Children of the Fang and Other Genealogies by John Langan

Word Horde, 2020

ISBN-13 : 978-1939905604

Available:  Paperback, Kindle edition  ( Bookshop.org | Amazon.com )

Some writers manage to wrangle the beast that is storytelling through blood, scars, and evisceration– and then some–  but emerge on the other side victorious with a skill that seems to be effortless.

Then there’s John Langan.

For anyone who’s read The Fisherman, it’s apparent that this man was born with a storyteller’s DNA. Langan’s prose and style shouldn’t be this seamless, this well, perfect. Yet it is.

When Children of the Fang was released, many reviewers touted the collection of 21 tales as Stoker-worthy, and it is. It’s the strongest collection of horror short stories this reviewer has read in many a year. To not have at least one story that doesn’t put a stranglehold on the reader through its quiet, yet vicious voice, is beyond rare.

It’s almost as if Langan has that Jungian prescience to peer into the collective unconscious and toy with the shadows within us.

The styles and genres explored here display Langan’s vast talent, from science fiction, to fantasy, to noir, before circling back to straight-up horror.

Choosing a favorite here is difficult. It may vary from person to person and from read to read, depending on the mood and style desired, attaching to the current mood and infecting the soul. On this particular day, a trio stand out. “Episode Three: On The Great Plains, In The Snow,” is a beautiful ghost story, and while it’s not the most innovative story in the collection, it will feel like it is. “Children of the Fang” wormed its way into this reviewer’s consciousness and tattooed its afterimage there. To describe it would dilute the effect, but there’s a reason why it’s the title of the book.  “Hyphae,” is the most “different” tale in the collection. The less said, the better, but it’s best read alone without another story before or afterwards.

Langan’s next offering will be well-sought-after, whether it’s short, spiked bites such as the ones here or a longer, slower dive into darkness that will likely challenge The Fisherman for his best story to date.

Highly recommended reading.

Reviewed by David Simms

Editor’s note: Children of the Fang and Other Genealogies is a nominee on the final ballot for the Bram Stoker Awards in the category of Superior Achievement in a Short Story Collection.