godfather, Max Greaves, who committed a horrendous, self-mutilating suicide. Max was a respected amateur scholar and collector of Islamic artifacts who, in his last years, grew increasingly cantankerous and paranoid. Max's widow Marjorie unsettles Harry when she tells him Max wanted their house, a rambling old Cape Cod estate called Winter Sails, burned down, along with all the Arabian artifacts inside, after his death. One item in particular, a very large jar decorated with eyeless horses that Harry remembers from childhood visits, is now locked away at Max's insistence. But with the help of the foxy-eyed woman Anna who shows up at the funeral (whose pants Harry is dead-set on getting into), a Middle East folklore professor, and an old doctor, we get to the very black heart of this Arabian mystery.
Plot ***Spoilers***
It begins with the funeral of Harry's godfather, Max Greaves, who committed a horrendous, self-mutilating suicide. Max was a respected amateur scholar and collector of Islamic artifacts who, in his last years, grew increasingly cantankerous and paranoid. Max's widow Marjorie unsettles Harry when she tells him Max wanted their house, a rambling old Cape Cod estate called Winter Sails, burned down, along with all the Arabian artifacts inside, after his death. One item in particular, a very large jar decorated with eyeless horses that Harry remembers from childhood visits, is now locked away at Max's insistence. But with the help of the foxy-eyed woman Anna who shows up at the funeral (whose pants Harry is dead-set on getting into), a Middle East folklore professor, and an old doctor, we get to the very black heart of this Arabian mystery.
April 4, 2020
This sequel to The Manitou sees us once again following the exploits of clairvoyant, Harry Erskine, but this time as he takes on an evil Djinn.
Attending the funeral of his godfather, Harry learns of his obsession with all things middle-eastern that may well have contributed to his death.
More specifically, an ancient jar supposed to have once belonged to Ali Babah and that now holds an evil genie prisoner within.
Determined to learn the truth behind his godfather’s death, Harry starts to investigate and once again finds himself battling an ancient evil.
Though not quite as entertaining as The Manitou, this is another classic horror from Masterton and certainly a good read. I particularly love the way Masterton combines real history with his own unique brand of terror to come up with an original take on the story of Ali Babah and the 40 thieves.
My only complaint - the threat this time around doesn’t feel quite as threatening as the medicine man from The Manitou books, but don’t let that put you off as this is still lots of fun.
Attending the funeral of his godfather, Harry learns of his obsession with all things middle-eastern that may well have contributed to his death.
More specifically, an ancient jar supposed to have once belonged to Ali Babah and that now holds an evil genie prisoner within.
Determined to learn the truth behind his godfather’s death, Harry starts to investigate and once again finds himself battling an ancient evil.
Though not quite as entertaining as The Manitou, this is another classic horror from Masterton and certainly a good read. I particularly love the way Masterton combines real history with his own unique brand of terror to come up with an original take on the story of Ali Babah and the 40 thieves.
My only complaint - the threat this time around doesn’t feel quite as threatening as the medicine man from The Manitou books, but don’t let that put you off as this is still lots of fun.
August 10, 2012
When you pick up a Masterton novel, you really should know that all bets are off!!
The Djinn is a tidy little story and Masterton uses his skills to manipulate your imagination into seeing things a hundred times worse than he could ever describe (Although he is pretty damn good at it!) he just kind of, nudges (Perhaps I mean violently shoves?) you in the right direction :0)
This was far better than the last one of his books I read 'A Mile Before Morning / Fireflash 5' which suffered mostly from a slightly lame ending, but no where near as good as his awesome 'The Sleepless' but the search is still on...
The Djinn is a tidy little story and Masterton uses his skills to manipulate your imagination into seeing things a hundred times worse than he could ever describe (Although he is pretty damn good at it!) he just kind of, nudges (Perhaps I mean violently shoves?) you in the right direction :0)
This was far better than the last one of his books I read 'A Mile Before Morning / Fireflash 5' which suffered mostly from a slightly lame ending, but no where near as good as his awesome 'The Sleepless' but the search is still on...
December 25, 2014
Another fantastic Graham Masterton book, he really knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat with suspense.
