The Fair Rules of Evil

by David C. Smith

David, upon leaving the priesthood due to a crisis of faith, learns that his sister Ginny has been found naked in a field, unconscious and surrounded by melted candles.

Genres: Horror

180 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1989

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Jack Tripper · Rating 2 out of 5]

David, upon leaving the priesthood due to a crisis of faith, learns that his sister Ginny has been found naked in a field, unconscious and surrounded by melted candles. She's seemingly unharmed physically, but is in a coma-like state and has to be hospitalized. David discovers that, while he'd been away at the seminary, Ginny had gotten involved in some sort of black magic, and he soon finds himself up against the powerful sorcerer responsible for all this. This guy can conjure up all sorts of nasty creatures and demonic entities, so David decides he's going to learn some magic tricks of his own under the guidance of some other magicians.

This was a quick, light read filled with wizards doing battle like it's a medieval fantasy novel (which is actually what David C. Smith is more well-known for). David even wears a robe and carries a sword while practicing the dark arts. Maybe it all wouldn't have seemed so ridiculous if it weren't in modern times, but I simply couldn't take this seriously. There were no creepy moments, and it was just tremendously cheesy overall. I can tolerate quite a bit of cheese in my horror, but there was nothing meaty here at all to sink one's teeth into. The characters are all paper thin, and strictly pure good or pure evil. We shall not speak of the cringey dialogue. Still, it was well-paced and mildly entertaining in a so-bad-it's-good kind of way if you're able shut your brain off — similar to all those Wheatley-esque black magic/satanism novels of the 70s — so I can't bring myself to rate it one star.

Good thing it was only 180 pages. Had Zebra or Leisure published this the author probably would have been forced to double the word count and I would have been pissed off instead of slightly amused while reading.

[Mikepottz · Rating 3 out of 5]

David looking for the safety of the church but it wasn't for him anymore. He lasted one year at the seminary he entered after his parents desth. His sister is found naked, 35 candles around the body in a state of shock. Her comatose body in a state of spiritual worlds. David searches her room and finds candles, books on witchcraft. She wanted to talk to her dead parents, she wanted to contact the spiritual world. A detective is hunting a sorcerer, a murderer. A demon with human eyes, reptilian features floating in the air, green mist is lurking. Another demon with claws, jaw coming through a car window like it isn't there. David learns ritual magic and goes on a quest to kill Ted Fry a man who is already dead.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good horror novel from David C. Smith

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great cover but what about the story? It started strong with the sister of a soon-to-be priest found naked and comatose after some magic ritual. Why did she practice that ritual and who helped her? Soon David finds out and with the help from Emma and Gray prepares for the showdown with Theodore Fry. Who is Fry? Well, an evil sorcerer in alliance with a very old demon... the story had its moments but overall it was a bit too plain, predictable and simple. The characters were okay but somehow the whole novel could have been much darker and eerier. So it was a routinely written piece of pulp horror. An okay read, nothing more, nothing less. Fantastic cover though!

[Moe Shinola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great dark, magic-related fiction.