Hellborn

by Gary Brandner

Astragoth is risen. From the dark night of the centuries he has returned. He will have his rightful bride or he will utterly destroy the Earth. He is the Hellborn .

Genres: Horror

187 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 12, 1981

About the author

Gary Phil Brandner (May 31, 1930 – September 22, 2013) was an American horror author best known for his werewolf themed trilogy of novels, The Howling. The first book in the series was loosely adapted as a motion picture in 1981. Brandner's second and third Howling novels, published in 1979 and 1985 respectively, have no connection to the film series, though he was involved in writing the screenplay for the second Howling film, Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf. The fourth film in the Howling series, Howling IV: The Original Nightmare, is actually the closest adaptation of Brandner's original novel, though this too varies to some degree.

Brandner's novel Walkers was adapted and filmed for television as From The Dead Of Night. He also wrote the screenplay for the 1988 horror film Cameron's Closet.

Born in the Midwest and much traveled during his formative years, Brandner published more than 30 novels, over 100 short stories, and also wrote a handful of screenplays. He attended college at the University of Washington where he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. After graduating in 1955, he worked as an amateur boxer, bartender, surveyor, loan company investigator, advertising copywriter, and technical writer before turning to fiction writing. Brandner lived with his wife, Martine Wood Brandner, and several cats in Reno, Nevada.

He died of esophageal cancer in 2013.

Reviews

[Douglas Castagna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great story of demonic evil, possession and damnation. Told in crisp, clear and amazingly brisk style that is Gary Brandner. A solid book.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, a very disturbing book. I read it a very long time ago but from what I remember it was good.
WARNING: contains spiky demon genitalia.

[Mike (Hail Horror Hail) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Howling 30 years ago and loved it, so why has it taken me this long to read another? I have no idea, but Hellborn is great pulp horror. No nonsense, much like Brandner's style, straight to the point with no filler. There's some wonderfully questionable material in here that would make Richard Laymon blush, no... proud.

[Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frickin Astragoth. Dude's name sounds like a bad 80s band.

[Elina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually read books like this, but I got this for free and wanted to read something easy and ...fun? This book was quick and easy read. It wasn't as bad and ridiculous as I thought it would be.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with Brandner's other novels that I've read (the HOWLING trilogy and WALKERS), this one is an effortless page-turner that has perhaps some of the precise mood and characterization (without any much heavy-handed exposition) in horror literature.
Brandner definitely has reoccurring themes and motifs: women in peril, psychics, evil hiding innocuously inside normal people, California small towns and resort towns, chivalrous men "trying" to help the women in peril, etc.
And, narratively and thematically, this book shares A LOT in common with WALKERS (which I read just last summer). In fact, the two could be seen as companion pieces to one another. The only difference is, this book contains elements of THE HOWLING (a woman moving away from her home to a small community, thinking it will help her mentally) with WALKERS (a woman runs from a supernatural evil, that hides inside the physical bodies of everyday people and has targeted her specifically, seeks out the help of a psychic).
But, despite his reusing certain motifs and themes (hell, Stephen King does it A LOT) Brandner's books are ALWAYS engaging and well-written. After I read THE HOWLING, I immediately went out and got just about every book he's ever written. I am a Brandner fan for good.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astragoth, a demon, is promised a woman as a sacrifice. So far the decent pre-story. In present time the ancient legend seems to come true, when Diana Cross and some of her new friends in a picturesque little village have a seance conjuring up something uncanny. From now on Astragoth is after Diane. Can the demon finally claim his bride? What about his way switching between human bodies? Awesome demon horror fresh from the Golden Age of Horror. I like the way the story develops in a straight line like a movie. Also the ending was fine. What a blast from the past. The author came up with an outstanding horror novel here. Really recommended!

[William Mills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome little story, very much an 80's horror which moves along at a good pace. I like Gary Brandner, his books are very easy to read and seldom disappoint. Give it a go, it's got a Smutty demon and everything 😈!

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in the 80s

[Annette Vecellio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn’t get into this book. Stopped reading it.

[Nate Dawg · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and exciting book of demon and occult horror.

[Lou Canning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary Brandner was one of the best horror writers out there. Up there with James Herbert.

[Scott Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5

Some of the sex scenes may be a bit strong

[MarkZer0 · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has a couple of good moments but its mostly average.

[Mikepottz · Rating 3 out of 5]

An evil creature from the depths of hell has come to rightfully take his bride and will stop at nothing. A creature that takes on human form and sexually charged ram of a penis.

[Ana-Lucia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing but I liked it very much!