August 16, 2021
Mastert on rarely disappoints, especially when ancient otherworldly and culturally unfamiliar forces are at work.
May 20, 2022
Dzbany i dzbanki pośród baśni i legend próbuje się rozwiązać tajemnicę starożytnego przedmiotu w Dżinnie Grahama Mastertona.
Max jest kolekcjonarem antycznych zabytków. W jego zbiorach znalazł się dzban sięgający czasów perskich, a nie długo po tym, jak trafił on do jego zbiorów, mężczyzna umarł. Zagadkowa śmierć będzie próbował rozwikłać jego wnuk, Harry Erskine. Pomagać będzie mu niejaka, Anna.
Dżinny (z arabskiego: demon, duch): jeden z rodzajów dobroczynnych lub złych duchów islamu, zamieszkujących Ziemię. Dżinny potrafią przybierać różne postacie i są obdarzone niezwykłymi mocami
Graham Masterton stworzył niesamowity nastrój. Niby wszystko jest od początku znane, niby wiemy, kto i co za wszystkim stoi, a jednak tajemniczość towarzyszy na każdym kroku. Korzystając z podań o Ali Babie kreuje zupełnie inną opowieść od tej, której czytelnik początkowo by oczekiwał. Z amerykańskiej rezydencji, coraz bardziej jesteśmy przenoszeni na piaski pustyni. Groza zaś budowana jest stopniowo, małymi kroczkami i w sposób prawie, że niezauważalny osacza nastrojem klaustrofobii i tajemnicy. Zło jest zarówno duchowe, jak i cielesne. Jest przebiegłe, okrutne i drapieżne. Potrafi nawet jak na demona przybrać mocno cielesne, seksualne formę. Wiadomo, czego należy unikać, aby zapobiec katastrofie, a mimo wszystko ten zakazany owoc przyciąga najmocniej i cała reszta wydaje się być po prostu nieuchronna. Nieustannie balansujemy na cienkiej granicy baśni i horroru, lecz wraz z rozwojem akcji coraz bardziej wytraca się ta pierwsza, a przybiera i potęguje ta druga. A Masterton nieustannie puszcza do czytelnika oko.
Dżinn to prawdziwa perełka ze Złotej Ery Horroru. Raz humorystyczne dialogi sprawiają, że pojawia się uśmiech na twarzy. Za moment jednak towarzyszy gęsia skórka i po lekturze, jakoś trudniej jest zasnąć. Zmysły wyostrzają się i nadsłuchujemy, czy gdzieś nie wydobywa się złowrogi śpiew. W głowie siedzi lęk przed twarzami, a to co z początku było niezrozumiałe, nabiera mocno namacalny wymiar.
Max jest kolekcjonarem antycznych zabytków. W jego zbiorach znalazł się dzban sięgający czasów perskich, a nie długo po tym, jak trafił on do jego zbiorów, mężczyzna umarł. Zagadkowa śmierć będzie próbował rozwikłać jego wnuk, Harry Erskine. Pomagać będzie mu niejaka, Anna.
Dżinny (z arabskiego: demon, duch): jeden z rodzajów dobroczynnych lub złych duchów islamu, zamieszkujących Ziemię. Dżinny potrafią przybierać różne postacie i są obdarzone niezwykłymi mocami
Graham Masterton stworzył niesamowity nastrój. Niby wszystko jest od początku znane, niby wiemy, kto i co za wszystkim stoi, a jednak tajemniczość towarzyszy na każdym kroku. Korzystając z podań o Ali Babie kreuje zupełnie inną opowieść od tej, której czytelnik początkowo by oczekiwał. Z amerykańskiej rezydencji, coraz bardziej jesteśmy przenoszeni na piaski pustyni. Groza zaś budowana jest stopniowo, małymi kroczkami i w sposób prawie, że niezauważalny osacza nastrojem klaustrofobii i tajemnicy. Zło jest zarówno duchowe, jak i cielesne. Jest przebiegłe, okrutne i drapieżne. Potrafi nawet jak na demona przybrać mocno cielesne, seksualne formę. Wiadomo, czego należy unikać, aby zapobiec katastrofie, a mimo wszystko ten zakazany owoc przyciąga najmocniej i cała reszta wydaje się być po prostu nieuchronna. Nieustannie balansujemy na cienkiej granicy baśni i horroru, lecz wraz z rozwojem akcji coraz bardziej wytraca się ta pierwsza, a przybiera i potęguje ta druga. A Masterton nieustannie puszcza do czytelnika oko.
