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Strange Seed #2
Nursery Tale
Fiften years is a long time. Memories fade away, but the horror remains.Fifteen years ago, two newlyweds perished at the edge of the woods. Now a development of one-family homes stands where their farm once was. For Janice McIntyre and her husband, this new community by the quiet, lovely woods is a perfect place to raise their expected child. Except for the ghosts...
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1982
9 people are currently reading
239 people want to read
About the author
T.M. Wright
63 books64 followersTerrance Michael Wright (AKA T. M. Wright) is best known as a writer of horror fiction, speculative fiction, and poetry. He has written over 25 novels, novellas, and short stories over the last 40 years. His first novel, 1978's Strange Seed, was nominated for a World Fantasy Award, and his 2003 novel Cold House was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. His novels have been translated into many different languages around the world. His works have been reviewed by Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, and many genre magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 10, 2022
sitting with my nephews in their backyard one evening, i decided it was time to scare the innocent lambs. it was a big backyard with many shadowy corners; i pointed at the furthest dark spot and said to the duo, "Why don't you ask your friends to join us? I didn't know you invited anyone over. It's weird that they're just standing there watching us, not saying anything..." try as they may, they couldn't make out anyone in that far dark corner of their yard; unsurprisingly, neither of them ventured over to see what i was pointing at. i have a pretty good poker face when i want, so i just kept looking over at the spot while they looked back and forth between me and that shadowy place, not sure if i was joking. finally i murmured, "It's so strange that they're being so quiet..." and slowly got up to check out the corner. one of them grabbed my arm to hold me back and they both whispered nervously "No Uncle Mark, don't!"
and so The Quiet Children were born. i've used those silent lil' sentinels hanging out in dark spaces with much success over the years, scaring kids of course but also a good number of nervous adults who probably should know better. ha!
Nursery Tale is full of such creepy children, born of the earth, human in appearance but definitely not human, pattering through the yards and on the rooftops and up your staircase and into your bedrooms, curious and hungry. very hungry!
T.M. Wright's follow-up to his buried classic Strange Seed broadens the canvas while sacrificing a good amount of ambiguity. his prose didn't have quite the same hypnotic effect on me here as it did in Strange Seed, and I'm not sure that making the horrors relatively straightforward was the best decision. still, this is an enjoyable read and a good example of the Quiet Horror subgenre. Wright is an accomplished author and although he sacrificed the claustrophobic intimacy of the first novel, his decision to widen the scope made this experience quite a different kettle of children. he certainly can't be accused of sticking to a formula. a variety of characters are swiftly but carefully introduced and sometimes just as swiftly dispatched. the kids are made much more deadly, which made this novel quite a bit scarier than its predecessor. his critique of development sloppily encroaching on nature was on-point but never belabored. and his strange lil' creations remain as eerily threatening and oddly sympathetic as ever. poor tykes! all they want is to find some warmth and nourishment. like a house, with people in it!
synopsis: a range of citified homeowners and their children move into a new, upscale housing tract located next to a sprawling forest with children of its own. peculiar incidents accumulate.
and so The Quiet Children were born. i've used those silent lil' sentinels hanging out in dark spaces with much success over the years, scaring kids of course but also a good number of nervous adults who probably should know better. ha!
Nursery Tale is full of such creepy children, born of the earth, human in appearance but definitely not human, pattering through the yards and on the rooftops and up your staircase and into your bedrooms, curious and hungry. very hungry!
T.M. Wright's follow-up to his buried classic Strange Seed broadens the canvas while sacrificing a good amount of ambiguity. his prose didn't have quite the same hypnotic effect on me here as it did in Strange Seed, and I'm not sure that making the horrors relatively straightforward was the best decision. still, this is an enjoyable read and a good example of the Quiet Horror subgenre. Wright is an accomplished author and although he sacrificed the claustrophobic intimacy of the first novel, his decision to widen the scope made this experience quite a different kettle of children. he certainly can't be accused of sticking to a formula. a variety of characters are swiftly but carefully introduced and sometimes just as swiftly dispatched. the kids are made much more deadly, which made this novel quite a bit scarier than its predecessor. his critique of development sloppily encroaching on nature was on-point but never belabored. and his strange lil' creations remain as eerily threatening and oddly sympathetic as ever. poor tykes! all they want is to find some warmth and nourishment. like a house, with people in it!
synopsis: a range of citified homeowners and their children move into a new, upscale housing tract located next to a sprawling forest with children of its own. peculiar incidents accumulate.
