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Oxrun Station #8
The Universe of Horror Volume 2: The Dark Cry of the Moon
Charles L. Grant's town of Oxrun Station became real to horror fans (much like Lovecraft's Arkham and King's Castle Rock). While most of Grant’s stories were contemporary, he did write a trilogy of “historical” novels placed in an earlier Oxrun.
The Dark Cry of the Moon is a classic werewolf tale for fans of the old Universal and Hammer horror films. The emphasis is on character and atmosphere, not on gore. It is the second volume in Grant’s acclaimed “historical horror” trilogy.
The Dark Cry of the Moon is a classic werewolf tale for fans of the old Universal and Hammer horror films. The emphasis is on character and atmosphere, not on gore. It is the second volume in Grant’s acclaimed “historical horror” trilogy.
- GenresHorrorFictionWerewolves
136 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1985
10 people are currently reading
218 people want to read
About the author
Charles L. Grant
309 books263 followersCharles Lewis Grant was a novelist and short story writer specializing in what he called "dark fantasy" and "quiet horror." He also wrote under the pseudonyms of Geoffrey Marsh, Lionel Fenn, Simon Lake, Felicia Andrews, and Deborah Lewis.
Grant won a World Fantasy Award for his novella collection Nightmare Seasons, a Nebula Award in 1976 for his short story "A Crowd of Shadows", and another Nebula Award in 1978 for his novella "A Glow of Candles, a Unicorn's Eye," the latter telling of an actor's dilemma in a post-literate future. Grant also edited the award winning Shadows anthology, running eleven volumes from 1978-1991. Contributors include Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, R.A. Lafferty, Avram Davidson, and Steve Rasnic and Melanie Tem. Grant was a former Executive Secretary and Eastern Regional Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and president of the Horror Writers Association.
Grant won a World Fantasy Award for his novella collection Nightmare Seasons, a Nebula Award in 1976 for his short story "A Crowd of Shadows", and another Nebula Award in 1978 for his novella "A Glow of Candles, a Unicorn's Eye," the latter telling of an actor's dilemma in a post-literate future. Grant also edited the award winning Shadows anthology, running eleven volumes from 1978-1991. Contributors include Stephen King, Ramsey Campbell, R.A. Lafferty, Avram Davidson, and Steve Rasnic and Melanie Tem. Grant was a former Executive Secretary and Eastern Regional Director of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and president of the Horror Writers Association.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 29, 2016
Like The Soft Whisper of the Dead, The Dark Cry of the Moon doesn't bring anything new to the werewolf tale we all know, but Grant isn't trying to break new ground here. He's taking the classic werewolf tale -- mysterious deaths, howling wolves, servants from the old country who know what's happening but won't tell the new world people about it until they've hemmed and hawed and dropped hints about it for about half of the story -- and dropping it into his town of Oxrun Station in the 1800s. But his retelling is a good one, thanks in part to his skills at characterization and atmosphere.
I think the reason this book and The Soft Whisper of the Dead appeal to me more than Grant's other novels is because he steps away from having a singular point of view in the novel, and brings in multiple characters with whom we interact. Previously, he established his point-of-view character at the start of the book and never veered from that viewpoint; in these last two books, he allows other characters to offer their perspectives. It allows for different responses to the same events, and since horror is about coming face-to-face with the things that scare us, we get more exposure to such things.
The heart of any werewolf story is "Who is it?", and Grant does an admirable job of carrying out that thread. There's more than one person to suspect of being the werewolf, but Grant throws in enough red herrings to keep you guessing. I was somewhat disappointed to see that I had guessed who the werewolf really was, since the prime suspects seemed far too obvious, and it wasn't hard to trace through the rest of the events to figure out who the werewolf was. (It probably doesn't hurt that I have about 30 games of Werewolf under my belt, too.)
I was surprised to see that this novel actually takes place before The Soft Whisper of the Dead. I'm not sure why Grant chose to take a step backward in time in this case (all of the other Oxrun Station books were written and published in chronological order), but it was fun seeing Grant go in the other direction for a change. If nothing else, it was neat to see Lucas Stockton when he first became Chief of Police.
