South of Here

by Edward Lorn

Sometimes the worst of us is the best we can do.

Meet James. Tactless, unbothered, and completely out-of-touch, James lives an uneventful life until his unemployment benefits run dry and he's forced to retreat to the only place he has left to go: his estranged father's place. Dad's mobile home is nestled dark and dank inside a trailer park reserved for the worst of society. The park is meant to be a means of rehabilitation for people like James's father, but its denizens have everything but rehab on their minds.

South of here, James will meet an eclectic cast of ne'r-do-wells: Tanya, his father's down-on-her-luck neighbor; Brenda, the attention-starved single-mother-of-one who jockeys the register at the corner store; and Mallorie, our resident monster in mourning. New relationships will kindle while others burn to the ground. Some are lost, and few are saved. Either way, James must abide.

SOUTH OF HERE is a dissection of the opportunistic, the deviant, and the shamed. It is a study of the sociopaths we sweep under the rug, those we'd rather forget, the ones we hide in the shadows, out of sight, out of mind. This is humanity at its most solipsistic, naked, and darkly comic. It's only up from here.

Genres: Horror

ebook

Published August 18, 2020

About the author

Edward Lorn (E. to most) is a reader, writer, and content creator. He's been writing for fun since the age of six, and writing professionally since 2011. He can be found haunting the halls of Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

E. lives in Alabama with his wife and two children. He is currently working on his next novel.

Reviews

[Tyler Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this is one hell of a read. I read it in 3 days even though I could've read it in one but it wasn't a book I could speed through like that. It's a tough read. Some of the faces I made while reading it, like "the fuck?!". I hated all the characters and asked myself "i'm supposed to not like them, right?". I'm pretty sure they are meant to be unlikable, but I even hated James from the beginning, which is where I was questioning if I was supposed to like him or not. I'm more than ok with reading about characters I don't like, it just depends on how it's done.

I thought of DNFing, not entirely because of the story. I have a tw: of fire and some other things that I don't even know how to describe (I have a weird and traumatizing life) that obviously weren't mentioned in the trigger warning page. I wouldn't expect them to be. No one knows all the triggering things and I appreciated the page was there and thought of.

But I didn't DNF. I finished it. Questioning "what the hell am I going to rate this?" the entire time, because normally I have an idea while reading a book. I had no damn idea for this one. Now yes, E is my friend, but I hope he knows if I read something of his and hate it, i'll be honest about it.

I don't know how to describe what I felt for this book. It's depressing, the characters are awful, but real (which makes it more depressing but I like real characters, even when they are awful). That ending though. I want to say I liked or loved the book but that's the wrong word for this kinda book ya know? But suffice it to say, I can't stop thinking about it and I still have pieces to put together. And I will have to reread this at a later time. 5 very disturbed stars from me.

[Laurie (barksbooks)]

On pre-order

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well... that was certainly differnt.

I hate myself a little for loving this.

Review coming soon.

[Christian Galacar · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know that scene in the movie Contact where Jodie Foster is floating in the little space capsule and looking out at the never-before-seen piece of the universe and she says “Should have sent a poet,”? Well, think if that capsule was instead transported to the slice of life covered in Edward Lorn’s South of Here. Then she might’ve said, “Should have sent Edward Lorn.”

Luckily for us, he already went there and reported back.

South of Here will not win hearts. It will not make you close the book with a smile or a warm feeling of having learned something gratifying about the human condition. In fact, it will likely do the opposite. But here’s the thing: the people, the situations, in this book are real and are certainly not even close to the worst of what exists in the world.

I have never read anything else by Lorn, but with this book I get a very Cormac McCarthy-esque vibe. Not necessarily in the writing style, but in the fact that it seems like Lorn has just dropped in on these people at no particular grand moment in their lives (that’s not to say that, to them, it isn’t an important moment in their lives, just not grand to outsiders) and simply recorded with stark honesty what he observed there. After writing that, I realize that that is often the hallmark of most good literary writing; and, crass as so much of South of Here is, this really is a literary piece of fiction.