Dżinn to prawdziwa perełka ze Złotej Ery Horroru. Raz humorystyczne dialogi sprawiają, że pojawia się uśmiech na twarzy. Za moment jednak towarzyszy gęsia skórka i po lekturze, jakoś trudniej jest zasnąć. Zmysły wyostrzają się i nadsłuchujemy, czy gdzieś nie wydobywa się złowrogi śpiew. W głowie siedzi lęk przed twarzami, a to co z początku było niezrozumiałe, nabiera mocno namacalny wymiar.
September 3, 2024
Był świetny Manitou, przyszła pora na innego "ducha" - Dżinna. Powraca też Harry Erskine, który tutaj zachowuje się jakby wyparł pamięć o wydarzeniach z feralnego szpitala. Harry zarzucił wiarę w takie rzeczy, a jednak one nie zapominały o nim.
Ginie jego dziadek, Max. Wnuk pojawia się więc na miejscu, aby wziąć udział w ceremonii. Harry zaraz potem odwiedza wdowę-babkę, aby dowiedzieć się więcej szczegółów o ostatnich latach nieboszczyka. Zauważa też kilka niepokojących faktów, które szybko powiąże z pewnym starożytnym dzbanem, jaki znajdował się w zbiorze zmarłego. Na domiar złego na progu pojawia się niejaka Anna, która zajmuje się zawodowo odszukiwaniem starożytnych artefaktów i zwracaniem ich do państw, gdzie je wyrobiono.
Tym razem jest to Persja, ale szybko wychodzi na jaw, że zapieczętowany dzban może mieć lokatora, który pała żądzą zemsty za uwięzienie go na tysiąclecia w tym więzieniu. Bajki, które zawierają ziarna prawdy/ Legendy, które okazują się prawdą historyczną. I spora doza wierzeń perskich, ale nieco przetworzonych na potrzeby fabuły.
Dołóżcie do tego dużą dawkę pulpy i parę momentów do pośmiania, zwłaszcza z kilku nazw, co daje nam dziwny, ale ciekawy miks fabularny. Akcja gna na złamanie karku i ani się spostrzeżesz, a skończysz lekturę. Niecałe dwieście stron zapewnia jednak inny pozytywny akcent. Nie idzie się znudzić, choć widać pewne elementy, jakie autor zapożyczył ze swojego debiutanckiego dzieła.
Bywa absurdalnie, bywa karykaturalnie, bywa niepokojąco, bywa cringe'owo. Masterton to niezwykły pisarz, który rozwijał się nieco na uboczy innych wielkich autorów grozy, ale jest nad wszech miar wart nadrobienia. Gdzie indziej dżinn wykorzysta seksualnie swoją popleczniczkę?
Ginie jego dziadek, Max. Wnuk pojawia się więc na miejscu, aby wziąć udział w ceremonii. Harry zaraz potem odwiedza wdowę-babkę, aby dowiedzieć się więcej szczegółów o ostatnich latach nieboszczyka. Zauważa też kilka niepokojących faktów, które szybko powiąże z pewnym starożytnym dzbanem, jaki znajdował się w zbiorze zmarłego. Na domiar złego na progu pojawia się niejaka Anna, która zajmuje się zawodowo odszukiwaniem starożytnych artefaktów i zwracaniem ich do państw, gdzie je wyrobiono.
Tym razem jest to Persja, ale szybko wychodzi na jaw, że zapieczętowany dzban może mieć lokatora, który pała żądzą zemsty za uwięzienie go na tysiąclecia w tym więzieniu. Bajki, które zawierają ziarna prawdy/ Legendy, które okazują się prawdą historyczną. I spora doza wierzeń perskich, ale nieco przetworzonych na potrzeby fabuły.
