Carnacki: The Watcher at the Gate<\/em> collects twelve original short stories by William Meikle, with William Hope Hodgson\u2019s supernatural detective at the center. Each story centers on a dire situation: an imperiled individual calls upon the unusual expertise of Carnacki to get to the bottom of the occult goings-on and expertly banish the evil back to the Outer Darkness.<\/p>\nA few of the stories that are particularly well-written incorporate another Hodgson character, Captain Gault. These are some of the most interesting tales of the collection. While Carnacki is a great character, Captain Gault adds a bit more panache to the atmosphere. In \u201cCaptain Gault\u2019s Nemesis\u201d, the captain is carrying cursed cargo below decks of his ship, and Carnacki has to deal with the problem. In \u201cThe Blue Egg\u201d, Carnacki is a guest aboard Captain Gault\u2019s ship, and witnesses the effects a sliver from a rare gem has on the captain and crew. Everyone who is near\u00a0it\u00a0wants to possess it, and its power grows day by day. \u00a0In \u201cThe Gray Boats\u201d,\u00a0a strange fog emanating from two abandoned Navy ships destroys everything in its wake, including flesh and bone.<\/p>\n
An admirable trait of Carnacki\u2019s is that when children come to him with matters of the occult, he takes them seriously, investigates, and inevitably finds that the issues are real. In \u201cThe China Doll,\u201d Lord Atwell of Belgravia calls on Carnacki to investigate his youngest daughter\u2019s room, as she thinks it is haunted. When he is alone in her room, he discovers the china dolls are whispering. His investigation leads him to the manufacturer\u2019s facilities, where\u00a0it turns out that\u00a0the manufacturer has a unique problem with the curing oven. In \u201cThe Black Swan,\u201d a young girl arrives at Carnacki\u2019s residence,\u00a0distraught and pleading for his help,\u00a0regarding a large black bird she thinks lives in her closet. He travels with her to her home, where, after a few minutes of terse conversation, her father relates the story of the black swan in the basement.<\/p>\n
In addition to being a friend to the seafaring Captain Gault and children, Carnacki is popular among political figures. In two stories, he comes to the aid of a young Winston Churchill. He also helps the Home Secretary in an investigation of an occult ritual gone wrong.<\/p>\n
Other exciting stories await the reader. Having recently revisited one of the original Hodgson books, I can attest that Meikle’s writing is in\u00a0keeping with the overall tone and atmosphere of Carnacki\u2019s adventures, and I appreciate that, as well as his blending in of the realm of eldritch horror. \u00a0The inclusion of horrific entities tormenting humanity and threatening to either kill us or drive us insane is a nice touch, and fit in well with the overall feel of the Carnacki stories. This is a great read that will appeal to readers young and old. Recommended.<\/p>\n
Reviewed by Lizzy Walker<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Carnacki: The\u00a0Watcher\u00a0at the Gate\u00a0by William Meikle, illustrations by M. Wayne Miller Ghost House, Dark Renaissance Books, 2015 ISBN: 9781937128753 Available: Hardcover, new and used. Currently out of print. Carnacki: The Watcher at the Gate collects twelve original short stories by William Meikle, with William Hope Hodgson\u2019s supernatural detective at the center. Each story centers<\/p>\n
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