Here Lorn writes like a fearless, vulgar poet, and I mean that as a huge compliment. A story like this is only weakened by pulled punches and fear of what writers think readers may assume it reveals about the writer themselves. But most writers know you don’t have to be something to understand something.

This is a five star for me, because I always appreciate a well-focused lens through which to view a piece of the world that’s so different than my own. In this case, thank god, from a distance.

[Sjgomzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only sin a book can commit, causing me to DNF it, is the sin of being dull, lifeless, and unoriginal. For example, the latest collection from Joe Hill. This book disgusted me at times. I shook my head in revulsion. There is no one to root for, no real driving plot to speak of, just an observation of a little pocket of broken humanity. A lair filled with true monsters. The kind of monsters that populate and exist in the seamy underbelly of society. But man oh man, This book is the farthest from dull you can get. I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Lorn made me laugh at inappropriate times. His writing style, his words, fly off the page. Disgusting yes, but boring? Never. If someone with a lesser power with the written word had put this story to paper, I probably wouldn’t have made it past the first 30 pages, but I was entertained, and I’ve never been one to shy away from taboo subjects or flawed, broken, or vile characters. This book opened a window that looked in on a part of society most people try not to think about, or believe exists, but it does, and it’s a dark dark world out there, and it’s good every now and then to get a glimpse, to better appreciate the light and all that’s good in your own life, and thank whatever god, or gods, or just plain luck that you, yourself never ended up like these people. Another solid read from Edward Lorn. And if this truly is the last Lorn book, I’m gonna miss his voice. Now excuse me while I go shower with bleach and reach for a nice happy book afterward. Something with a happy Disney ending, and talking fucking bunnies or something.

[Aaron Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

After following Edward Lorns career and reading all of the horror books he has written, South of here felt like a breath of fresh air. That's not to say this book isn't horrific. It is, and has one of the nastiest scenes I've ever read. (I'm looking at you coke bottle) Just vile.

Swiftly moving on...

It's been a long time since I've read a book in one sitting but I got through this one in around ninety minutes. Truth be told I wished it was longer. E has always shone when it comes to horrible characters and believable dialogue and here is no exception. His writing here is blunt and shocking. Be warned, its not for the faint of heart, but then again what would you expect from a trailer park full of perverts and paedophiles? Reading it made me feel dirty, but that's kind of the point.

Still, I rooted for the character James even though he is hardly a model citizen. I particularly enjoyed his rant at one of the trailer park meetings and his relationship with Tanya and Brenda. (Those teeth. Yuk again) The rest of the cast are truly the darkest society has to offer. These are the kind of people that Facebook warn you about when they are released back into society. The scum. The worst of the worst laid bare.

I can't wait to see what E comes up with next, and I appreciate the air of mystery around this one that the further discussion section at the end of the novel hints at. It may require a reread at some point which I would happily do.

[SUSAN *Nevertheless,she persisted* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was unputdownable,I read it in one sitting. There was a flow to the writing and storytelling that captured my attention from the beginning. It rang a little of Southern lit. The only downside is that it ended too soon.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The reason I gave it 4 stars is because of some of the triggers in it

