Usher's Passing

A small backstory:Rix Usher is informed that his father is not well and that he needs to come home to Usherland so that all the family is gathered before his father passes on. Rix doesn't really want to go home as he doesn't want anything to do with his father or his family as they are crazy loonies and Rix has been writing horror books under a pen name as he didn't want any problems to arise from his family.Rix does decide to head home though as he feels that he needs to wrap up loose ends, but things go slowly nutso for him as he remembers from his past a being called the Pumpkin Man and a building on the property called the Lodge. Rix hooks up with a local newspaper reporter (Raven) and as he starts learning more than he wants to know what really lies within his family tree, Rix has to make sure that he doesn't descend into madness as what is pulsing throughout Usherland is pure evil in its truest form!That is about all I can give on a small backstory without giving away spoilers so if you want to know more about this book, then go read it!Thoughts:This was a great book that took a little while to get into it because of some world and character building within the story but it finally slowly drew me into the world of the Usher family.This was my second book by author, Robert McCammon and I can see why so many readers love to read his work. The writing style is easy to read and the words flow along smoothly. There is nothing disjointed within the story to even cause me to deviate away from what is happening - it is like smooth as silk with capturing what is going on with the story as it unfolds with scary suspense.The book started out a little slow but picks up speed after the 50% mark and then once I hit the 70% mark the speed increased to overdrive which I read the last 30% within a few hours! Suspense, tension, spookiness, and crazy intensity was folded into the story in the last half of the book where I was wanting to munch on something!This was definitely another great book by this author and I will be putting it on my favorites shelf. Looking forward to reading more works by this author! Giving this book five "Thumping Pumpkin Man" stars!

USHER’S CROSSING [1984] By Robert McCammonMy Review Four Stars****I selected another novel by McCammon from my unread books in celebration of Halloween. Read MYSTERY WALK last week and absolutely loved it! I can hardly believe I allowed it to gather proverbial “dust” on my Kindle’s virtual Unread Shelf for so long. My sentiments are similar after reading McCammon’s modern day rendering of Edgar Allen Poe’s classic horror tale Fall of the House of Usher.The prologue of this gothic tale has Hudson, the brother of Roderick Usher (featured in Poe’s classic “Fall of the House of Usher”) meeting with Edgar Allen Poe in 1867. Hudson Usher voices his distaste for Poe writing a novel about his family’s history and their secrets. The reader gleans from the first few pages that describe Poe’s run in with Hudson Usher that the author in fact knew very little about the true nature of the Usher’s dark history and the nature of their evil ancestral heritage.The novel transports the reader to present day and we meet a troubled Rix Usher who is the estranged “Black Sheep” of the family. The story line unfolds from the viewpoint and subjective perspective of Rix, who has been making a living as a modesty successful author of horror fiction. He is still emotionally devastated following his wife’s shocking suicide, and his bedraggled physical appearance belies his true age of a man only 33 years old. Rix has labored for countless hours over an extended period of time to complete his newest novel. He presents it to his literary agent only to be told that his manuscript is not publishable. Rix Rusher is still reeling from the rejection and the paralyzing panic of what to do when his brother Boone makes a surprise visit to inform him that their father is on his death bed.The main plot is the journey of Rix Usher to discover the real truth beneath the layers of facts and fiction that surround his bloodline. It is a shell-shocked and reluctant Rix that returns to the family fold at their stronghold called Usherland. The present-day aristocratic descendants of Hudson Usher include the dying patriarch Walen, sons Boone and Rix, and beautiful daughter Cat. They are living in a mansion amidst the beautiful and picturesque heart of the North Carolina mountains. The rambling estate is situated near Asheville, but Usherland is also in close proximity to Briartop Mountain which is populated by simple mountain folk who have lived basically next door to the infamous Ushers for generations.The reader learns about the mysterious malady that had plagued generations of Usher descendants and it is to this fatal disease that Rix attributes his father’s abrupt and shocking deterioration in physical health. Usher’s Malady was killing Walen as surely as it had annihilated his ancestors. Rix tries to come to grips with the fact his father is dying while he embraces the emotional support of Edwin Bodane, caretaker of Usherland his father figure since childhood. Soon the reader learns about the myth of the “Pumpkin Man”, a mysterious monster who steals children from the mountains never to be seen again. Locals also report a stealthy black panther known as Greediguts who stalks human prey in the heavily wooded hills surrounding Briartop Mountain.The local newspaper office is the only property around not owned by the affluent Usher dynasty. The owner has passed the mantle to his daughter who is now investigating the disappearances of an ever-growing list of missing kids. Colorful characters abound in this sprawling story of separating fact from fiction in the reign of the Usher family and their amassed billions. There is Boone, the arrogant and narcissistic older brother who is obsessed with the sinister “Lodge” vacant since his grandfather's death in 1945 and eager to ascend to the position of the new Usher patriarch of the family. Harvard graduate and glamorous international model, the stunningly beautiful Cat is the baby of the family and closest to Rix.The first half of the book is slow, and gradually Rix becomes increasingly interested in the story of his ancestors and its potential as a new vehicle to research and write a new novel. Subsequently he learns the owner of the local newspaper has been writing a book about the history of the Ushers for six years. The need to know becomes an obsession for Rix, and this leads to an alliance with the daughter who now owns the newspaper, and a secret quid pro quo relationship with her father who has been digging through dirt on the Ushers for literally years. Rix gets his hands on old documents when he learns Walen has moved old ledgers, photos, and various historical materials from the dreaded “Lodge” to the Usher mansion.It is slow going, but readers who are patient will become increasingly fascinated as Rix regales readers with the contents of the diary of his maternal grandmother Nora, the wife of the infamous Erik Usher Lord of the haunted “Lodge”. The information sharing exploits of Rix and the aging newspaperman writing the history of the Usher clan becomes one thrilling revelation after another about the Usher ancestors. Meanwhile when his younger brother disappears, we become acquainted with a young boy named Newlan and his mother from the mountain top. “New” swears he actually saw the “Pumpkin Man” steal his little brother and also glimpsed the rumored black panther predator “Greediguts”. Then there is the mysterious King Of The Mountain who is rumored to have supernatural powers.Approximately halfway into the novel, the momentum skyrockets like a Ferrari escalating from 0 MPH to 100 MPH. By this point in the book, it is difficult to stop reading long enough to answer the phone or freshen your coffee. You will ultimately learn the identity of the real Landlord of Usherland, the heritage of the Bodane family line, and answers to questions you didn’t know you had. It’s a rollercoaster ride in a haunted theme park for sure, and with enough plot twists and turns sufficient to induce vertigo. Anyone who can read the experience of the obsessed Boone wandering the halls and corridors of “The Lodge” without suffering an instant case of claustrophobia deserves a medal. It’s all here from the eloquent pen of Robert McCammon, tales of terror running the gamut from witches and warlocks, their “familiars”, black magic spells, supernatural powers, to human cannibalism and pacts with the devil in exchange for perfect health and riches beyond comprehension. Rix Usher learns the complete depth of depravity that underscores the history of the Usher family bloodline. The novel ends with a thought-provoking cliffhanger that will leave readers pondering the path that Rix will walk. I deducted a star because of the slow pace leading up to the nerve shattering second half of the novel. It is a perfect book to read for Halloween.

