Bitten by Books
J. S. Bangs’s novella, The Taint, is a dark, moody affair that combines many different horror tropes into a unique, compact story.
Convicted of killing his family, Dimitris Spiridakis is sent to St. Anne’s State Penitentiary where a dark presence known as “The Old Man” roams the halls, and the most formidable inmate is called “The Wizard.” Attempting to prove his innocence, Dimitris gets in good with The Wizard, a voodoo priest whose time at St. Anne’s is almost up, and also strikes a deal with The Old Man, Edwin. His search leads him to Molly, the girl he met the night his family was killed, and he discovers she is actually a demon-like creature whose blood is tainted. Playing these creatures against each other, Dimitris is determined to uncover the mystery surrounding his family’s deaths, but the finale may be more than he can handle.
Unlike many stories out there today, Bangs takes various monsters and uses them as just that — monsters. The world of The Taint is filled with evil lurking around every corner. The mood is heavy and dark. These are areas in which Bangs shines. What The Taint, lacks, though, is deeper explanations. I was never sure what exactly Molly is, and while the ending’s twist makes sense, the lead-up to it and the follow- through are slightly convoluted. Aside from this, though, The Taint by J. S. Bangs is a solid horror story that will appeal to fans who like their creatures monstrous and not sexy.
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Summary : Unlike many stories out there today, Bangs takes various monsters and uses them as just that — monsters. The world of The Taint is filled with evil lurking around every corner. The mood is heavy and dark. These are areas in which Bangs shines. What The Taint, lacks, though, is deeper explanations. I was never sure what exactly Molly is, and while the ending’s twist makes sense, the lead-up to it and the follow- through are slightly convoluted. Aside from this, though, The Taint by J. S. Bangs is a solid horror story that will appeal to fans who like their creatures monstrous and not sexy.