[Syon · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Note - A little bit of rambling in this review] - The first time I read Edward Lorn’s work was 7 years ago, as a high school senior. I had started to get into horror literature more seriously, and came across a book called LIFE AFTER DANE. Up to that point, I had never read anything from a smaller author that impressed me to the extent that Lorn’s novel did. I was an instant fan and added him to the small list of authors who really punched all the right buttons for me. Shortly after graduating, however, college and life in general made me push reading for enjoyment to the side. After a three year hiatus from reading, I had decided that I wanted to get serious about delving into dark fiction again. While looking for some books to pick up, I stumbled onto a video where Edward Lorn was talking about his favorite horror novels. It took me a minute to register Lorn’s name, but immediately afterwards, I was overjoyed that I had found a channel dedicated to my favorite genre, that was run by an author who I respected. As of today, I have grown both as a writer and reader thanks to this author’s channel. Edward Lorn, or E. as he prefers to be called via his YouTube persona, has introduced to me to some of the best works of fiction across a wide variety of genres, and helped me immensely with his detailed advice series on writing. However, I realized that as a result of being consumed by the work of so many different authors, I never got around to reading more books from the man himself. I remedied this by picking up Lorn’s entire back catalogue off Amazon a few months ago, which was when he made all the paperbacks available. I had started his book HOPE FOR THE WICKED a few weeks back, and was loving everything about it. However, I realized that he had a new book out called SOUTH OF HERE that was not only short in length, but also seemed to be his most polarizing work in quite some time. I figured I’d jump headfirst into his newer work instead, and I’m beyond glad that I did. This is a candid, pitch black, and beautifully written story about the worst parts that being a human has to offer. I love books and movies that revel in exploring the most disenfranchised, depraved, lost, hopeless, and bitter people that the world spits out. It’s rare, especially these days, to see an author be so unapologetic and confident with the story he wants to tell. It is this creative choice that breathes life into SOUTH OF HERE, and really lets you escape into the bleakness which plagues many unfortunate souls. Edward Lorn has created a book that I think will grow on most people with age. While personally I understand completely where Lorn is coming from, there are many people who won’t be able to look past the surface level content in this story. I have accepted the realties found within these pages for quite some time now, and thoroughly enjoy contemplating about them through the medium of literature. When character development, pacing, and a literary voice are pinned down as perfectly as Lorn has here, it makes for a phenomenal experience. Based on his humble, down to earth internet persona, I get the feeling that this author will never fully accept the praise that comes his way. I hope he takes this review to heart, and realizes just how great of a storyteller he is. This book is a somber and courageously written meditation on what being broken truly means. Well done E. I’m a fan for life. 5/5 stars. This book needs to be cherished, and more importantly, understood, by more people.

[Levi Walls · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Lorn, listen here fucko. Here is another example of a book that I read in one night because I couldn't put it down even though I felt like I needed an Exorcism afterwards. Holy Mary mother of god please don't gaze upon me as I read this or you'll for sure do that stigmata thing and start bleeding from your eyes. Inappropriately hilarious at times and that there is Lornography at its finest. In the end, it's just a brutal portrayal of the dark side of life that we all like to pretend doesn't exist after we drive over the tracks. And as fucked up as it is, not seeing that part of the world doesn't make it go away.

[renee w · Rating 5 out of 5]

South of here, we’re all bad and trying our best not to be.
Jim, is in a mental battle with himself on every aspect . He’s living with his father in a trailer park that houses sex offenders. This was one of those books you almost hate to admit how much you loved it . Not to mention one of the best I’ve read this year ! I highly recommend this to only those that enjoy the darkest of books .

[Thomas Stroemquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, where to start? I’ll just go with the angst first; this is the next-to-last Edward Lorn writing I had unread and I just killed it on a lovely Sunday morning waking up, reaching for the book and putting it back down read cover to cover.

Again, Edward goes into Joyce Carol Oates territory in my mind, but it’s definitely south of JCO at her darkest, much as expected. The writing is brilliant, as always, the story is unflinching, raw and hard to look away from. Characters are pitiful, awful, unsympathetic, evil, sad, bad and all rang true.

I’m a tiny bit undecided on this still, I think it’s a bit short, at the same time that’s a relief because of the topic and story. And it certainly does not lack the pieces that a story you’d say being too short would, character portraits or story developments.

Bottom line - a very good read, a quite tough read. 4 strong stars.

Postscript: only ‘Something Estranged’ to go now, the ongoing boring DCI Banks suggests this will be soon, but at least I can take comfort in the early books are some time ago and certainly up for a re-read. I’ve been longing for a full Bay’s End reading for a while, that will certainly be up soon.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Here there be monsters."

South of Here is the first book I've read of Lorn's, picked up on a whim. Let me say, it is not for the faint of heart. Not for the easily triggered. The subject matter is raw, unrelenting and yet also riveting.

I started, and finished the book in a single sitting. Rarely done by me nowadays, but I felt that if I put it down, the characters and their situations would haunt me too much to pick it up again.