Dołóżcie do tego dużą dawkę pulpy i parę momentów do pośmiania, zwłaszcza z kilku nazw, co daje nam dziwny, ale ciekawy miks fabularny. Akcja gna na złamanie karku i ani się spostrzeżesz, a skończysz lekturę. Niecałe dwieście stron zapewnia jednak inny pozytywny akcent. Nie idzie się znudzić, choć widać pewne elementy, jakie autor zapożyczył ze swojego debiutanckiego dzieła.
Bywa absurdalnie, bywa karykaturalnie, bywa niepokojąco, bywa cringe'owo. Masterton to niezwykły pisarz, który rozwijał się nieco na uboczy innych wielkich autorów grozy, ale jest nad wszech miar wart nadrobienia. Gdzie indziej dżinn wykorzysta seksualnie swoją popleczniczkę?
January 4, 2023
Whatever I’ll read this year, it can’t be worse than this.
The second book in Harry Erskine series, The Djinn, tells an unbelievable and ridiculous story – while visiting his godmother, during his godfather’s funeral, Harry finds himself involved in a weird situation, when he finds out his godfather killed himself by cutting out his face, because he was trying to prevent the awakening of the inhabitant of an ancient Persian jar he bought years ago, from Iran. After ganging with Anna, a girl no one knows, but curiously no one asks what she’s doing at the funeral, Harry uncovers the unbearable truth behind the ancient jar – it shelters the famous genie of Ali Baba, a genie named the Forty Thieves. Why is it called the Forty Thieves? Well, it has the ability to transform itself into forty different forms, and kill you in as many ways.
Below, an example of what should have been a horrific manifestation of the Forty Thieves:
”I saw a woman with gaping vaginas that crawled all over her skin like caterpillars”
The novel is bad. I can’t see how anyone in this world could give a maximum rating to this pile of sh*t. Characters take stupid decisions, the dialog is subpar, the representation of women is incredibly misogynistic – described from Harry’s perspective, Anna’s breasts bounce at every gust of wind. The only plus of the novel would be its fast pacing. But that’s all. * star.
The second book in Harry Erskine series, The Djinn, tells an unbelievable and ridiculous story – while visiting his godmother, during his godfather’s funeral, Harry finds himself involved in a weird situation, when he finds out his godfather killed himself by cutting out his face, because he was trying to prevent the awakening of the inhabitant of an ancient Persian jar he bought years ago, from Iran. After ganging with Anna, a girl no one knows, but curiously no one asks what she’s doing at the funeral, Harry uncovers the unbearable truth behind the ancient jar – it shelters the famous genie of Ali Baba, a genie named the Forty Thieves. Why is it called the Forty Thieves? Well, it has the ability to transform itself into forty different forms, and kill you in as many ways.
Below, an example of what should have been a horrific manifestation of the Forty Thieves:
”I saw a woman with gaping vaginas that crawled all over her skin like caterpillars”
The novel is bad. I can’t see how anyone in this world could give a maximum rating to this pile of sh*t. Characters take stupid decisions, the dialog is subpar, the representation of women is incredibly misogynistic – described from Harry’s perspective, Anna’s breasts bounce at every gust of wind. The only plus of the novel would be its fast pacing. But that’s all. * star.
February 22, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed the story which moves along a good pace and has a nice mix of scares as well as more serious research into the problem. At the centre of the story is a jar thought to contain the original Ali Baba genie although unlike the friendly "I'll give you 3 wishes" genie from fairy stories this one is cruel, violent and not easily tamed.
The story does a good job of providing a believable background story which may or may not have its roots in genuine Arabian folk lore. This all adds a level of credibility to what otherwise could easily be simply a flight of fancy.
The one thing that does puzzle me is the time line. Harry seems to have great difficulty in believing in an ancient evil made manifest, but given this was published after Manitou one would have thought that that experience would have prepared him. Conversely I don't recall Manitou making reference to a previous experience. I would seem therefore that whilst this is a Harry Erskine story it doesn't fit within the Manitou /Erskine timeline.
The story does a good job of providing a believable background story which may or may not have its roots in genuine Arabian folk lore. This all adds a level of credibility to what otherwise could easily be simply a flight of fancy.
