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150th out of 637 books
—
634 voters
Curfew
by
Phil Rickman
On the border between England and Wales lies the tiny town of Crybbe, not picturesque enough for the tourist trade, quietly sliding into decay. Max Goff means to change all that. Goff has made millions in the record business, but his heart is in New Age philosophy. He has learned that Crybbe was once a spiritual center of sorts, surrounded by ancient standing stones that w...more
Paperback, 625 pages
Published
August 1st 1994
by Berkley
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Phil Rickman's first novel takes on the clash of romanticized olde Englande, New Age hocus-pocus, the Village Green versus the terminally conservative countryside. A billionaire record company owner chooses the forgotten border town of Crybbe as a center of New Age earth magic, obviously a future tourist mecca, recruiting and bankrolling an assortment of believers, pagans, and cranks. The plan is to restore the ancient standing stones destroyed by the locals, which were supposedly erected along...more
Love This Author!
"In the centre of the town, patches of night gathered like damp about the roots of timber-framed buildings. They'd been turned into shops now, and offices and flats, but they still shambled around the square like sad old drunks.
Puddles of night stained the boots of Jack Preece..."
How can you pick up a book that starts out with prose like that and not be immediately hooked by the writing?! Phil Rickman writes with a lyrical descriptive voice, and at the same time captures the ver...more
"In the centre of the town, patches of night gathered like damp about the roots of timber-framed buildings. They'd been turned into shops now, and offices and flats, but they still shambled around the square like sad old drunks.
Puddles of night stained the boots of Jack Preece..."
How can you pick up a book that starts out with prose like that and not be immediately hooked by the writing?! Phil Rickman writes with a lyrical descriptive voice, and at the same time captures the ver...more
As with all of Rickman's novels, his ability to pull the reader into the landscape, and show it to you from the diverse views of the various cultures that inhabit it is wonderful. Crybbe seen from the POV of its villagers, its newly arrived new-agers, its priests, its ghosts. As a writer, if you ever want a lesson on how to write the same place from radically different perspectives, you can do no better than to learn from Rickman. And as with all Rickman's novels, he shows a deft hand at writing...more
Crybbe is an ancient village, not quite English and not quite Welsh, in which night seems to fall extra early. And each evening, after dark, one of the men of the Preece family must ring the curfew bell at the church, exactly 100 times. The villagers are the introverted, heads down type, and when a millionaire record producer barges in with plans to renovate the mysterious and decrepit old manor house and make a New Age center of Crybbe, they are not well pleased. Author Rickman, best known in A...more
I don't generally read thrillers/horror etc but was drawn to Phil Rickman's work by The Bones of Avalon, set early in the reign of Elizabeth I. As I enjoyed that hugely and admire Mr Rickman's flawless writing style I decided to give his other work ago. Curfew is very different to The Bones of Avalon, set at the end of the last century and superbly told.
Now, it might be because I am new to supernatural but I found it totally horrifying, I'm sure those hardened to the genre wouldn't. I loved the...more
Now, it might be because I am new to supernatural but I found it totally horrifying, I'm sure those hardened to the genre wouldn't. I loved the...more
Curfew (or Crybbe in the UK) is one of Phil Rickman's earlier works. Because it is closer to Horror than the Merrily Watkins series, Curfew has a nasty quality that the Merrilys lack. I really wanted to be reading another Merrily, and I was rather cross until I get into the book. Once Joe Powys appears (Part II, I think) the book begins running on all cylinders, and is ultimately rewarding and satisfying. Add genuinely creepy AND the introduction of Gomer Parry, and we have a winner.
I absolutely loved CURFEW. It's been awhile since I've read a horror novel, and this one was perfect! The characterization was wonderful, and the storyline was great. The bell ringing in a church is a small village signals a curfew that has been ongoing for centuries. The old standing stones which had once been there have long since gone. Then a new-age group begins to move into the small town because of being given free homes by millionare Max Goff. Strange things begin to occur, and so the sto...more
Halfway through this, I was going to call it quits. But after reading enough positive reviews at Amazon, I decided to bite the bullet and stick it through to the end.
This novel is over 600 pages, and it really felt like it.
I should say that once I decided to plow through the 300s, I was quite glad I did. Things started to get very interesting, and the creep factor was getting there.