July 9, 2020
Nursery Tale is more or less a sequel to Strange Seed, though it's not necessary to have read it in order to enjoy this one. It's set fifteen years later, and we quickly learn the evil menace in the woods is still there. It's a quiet novel of mounting horror and a well-written character study that makes some astute observations of 1980's society. Have a happy!
February 7, 2017
Wonderfully strange and surreal. Whatever Wright's work lacks in resolution it makes up for in the tugging of this primal fears in the face of something larger and incomprehensible.
November 8, 2013
This is a unique case of the sequel being just as good if not better than the original. In the first book in this series, Strange Seed, Wright wrote a very small very contained story cast wise. Here, while remaining geographically contained, the cast is wide and varied and Wright does a phenomenal job of character writing, as good as any mainstream fiction, no short cuts to gore, just a solid well executed slow and steady creation of a small community as in plunges into an unimaginable horror. So many genre authors have tackled the scary kids motif, some like John Saul, have made careers out of it, but this is how it's meant to be done. 15 years have passed in a wooded area of upstate New York and while the space still possesses a certain romantic appeal to the jaded and tired city residents, its dangers are still as present as ever, the children are still around, still hungry. Wright does a good job of refreshing the readers on the plot of the first book, so it is not necessary to read it prior to this one, but strongly recommended. It's also interesting to see how the author matured since Strange Seed, this is a much more generally accessible book and the writing style is absolutely exquisite, mixing the increasing unease with the astute, poignant and moving observations on human nature in and out of times of crisis. Quiet horror at its finest. Highly recommended.
March 23, 2023
NURSERY TALE follows several young couples from August to November 1982. They are starting new lives in the grand opening of a housing development called "Granada" in rural upstate New York. This remote neighborhood is so new the roads and street lights are not done.
The residents are yuppie types. Some of them are trying to escape cramped city life, some of them are upfront about their "white flight" motivation, and others are starting new careers, or hope to find recovery after a painful loss. Unfortunately for them, the site of their big real estate investment (a gamble, we are reminded a few times) has been marked by horror again and again over the years, and they are about to explore some worst case scenarios for a new neighborhood: a natural disaster, missing children, a tragic school bus accident, inadequate infrastructure, armed vigilantes, and an overwhelmed local government.
Meanwhile a gaggle of gremlins hatches in the local woods and gets busy starting fires everywhere and gobbling up slower residents. It's nothing personal - even though they look like people they are not human. They are closer to hummingbirds, but some of them "pass" because they are responsive to emotions and echo the humans' words back to them. Like rodents, they are always freezing and voracious, and their constant search for food and shelter brings them into the toasty new homes, (and then into conflict with the residents). The residents don't enjoy being visited, much less burned and eaten, so they start weighing their exit options before they even finish unpacking.
This is a sprawling epic by T.M. Wright standards, following the dozens of characters and jumping around over about 15 years from the mid-60's to the early 80's. It's also one of his most consistently entertaining tales that I've read. Unlike his reflective and intimate tales of doomed children and babbling ghosts, this features several action scenes with big explosions or horrible accidents.
Wright is not a polished writer and his books are full of stuff they drill out of MFA candidates. When his endlessly bickering characters repeat each other's names constantly I want to throw the book or savage it with a red pen! Yet I still found NURSERY TALE really compelling, interesting and entertaining. He was writing about housing commodification long before the boom and bust decades, the waves of gentrification and sub-prime mortgage meltdowns. What this book lacks in refinement it makes up for in effectiveness. I got chills several times - Wright is really ruthless with these characters, especially the very youngest. This is the second in a series but I think it works fine as a standalone. Or, maybe even better -the flashbacks to the fate of the characters from the earlier book add to the book's powerful sense of menace.
"
The creature very tentatively put his fingers to the wall, as if the wall might be hot, or cold, or as if it might be an enemy of some kind. This was the first time he had entered one of the houses, and he sensed hostility -a kind of deep and unnatural tension....
He moved very slowly about the dark room, his gaze passing quickly from here to there, uncomprehending. He was new to the earth and most of what he saw he had no choice but to accept without question....
And then- although he was unable to verbalize it-he knew that, in this house, within these walls, he was the enemy. Because he had sensed the other things living in the house, had sensed their fear quivering deep inside them, like a rabbit quivers deep in its burrow.
That fear gave the creature incredible strength and courage. It excited him, made his muscles tense.
He stopped very briefly at the bottom of the stairway.
And something which might, in a human being, pass for longing, or hunger, settled into his huge, exquisite, pale blue eyes.
And then he started up the stairs.
