Book Review: Garth Marenghi’s TerrorTome
Genre: Horror Comedy
Age: Adult
Format: Audiobook
Garth Marenghi, author, narrator, dreamweaver, Master of the Dark Arts, narrates Garth Marenghi’s TerrorTome, a work of actual, literal genius that takes you inside his twisted, ever-dark mind.
Nick Steen thinks his cursed typewriter will be the answer to all his troubles, but instead finds his troubles increasing exponentially as he is sucked into the typewriter by Type-Face, and the hellish vision in his horror writer’s mind are unleashed for real. Nick sets about tracking down and destroying his own creations, alongside Nick’s editor, the incredibly strong female character, Roz, because Marenghi has evolved past his previous portrayals of women and has given us someone we ladies can all relate to – an independent career woman who is obsessed with shoes and keeps getting kidnapped by various entities.
In Volumes 2 and 3, Nick and Roz face down with serial killer Nelson Strain, before Nick finds his life is being influenced and possibly seen and heard but only at plot relevant times by his dreaded Dark Half Third.
This book is brilliant. If you’re well versed in horror, if you’re familiar with more pulp-type horror, 80s era paperbacks, or generally have been reading the genre at any point in the last four decades, there will be something in here you recognise. Garth Marenghi is perhaps best known for the brilliant Darkplace, a TV series about a hospital with all sorts of strange goings-on. It was a send up, and TerrorTome follows in that tradition, including the way horror writers often use, as their main characters, horror writers. Write what you know, and all that. Nick Steen is an excellent character to follow through these three tales of terror, and I especially found myself chuckling (a lot!) at his comments about Roz and her editing.
This was also made all the better by the audio version, read by Garth Marenghi himself, and there were times I had to pause just to let the joke sink in and have a good laugh. Honestly, if you’re a fan of horror, but aware of the pitfalls often found in the genre, you will get so, so much out of this. It’s brilliantly witty and clearly written by someone with a deep, deep love of horror itself. I really could go on, but I’d strongly suggest you get the audio version of this and listen to it yourself.
Review by Elle Turpitt
Twitter: @elleturpitt
Bluesky: @elleturpitt.bsky.social
www.elleturpittediting.com
I purchased this book with an Audible credit.
