Ghosts of Berlin: Stories

by Rudolph Herzog

Hipster life collides with Berlin's dark past in these seven supernatural tales of contemporary Berlin, by the son of the great filmmaker who "shares his father's curious and mordant wit" (The Financial Times).

In GHOSTS OF BERLIN, Rudolph Herzog's macabre and madcap vision of Berlin, bleeding walls are terrifying, as are overpriced artisanal burgers. Set in hipster Kruezberg, chic airport lounges, and the former border between East and West Germany, the denizens of Herzog's Berlin are demon conjuring tech bros, acid-tripping artists, and forsaken migrants, each encountering the ghosts of the city's complicated past.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Horror, Germany, Ghosts, Contemporary, German Literature

176 pages, Paperback

First published October 8, 2019

Reviews

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Herzog’s stories, the ghosts are both supernatural and historical. I’d expected more of the first type, and the ending of the first (otherwise excellent) story, ‘Tandem’ – about a newcomer to Berlin learning German from an oddly ageless woman – took me by surprise, seeming so abrupt I was genuinely disorientated. But then I readjusted, and most of the rest worked perfectly for me.

In ‘Ball Lightning’, a young woman learns the dark secret behind her mother’s bizarre claim of ghosts in their house. ‘Needle and Thread’ is a very enjoyable story about a beleaguered executive whose work woes intersect with his daughter’s unease in the family’s luxury flat (housed in a former asylum). ‘Ifrit’ tackles a different side of Berlin, with the narrator’s fate entwined with that of a group of squatters/activists/hippies. ‘Key’ also involves its characters contending with an eccentric neighbour, albeit one of a very different kind.

‘Ex Patria’ was my least favourite in the book – its trust-fund kids and their terrible relationship are frustrating to read about – but the last story, ‘Double-Decker’, more than makes up for it. Following a researcher who’s given a very strange, top-secret assignment, it’s the apex of the book’s project to combine tales of Berlin’s history with folklore and ghosts, culminating in a memorable sequence which delivers tension, humour and terror all at once.

The characters are a major strength throughout: I’d have liked to read more stories about Björn, the flawed yet loveable protagonist of ‘Needle and Thread’, or Beatrice, the self-assured narrator of ‘Double-Decker’. While Ghosts of Berlin is definitely more literary fiction than horror, it does a great job of bringing different aspects of the city to life, and is often wonderfully suspenseful.

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[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of eerie ghost stories set in Berlin just makes sense.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

GOODREADS DELETED MY REVIEW! Anyway, I loved this book. Historical and horror elements can do really well with each other, and Herzog does a great job creating vivid scenes and characters. Each story is exceptional, even though the typical horror tropes (e.g. period blood = death, you know the drill) had me rolling my eyes a little bit. It was also cool to be able to read about places I have seen in real life.

[David In · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous volume. I was less satisfied with the last story, but I found the humor dark and honest. The stories are framed like documentaries. It is one of the best short story collections in a long while. I will work my way through the rest of Rudolf Herzog's books.

[Mary Warnement · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last weekend, Sunday, Sept. 22, I walked through the Brooklyn BookFest and promised myself I wouldn't buy any books. Or take totes or other swag that I had no room for in my bag. I got one tote, and I bought one book. Not bad, given that many of my favorite publishers had booths. I met someone I know at the Harvard Review and someone from the NYSL recognized my BA bag. A couple others recognized the bag. At the Melville House booth, I couldn't resist looking at something with Berlin in the title. (I hadn't promised myself not to look.) The seller mentioned it was hot off the presses, not even on the website yet. Short stories about modern Berlin colliding with the past--or dead Berlin bursting into the new hipster reality--how could I resist that paperback? I started it on the train home to Boston the next day. Rudolph Herzog is Werner Herzog's son. Have I ever seen a WH movie? I don't think so. The stories kept my interest, and of course I loved the local references that had me looking at map. The last story gives as good a reason as any for the new airport's extensive delays. Rudolph Herzog's short stories show insight into Berlin, at least for this Außenseiter.

