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The Pet
Teenagers are being slaughtered by the Howler, a serial killer who stops in small towns just long enough to kill, just long enough to tear apart a family and a community. When he strikes in Ashford, the town reacts-setting limits on teens' activities, monitoring who goes where-and parents become paranoid.
Seventeen-year-old Don Boyd doesn't need the grief. He's already under siege-he's got family trouble, girl trouble, trouble with his high school classes and trouble with the jocks who rule the school. Surely the Howler will kill someone else, somewhere else, and then Don can go back to trying to escape notice.
But the Howler likes Ashford. And one frosty autumn night, the Howler chooses Don as his next victim. The attack is swift-but it doesn't go as planned. Suddenly the killer and the boy are surrounded by an unnatural mist, by green fire, by the sound of iron striking iron.
And then the real horror begins.
Seventeen-year-old Don Boyd doesn't need the grief. He's already under siege-he's got family trouble, girl trouble, trouble with his high school classes and trouble with the jocks who rule the school. Surely the Howler will kill someone else, somewhere else, and then Don can go back to trying to escape notice.
But the Howler likes Ashford. And one frosty autumn night, the Howler chooses Don as his next victim. The attack is swift-but it doesn't go as planned. Suddenly the killer and the boy are surrounded by an unnatural mist, by green fire, by the sound of iron striking iron.
And then the real horror begins.
343 pages, Paperback
Published May 15, 1987
9 people are currently reading
821 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 - 30 of 63 reviews
October 14, 2020
This is a dark tale of a teenage boy whose teenage angst manifests itself in the form of a nightmarish horse that springs to life from a poster on his bedroom wall and then swiftly goes out on a killing spree.
Wait, WHAT?!
Yes, the premise is as daft as it sounds and the allegory is shovelled on in a less-than-subtle manner but this book isn't without entertainment value. I'd go as far as to say that, if I'd read this when I was a kid, I think I'd've loved it.
Reading as a forty five year old man, the best part of the novel for me was the portrayal of the protagonist's family situation; there's some really well-observed writing there. The author isn't afraid of depicting the darkness inside even the most outwardly-normal looking families.
I also liked how the plot does an abrupt ninety degree turn halfway through; I love it when books defy my expectations. I also liked how the protagonist is also one of the biggest antagonists.
A shame, then, that some of the dialogue seems so unnatural and that the scenes depicting the protagonist's school life are so cliché-ridden. Also, some of the reactions of some of the characters to the more bizarre elements of the book are completely unbelievable.
Overall, a book with some real strengths and some real weaknesses: 3 stars seems appropriate... maybe 3 and a half. I'm glad I read it, though; for all its faults, it's a fun read.
Wait, WHAT?!
Yes, the premise is as daft as it sounds and the allegory is shovelled on in a less-than-subtle manner but this book isn't without entertainment value. I'd go as far as to say that, if I'd read this when I was a kid, I think I'd've loved it.
Reading as a forty five year old man, the best part of the novel for me was the portrayal of the protagonist's family situation; there's some really well-observed writing there. The author isn't afraid of depicting the darkness inside even the most outwardly-normal looking families.
I also liked how the plot does an abrupt ninety degree turn halfway through; I love it when books defy my expectations. I also liked how the protagonist is also one of the biggest antagonists.
A shame, then, that some of the dialogue seems so unnatural and that the scenes depicting the protagonist's school life are so cliché-ridden. Also, some of the reactions of some of the characters to the more bizarre elements of the book are completely unbelievable.
Overall, a book with some real strengths and some real weaknesses: 3 stars seems appropriate... maybe 3 and a half. I'm glad I read it, though; for all its faults, it's a fun read.
March 2, 2023
Nicely written slow burn horror by Grant! The Pet features 17 yo Don Boyd as the main protagonist, who lives in the small town of Ashford, New Jersey. Don is not quite a loser in high school, but pretty close. His father is the principal at his school and his mom teaches art at the other high school in town. The first half of this introduces us to Don's world, e.g., his trials and tribulations as a lonely teenager, and some bloody killer in the NYC area deemed the Howler who has already killed several teenagers (and partially eaten them. ugh!). Don's only real 'friends' are his 'pets'-- posters, models and such of animals that bedeck his bedroom-- who he talks to daily. One day, however, after the Howler claimed a victim in Ashford, Don notices that one of the posters in his room seems to have changed; in fact, the horse on it seems to be slowly fading from it...
What I like about Grant is how he draws you into a story with well rounded characters within a realistic setting. in this case, you feel you know Ashford, the bullying jocks at school, Don's crush on a girl there, his pretty much asshole parents; in a word-- immersive. While the first half gives us the background, the second half takes off with the horror. I do not want to go into the plot here, spoilers and all that, but The Pet blends psychological and creature feature horror nicely. This book will not scare you, if that means keeping you up at night with the lights on and all that, and in fact reads more like a tragedy than anything else. Still, some grizzly scenes for sure and Don's angst shines through like a beacon which just gets brighter and brighter as the novel progresses. Lovely denouement as well. If you have never read Mr. Grant, this would not be a bad place to start his corpus. 4 horsy stars!!