"
The residents are yuppie types. Some of them are trying to escape cramped city life, some of them are upfront about their "white flight" motivation, and others are starting new careers, or hope to find recovery after a painful loss. Unfortunately for them, the site of their big real estate investment (a gamble, we are reminded a few times) has been marked by horror again and again over the years, and they are about to explore some worst case scenarios for a new neighborhood: a natural disaster, missing children, a tragic school bus accident, inadequate infrastructure, armed vigilantes, and an overwhelmed local government.
Meanwhile a gaggle of gremlins hatches in the local woods and gets busy starting fires everywhere and gobbling up slower residents. It's nothing personal - even though they look like people they are not human. They are closer to hummingbirds, but some of them "pass" because they are responsive to emotions and echo the humans' words back to them. Like rodents, they are always freezing and voracious, and their constant search for food and shelter brings them into the toasty new homes, (and then into conflict with the residents). The residents don't enjoy being visited, much less burned and eaten, so they start weighing their exit options before they even finish unpacking.
This is a sprawling epic by T.M. Wright standards, following the dozens of characters and jumping around over about 15 years from the mid-60's to the early 80's. It's also one of his most consistently entertaining tales that I've read. Unlike his reflective and intimate tales of doomed children and babbling ghosts, this features several action scenes with big explosions or horrible accidents.
Wright is not a polished writer and his books are full of stuff they drill out of MFA candidates. When his endlessly bickering characters repeat each other's names constantly I want to throw the book or savage it with a red pen! Yet I still found NURSERY TALE really compelling, interesting and entertaining. He was writing about housing commodification long before the boom and bust decades, the waves of gentrification and sub-prime mortgage meltdowns. What this book lacks in refinement it makes up for in effectiveness. I got chills several times - Wright is really ruthless with these characters, especially the very youngest. This is the second in a series but I think it works fine as a standalone. Or, maybe even better -the flashbacks to the fate of the characters from the earlier book add to the book's powerful sense of menace.
"
The creature very tentatively put his fingers to the wall, as if the wall might be hot, or cold, or as if it might be an enemy of some kind. This was the first time he had entered one of the houses, and he sensed hostility -a kind of deep and unnatural tension....
He moved very slowly about the dark room, his gaze passing quickly from here to there, uncomprehending. He was new to the earth and most of what he saw he had no choice but to accept without question....
And then- although he was unable to verbalize it-he knew that, in this house, within these walls, he was the enemy. Because he had sensed the other things living in the house, had sensed their fear quivering deep inside them, like a rabbit quivers deep in its burrow.
That fear gave the creature incredible strength and courage. It excited him, made his muscles tense.
He stopped very briefly at the bottom of the stairway.
And something which might, in a human being, pass for longing, or hunger, settled into his huge, exquisite, pale blue eyes.
And then he started up the stairs.
"
December 6, 2021
Ha habido una par de momentos en el libro en los que me he dicho: -Agárrate que vienen curvas!!! Pero luego ha resultado que no ha sido para tanto.
Además personalmente no me ha gustado la manera en la que se narran las historias de cada personaje, saltando de uno a otro de una manera continua y que no te permite profundizar en ninguno.
Una lástima, no lo releeré.
Además personalmente no me ha gustado la manera en la que se narran las historias de cada personaje, saltando de uno a otro de una manera continua y que no te permite profundizar en ninguno.
Una lástima, no lo releeré.
March 19, 2022
T M Wright goes from strength to strength with this eerie series. Nursery Tale doesn't quite pick up where Strange Seed ended, but it's close. Fifteen years have passed: Fifteen seasons of birth, life, and death for the strange Earth folk. In this time, a developer has purchased Paul and Rachels's land, and construction of Granada, a suburban housing development, has started. All too soon, the new tenets will be moving in. Good Eats.
One of the best things Wright does is reuse sections from his previous novel. Instead of making it feel re-hashed, it adds a spookier atmosphere to the reading. Now, the story doesn't just creep under your skin; it starts to gnaw at your bones.
It's also a great way to help the reader remember the former dark and creepy proceedings. I have to say, at this point, that I read the whole series back-to-back. You would think re-reading part of the past tale would be irksome, but it isn't. Wright places the segments in precisely the right places to add ambience to his unsettling story.
I would also state that I disagree with some reviewers who say you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this one. I found the statement to be 0partially correct as I believe I enjoyed the second book more because I had read the first. Granted, you can read Nursery Tale without looking at Strange Seed, though it may diminish your enjoyment.