Usher's Passing is a book that I had wanted to read for years. Finally I picked it up, and as the story of Rix Usher and his family played out before me I found myself spellbound.The basic story is that Walen Usher is dying, and he is asking for his son Rix, a struggling horror author, to return home before he can name the next heir to the Usher fortune. To give anything else away would be cheating the reader. Little mysteries pop up through out the book, all connected to the truth behind the Usher family. While the majority of the story is told in the present, there are sections of the book that slip back into the past, giving the reader glimpses of the dark and rich family history of the Ushers.There is a lot in this book. The cast is large, and there are more plot threads then I can remember, and I just put the book down. Yet, and this is important, not one piece of it feels like padding. Everything has it's purpose, and it is told in a way that never slows down the pace. The parts of the book I thought I would dread, namely the flashbacks, became some of the most interesting sections of the story. McCammon chooses these scenes wisely and packs them full of action and drama. Part of me had actually wished that some of the past Usher's would be given their own books just because the characters created in those short vignettes are instantly well rounded and captivating.Over all this book is lean, well written, perfectly paced and inhabiting a cast of interesting, and fully realized characters. The only flaw I can think of is that I wish there had been more. Not to say that the book is lacking, but instead that I wanted to spend even more time with the Usher clan. Pick this one up. It's jam packed with mystery, horror, action, and will never leave you bored.

I am a big fan of Robert McCammon. Boy's Life. Swan Song, and the Matthew Corbett series are some of my favorite books. I wanted to experience more of his standalone horror, and after a good experience with Mine and an ok experience with They Thirst I hoped this would hit the mark. It absolutely did.This is an imagining of what the "real life" family who inspired The Fall of The House of Usher might have been like. It's a bit of family drama mixed with southern gothic horror, creature feature, and a bit of magic. McCammon mixes those elements in such a way to really draw the reader in and maked them immersed as they learn the troubled history of the Usher family and it's insanely creepy family compound, Usherland. The tension keeps building along with the mystery until all is revealed in a dramatic, shocking, and satisfying way.If I had any criticism I'd say the book has both a bit of a slow start and some really unlikable characters including Rix, the main character. But by the half way point I didn't want to stop reading and needed answers as we investigate along with Rix. The climax and conclusion was so good and I was so immersed I had to give it the full 5 stars.