I liked this book as well as I did The Soft Whisper of the Dead. It ended a bit more abruptly, which I've somewhat grown to expect, but it also ended with the appropriate touch of dread, of knowing that the evil might still lurk in the town of Oxrun Dead, biding its time to reveal itself once again. I'm looking forward to seeing how The Long Night of the Grave will wrap up this series of books.
I think the reason this book and The Soft Whisper of the Dead appeal to me more than Grant's other novels is because he steps away from having a singular point of view in the novel, and brings in multiple characters with whom we interact. Previously, he established his point-of-view character at the start of the book and never veered from that viewpoint; in these last two books, he allows other characters to offer their perspectives. It allows for different responses to the same events, and since horror is about coming face-to-face with the things that scare us, we get more exposure to such things.
The heart of any werewolf story is "Who is it?", and Grant does an admirable job of carrying out that thread. There's more than one person to suspect of being the werewolf, but Grant throws in enough red herrings to keep you guessing. I was somewhat disappointed to see that I had guessed who the werewolf really was, since the prime suspects seemed far too obvious, and it wasn't hard to trace through the rest of the events to figure out who the werewolf was. (It probably doesn't hurt that I have about 30 games of Werewolf under my belt, too.)
I was surprised to see that this novel actually takes place before The Soft Whisper of the Dead. I'm not sure why Grant chose to take a step backward in time in this case (all of the other Oxrun Station books were written and published in chronological order), but it was fun seeing Grant go in the other direction for a change. If nothing else, it was neat to see Lucas Stockton when he first became Chief of Police.
I liked this book as well as I did The Soft Whisper of the Dead. It ended a bit more abruptly, which I've somewhat grown to expect, but it also ended with the appropriate touch of dread, of knowing that the evil might still lurk in the town of Oxrun Dead, biding its time to reveal itself once again. I'm looking forward to seeing how The Long Night of the Grave will wrap up this series of books.
July 17, 2024
The second in Charles L Grant’s “Ye Olde Oxrun Station” trilogy that were written for no other reason than to transport the old Universal Monsters into his fictional New England town. It’s another beautiful love letter to Universal and Hammer gothic fun, and works as a prequel to the first. ‘Soft Whisper of the Dead’ ends on a bit of a cliffhanger (an incredibly subtle one that it took me about 3 times rereading to finally grasp the implication), so I wondered if the trilogy may be the first Oxrun Station books to flow like a more traditional series, but alas. This one follows the father of ‘Soft Whispers’s Ned Stockton who appeared as a minor character in the former. I wonder if the third (about a Mummy and, from what I’ve seen, generally the least-liked of this odd little trilogy) will go even further back or be tied at all to these two.
In some ways ‘Dark Cry of the Moon’ is more satisfying than the one that came before, and in some ways a little less. There is more of a narrative compulsion to this than the first, which just reveled in playing with Hammer toys in an Oxrun sandbox. There’s a mystery element at play here (always cool for werewolf fiction), where the reader is fairly certain the werewolf will turn out to be one of two mysterious side characters, whereas with ‘Soft Whisper…’ you know who the evil forces are as soon as they step off the train on page one.
Plot hasn’t been the most central focus of Grant’s work so far in my experience, so this was a bit of a neat surprise. The mystery is engaging, and the action is cool and well-written, but I feel like there is less of that devotion to atmosphere that I’ve come to know and love from his work. The first book had several scenes that legitimately creeped me out, whereas I cannot say the same for this one.
This is an odd critique, because I wouldn’t necessarily call the characters from the first book “great”, as they were stock archetypes who filled their roles well, but the characters here seem a little…less? It’s almost like they exist here only to serve the narrative, and makes me realize that the characters from the vampire book before did in fact add a little extra. There seemed to be a little more internal struggle with them that there was to these guys and gals.
Also slightly ruffling, some of the descriptions here are a little goofy and feel pretentious in a way they didn’t before. If I had to read the phrase “darkbright amber” one more time, I was gonna be annoyed.