All in all, I guess I'm glad I saw it through to the end. It was a terrific setting, a quaint Welsh village with Ne...more
This novel is over 600 pages, and it really felt like it.
I should say that once I decided to plow through the 300s, I was quite glad I did. Things started to get very interesting, and the creep factor was getting there.
All in all, I guess I'm glad I saw it through to the end. It was a terrific setting, a quaint Welsh village with Ne...more
This had a lot going for it
This sure is a whopper, but for those who don't mind dragging out their creepfests and getting that tingle on the back of their neck for days and days, "Curfew" is worth it. This tale of supernatural goings-on in Wales generally is careful not to go over the top but still keeps things interesting (3.5 stars).
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Great book! If you like Stephen King's books, you'll enjoy this one. Not as much horror, but the tension keeps building and you have to read it to the end. The town is a real character and the people's reaction to old history and superstition is very well drawn. Great writer, great story. The only negative, a bit too long at 498 pages.
An entertaining read. Takes place in Wales...lots of supernatural stuff. It got a little wordy toward the end, so I can't give it a full 5 stars, but all in all, very enjoyable.
I loved Rickman's writing style and the subject matter was just spooky enough to keep me reading for hours. If you like Stephen King, you'll like this book.
starts a little slow but builds nidely. takes the mickey out of new age occultism. great sense of place.
OMG GOOD!!! So creepy and beautiful. Love love loved it.
I just couldn't get into the story. After 200 pages I quit trying.
scary. a little slow at first...
Way to slow.
Not sure what to say about this book except that I really enjoyed this book. It was very long, and up until half way through the book I was wondering, what was the use in finishing. But... I'm happy I finished the book. I enjoyed. I recommend this book to people who like a good haunting story. I felt like I was seriously in the town of Crybbe. The author painted a great picture of this long forgotten town that wants to stay forgotten.
again, one I read years ago but could only remember a feeling from it. really enjoyed reading it again. a brilliant first book from Phil Rickman.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a great creepy factor which is unusual in this day and age of blood and guts books/movies. The story was good, even if a bit slow moving. Definitely a book worth sticking with in the slow parts.
Dec 07, 2008
Ivy
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery,
2008-books-read
I didn’t finish this book…I just could not get into it…don’t know if it is the book or the mood I am in but it just didn’t work for me…
I love Phil Rickman's books. I like the setting and supernatural happenings mixed with some history. I enjoy the dialog and language. I also like that the novels end where it hasn't been proved or disproved that something supernatural took place. I love the not knowing.
This was one of my favorite of his books.
This was one of my favorite of his books.
Definitely more of a straightforward setup than "December" by the same author, though it hits many of the same bases (rock music/supernatural events in Wales). The book is a bit long, but there is a really excellent build up of tension and menace throughout. The ending is a bit of a letdown, sadly.
Not a bad book but way too long! It kept going and going and going and going and going. It may have been five stars if 100 to 200 of the 492 pages were edited out. I have no problem with long books if the material is important. Everything tied together
wonderful thriller with supernatural twist. liked this book better than Candlenight -my first Rickman book. welsh undertones a bit heavier in this story than others, so book required more concentration; but still well worth the read.
Dark, supernatural tale of a town which can't escape from it's past, but has found a way of dealing with it until it becomes a magnet for incoming new-agers. Atmospheric writing and beautifully portrayed characters.
A new age horror story on the England/Wales border. A good read with a few twists to it. Perhaps not as polished as the Merrily Watkins series but good to see Gomer Parry (Plant Hire) here too.
A new author that I'm looking forward to following!
Jan 05, 2008
Lisa Greer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
mystery/thriller lovers
Shelves:
horror
This one will curl your hair. It's a stand alone about a village with a big secret. If you like creepy atmosphere and novels set in Wales, you will love this one.
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aka Will Kingdom, Thom Madley.
Phil Rickman, born in Lancashire, has won awards for his TV and radio journalism. After five acclaimed novels, he introduced the fascinating Merrily Watkins series with The Wine of Angels. He is married and lives on the Welsh Border.
More about Phil Rickman...
Phil Rickman, born in Lancashire, has won awards for his TV and radio journalism. After five acclaimed novels, he introduced the fascinating Merrily Watkins series with The Wine of Angels. He is married and lives on the Welsh Border.
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