The one thing that does puzzle me is the time line. Harry seems to have great difficulty in believing in an ancient evil made manifest, but given this was published after Manitou one would have thought that that experience would have prepared him. Conversely I don't recall Manitou making reference to a previous experience. I would seem therefore that whilst this is a Harry Erskine story it doesn't fit within the Manitou /Erskine timeline.
June 17, 2023
Had great potential but disturbing (and dare I say a bit mysoginistic?) last few chapters ruined the book.
The first few chapters are great, the plot is fast moving and interesting, readers are truly captivated and eager to know the whole story.
However this is all thrown away by a very confusing, disappointing and (VERY) revolting ending. I guess it does portray the true horror of the dhjinn and is a subtle nod at how cruel society can be, but the ending truly does seem like a utter disrespect towards the women portrayed in the book, and appears to be hastily written.
The gruesome details might have benefited from a little heads up or warning... definitely do not read if you're delicate on the subject of sexual assault...
So do yourself a favor and don't read this book if you're easily queasy or not up for disturbing imagery that will stick with you for days.
The first few chapters are great, the plot is fast moving and interesting, readers are truly captivated and eager to know the whole story.
However this is all thrown away by a very confusing, disappointing and (VERY) revolting ending. I guess it does portray the true horror of the dhjinn and is a subtle nod at how cruel society can be, but the ending truly does seem like a utter disrespect towards the women portrayed in the book, and appears to be hastily written.
The gruesome details might have benefited from a little heads up or warning... definitely do not read if you're delicate on the subject of sexual assault...
So do yourself a favor and don't read this book if you're easily queasy or not up for disturbing imagery that will stick with you for days.
November 23, 2025
now that's what i call pulp fiction.
cheap story, somehow based on oriental themes, with several plot twists, but ultimately boring and unengaging.
the plot is fairly straight forward and the characters are shallow. i would struggle with describing the personality of even one of the main characters. the main character is unlikable and the only significant woman in the story, Anna, is constantly objectified by his narration.
the ending
shouldn't have expected anything of value.
cheap story, somehow based on oriental themes, with several plot twists, but ultimately boring and unengaging.
the plot is fairly straight forward and the characters are shallow. i would struggle with describing the personality of even one of the main characters. the main character is unlikable and the only significant woman in the story, Anna, is constantly objectified by his narration.
the ending
shouldn't have expected anything of value.
May 23, 2024
The second book in Masterton's MANITOU series, and it's a stand-alone adventure featuring returning protagonist Harry Erskine. This time, he's mixed up in a new story about an old friend and an ancient Persian jar in his possession that just so happens to house a long-dormant and malignant djinn. Masterton's research into the subject is adequate, but despite being a very short book, this takes an age to actually get anywhere. The final set-piece is huge and satisfyingly grotesque, but it takes a very long time to get there, and I never felt anything for any of the characters throughout, so I would describe this slice of pulp horror as average at best.
May 23, 2020
The Djinn seems to be meant to be an entertaining, occasionally surprising, quick read, and it succeeds at that remarkable well. It has Harry Erskine from the Manitou, but it seems to be a Harry Erskine that has yet to experience the coming of an ancient shaman. The novel was well written, with simple characters and a fast moving, intelligent plot, but it didn't delve much into its subject matter, which would have made it a more remarkable book.
December 1, 2020
If you’re looking for a Djinn story that will captivate you and hold you in thrall, this is it. It’s supposed to be the first sequel of The Manitou, and though it’s about a Djinn instead of a Native-American wizard, the protagonist is Harry Erskine, from The Manitou. Therefore, I don’t really consider it a sequel, but a standalone horror chiller. The only Djinn story that’s better, IMO, is Wishmaster.
March 29, 2024
An ancient temple, a 25 century old mummified body of a women who had an enormous object shoved into her lady bits and compressed her internal organs into her rib cage. A mysterious jar from the Middke East, singing coming from the jar. The owner takes all portraits out of his house and cuts off his face with a sharp carving knife. An old story of a lady with a snake sewn into her womb and tortured to death. The old legend tale of Ali Babah. A djinn wanting out with power to destroy all.
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