Number 55 - Glorious Beasts by Gary McMahon

I was very priveleged to be asked to beta read the new novella by Gary McMahon.  Since it's not seen publication yet (although it certainly will early in the new year) there is currently no cover photo to post - so here is a picture of the glorious beast who wrote the novella himself.

Glorious beasts is a post apocalyptic weird western monster story.  A mishmash of genres like that can be a disaster in the wrong hands. But McMahon is a fine writer at the best of times and this is one of my favourites of his stories to date.

There are shades of Cormac McCarthy in the central relationship between the lead character Cable and his son Walker  as they take on a quest to search for a missing baby. The baby was stolen from its mother in the middle of the night, I don't want to even hint at the reasons for the abduction as I've promised to not leave any spoilers on this.

In a very small number of pages, McMahon gives us a mystical journey through a bizzarre and thoroughly real feeling world into a true nightmare. Despite the fanatastical elements (of which there are many) the world building McMahon has achieved is convincing throughout.  The flawed and damaged Cable is an unusual hero ands the future world seen through his eyes is a bleak place indeed with very few avenues for hope.The end of the quest is horror purified and refined and spat in our faces with full force. 

This story has lots to say about father/son relationships, and the reasons that people carry on despite everything. All this in a mere 56 pages (including title pages on the word document).

When this is published, I will ensure I edit this to include the location where you and I can buy it from.

Easily 8/10 for me.