In David Kempf’s Dark Fiction, we meet literary student Christopher Wisdom and college professor/world famous horror writer Henry David Wells. Christopher would like nothing more than to apprentice under Wells, his favorite author, and begins to send the professor his stories outside of the classroom structure. Soon a mentor/protégé relationship blooms and it seems the famous author cannot read enough of his young student’s work. The stories are all about the dark side of life and Christopher is fortunate enough to have them read by an experienced, best-selling author. However, the professor offers no suggestions or criticism to his student. Soon a false sense of confidence grows amid his mentor’s praise and Christopher feels anything is possible. Does this master of horror really believe his budding student is so talented, or could he have more sinister plans?
Finally, Wells confesses that he serves a group of omnipotent beings called the Masters, or the Jinn. The Jinn are extremely interested in humanity. However, they can only learn about the human experience through reading fiction. Christopher has been chosen by the Jinn to serve them and their cause. He must continue to write and learn from Wells in order to keep the mysterious Jinn placated. The great power of the Jinn is slowly revealed. Despite the numerous wishes the Jinn grant to humans, they have no use for us and secretly plot the utter destruction of humans everywhere. Will Christopher give up his old life, including his family and his mortality, to continue his dark apprentiship? Will the Jinn fulfill their wish to destroy us in every dimension or will Christopher conjure his last ounce of humanity to prevail? You’ll just have to read the book to find out.
Dark Fiction is for thinking readers. Author David Kempf handles some deep topics here. He challenges readers to face our fear of death and dying, to revisit our belief in religion, the paranormal, crime and punishment, and he even has us questioning the importance of human existence on earth. He does all this while keeping us thoroughly horrified without relying on slasher film gimmicks of bloody gore and violent sex so common in horror today. He tips his hat to the masters of the macabre without cloning them. I recommend Dark Fiction to fans of Poe and Lovecraft and anyone who enjoys old fashioned horror, but doesn’t need the blood and guts.
