The emphasis on the natural world and the agricultural lives of the people of Abbotsford is welded to the mythic and mysterious subject of the wind and the woodland. Again, Caselberg’s flip of perspective moves us away from this being a horror story and delivers a touch of comedy in the aftermath, as the storyteller lingers over the events. The ending, when it comes, is for the most part, the expected inexorable conclusion.

Both narratives reinforce the mythical returning menace of the story, but there is a lack of visceral connection in comparison to Holdstock and Kilworth’s The Ragthorn, or the aforementioned Mythago Wood. The initial intimacy of Gerry’s burgeoning relationship with Amanda is communicated well, as is the contrasting backstory of Ivy’s relationship with her late husband Alf and how she learned from her mother, her grandmother and others about what the mysteries of Abbotsford entail. The third person writing of the work and the switch between two character perspectives, Ivy and Gerry, does dilute the building claustrophobia of the situation. They act out of necessity, knowing the consequences of the situation they are trapped in from the writings, memories and stories passed down to them as well as their own experiences. We quickly get a sense that these people have baggage associated with what is to come with the wind. Ivy’s shop is described as an extension of her personality, Tom’s muddy boots are an extension of his.

This has a benefit in that it disguises the direction of the story with detail and gives a detailed image of the characters. Gerry’s single status is also a concern and gradually through flashback and switching perspectives, we learn all is not right in this little community.Ĭaselberg’s prose is initially quite thick with exposition, something of a surprise for a seventy-five-page novella. As he’s settling in, a strange wind springs up, causing concern amongst the locals. Gerry has recently moved to the isolated village of Abbotsford to become the town’s vet. There are shades of Mythago Wood and The Wickerman in Caselberg’s story. The Wind by Jay Caselberg launches straight into the kind of folk horror/ weird fiction premise that seems to emerge from a particular sense of British society. Newcon Press’ second novella series is a beautiful collection of four books.

Cottingley by Alison Littlewood