What I like about Grant is how he draws you into a story with well rounded characters within a realistic setting. in this case, you feel you know Ashford, the bullying jocks at school, Don's crush on a girl there, his pretty much asshole parents; in a word-- immersive. While the first half gives us the background, the second half takes off with the horror. I do not want to go into the plot here, spoilers and all that, but The Pet blends psychological and creature feature horror nicely. This book will not scare you, if that means keeping you up at night with the lights on and all that, and in fact reads more like a tragedy than anything else. Still, some grizzly scenes for sure and Don's angst shines through like a beacon which just gets brighter and brighter as the novel progresses. Lovely denouement as well. If you have never read Mr. Grant, this would not be a bad place to start his corpus. 4 horsy stars!!
November 1, 2011
As usual - Goodreads reviews know NOTHING. Fabulous novel. Classic horror novel. And to all those reviewers who criticized his characterization of teenagers as being shallow and callous: HELLO? I teach them, work with them on a daily basis. There are good ones....and BAD ones. I'd Grant - as always - nailed this one perfectly...
December 21, 2013
4.5 stars, rounded up!
Grant is back with his usual style in his novel, THE PET. As is usually the case, his novels start out very slowly, the atmosphere and characters being gradually established. Once you get past the initial phase, however, the tension begins to tighten up so much so that I felt that if "someone or something" didn't snap soon, I was going to! This story had a very ominous, surreal feel throughout, that I really enjoyed. Once again, I felt that the ending was absolutely perfect in conjunction with the characters personalities and motivations. Grant has a quiet style of horror in his writing that once you get into, you can't pull yourself away from. It's time for me to start hunting down more of novels….
Recommended!
Grant is back with his usual style in his novel, THE PET. As is usually the case, his novels start out very slowly, the atmosphere and characters being gradually established. Once you get past the initial phase, however, the tension begins to tighten up so much so that I felt that if "someone or something" didn't snap soon, I was going to! This story had a very ominous, surreal feel throughout, that I really enjoyed. Once again, I felt that the ending was absolutely perfect in conjunction with the characters personalities and motivations. Grant has a quiet style of horror in his writing that once you get into, you can't pull yourself away from. It's time for me to start hunting down more of novels….
Recommended!
August 5, 2023
This was an impromptu buddy read here.
I must admit "The Pet" is a title I am not familiar with in Charles Grant's works. I looked it up, and apparently he wrote something like 8 books in the year that this came out, 1987. Man, his typewriter keys must have caught fire at some point. Greenfire, perhaps, which is the term used to describe the supernatural horse that seeks to protect a high school kid with crappy parents, crappier friends, and even crappier luck. It was a fun book, but ultimately I had a hard time catching on to the idea of a black stallion as a beast of murderous terror. I kept wanting to ride Black Beauty.
Recommended for fans.
I must admit "The Pet" is a title I am not familiar with in Charles Grant's works. I looked it up, and apparently he wrote something like 8 books in the year that this came out, 1987. Man, his typewriter keys must have caught fire at some point. Greenfire, perhaps, which is the term used to describe the supernatural horse that seeks to protect a high school kid with crappy parents, crappier friends, and even crappier luck. It was a fun book, but ultimately I had a hard time catching on to the idea of a black stallion as a beast of murderous terror. I kept wanting to ride Black Beauty.
Recommended for fans.
September 14, 2014
An incredible novel by the Master of Quiet Horror. Grant's signature style, keen sense of atmosphere and talent for creating scenes of subtle horror that will linger with you long after you've finished reading are in fine form here. The characterization is dead on and the pacing is pitch perfect. Grant was one of the best of his generation and worthy of respect.
August 12, 2023
I would say this was more a 3.5/5.0 stars for me, but I rounded down for GR. This book definitely has its faults, but I enjoyed my first foray with Charles Grant, and will definitely read some more of his.
July 24, 2015
When I first started down this road of reading all of Grant's horror fiction (just two months ago now), I had initially just wanted to read what other readers determined to be his best work. The Pet was one of the books that had the highest ratings and praise, so I've been looking forward to reading this novel.
The story is a good one, and it's pretty different from Grant's previous novels. For one, the protagonist of the story is hard to pin down. Don is a teenager who's being unfairly singled out by his teachers, parents, and classmates, enough so that he starts fantasizing about revenge. His fantasies begin to take form in reality, though not necessarily due to his own actions. He starts off as being a sympathetic character, but then he starts seeing persecution from all angles, even when it's not there, and he slowly shifts over to being an unsympathetic character, but then he regrets what he's wrought, so he becomes sympathetic again. . . . It jumps back and forth in this style, so it's hard to get a handle on the character. Are we supposed to care about him, or is he just another whiny teenager?
This isn't a criticism, necessarily; Stephen King did the same with Arnie Cunningham in Christine, to good effect, but where Arnie wound up just being one of the antagonists, Don is someone dealing with something out of his control. I actually found Don to be a more complex character than what Grant created in his previous novels. It was just difficult to figure out where the heart of the story was, since it was difficult to pin down who the protagonist really was. I would have bet that Tracey, Don's romantic interest in the story, was the one, but the focus of the story remained with Don more than anyone else.
Grant drops his atmospheric style with this novel, like he also did with Stunts (and Night Songs and The Tea Party), making me wonder if he intended for his non-Oxrun books to be more traditional horror stories. Even though the story is less atmospheric than his Oxrun Station books, there are still bits and pieces of that style peppered throughout the book:
"He liked the autumn nights, the way the air felt like thin ice on a pond, crisp and clean and ready to shatter as soon as you touched it. . . ."
And he continues to adeptly draw a vivid scene with as few words as possible. His settings are so succinctly, completely described that it makes me jealous.