The characters, places and situations depicted in the book are more horrifying due to their reality, but there is no denying their authenticity. There is nothing redeeming about these folks, but that isn't the point here. In my opinion, this is just a window into a life that exists beyond "normal ways of life" but they are just as real as our own.

Some characters are victims of their own environment, poor choices, or of just bad luck. Regardless, everyone in the book stands out uniquely and pushes their rancid, fetid being in your face and demands to be seen.

5 stars easily given. Something I'll be thinking about for a long time.

[Remo Nassutti · Rating 5 out of 5]

South of Here stands as a culmination of the stylistic developments achieved beneath the Lorn moniker.

I first became acquainted with Edward Lorn’s work by chance. His review of a Stephen King book showed up in a Youtube search. Not long after that, I read Bay’s End followed by a few other works that share the titular town. While these novels wore their influences proudly, they bore a strong narrative voice.

While reading, my top priority is an author’s ability to craft a strong storytelling voice and sense of style. Lorn couples this narrative style with keen attention to theme. Additionally, novels like The Sound of Broken Ribs showcase his skill in maintaining consistent tension across a story. In South of Here, Lorn demonstrates incredible growth from his earlier works and reaches beyond his previous accomplishments.

Reincorporation

Lorn introduces several recurring elements throughout the novel that gain importance and contribute to the overall thematic actualization. Most notable, the title repeats, cycling through various interpretations of the phrase. Through repetition, this concept gains momentum, snowballing through the final moments.

The repetition of prevert seems to mirror the lasting effects of James's father on his life. The book explores inherited trauma and the burden that said trauma imposes on one's life and choices.

Lorn takes the same approach to objects. In the opening chapters, we come across several items. These objects appear throughout the novel to ramp tension. Think Chekhov's Gun. They complicate situations and introduce mystery. A day after finishing the book, there are still mysteries I've yet to solve. There is a pair of underwear whose owner I am still trying to identify.

Lorn makes the reoccurrence of each object feel meaningful, creating a satisfying payoff.

Voice of a storyteller

While the book remains in the third person, the narrator has a definite presence in the story. The narrative voice speaks in a conversational, colloquial manner, inserting memorable phrases. I love this style of writing. One which substitutes a dry "author voice" for something that mirrors the way we tell stories in our own lives. I found myself fully engaged throughout my reading as though I were sitting in the presence of an experienced storyteller.

As the story bears some Dante parallels, I found the line about beating nine levels of hell out of someone to be a nice nod to this motif. There was a moment where James rolled his eyes and saw his thoughts, none of which were good, which was a beautiful and creative line.

Violence occurs in brief and sudden moments, reminiscent of a David Joy novel or a Nicholas Refn film. Each time I encountered violence, it kept me on my toes. The novel succeeds in creating a consistent feeling of dread and discomfort. But, at the same time, Lorn approaches difficult topics with empathy and clarity.

Summary

South of Here stands as a considerable accomplishment. Lorn seems to draw inspiration from David Joy, Jesmyn Ward, and even a bit from Chuck Palahniuk. One should not overlook the attention to the writing craft on display here. This novel is a thematically rich and thoroughly entertaining work of grit lit that demonstrates Lorn's potent literary abilities.

[Kim Napolitano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Lorn can write an amazing story featuring the most repulsive people and still give you feels. He’s one of my favorite authors! He is a take no prisoners type of author and I totally dig it!

James has lost his job and apartment and forced to move back with his father to the trailer park. James doesn’t want to be there, his father was a convicted pedofile. Matter a fact the whole trailer park of residents are when they have been released from jail so it’s a remote dumping ground for the worse of the worse.

James needs to make a plan to get his life in order. He doesn’t want to know anymore about these people, south of here.

We are in the understanding that both his father and deceased mother are convicted pedofiles but unsure if James was a direct victim in his childhood but attempts were made. The whole situation fuels his anger and despair even breathing the same air as these monsters here but he needs allies to survive and get out of there.

No spoilers, it’s a novella. It’s a difficult one to read and I’d heed Mr. Lorn’s warning that it can be quite graphic. No one is redeemable here, it’s a snapshot of a horrible world we don’t want to see or know about but the author has a way to create characters that almost... almost.. make you feel sorry for them on some level? It’s hard to explain.

