The Atrocities

The Atrocities - Jeremy Shipp

This novelette is a brief dip into classic Gothic horror, and I enjoyed it for the short time it took to read. It leans heavily on the old tried and true Gothic staple (a governess goes to an isolated spooky house to watch over a creepy kid), and does a good job modernizing what could have been a tired story. One of the most striking things about this story is Shipp's use of nightmares. Not only is his imagery striking and grotesque, but it also has a bizarre floaty and disconnected dreamy feel, making the entire story feel like one disjointed and disturbing nightmare. My only real complaint is that I never really connected to the main character, but with such a short length that's to be expected. I'd be curious to see what Shipp can do in a full length novel, and I'll be on the lookout for more offerings.