I can see why this is considered to be Grant's best work (based on what I've read so far, at least). It has a good pace and plot, combines his atmosphere (such as it is) with a more traditional story, and it's engaging. The menace works well, and Grant does a good job of capturing the wavering Don feels between wanting revenge and wanting to regain control of it. I can't say for certain if I would have been able to appreciate it as well without having read all of his other fiction up to this point, though.
The story is a good one, and it's pretty different from Grant's previous novels. For one, the protagonist of the story is hard to pin down. Don is a teenager who's being unfairly singled out by his teachers, parents, and classmates, enough so that he starts fantasizing about revenge. His fantasies begin to take form in reality, though not necessarily due to his own actions. He starts off as being a sympathetic character, but then he starts seeing persecution from all angles, even when it's not there, and he slowly shifts over to being an unsympathetic character, but then he regrets what he's wrought, so he becomes sympathetic again. . . . It jumps back and forth in this style, so it's hard to get a handle on the character. Are we supposed to care about him, or is he just another whiny teenager?
This isn't a criticism, necessarily; Stephen King did the same with Arnie Cunningham in Christine, to good effect, but where Arnie wound up just being one of the antagonists, Don is someone dealing with something out of his control. I actually found Don to be a more complex character than what Grant created in his previous novels. It was just difficult to figure out where the heart of the story was, since it was difficult to pin down who the protagonist really was. I would have bet that Tracey, Don's romantic interest in the story, was the one, but the focus of the story remained with Don more than anyone else.
Grant drops his atmospheric style with this novel, like he also did with Stunts (and Night Songs and The Tea Party), making me wonder if he intended for his non-Oxrun books to be more traditional horror stories. Even though the story is less atmospheric than his Oxrun Station books, there are still bits and pieces of that style peppered throughout the book:
"He liked the autumn nights, the way the air felt like thin ice on a pond, crisp and clean and ready to shatter as soon as you touched it. . . ."
And he continues to adeptly draw a vivid scene with as few words as possible. His settings are so succinctly, completely described that it makes me jealous.
I can see why this is considered to be Grant's best work (based on what I've read so far, at least). It has a good pace and plot, combines his atmosphere (such as it is) with a more traditional story, and it's engaging. The menace works well, and Grant does a good job of capturing the wavering Don feels between wanting revenge and wanting to regain control of it. I can't say for certain if I would have been able to appreciate it as well without having read all of his other fiction up to this point, though.
June 7, 2008
Ugh. AWFUL book. Usually these kinds of stories end up being nothing more than a kind of pitiful wish-fulfillment for the author (picked-on high-schooler somehow awakens a demon in the shape of a huge black horse, which proceeds to messily kill anyone it sees as a threat to the main character). But this was worse. I absolutely HATED every one of the characters. Flat, lifeless, useless people, all of them. And the main character was the worst. I'm sure I was supposed to sympathize with his outsider status, but I ended up just wishing he would get over himself.
The book also had the standard "The End...or IS it?" ending, but the only nightmares that brought up was the idea that there could be a sequel to this piece of trash. Bleck. Argh! Pleh. Words fail me.
If I sound bitter, it's because I saw an ad for this book when I was a lonely, outsider high-schooler, but couldn't track down a copy. I found it years later and thought I'd finally tracked down a rare treasure. Silly me...
The book also had the standard "The End...or IS it?" ending, but the only nightmares that brought up was the idea that there could be a sequel to this piece of trash. Bleck. Argh! Pleh. Words fail me.
If I sound bitter, it's because I saw an ad for this book when I was a lonely, outsider high-schooler, but couldn't track down a copy. I found it years later and thought I'd finally tracked down a rare treasure. Silly me...
September 3, 2008
I had never heard of Charles L. Grant, and I have been reading horror for a long time. I came across this book when I googled "Top 100 Horror Books" and found a list, which I printed up with the hopes that it would introduce me to new authors. I picked this book of the list and am now questioning the author of the list's credibility.
First off, this is horror decaf, no where did I read that this was a young adult novel, and with the praise from Steven King and Whitley Strieber on the cover I assumed it was a regular horror novel. Now granted the picture of the horse on the cover had me leery, but I figured "The headless horseman rode a big nasty horse, what the heck." This is 100% a youth novel, probably most enjoyed by the 12-15 year old crew, not quite ready for the jump into King territory but still interested in darker reading. The gore is minimal, the profanity is mild, and though sex is discussed... it's typical teen banter about boobs and such.
Here's the short synopsis: Don is 17 and having a rough time at life in general, his Dad is the principle at his high school so he is constantly tormented, picked on and beat up by the big stereotypical jocks. Don's Mom is an art teacher who keeps herself busy doing anything other than being at home to be a mom. Don spends most of his time sitting in his room talking to pictures and models of animals he has. Then a serial killer comes to town and Don realizes that sometimes wishes do come true... just not in the way you expected.
This story has been done before a thousand times over... it's the tale of someone acquiring a supernatural protector who's a bit too protective and slightly on the homicidal side. Graham Masterton did a better job with this story in his book "Spirit." If you have never read a horror book, or watched a horror movie then you might manage to be impressed with this tale. Unfortunately, the characters are straight high school stereotypes, the adults are almost buffoonish, actions and reactions to things are completely unnatural, and the plot has gaping holes in it.
