REVIEWED: THE UNDERDWELLING BY TIM CURRAN
THE UNDERDWELLING by Tim Curran / Delirium Books (January 2012) / Signed Limited Edtion Hardcover & eBook
When I was given the option to review Tim Curran’s forthcoming novella, I jumped at the chance. I like Tim’s work. A lot. FEAR ME was one of the best, most satisfying books I read in 2011 and I was keen to find out if he could deliver again. And he did. THE UNDERDWELLING is a story about the sacrifice of a man named Boyd. Following generations before him, Boyd is a miner at Hobart Mine and understands that when the guys upstairs call on you to assume more responsibility (and consequently more risk), you take it, no questions asked. You hop on that elevator headed south and bite your lip when the air gets so thick you can almost swim in it. Because that’s what you do. You put your family first and you never look back.
I, for one, really cannot imagine what it would be like to work twelve hours a day underground. I like sunlight, fresh air and open space. I like my food and water clean and soot-free. Curran has taken on an elemental fear that I would venture to say resides in many of us and turned it into an all out claustrophobic nightmare. The characters in THE UNDERDWELLING are interesting and you either like, hate or respect them. The story goes from zero to ten in terms of terror and suspense and the descriptive effort manages to instill an unshakable sense of dread in the readers mind. I felt like I was in that cavern and the more pages I read, the less I wanted to find out what was going on. Because I knew it was not good. I knew Boyds sanity would be compromised by his empty, pitch black surroundings and a mind of madness is the scariest thing of all.
This offering from Curran really nailed it for me. It doesn’t drag at any point and keeps the reader turning pages. It is horrifying in a psychological sense but also spatters you with some well placed violence and gore. My recommendation is to throw this one in your queue and move it to the top because who doesn’t like a little heart-pounding thrill ride that can only end badly? I know I do!
- Jordan Norton
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