Fear Across the Mersey

by Ramsey Campbell, Ilan Sheady (illustrator)

PS Publishing Fear Across the Mersey ABISBOOK PS Publishing.

377 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2024

About the author

Ramsey Campbell is a British writer considered by a number of critics to be one of the great masters of horror fiction. T. E. D. Klein has written that "Campbell reigns supreme in the field today," while S. T. Joshi has said that "future generations will regard him as the leading horror writer of our generation, every bit the equal of Lovecraft or Blackwood."

Reviews

[Carl Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent collection of -mainly- Horror stories set in and around the author's birth town of Liverpool, covering the early years of his illustrious career to the present day. Most of it is what you might expect if you know Campbell's work in the genre: hinted, amorphous, monsters more suspected than actually experienced (though more than a few get to show just how real they are); rapid descents into insanity that drag the reader down with them; faux pas blown out of all proportion; creeping insidiousness that gets right under your skin, into your head, forces soft plump fingers down your throat...

Stand-outs were: "The Christmas Present" - a short, sharp shock Mark Gatiss might consider for one of his Christmas Eve tales; "The Whining" - caring for animals is not always a good thing; "The Man in the Underpass" - Aztec graffiti demanding sacrifice; "The Companion" - everything you find scary about fairgrounds; "Through the Walls" - there's something in the fog that inverts even the most established family values; "The Brood" - vampires, Scouser style; "Mackintosh Willy" - a kind of coming of age story involving a(n) (un)dead vagrant; "The Show Goes On" - an extremely creepy cinema (the only one here, though I know Campbell has done at least one other that could just have well have been included, being set in the Woolton Picture House).

Possibly best delved into than read cover-to-cover, FAtM is a thoroughly enjoyable showcase of Campbell's shorter chills, and a rather haunting -and often nasty- depiction of Liverpool and Merseyside to boot.

[Horror DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are virtually no authors out there with the body of work to produce something as niche as Fear Across the Mersey, except perhaps Stephen King, who could collate something similar for Castle Rock. All the 25+ stories are connected to Liverpool or the surrounding Merseyside area in some manner because by the early seventies Ramsey Campbell was shaking off the overt Lovecraftian influences and setting most of his stories in his home area, rather than the distant New England. Location is not central to the narratives of all the tales, but street names are dropped, bus numbers are used, and cinemas, libraries and theatres are referenced. Local newspapers are included, parks are visited in several stories, local train stations and shopping centres are key to a couple of tales and shortcut underpasses become threatening to pedestrians in a rush. Kids play on streets, deliver newspapers, visit local corner shops and the working class vibe of Liverpool from the fifties onwards vibrates throughout the various plots, adding to the atmosphere and authenticity.

You can read Tony's complete review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Catherine Cavendish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest collection of the author's short stories takes us on a journey that encompasses not only Merseyside (both sides of the river) but also time itself as we progress from some of his earliest tales (The Cellars, 1967) to his more recent (Still Hungry, 2021). Anyone familiar with this part of the UK will recognize some familiar names from the past (remember Owen Owen's department store anyone?) and other, less well-known landmarks such as a certain infamous underpass in the Tuebrook area...

Within these pages lie the familiar Campbell traits of ordinary people caught up in supernatural, horrific events beyond their ken or control, the creeping dead that pays homage to the best of M.R. James and the sheer quaking fear of the unknown and persistently scary. The spread of some 54 years of storytelling shows the author's progression, diversification and consistent prowess at keeping the reader enthralled and constantly hungry for more. Thankfully for us Campbell aficionados, the well of stories remains as prolific as ever. Long may that continue and long may Ramsey Campbell reign supreme at the pinnacle of the horror genre.

The stunning cover illustrations by uber-talented artist, Ilan Sheady provide the perfect accompaniment to this timeless collection. Taken together, this is an edition to add to your bookshelf.

[Clare Rhoden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of Campbell's best horror stories from the 1960s to the current day.
Perfect for true horror fans. Scary and uncomfortable for those who just like to be a little bit scared. You be the judge! :-)