The Horror Hoser: Richard Gavin Brings the Twisted Literary Horror in Grotesquerie

Grotesquerie was released September 1st 2020 from Undertow Publications. 

For fans of: John Langan, Thomas Ligotti, Literary Horror

In his new collection of 16 stories of the macabre, grandmaster of the grotesque Richard Gavin terrifies readers with a unique brand of literary horror. In Grotesquerie, Gavin uses vague endings masterfully, capitalizing on the fact that whatever a horror reader can imagine in their own head will be personally more terrifying than any specific horror the author can unleash. Like when your mother says, “If you don’t listen to me, you won’t like what happens next!” 

Where many Canadian authors try to make their locations vague to protect themselves from alienating American readers, Gavin holds no pretension of Americanism. Many of the stories are rooted in Canadian settings, which was a breath of fresh air as a Canadian reader. 

The stories in Grotesquerie run the gamut of subgenres, from creature-features to human monsters to existential crises, and everything in between. The standout story in Grotesquerie was “Scold’s Bridle”, an original story to this collection. The story centres around a cash-strapped blacksmith, who contemplates his own morals and whether or not he should craft a medieval torture device for a local History teacher. I can’t say much else without spoiling the story, other than the fact that I haven’t felt the need to wretch so badly after reading a story since Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door (and that’s a compliment!). 

The collection opens with a quote about neutering horrors by bringing them to light. Gavin certainly brings these abominable creations to light, but in doing so, they lose none of their grotesqueness. Though not every story in the collection lands perfectly, there is certainly something for everyone in Grotesquerie. 

Purchase from Undertow Publications

Rating: 4 Mummified Babies out of 5

Review by Ian A. Bain

Twitter: @bainwrites 

Blog: ianabain@wordpress.com

 I received a paperback copy from the publisher for review consideration.