[Bella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stopped halfway and chucked it in the (little free library) bin. I wanted to read ghost stories, dammit. I tried with The Last Seance: Tales of the Supernatural, but those were mostly mysteries that were solved by the end of each story. The paranormal aspects in Herzog's volume remain unexplained, but these weren't ghost stories. They were satires of present-day society with a ghost thrown in. Each story I read made some social commentary with one of the characters having a "quirk" that could be paranormal. The two felt completely disconnected from each other.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

A very slim book that took me ages to read.

Berlin is my favourite city and I love a good ghost story so I thought this collection of stories would be right up my street.

It was interesting to read about places I'd been to or heard of but the stories themselves were very subtle and went right over my head.

The last story was the best to read. It was a proper horror story with a twist. Do we think BER airport has been delayed due to the demon?

This book isn't wasn't what I was expecting and I won't bother reading any more books by this author.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t remember the last time I read ghost stories, but this book caught my eye at the Brooklyn Book Festival. I lived in Berlin for a few years and I was truly transported to the city’s winter gloom, which is unnerving even without ghosts. The book’s mix of hipsters and longtime residents rang true. I’d recommend it to anyone with some knowledge about Berlin and it’s complicated history, who wants a quick, spooky read.

[Sonta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts of Berlin by Rudolph Herzog
Publish Date: October 2019 by Melville House

This collection of short stories is mesmerizing in its forceful collision of modern-day Berlin and the darker days of Nazi Germany. Herzog brings these two times together masterfully, weaving modern characters with specters, trolls and demons. The crimes committed still haunt the streets and buildings, and airports of the modern city. Each story has a unique focus, be it the starvation in the ghettos, Nazi sympathizers, or laborers’ mass graves. Suspenseful, creepy and thought-provoking. Will Berlin ever rid itself of its ghosts? Can the modern buildings cover the rubble left behind? Herzog would appear to think not.

Thanks to Edelweiss for an advanced reader's copy.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of seven strange and unsettling tales in which inhabitants of contemporary Berlin encounter the ghostly remnants from the past. I picked this up quite by chance - kinda wish I had happened to pick it up in the original German rather than the English translation as I prefer to read in the original when possible, but the stories drew me in nevertheless.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might not be a great book, but it came at the perfect time for me: a few weeks after I'd visited (and fell in love with) Berlin, and right around Halloween. The writing (or perhaps the translation) is a little clunky and pedestrian, but I enjoyed the way the stories showed how the city's dark past haunts its present.

[Paddy Screech · Rating 5 out of 5]

So gently understated, disturbing - a timely collection of stories reminding contemporary Berliners - and all of us by implication - that we forget our history, and fascism and totalitarianism in particular, at our peril. The stories are steeped in the sensibility of classic 70s horror cinema, perhaps in part thanks to the author's famous father, Werner. Totally recommend.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories insert past horrors into the mundane lives of Berliners. The events casually almost seamlessly become known then accepted by the characters. The translation seems occasionally awkward to this reader who does not know German, but the stories linger like the unsettled past.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It is a really strong short story collection. Each weaves some current-day fear it social ill with a supernatural entity from the past. I would love to read some of them as full-length novels.

[Brendan Columbus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the idea of these post-war nightmares coming back through flesh and blood people/ghosts is really exciting. Herzog Jr. is like Clive Barker mixed with some Steinbeck! Super personal stories that can scare the shit out of you.

Great collection, Herzog is a really good writer.

[Amara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the first 3 stories and either I am just totally missing something or these are terrible. If someone read this book and can explain what I am missing, I would love to hear from you!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Darren Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think some things get lost in translation. The story endings aren't the strongest but i enjoyed the themes

[Gens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Começou bem mas Jesus

[Brett Burkhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somber stories of German guilt. The spirits don't even do much of anything. One convinces a toddler to swallow a button after the asylum she killed herself in was turned into luxury condos. If you're looking for chills and fear, try your luck elsewhere. These are meditative pieces with supernatural elements.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Twilight Zone-ish.

[Valia · Rating 5 out of 5]

perfect for halloween!

[Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charmingly strange