I know that people seem to love this book, but for the life of me I can't figure out why. There is nothing new here, it was far from exciting, it wasn't scary, gory, or really even that much fun. The main character - Don, is a whiny, angst-filled teen who comes across as a bit of a temperamental moron. I mean if I knew that anyone who upset me stood the chance of being trampled to death, then I think I might keep from raging about those that I love over stupid things... like the fact that they had to go home before curfew.
The biggest problem that I had was that our big nasty protector... is a horse. Granted he's a big horse... but really, horses don't scare me. In fact I find them to be rather pretty and lovable. Now a panther I could see, or a wolf or something... but not a horse. I had a lot of trouble buying into the idea of a horse traipsing about town and trampling people... even if he is a spirit horse or whatever he was (never explained so don't hold your breath on that one).
The biggest problem with the book isn't the horse... it's that this is basically a compilation of horror cliche after horror cliche with very little real meat in between our cliche's. Every scene is something you've either seen or read before, lashed together by paper thin stereotypes serving as our characters. Even the ending is a huge letdown, no big bang, no coup-de-gras, no body strewn battle ground... it's just an easily put away and wrapped up ending like a toy in a box.
As a horror reader I like to latch onto a character and want to root for them, I want to worry about them, and I want to bite my nails when they are in trouble... there was no one in here that the reader can even remotely care about much less want to root for. Oh sure you'll find someone, Tracey perhaps, but you'll pick them by default because there really isn't anyone here for the reader to care about.
Now if you are 12 and want to read a slightly scary book with not too much gore and horses included then this should be right up your alley. If you're 30 like me, and a war hardened horror reader, buy this for your 12 year old as an intro, but don't bother reading it yourself.
First off, this is horror decaf, no where did I read that this was a young adult novel, and with the praise from Steven King and Whitley Strieber on the cover I assumed it was a regular horror novel. Now granted the picture of the horse on the cover had me leery, but I figured "The headless horseman rode a big nasty horse, what the heck." This is 100% a youth novel, probably most enjoyed by the 12-15 year old crew, not quite ready for the jump into King territory but still interested in darker reading. The gore is minimal, the profanity is mild, and though sex is discussed... it's typical teen banter about boobs and such.
Here's the short synopsis: Don is 17 and having a rough time at life in general, his Dad is the principle at his high school so he is constantly tormented, picked on and beat up by the big stereotypical jocks. Don's Mom is an art teacher who keeps herself busy doing anything other than being at home to be a mom. Don spends most of his time sitting in his room talking to pictures and models of animals he has. Then a serial killer comes to town and Don realizes that sometimes wishes do come true... just not in the way you expected.
This story has been done before a thousand times over... it's the tale of someone acquiring a supernatural protector who's a bit too protective and slightly on the homicidal side. Graham Masterton did a better job with this story in his book "Spirit." If you have never read a horror book, or watched a horror movie then you might manage to be impressed with this tale. Unfortunately, the characters are straight high school stereotypes, the adults are almost buffoonish, actions and reactions to things are completely unnatural, and the plot has gaping holes in it.
I know that people seem to love this book, but for the life of me I can't figure out why. There is nothing new here, it was far from exciting, it wasn't scary, gory, or really even that much fun. The main character - Don, is a whiny, angst-filled teen who comes across as a bit of a temperamental moron. I mean if I knew that anyone who upset me stood the chance of being trampled to death, then I think I might keep from raging about those that I love over stupid things... like the fact that they had to go home before curfew.
The biggest problem that I had was that our big nasty protector... is a horse. Granted he's a big horse... but really, horses don't scare me. In fact I find them to be rather pretty and lovable. Now a panther I could see, or a wolf or something... but not a horse. I had a lot of trouble buying into the idea of a horse traipsing about town and trampling people... even if he is a spirit horse or whatever he was (never explained so don't hold your breath on that one).
The biggest problem with the book isn't the horse... it's that this is basically a compilation of horror cliche after horror cliche with very little real meat in between our cliche's. Every scene is something you've either seen or read before, lashed together by paper thin stereotypes serving as our characters. Even the ending is a huge letdown, no big bang, no coup-de-gras, no body strewn battle ground... it's just an easily put away and wrapped up ending like a toy in a box.
As a horror reader I like to latch onto a character and want to root for them, I want to worry about them, and I want to bite my nails when they are in trouble... there was no one in here that the reader can even remotely care about much less want to root for. Oh sure you'll find someone, Tracey perhaps, but you'll pick them by default because there really isn't anyone here for the reader to care about.
Now if you are 12 and want to read a slightly scary book with not too much gore and horses included then this should be right up your alley. If you're 30 like me, and a war hardened horror reader, buy this for your 12 year old as an intro, but don't bother reading it yourself.
November 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this slice of classic 80's horror.
A troubled teen, misunderstood by his asshole parents and bullied by some douche-bag teachers and jocks at his high school, finds that he has a special "friend" looking out for him.
Throw in a perverted serial killer on the loose and you've got THE PET.
Good stuff!
A troubled teen, misunderstood by his asshole parents and bullied by some douche-bag teachers and jocks at his high school, finds that he has a special "friend" looking out for him.
Throw in a perverted serial killer on the loose and you've got THE PET.
Good stuff!
November 9, 2025
A better than average 80s horror even with some problematic language/themes.
Don is truly a spoiled, maladjusted child but Jesus the adults in his life are trash. I can’t blame him for wishing fantastic animals in to existence to trample all who offend him. 🐎🐎🐎
Don is truly a spoiled, maladjusted child but Jesus the adults in his life are trash. I can’t blame him for wishing fantastic animals in to existence to trample all who offend him. 🐎🐎🐎
October 31, 2012
I've heard that this author was one that was great in the genre, so when I saw this book on one of my Goodwill trips last year (or earlier this year, I don't remember) I picked it up. Never read him before, so I didn't have any idea what to expect. Truth be told though, it didn't scare me at all. In fact, for the first half of the story or so, I didn't even know what the heck was going on. I didn't like the main character, Don. At first I did, but then he turned out to be a whiner really, and all jealous and weird and stuff. Every little thing that happened in his life that wasn't good, he went all emo. I wanted to root for him, but then every time something good would happen for him, he'd go and do something stupid and mess it up, then get all mad about it. I don't know. Really I wasn't that into it for that first half. But then in the second half it started picking up, 'terrifying' things started happening in the town, people started getting killed, and my interest was a little more piqued. But then it kinda fizzled, I don't know. It wasn't bad though, when the action was going on, chases, fights, the horse trampling people, it was good. But the main character just irritated me I think. His parents weren't very sympathetic characters either, both of them relegating Don to some back burner of importance in their lives, never listening to him, or seeming to care much. But I definitely could picture this much better in my head as a movie. When I thought of it in movie terms, it made a lot more sense, and was easier to stay focused on. Wow, I'm not saying what I really wanted to say in this review very well at all... Maybe I'll come back later and add to it. It wasn't a bad story though at all, don't get me wrong. It just didn't amaze me either. I am still interested in checking out more by this author though, and will be on the lookout for more. Just because this one didn't wow me doesn't mean I won't find one that does.
July 22, 2010
"A modern story that fits right into the 1980s. A good book!"
-Washington Post Book World
if i ever get a blurb like that, remind me to kill myself.
this book is "well-written," on a sentence level, but just plain stupid. another strangely inexplicable entry onto the jones and newman 100 best horror list.
http://home.comcast.net/~netaylor1/jo...
-Washington Post Book World
if i ever get a blurb like that, remind me to kill myself.
this book is "well-written," on a sentence level, but just plain stupid. another strangely inexplicable entry onto the jones and newman 100 best horror list.
http://home.comcast.net/~netaylor1/jo...
October 10, 2024
this is a solid 3.5, and I went back and forth with myself about whether I should round up or down, but ultimately decided to go up to a 4. The deciding factor for me was the character work in Grant's novel, which for an 80's coming of age horror novel, set in Autumn, was fairly robust and complex. Almost none of the characters is totally likeable, and while we may sympathize with some, or all of them, their various flaws are on full display, even in the case of our main protagonist, Don. In fact at times, I wasn't sure if Don was a hero or a villain. His parents are even more complicated, and while their actions throughout the novel make a certain kind of sense, I frequently found myself enraged at them, much as Don was. In terms of atmosphere, obviously that's Grant's raison d'etre, and unsurprisingly, the book has that in spades. For once an 80's horror novel cover has an image that is fully realized on the pages within! I had some minor qualms with this story, but overall it worked for me, and I look forward to more Grant in long form.
August 14, 2023
This book wasn't the most captivating yet it dug its nails in me and for that I'll give it 4 stars!
October 2, 2019
A more or less average 1980s horror novel, but Grant's fine prose and characterization do much to elevate it.
October 27, 2019
Finished this a while ago. A great atmospheric chiller from a master.
January 1, 2025
Its been a while since I have read a novel by Charles L Grant although I have read a number of his short stories. Now this book I have owned for many years and have only now got round to reading which after completing it I realise was a total disservice by me.
The story was great with true sense of menace slowly building as the world starts to fall apart around our main protagonist - true there are some truly unsavory characters here who you really cannot feel sorry for but still the fact hat none of this was planned or even wanted gives an extra level of horror as realisation sets in.
There is a lot of praise for Charles L Grant (he did after all pen a number of the X-files novels I loved turning the 90s) but I know so little about I feel I own it explore more and learn as much as I can do
The story was great with true sense of menace slowly building as the world starts to fall apart around our main protagonist - true there are some truly unsavory characters here who you really cannot feel sorry for but still the fact hat none of this was planned or even wanted gives an extra level of horror as realisation sets in.
There is a lot of praise for Charles L Grant (he did after all pen a number of the X-files novels I loved turning the 90s) but I know so little about I feel I own it explore more and learn as much as I can do
Read
April 14, 2022There will be minor spoilers in this review. so don't read past here, because I will give a brief synopsis of the story.
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A loner (teen boy) has these posters of animals that are his friends. One day, a poster comes to life... and is the horse helping him or hurting him?
A horse is an animal. with a simple brain. but when his human friend owner is distraught, the horse kills the person he's mad it. when it's a serial killer, that's cool. but not cool when a teen has an argument with his dysfunctional parents.
I can honestly say this is the first of this kind of story I've read, so it gets points for creativity. Other than that, it feels dated. I also would have enjoyed more about the serial killer. the murderer was the focal point, then abruptly, he wasn't. Overall, a decent story, but not one I would re read
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A loner (teen boy) has these posters of animals that are his friends. One day, a poster comes to life... and is the horse helping him or hurting him?
A horse is an animal. with a simple brain. but when his human friend owner is distraught, the horse kills the person he's mad it. when it's a serial killer, that's cool. but not cool when a teen has an argument with his dysfunctional parents.
I can honestly say this is the first of this kind of story I've read, so it gets points for creativity. Other than that, it feels dated. I also would have enjoyed more about the serial killer. the murderer was the focal point, then abruptly, he wasn't. Overall, a decent story, but not one I would re read
December 27, 2019
4.6 stars
The Pet and The Nestling are the apex of Charles L. Grant novels. One of kind horror novel. Totally different horror vibe. Excellent edition to any horror collection.
The Pet and The Nestling are the apex of Charles L. Grant novels. One of kind horror novel. Totally different horror vibe. Excellent edition to any horror collection.
February 28, 2022
I had an interesting, semi-frustrating experience with this one.
I read this first around 1990-1991, when I was an early teen and just getting serious about horror fiction. I graduated from Stephen King almost immediately to Clive Barker, and from there took a deep dive into the splatterpunks. Charles L. Grant was a name I'd heard (mostly through King's praise of him), and I knew he was associated with "quiet horror," a concept with which I was wholly unfamiliar at the time. I wanted to know what that meant, exactly, and I had already become accustomed to using King's endorsements as my way into discovering new authors. "The Pet" was the only Grant book that the local library had a copy of, so it's the one I read.
I remember basically liking it, but being a little bit underwhelmed. It felt like King-lite to me: misunderstood teen protagonist with a jockey best friend, bullies, femme-fatale cheerleaders, the nice-girl love interest, pervy teachers, etc.--all of it wrapped around a pretty standard supernatural revenge plot. It seemed like a riff on King's "Christine," with Donald Boyd as a thinly veiled substitute for Arnie Cunningham, and the phantasmagorical horse as a stand-in for Christine herself.
It was a breezy, engaging enough read, but it didn't convince me to dive any deeper into Grant's work. Now, thirty-some years later, I figured I ought to give him another chance. My taste has moved a bit away from pulp and splatterpunk toward the more stately horror that he's known for. And I wanted to see how "The Pet" would resonate with the grown-up me.
On the reread, I liked it both better and worse than the first time around. My overall impression remains fairly unchanged, but the the things that work are much more effective, and the things that don't are disappointing at best and cringe-inducing at worst.
First, the not-so-great:
"The Pet" leans heavily into the teen-horror tropes I mentioned above. I know this book came out in 1986 so it would be too much to expect a more modern subversion of the high-school stereotypes at play here, but I was a little surprised HOW MANY clichés the book contains. **SLIGHT SPOILERS**
The horror plot itself is fine, but it's also pretty by-the-numbers. Grant's a very good writer on a sentence-to-sentence basis, so he mostly makes it work. He knows how to build atmosphere and craft a suspenseful sequence. But he unfortunately hits the same basic note a few too many times, and it doesn't add up to nearly as much as I was hoping.
There are also a few logical foul-ups that severely tested my suspension of disbelief. In horror, I tend to believe that the rational "real world" needs to be as grounded as possible so that when the "irrational" horror is introduced, it hits with maximum impact. But Grant's "real world" is flawed. Why, after two teenagers are brutally murdered, does the school treat the deaths as an inconvenience? Why, after both murders happen in the local park, do the police not seal it off or--at the very least--put some surveillance onto it? It's like a series of violent murders where victims are literally torn to pieces is just another vaguely irritating small-town event.
Now for the better:
Like Arnie Cunningham from "Christine," Donald is a timid, almost anti-social weirdo whose dysfunctional relationship with his parents and peers have created within him a seething rage that even he doesn't recognize until it's far too late. It could be argued that this is just another high-school trope, but--where Grant glosses over the other characters--he does a deep dive here. The characterization of both Donald and his parents is exacting and precise, and the toxic dynamic between the three of them is a deeply uncomfortable experience. Norman and Joyce are not your stereotypical "abusive" parents. They don't beat Donald. Their abuse is much subtler--neglect, dismissiveness, vague derision, and more than a few acts of willful emotional sabotage. They don't understand how much they resent their strange son (as well as each other) and have no power to deal with that resentment. The result is a feedback loop of pain and recrimination, from which there seems to be no escape. Almost every action between them is fraught with the potential for damage, and way too often that damage is realized.
In truth, I HATED his parents, and through that hatred I deeply felt Donald's desire for retribution. This anchors the supernatural horror plot and elevates it beyond its particulars. And Grant never, ever lets them off the hook. Even after the book lurches into its discomfiting conclusion, I walked away with acid in my mouth.
This may be "quiet horror" (although, to be honest, it's not nearly as quiet as I remember), but it's not soft. There's a real meanness to this book that I found both repellent and darkly fascinating. I can see why Grant is such a celebrated author; when he puts his shoulder to it, he can write stuff that's more disturbing than the goriest, ookiest splatter out there. I just wish he had brought a little more narrative originality to the rest of it.
I think this is a three-and-a-half star book that I can't quite round up to four. It's worth reading, but be sure to temper your expectations. At the very least, it has piqued my interest to get into more of Grant's library. It seems most people see "The Hour of the Oxrun Dead" as his magnum opus, so I am going to have to get to that one soon.
I read this first around 1990-1991, when I was an early teen and just getting serious about horror fiction. I graduated from Stephen King almost immediately to Clive Barker, and from there took a deep dive into the splatterpunks. Charles L. Grant was a name I'd heard (mostly through King's praise of him), and I knew he was associated with "quiet horror," a concept with which I was wholly unfamiliar at the time. I wanted to know what that meant, exactly, and I had already become accustomed to using King's endorsements as my way into discovering new authors. "The Pet" was the only Grant book that the local library had a copy of, so it's the one I read.
I remember basically liking it, but being a little bit underwhelmed. It felt like King-lite to me: misunderstood teen protagonist with a jockey best friend, bullies, femme-fatale cheerleaders, the nice-girl love interest, pervy teachers, etc.--all of it wrapped around a pretty standard supernatural revenge plot. It seemed like a riff on King's "Christine," with Donald Boyd as a thinly veiled substitute for Arnie Cunningham, and the phantasmagorical horse as a stand-in for Christine herself.
It was a breezy, engaging enough read, but it didn't convince me to dive any deeper into Grant's work. Now, thirty-some years later, I figured I ought to give him another chance. My taste has moved a bit away from pulp and splatterpunk toward the more stately horror that he's known for. And I wanted to see how "The Pet" would resonate with the grown-up me.
On the reread, I liked it both better and worse than the first time around. My overall impression remains fairly unchanged, but the the things that work are much more effective, and the things that don't are disappointing at best and cringe-inducing at worst.
First, the not-so-great:
"The Pet" leans heavily into the teen-horror tropes I mentioned above. I know this book came out in 1986 so it would be too much to expect a more modern subversion of the high-school stereotypes at play here, but I was a little surprised HOW MANY clichés the book contains. **SLIGHT SPOILERS**
The horror plot itself is fine, but it's also pretty by-the-numbers. Grant's a very good writer on a sentence-to-sentence basis, so he mostly makes it work. He knows how to build atmosphere and craft a suspenseful sequence. But he unfortunately hits the same basic note a few too many times, and it doesn't add up to nearly as much as I was hoping.
There are also a few logical foul-ups that severely tested my suspension of disbelief. In horror, I tend to believe that the rational "real world" needs to be as grounded as possible so that when the "irrational" horror is introduced, it hits with maximum impact. But Grant's "real world" is flawed. Why, after two teenagers are brutally murdered, does the school treat the deaths as an inconvenience? Why, after both murders happen in the local park, do the police not seal it off or--at the very least--put some surveillance onto it? It's like a series of violent murders where victims are literally torn to pieces is just another vaguely irritating small-town event.
Now for the better:
Like Arnie Cunningham from "Christine," Donald is a timid, almost anti-social weirdo whose dysfunctional relationship with his parents and peers have created within him a seething rage that even he doesn't recognize until it's far too late. It could be argued that this is just another high-school trope, but--where Grant glosses over the other characters--he does a deep dive here. The characterization of both Donald and his parents is exacting and precise, and the toxic dynamic between the three of them is a deeply uncomfortable experience. Norman and Joyce are not your stereotypical "abusive" parents. They don't beat Donald. Their abuse is much subtler--neglect, dismissiveness, vague derision, and more than a few acts of willful emotional sabotage. They don't understand how much they resent their strange son (as well as each other) and have no power to deal with that resentment. The result is a feedback loop of pain and recrimination, from which there seems to be no escape. Almost every action between them is fraught with the potential for damage, and way too often that damage is realized.
In truth, I HATED his parents, and through that hatred I deeply felt Donald's desire for retribution. This anchors the supernatural horror plot and elevates it beyond its particulars. And Grant never, ever lets them off the hook. Even after the book lurches into its discomfiting conclusion, I walked away with acid in my mouth.
This may be "quiet horror" (although, to be honest, it's not nearly as quiet as I remember), but it's not soft. There's a real meanness to this book that I found both repellent and darkly fascinating. I can see why Grant is such a celebrated author; when he puts his shoulder to it, he can write stuff that's more disturbing than the goriest, ookiest splatter out there. I just wish he had brought a little more narrative originality to the rest of it.
I think this is a three-and-a-half star book that I can't quite round up to four. It's worth reading, but be sure to temper your expectations. At the very least, it has piqued my interest to get into more of Grant's library. It seems most people see "The Hour of the Oxrun Dead" as his magnum opus, so I am going to have to get to that one soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 28, 2017
I'm not convinced this book was written to be YA but it comes across that way because of the focus on the teenage protagonist, his schoolmates, parents etc. In theory, here was an interesting idea: teenage boy who feels put upon, with bullying from boys in the football team, and parents who belittle his ambition to be a veterinarian, retreats into a fantasy world which then turns into reality. His animal posters on the bedroom wall, which he views as friends and talks to, begin to take on a life of their own, as the horse in one fades out and a phantom horse begins to stalk those associated with him. He has found a protector, who turns out to be overprotective. Meanwhile, a nasty serial killer with delusions of being a werewolf has arrived in town and started killing kids.
Perhaps the story suffered from being stretched too thin over so many bases. We have the serial killer story which doesn't last long, the teenage angst thread running throughout which does get a bit wearing unfortunately, and the spectral horse plot. Plus the irresponsible and unpleasant behaviour of the boy's parents. The story did seem to sag a bit in the middle, and although the 'good guys' in the story, especially the girl he has a crush on - can't really be love given how he treats her - have more life to them - the girl is the most sympathetic character in the book - and in theory the reader should be concerned when they also start to be menaced, the overall effect, I'm afraid, is a 'so what'. Nasty people get stomped on so there isn't much to be concerned about, and the ending is rather a cliche. So only a 2-star rating.
Perhaps the story suffered from being stretched too thin over so many bases. We have the serial killer story which doesn't last long, the teenage angst thread running throughout which does get a bit wearing unfortunately, and the spectral horse plot. Plus the irresponsible and unpleasant behaviour of the boy's parents. The story did seem to sag a bit in the middle, and although the 'good guys' in the story, especially the girl he has a crush on - can't really be love given how he treats her - have more life to them - the girl is the most sympathetic character in the book - and in theory the reader should be concerned when they also start to be menaced, the overall effect, I'm afraid, is a 'so what'. Nasty people get stomped on so there isn't much to be concerned about, and the ending is rather a cliche. So only a 2-star rating.
December 7, 2012
2.5 stars:
I read several good reviews of this, about it being one of Grant's best works, and a great horror novel. So I picked it up eagerly, looking forward to his trademark nightmarish building of tension. But at the beginning of the novel it's revealed that The Howler is a werewolf, and since I usually hate werewolf tales, I put it down again. This was several years ago, which is why I haven't read any Grant in a long time despite my love of his style.
Fortunately, I was wrong -- the werewolf is actually just a way to get the ball rolling. Instead, the story's really about a boy who has problems in school, at home, etc. It's about teenage angst, broken families, and insecurities. These blossom into a completely different tale than I expected, and it was definitely supernatural, and definitely horror...at least in parts it was. Sadly, the book never really kept any tension for me. Grant's style and dreamy horror narratives were just not there in this book.
So I've realized that Grant was pretty hit and miss, and it makes me sad. Night Songs, The Black Carousel, and The Orchard are wonderful, REALLY good horror. But everything else has been disappointing, especially the novels. I'll keep reading him, in hopes I'll find some other gems, but I'm kinda sad about the inconsistency. He may have been off more than on (or my luck might be bad in what I've picked), but when he was on he was amazing.
I read several good reviews of this, about it being one of Grant's best works, and a great horror novel. So I picked it up eagerly, looking forward to his trademark nightmarish building of tension. But at the beginning of the novel it's revealed that The Howler is a werewolf, and since I usually hate werewolf tales, I put it down again. This was several years ago, which is why I haven't read any Grant in a long time despite my love of his style.
Fortunately, I was wrong -- the werewolf is actually just a way to get the ball rolling. Instead, the story's really about a boy who has problems in school, at home, etc. It's about teenage angst, broken families, and insecurities. These blossom into a completely different tale than I expected, and it was definitely supernatural, and definitely horror...at least in parts it was. Sadly, the book never really kept any tension for me. Grant's style and dreamy horror narratives were just not there in this book.
So I've realized that Grant was pretty hit and miss, and it makes me sad. Night Songs, The Black Carousel, and The Orchard are wonderful, REALLY good horror. But everything else has been disappointing, especially the novels. I'll keep reading him, in hopes I'll find some other gems, but I'm kinda sad about the inconsistency. He may have been off more than on (or my luck might be bad in what I've picked), but when he was on he was amazing.
January 21, 2012
The Pet was my first venture outside of Charles L. Grants’s Oxrun Station novels, and I must say, aside from a bit of a slow start, the book was spectacular and makes me want to seek out everything Grant has written. All the elements within it just felt so real, especially the inner struggles that the teen high school students faced. Ten years have passed since my days within such hallways and classrooms, yet several times I felt myself put back into those situations, my mind able to remember what it was like with great clarity once the sentences initiated such memories. I also was able to recall the mental anguish one faces as they try to prove to the world that they are an adult, yet still are viewed as a kid, and the fine line one must walk. The horror of the novel was perfectly handled as well, both it is real life ‘this could happen’ moments and its supernatural moments. The only thing that was lacking in my opinion was an explanation for why things were happening. How was this creature able to be a part of this world? Nothing was really discussed in this matter and if it was suggested or hinted at it was done in a way that didn’t work because I completely missed it. Aside from that, however, this was an excellent read and one that every fan of horror should seek out.
August 22, 2015
An excellent example of original horror, with well-developed characters, genuine terror and an ending you won't see coming. Highly recommend this one. I will be devouring more of Grant's work, for sure. Isn't it time you got yourself a PET?
March 28, 2016
Four stars for the atmosphere that Grant conjures up in this weird story of manifestation and teen angst. At times his prose trips over itself and gets in the way of the story telling but if you can get past that (and some similarly odd story choices) you're in for a fun slice of 80s weirdness.
July 9, 2020
A well-written slow-burn novel about a teen who can accidentally make a horse from a poster come to life and kill. Oops.
December 6, 2024
This was very good. Grant has a way of keeping you constantly wondering what is going to happen next, on the edge of your seat, while simultaneously, masterfully, beautifully, describing every solitary inch of the scene which is taking place. Sometimes a bit dragging as he is VERY descriptive of every single aspect of a town, of a park, of a room. Incredibly well written. In the town of Ashford, New Jersey, seventeen year old Don is dealing with your average teenage boy high school problems. Girls, jocks giving him grief, his parents seem to always be on the edge of a crossroads in their marriage. Unfortunately this common every day life gets turned upside down when a vicious killer sweeps into town and has killed multiple naive kids. Unfortunately for the killer, Don has a very unique way of dealing with his troubles. And unfortunately for Don, he doesn’t seem to know it, or how to control it. Great read! 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
August 24, 2023
If you're looking for something bombastically violent and nutso, don't pick this up. But if you want a slow burn with a lot of character development, a study in building a killer, a sort of male twist on Carrie, this is your jam. I'm a real sucker for all that family drama stuff, and there's a ton of it here. I love an author who can show a character being wronged by someone, then write the inside of the head of the jerk that just did that, and you feel like you understand both sides. That's a real gift.
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