All that said, these books were written specifically to scratch an itch Grant had, to make the beloved monsters from his childhood scary again. I have that same itch, and I love these things.
In some ways ‘Dark Cry of the Moon’ is more satisfying than the one that came before, and in some ways a little less. There is more of a narrative compulsion to this than the first, which just reveled in playing with Hammer toys in an Oxrun sandbox. There’s a mystery element at play here (always cool for werewolf fiction), where the reader is fairly certain the werewolf will turn out to be one of two mysterious side characters, whereas with ‘Soft Whisper…’ you know who the evil forces are as soon as they step off the train on page one.
Plot hasn’t been the most central focus of Grant’s work so far in my experience, so this was a bit of a neat surprise. The mystery is engaging, and the action is cool and well-written, but I feel like there is less of that devotion to atmosphere that I’ve come to know and love from his work. The first book had several scenes that legitimately creeped me out, whereas I cannot say the same for this one.
This is an odd critique, because I wouldn’t necessarily call the characters from the first book “great”, as they were stock archetypes who filled their roles well, but the characters here seem a little…less? It’s almost like they exist here only to serve the narrative, and makes me realize that the characters from the vampire book before did in fact add a little extra. There seemed to be a little more internal struggle with them that there was to these guys and gals.
Also slightly ruffling, some of the descriptions here are a little goofy and feel pretentious in a way they didn’t before. If I had to read the phrase “darkbright amber” one more time, I was gonna be annoyed.
All that said, these books were written specifically to scratch an itch Grant had, to make the beloved monsters from his childhood scary again. I have that same itch, and I love these things.
October 18, 2022
Werewolf story going for "classic monster movie" vibes instead ends up generic and boring.
May 15, 2019
Fun werewolf story that felt like an old Universal monster movie but with just slightly more sex and blood. The book was a really quick read and while the plot held very few surprises, it was a quite enjoyable read if you're a fan of classic monster fare. Recommended!
February 18, 2012
A fun, fast read. Some of the reviewers have complained about the quick climax/resolution, but I'll always give room for Charles Grant's beautiful prose. And, again with the haunting "it's not really over" ending...
Of course, things are never exactly OVER in Oxrun Station...
Of course, things are never exactly OVER in Oxrun Station...
May 30, 2008
I am in the middle of this book. I have not found anything fantastic about this book. It is supposed to be a horror and there isn't much horrific about it.
November 2, 2014
A old school, universal horror style werewolf story, enjoyable if you like your horror more understated.
February 4, 2026
A fun read. This is the second installment of the “classic Horror” trilogy by Charles L. Grant. Set in his fictional town of Oxrun Station, this tale is a prequel to “The Soft Whispers of the Dead” and focuses on newly appointed chief Lucas Stockton, the father of the first book’s protagonist,as he investigates a string of murders in the town in the year 1862 ish.
A werewolf is a foot and adventure ensues. I loved this book. It’s much better than first good, which I liked but was a by the numbers vampire story. This feels like a Universal Horror movie. The town feels lived in, I liked the little eater eggs and callbacks to the first book. The story was basic but has a cool ending. I’m eager to read the concluding installment “The Long Night of the Grave.”
A werewolf is a foot and adventure ensues. I loved this book. It’s much better than first good, which I liked but was a by the numbers vampire story. This feels like a Universal Horror movie. The town feels lived in, I liked the little eater eggs and callbacks to the first book. The story was basic but has a cool ending. I’m eager to read the concluding installment “The Long Night of the Grave.”
July 27, 2022
Grant, Charles L - The Dark Cry Of The Moon
Part of a trilogy of horrors visiting Grant’s favorite locale, Oxrun Station.
In this outing, wolves descend. Or rather, wolf. The breed that lopes about under the full moon.
With Grant, deaths are invariably offstage and understated. Ditto erotic gropings.
(The clutch of Splatter Kids had arrived at this time [Ketchum, Skipp, Laymon, Schow, et al] and Grant was considered old-fashioned.)
Characters fall into potential monsters, likely victims, heroes and wannabees.
Professionally done, elements feel formulaic.
The narrative races along making this a quick read.
Part of a trilogy of horrors visiting Grant’s favorite locale, Oxrun Station.
In this outing, wolves descend. Or rather, wolf. The breed that lopes about under the full moon.
With Grant, deaths are invariably offstage and understated. Ditto erotic gropings.
(The clutch of Splatter Kids had arrived at this time [Ketchum, Skipp, Laymon, Schow, et al] and Grant was considered old-fashioned.)
Characters fall into potential monsters, likely victims, heroes and wannabees.
Professionally done, elements feel formulaic.
The narrative races along making this a quick read.
January 31, 2025
The Dark Cry of the Moon opens in the typical Charles L. Grant manner: hushed expectancy, with seasonal weather corresponding to interior character and its psychology. The tripping step-down of the last three paragraphs serves to accelerate a reader's entry into the story.
A werewolf stalks Oxrun Station. Fortunately for newly appointed chief constable Lucas Stockton, his housekeeper Maria Andropayous is a refugee from the old world. And when her wolfsbane blooms, she is able to tell her employer his community faces no mere timber wolf.
A werewolf stalks Oxrun Station. Fortunately for newly appointed chief constable Lucas Stockton, his housekeeper Maria Andropayous is a refugee from the old world. And when her wolfsbane blooms, she is able to tell her employer his community faces no mere timber wolf.
May 1, 2024
Grant Does it Again!
Grant Does it again!
His Oxrun Station, and his characters within . . . this is the kind of horror you read with the lights turned low, snuggled under the covers, listening to the distant thunder and the rain pelting the windows.
Was that a scratching on the other side of the wall?
Grant Does it again!
His Oxrun Station, and his characters within . . . this is the kind of horror you read with the lights turned low, snuggled under the covers, listening to the distant thunder and the rain pelting the windows.
Was that a scratching on the other side of the wall?
June 3, 2023
Good story keeping with the same classic horror story vibe as the first book. I did feel like this should have been the 1st book in this series instead of the second as many of the characters appeared in the 1st book much older. Audio narration was well done. Overall, I liked the book
September 17, 2023
Aoooooo werewolf of Oxrun
December 11, 2023
This, the second of the Oxrun monsters trilogy, was a great werewolf novel, very much in the universal monster spirit
December 28, 2025
My first Charles L. Grant. A fast paced and easy to read werewolf story. It was pretty much what I was expecting and looking for. A solid 3 star creature feature.
June 7, 2014
Liked this one almost as much as the first in the trilogy. It has that same wonderful eerie, gothic atmosphere that you'd expect and well rounded believable characters that hold your interest well enough. I found this second book a little slower going to start with, but it soon gets into it's stride and although it certainly doesn't hurtle to it's conclusion, it saunters quite nicely to a satisfactory ending. I like the open-ended hint at something more, something lingering that leaves you wondering if that's really it, or if we've only been led to believe it's over, but really...
I'll take great pleasure in diving straight into the third in this trilogy now, and it's one I'm particularly looking forward to. The Long Night of the Grave. Who doesn't love Mummies?
Great novel. Docked one star for the slower build up. Still a great novel though.
I'll take great pleasure in diving straight into the third in this trilogy now, and it's one I'm particularly looking forward to. The Long Night of the Grave. Who doesn't love Mummies?
Great novel. Docked one star for the slower build up. Still a great novel though.
April 15, 2015
Werewolves are by far my favorite out of the monsters that we've created. There's just something about a human being transformed into a beast that's just awesome. This book is really more suspense than horror and we see the werewolf only briefly. What really attracted to the book was the writing styles of Grant as well as the book's twist. If your looking for a simple read and a small but fun adventure this book is for you.
October 17, 2014
I really liked this book. Short, well paced, well written. Doesn't cover any new ground if you're experienced with Werewolf fiction, but it is a lot of fun if you like these kinds of stories. I found it a very easy book to like, and I got suckered by it, pegging the wrong person as the werewolf, just like everybody else in the book! This is one of those old monster movies in novel form, and I think it is a lot of fun, with some good writing and likeable characters.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews