What do you think?
Rate this book
The Curse of Fearful Rock
The classic battles of Union Sergeant Jaeger against the Forces of Darkness, an eerie tale of the American Civil War, and the uncanny evil being who called himself Persil Mandifer, and his lovely daughter, Enid, a tale of dark powers and weird happenings.
The year is 1862, the place the Deep South. Enid Mandifer has been sent hypnotized by her stepfather, Persil Mandifer, to be a sacrifice to the Nameless One, a demonic presence who haunts an ancient house under the shadow of a natural pillar called Fearful Rock. Kane Lanark, a Lieutenant in the Union cavalry, who has been ordered to scout for Quantrill's infamous raiders, discovers Enid in a half-dazed condition on the trail to Fearful Rock. Kane is puzzled and repelled when he learns of her stepfather's strange worship. Sergeant Jager, a religious fanatic known as "Bible" Jager to the other soldiers in their troop, and Kane's assistant, finds a horned image in the cellar of the house at Fearful Rock and destroys it, earning Persil Mandifer's undying hatred and his curse. After the Civil war, cosmic forces reunite all four at the foot of Fearful Rock, where the dead rise and events reach an eerie, shattering climax.
In the sequel, "Coven," set several years later, Cole Wickett, a former Southern officer, who has lost everything in the war and become a tramp, drifts toward a small community he has heard of called now called Welcome Rock, where a minister named Jager preaches to all who seek refuge. There Wickett and Jager battle a coven of evil witches pledged to the devil, and find themselves opposed to dark beings wielding unimaginable powers. Forces only the spells from a strange book called "Long Lost Friend" (which actually existed at the time, leave it to Wellman to own a copy) can possibly defeat. If Wickett and Jager can survive long enough to use it.
Features Fearful Rock the story that made Wellman's reputation, and its sequel Coven, gripping tales of a visitation of supernatural evil during and after the Civil War Winner of the World Fantasy, Edgar Allan Poe, Ellery Queen, Locus and British Fantasy Awards, Manly Wade Wellman is considered one of the greatest fantasy writers who ever lived and is one of the creators of the great Weird Tales tradition.
The year is 1862, the place the Deep South. Enid Mandifer has been sent hypnotized by her stepfather, Persil Mandifer, to be a sacrifice to the Nameless One, a demonic presence who haunts an ancient house under the shadow of a natural pillar called Fearful Rock. Kane Lanark, a Lieutenant in the Union cavalry, who has been ordered to scout for Quantrill's infamous raiders, discovers Enid in a half-dazed condition on the trail to Fearful Rock. Kane is puzzled and repelled when he learns of her stepfather's strange worship. Sergeant Jager, a religious fanatic known as "Bible" Jager to the other soldiers in their troop, and Kane's assistant, finds a horned image in the cellar of the house at Fearful Rock and destroys it, earning Persil Mandifer's undying hatred and his curse. After the Civil war, cosmic forces reunite all four at the foot of Fearful Rock, where the dead rise and events reach an eerie, shattering climax.
In the sequel, "Coven," set several years later, Cole Wickett, a former Southern officer, who has lost everything in the war and become a tramp, drifts toward a small community he has heard of called now called Welcome Rock, where a minister named Jager preaches to all who seek refuge. There Wickett and Jager battle a coven of evil witches pledged to the devil, and find themselves opposed to dark beings wielding unimaginable powers. Forces only the spells from a strange book called "Long Lost Friend" (which actually existed at the time, leave it to Wellman to own a copy) can possibly defeat. If Wickett and Jager can survive long enough to use it.
Features Fearful Rock the story that made Wellman's reputation, and its sequel Coven, gripping tales of a visitation of supernatural evil during and after the Civil War Winner of the World Fantasy, Edgar Allan Poe, Ellery Queen, Locus and British Fantasy Awards, Manly Wade Wellman is considered one of the greatest fantasy writers who ever lived and is one of the creators of the great Weird Tales tradition.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 19, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 4, 2019
During the Civil War, a hardened Northern cavalry commander and his company stop at an isolated Southern mansion at crag named ominously Fearful Rock. There they find a degenerate cult preparing to sacrifice a brave, beautiful, innocent girl to a nameless abomination from beyond the spheres of this reality. Soldiers begin to die inexplicably. Then a band of bloodthirsty Southern guerrillas attack-
Why are you still reading this review? Read the book!
Why are you still reading this review? Read the book!
May 30, 2019
An eerie tale set during and following the American Civil War. The narration by Allen Grunerud truly elevates this story to its highest potential. A great listen! Highly recommended.
March 15, 2021
To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect before reading this book as I never heard anything about the author or any of his works before taking a chance with this one. I truly enjoyed both of the stories and glad I gave it a try. I plan to read more of his works later.
September 4, 2024
I've liked Manly Wade Wellman since the early 1980s when I discovered a treasure trove of his novels tucked away in a dusty corner of the always wonderful Galesburg Public Library. Wellman loves taking old tropes and legends and adding a little something extra to stories that would be pedestrian in lesser hands. Sure, his style is often clunky. But it always has charm, and his sense of story keeps you turning the pages.
Be sure to refer to your tattered copy of "The Long Lost Friend" for the proper spells to keep the ancient evils at bay.
Warning. The good guys try hard to be good. The bad guys glory in being evil. And the violence is almost quaint by modern standards.
Be sure to refer to your tattered copy of "The Long Lost Friend" for the proper spells to keep the ancient evils at bay.
Warning. The good guys try hard to be good. The bad guys glory in being evil. And the violence is almost quaint by modern standards.
June 18, 2019
I received this book for free. I am voluntarily leaving this review and all opinions expressed herein are mine.
I don't like leaving negative reviews but, while I liked the premise of this story, I found the execution to be dry, lifeless and less than thrilling.
I listened to this book - the narrator did a good job.
I don't like leaving negative reviews but, while I liked the premise of this story, I found the execution to be dry, lifeless and less than thrilling.
I listened to this book - the narrator did a good job.
February 28, 2022
The Curse Of Fearful Rock
This is a great mixture of folk legend, supernatural intrique, and historical fiction, with a nod to Lovecraftian mythos. This is the first Manly Wade Wellman book I ever read. It will not be the last.
This is a great mixture of folk legend, supernatural intrique, and historical fiction, with a nod to Lovecraftian mythos. This is the first Manly Wade Wellman book I ever read. It will not be the last.
February 6, 2022
American folk horror occult adventure featuring characters that are steadfast, determined, and superstitious. Not as good as the John the Balladeer stories but still highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews