I count three of Adam's novels in my top 5 scariest things ever written. His short story Mother's Milk in his first collection - Some will not Sleep - guaranteed for me that the title of the collection was true. It was a particularly vivid fever dream transplanted to the page.
This collection is an odd beast. Derelictions is a term that Adam uses for aftermaths. In this collection there are no characters, no living protagonists, no people, just the bodies left behind after a series of happenings.
The only other time I've seen anything like this is Ray Bradbury's story There Will Come Soft Rains from the Martian Chronicles. That is my favourite Ray Bradbury story, and IMHO one of the best short stories ever written.
These aren't quite as successful as that (sorry Adam) but on the plus side - not as good as maybe the best short story I've ever read is in no way an insult. These are still more successful and more scary than a couple of the full length works I've read this (last) month.
These are mood pieces, and very creepy mood pieces at that. The reader is left to work out what caused the death and destruction we see dispassionately described in these tales.
In each story we're taken on a journey over a detailed landscape (or shipscape) where violence has occured. In some cases it's still happening in the peripheral distance. That rather lovely creature on the front cover makes an appearance in one of the stories too.
I think Low Tide was my favourite of the stories, but it's a close run thing as there are no real stand outs - for the best possible reason. The imagery throughout is nightmarish. the prose cold and precise as it describes the devastation left behind. The stories become larger in scale as you move through the book.
We start with the description of an empty ship in Hippocampus. Next we see the result of a mass suicide/ritual slaughter for reasons unknown in Wyrd. Turning the Tide features a seaside campsite where something has come from the sea and taken the unfortunate campers nearby. Enlivened takes us through a large manor house where something still lurks. Monument tells why it's a mistake to disturb the ancient monument you don't know is buried at the end of your garden - you and all your naeighbours are going to regret it. Low Tide features an uprising of assorted sea creatures, starting at a caravan park and moving on the nearby town. In the final story - Hold the World in My Arms for Three Day and All Will Be Changed - it feels as though this is only a fraction of a planetwide phenomenon.
All these are told in forensic detail. Occasionally we're given glimpses of the things that are committing these acts. In at least one story the acts are still in progress even though it's too late for the humans involved. The sense of dread never leaves the pages for a moment.
This is definitely a successful experiment for Mr Nevill and, while there isn't as much variation as in his other collections, it's still generates a fair few shudders on the way.
It's available through www.Adamnevill.com as a limited edition hardback, or through amazon in paperback and ebook format.
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