The ending killed me but I think I expected no less. This is not a happy book but it’s by Ed Lorn and that alone makes all the difference. Let me know what you think!

[J.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first Lorn book in a while that I've been able to finish. Quite an intro, huh?

I mean no disrespect, he's a talented writer. That's the problem though, his stories pack a wallop and when you can write, those wallops tend to hit harder. I have a weak stomach for that kind of thing. So there were some books that I had to put down. In South of Here, the first few pages aren't a walk in the park, but they're so fracking weird that I didn't mind.

I must be honest, I don't remember everything about this book. It's been a while. But I've not forgotten it. I remember specific moments. Those snapshots are why I liked it. They were memorable. Memorable because amidst the craziness in the book, they had a foundation of truth. We know some of these people. Or we've been them. Or we've observed them and either empathized or shook our head in judgement.

Those moments made the book for me. It's why, ages after having experienced the book, I still remember them. I won't give specifics because I don't want to spoil it for you.

Why not a four or a five? Because books I've rated higher than a three, frankly, I remember more about. As powerful as those snapshots were, the overall story joining it could have hit me harder. It worked, the story, but it still could have hit harder.

[Don Gillette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit to being a bit put-off with the first few pages of South of Here.
That's how long it took me to see what Edward Lorn was up to here--and once the realization hit me, I was off to the races.
The book is an intertwining, interlocking stream-of-consciousness (but in the third person--how's that's possible?), horrendous, wildly hilarious, disturbing phantasmagoria. The style is decidedly Kerouacian, fusing sights, sounds, and memories--and the reader will occasionally see bursts of prose that laugh in the face of convention to put emphasis on the non-stop train of thoughts coming out of the main character (again, in the third person, and how's that possible?!?!?!).
South of Here is most unusual. I'd almost call it an experimental novel.
The experiment was successful.
Buy this book--get through the first 3 pages and it's got you until the end.

[Tracy]

I beta read - will review once I check out the final.

[Jennifer Bernardini · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in a matter of hours. I picked it up and then read until it was over. It's a short one but it's full of despicable insights into the dark underbelly of society. You know, the people we all like to believe don't exists. But they do. And in this book they have their time to shine, or should I say: to emanate a murky brown aura?

My issues with this book don't have anything to do with the subject matter, although I can see how it can be triggering and offensive to some. Be warned: this book is not for the delicate of souls nor the faint hearted. If you don't want to hear *read* about butt-doings and other violations, give this one a skip.

My issues with this book were the numerous typos. I'm a stickler for these things. I can forgive typos here and there, because we're all just humans trying our best, but when they pull me out of the narrative it becomes harder and harder for me to get into that flow where the words become pictures in my head, and isn't that what every reader is looking for?

Errors aside, I did enjoy this book.

[Laertes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutal, hard, disgusting, sad, desperate, tragic and most of all as honest as it gets - Edward Lorn's short novel 'South of Here' opens up an abyss right before you. And be sure: the abyss stares back!

As much as I enjoy Edward Lorn's work in the horror genre, I always found him to be at his strongest when it came to the purely literary parts of his novels. As in 'Bay's End' or 'Life of Dane', for example.

This one is pure literary fiction. And still, 'South of Here' is nothing but horror - the horror of being a human amongst humans, being "all bad and trying our best not to be".

The topic of sexual abuse takes an important part in many if not most of Lorn's work. This one is no exception: its main setting is a trailer park for convicted child sexual offenders of all kinds.

The language is direct, concise, poignant. It feels real. And it hurts. As always with Lorn, this book too is perfectly paced.

What remains after having finished the book is a deep sadness. Both for the characters and for us. So beware! And abandon hope, all ye enter here...

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a vile novella. Absolutely loved it. Definitely was extreme and could easily offend people. I loved trying to figure out what South Of Here was meant to be.

[Daron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really dug this. Shitty people doing shitty things. Like the narrator says at one point it’s like a zoo, and the reader gets captivated by the animals reveling in their basest instincts. I can definitely see how some people might be offended by the content, but I didn’t think it was that bad. Worth the read.