Your reduced pleasure would be down to history and relatability. Because in this book, Wright, reintroduces you to some characters from Strange Seed, and expands on the Earth Folk.
All-in-all, if you like creepy and eerie reads about paranormal beings then these books are for you. Though I would read them in order so as to get the most out of them. They are well worth your time.
Take Care, Stay Well, And Make Love Not War.
One of the best things Wright does is reuse sections from his previous novel. Instead of making it feel re-hashed, it adds a spookier atmosphere to the reading. Now, the story doesn't just creep under your skin; it starts to gnaw at your bones.
It's also a great way to help the reader remember the former dark and creepy proceedings. I have to say, at this point, that I read the whole series back-to-back. You would think re-reading part of the past tale would be irksome, but it isn't. Wright places the segments in precisely the right places to add ambience to his unsettling story.
I would also state that I disagree with some reviewers who say you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this one. I found the statement to be 0partially correct as I believe I enjoyed the second book more because I had read the first. Granted, you can read Nursery Tale without looking at Strange Seed, though it may diminish your enjoyment.
Your reduced pleasure would be down to history and relatability. Because in this book, Wright, reintroduces you to some characters from Strange Seed, and expands on the Earth Folk.
All-in-all, if you like creepy and eerie reads about paranormal beings then these books are for you. Though I would read them in order so as to get the most out of them. They are well worth your time.
Take Care, Stay Well, And Make Love Not War.
November 16, 2022
Well I just finished probably the most unorganized horror novel I've ever read - Nursery Tale by Tim Wright was my Halloween read and while the book had many of the elements I was looking for - set in the fall early winter - evocative - based around deep woods - It failed to deliver a coherent storyline. Not one I'd recommend.
December 21, 2009
I enjoyed this book right up until the end, which left me rather unsatisfied. It seemed that the majority of the book was anticipation, which had been well delivered, with a very anticlimatic end.
May 10, 2021
The only reason I'm giving this 3 stars is because I couldn't put it down. Any book I can't put down is probably worth 3 stars. But I really want to give it 2.
Mostly because I couldn't figure out what was happening. It was absolutely driving me crazy.
And perfect naked children? WTF!
It took me until the second to last page to figure out what was going on here. Then I was left saying "that's it".
I did find out after I read it that it is part of a series. Maybe if I read the whole series in one shot I could figure it out better.
Definitely entertaining.
Mostly because I couldn't figure out what was happening. It was absolutely driving me crazy.
And perfect naked children? WTF!
It took me until the second to last page to figure out what was going on here. Then I was left saying "that's it".
I did find out after I read it that it is part of a series. Maybe if I read the whole series in one shot I could figure it out better.
Definitely entertaining.
July 9, 2023
I can’t help but thoroughly enjoy Wright’s writing- I literally read this in a day and a half and want to get my hands on the next book in the series. Is it outdated? You betcha, but it’s kind of funny that way.
There are a lot more characters in this book compared to the first book. So I had to keep track of them. I slowly become more aware of what the naked children are. And there are a little more horrific scenes in this one.
I can’t spoil anything because it wouldn’t be fun, but just know that it’s a quick read and lots more happens!!!
There are a lot more characters in this book compared to the first book. So I had to keep track of them. I slowly become more aware of what the naked children are. And there are a little more horrific scenes in this one.
I can’t spoil anything because it wouldn’t be fun, but just know that it’s a quick read and lots more happens!!!
December 10, 2025
This one left me feeling very "meh." It was very atmospheric, I'll say that. It builds some tension and curiosity along the way but the ending left me saying "Is that it?" Really anticlimactic.
July 18, 2012
T. M. Wright is a writer unlike any I have experienced before. I have read a few of his books and I must say that he is definitely different. His stories often seem to involve children who are born in the woods and of the Earth itself, though there is never an explanation as to why the Earth spawns such children. They demand human sacrifice. There is also no explanation of why they desire this. All in all, I must say, this is a quick, entertaining read that will leave you wondering what exactly was living in those woods.
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April 6, 2013Fiften years is a long time. Memories fade away, but the horror remains.Fifteen years ago, two newlyweds perished at the edge of the woods. Now a development of one-family homes stands where their farm once was. For Janice McIntyre and her husband, this new community by the quiet, lovely woods is a perfect place to raise their expected child. Except for the ghosts...
Want to read
August 28, 2011Stephen King recommended author: "T.M. Wright is a rare and blazing talent!"
November 11, 2020
Much more sprawling and, therefore, eerier than it's claustrophobic predecessor that bordered on psychological vs supernatural.
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