[Raisa F Romero-Beatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

South of Here was going to be 3 stars because of all the triggers, but it ended a 4 stars because, aside from all the sick fuckery that was happening, I couldn’t put the book down! The flow in the text was simple, but captivating. E, you made me cringe, and close my eyes, and close the book, and pick it up again, and many many other things! Can’t wait to read more of your work.

[Rose 'I Have Too Many Books To Read And No More Room' Barrientos · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Edward Lorn is brilliant. The story is hideous, with vile, nasty people and it leaves you feeling unclean. But it is very well written, especially since there are no likable people at all.

Having read a few of his books, I hope to have a bigger collection eventually of his books.

[Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a big fan of E’s channel for years, and get a lot of my recs through his reviews. Up until now I haven’t read anything by him, and I regret waiting this long. This story was tough to read at times because of the shady cast of terrible characters, but E manages to balance that out with humor. His writing is fantastic in this and James…Jim… Jimmy? (Read the book and this joke will make sense) was a great main character despite being an awful person which is always a sign of a great author in my opinion. The books plot moves fast and never lets up, and the ending…. Oh the ending. Needless to say this won’t be the last book of E’s that I read as I’m thoroughly impressed with his writing. Im going to end the review with a quote from the book which I never do, but I feel it will show the type of humor that’s throughout the book.

“[He was the] kind of guy that sucked all the color off a Skittle and then stared at his tongue in the mirror for an hour. Not exactly what you’d call dumb, but not the brightest knife on the Christmas tree, either.”

[Rachel Drenning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty gritty bang bang

Wow. A gritty, dark noir that kept me turning the page. Oh how I know wished it was longer. Touched on some very tough subjects, but if anyone can do that tastefully, it's Lorn. I have followed him for years with his writing and his book reviews. He is one of the book reviewers I actually pay attention to and trust. Hate to hear of him leaving the horror genre but look forward to anything he writes. Love ya E.

[Wayne Fenlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, trigger warnings galore, but for me, this book is the best thing Edward Lorn has written. I've not read everything he's done, granted, but I reckon I've read enough to justify that statement. And I know class when I see it. We all do.
First thing's first. This book is tighter than a gnat's chuff. It absolutely flies along.
Comparing it to anything, seems kind of unfair, but if I had to, I'd say it's like the love child of Haruki Murakami and Jack Ketchum. No exaggeration. That's how it feels to me. It feels fresh. It feels original. It feels like the best of Lorn.
At the end of the book he says that this is his last under this name.
There are other books coming soon, but they were written ages ago.
And you know what? I'm glad it's his last. And I mean that with the greatest respect.
Going out on a high like this, pulling everything together that made the Lorn name great, is right here.
ALL THINGS LEAD TO THE END is the name of one of his books. This one makes me think of that. It's a perfect ending.
A little thing that I spotted which I think is worth a mention. Maybe it was meant. Maybe not. But with all the times SOUTH OF HERE was said in the book, there was a little SO IT GOES in there too. I'm sure it's a cheeky nod to SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE. A little thanks you might say. A nice touch.

As uncomfortable as this book is, it's an absolute classic.
I reckon folks will be talking about this one for a while.
I also think it's worthy of rereading. There's more than meets the eye here.
There really is not enough stars. So five it is.

[Dan Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brutally honest, beautifully written, wonderfully awful characters. I couldn't look away from these trainwrecks until I finished the book (1hour 45 minutes). There are some difficult themes dealt with in here which will not be for some but the people that make it through this literary piece will be generously rewarded with an unforgettable experience. Simply outstanding!

[Bryan O'Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know what the f*** I just read...... But I enjoyed it!

Fun, quick read by Mr Lorn. I will miss seeing that name on a new book, this was a fun one to end 2020 on.

Only part I didnt care for was the ending, seemed rushed and a little empty.

[Kyle Staubs · Rating 4 out of 5]

E warns you before you start reading but man I still wasn’t prepared for it. Loved the characters and the story. E definitely delivers.