“In travelling this way over the years, though infrequently, Rix had never failed to catch the sense of brutality in the land, a kind of soulless crushing power that made him feel weak and small. It was little wonder, he thought, that people of Foxton considered Usherland a place best avoided, and had created folktales to emphasize their fear of the dark, foreboding mountains.”I found out about this book by word of mouth from several book reviews online and, since Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher is one of my favorite stories, I knew I just had to purchase. Being it was near Halloween season, I felt like this would be the perfect read for this time of the year.The novel basically takes elements of Poe’s story and fuses them into the plot, but moves it to a more modern setting, and adds various members of the Usher family as key characters. The theme of the Usher family curse is a prominent factor just like in Poe’s story. Rix Usher comes back to Usherland reluctantly when he hears that his father is on his death bed.I liked some elements of the book, but, at the end of the day, it was mostly a mediocre read on several levels with quite a few problems in my opinion that soured a lot of the reading experience.I think one of the key issues in Usher’s Passing is that the novel just didn’t have a solid focus. It has so many revolving subplots/threads that materialize (The Pumpkin Man, New’s power, Usher’s malady, the family curse, Raven, etc.), but some of them just were not that interesting or engaging in the long haul. One of these revolving subplots I found rather tiresome was the Usher family dysfunction/dynamics (nothing worse than having to read page after page with the Usher family members constantly at each other’s throats…too much drama).Secondly, the writing is rather ridiculously graphic, gruesome, and grisly in an over-the-top way. Some of these depictions involve animals and some of these moments happen as the bodies start to fall in the second half. A little too much there.In this way, I felt like this book wasted potential in being a truly atmospheric horror with unnerving elements. There are some moments here and there, especially with the presence of the Lodge at Usherland and Rix digging into his family’s problematic past, which I felt was probably the best part of the novel. But it is never very sustainable. There is a just a lack of subtlety with characters and events and focus and everything in this novel.This was my first read from this author. It seems that McCammon has quite a fan base and seeing other critical reviewers say this is not his best work encourages me to try another one of his books in the future.

I enjoyed this book. It felt a little clunky at times but was, overall, a story that kept me reading.

What a really good read. Lots of twist and turns. Kept me wondering somewhat which way it would go but was shocked a bit at the end, yet not totally surprised. Really enjoyed the story.

The story was fantastic! Everything about the book was great. Few technical errors, story keeps your interest and mostly easy to follow. I did have to go back to figure out the characters a few times. I intend to read other stories from this author. Highly recommend the book.

10年以上、邦訳版を読んでいましたが、今回は原書に挑戦してみました。英語は比較的簡単な部類に入ると思います。昔は抜群に面白いと思いましたが、再読すると残念ながらあらが目立ちました。例えば、ポーへのオマージュかと思わせるタイトルですが、ポーに関するくすぐりねたはほとんどありません。また、人物描写も平面的でいまいち緊張感が出てきません。とはいうものの、一族の因縁が少しずつ明らかにされていくプロセスはそこそこスリリングで、読後感も悪くありません。絶版なのでわざわざ捜す必要は無いかもしれませんが、古本屋ででも見つけたならば、読んでも損は無いでしょう。

I really enjoyed this story, It was suspenseful and had some slightly ghoulish aspects which worked well. Some of the final answers were surprising twists that I didn't expect and I am now keen to read the book that inspired this particular story.

I love this book and have read it many times. The story has many twists and turns in it and has a powerful shock ending. It weaves a magic spell as it flicks back to the past to inform Rix (and us) of his families history and his own legacy to come. Easy but thoroughly engrossing reading. Highly recommended.Feel free to check out my blog which can be found on my profile page.

This is a great book, well written, action packed, interesting from start to finish. I really enjoyed this and highly recommend it.

Die Familie Usher hat sich mit ihrer Waffenfirma ein Weltimperium geschaffen und lebt auf einem gewaltigen Anwesen in North Carolina mehr oder weniger nach ihren eigenen Gesetzen. Rix Usher, der jüngste Sohn des Clans, hat sich von der Familie losgesagt und versucht, sich als Schriftsteller durchzuschlagen. Als er erfährt, dass sein Vater im Sterben liegt, kehrt er zögerlich heim nach Usherland. Schnell machen sich erste Verschleißerscheinungen bemerkbar und Rix beobachtet seltsame Vorgänge auf dem Anwesen. Gehen wirklich übernatürliche Ereignisse vor, oder bildet sich Rix diese Dinge nur ein?In USHER'S PASSING wählt Robert R. McCammon Poes DER FALL DES HAUSES USHER als Ausgangspunkt für seinen Roman und webt eine faszinierende und vielschichtige Familiengeschichte mit einigen düsteren und beunruhigenden Geheimnissen.Im Zentrum von USHER'S PASSING steht Rix, der mit den Machenschaften seiner Familie nichts mehr zu tun haben will. Er ist davon besessen, sich unabhängig durchs Leben zu schlagen und möchte sich unbedingt einen Namen als ernstzunehmender Schriftsteller machen. Aus diesem Zweck plant er, eine Familienchronik zu verfassen, die eine Menge Staub aufwirbelt. Neben Rix gibt es natürlich noch eine ganze Reihe an Nebenfiguren in USHER'S PASSING. Unter anderem spielt Rix' Familie eine große Rolle und auch die Bewohner rund um Usherland sind wichtig für die Handlung.Die Handlung von USHER'S PASSING konzentriert sich im Wesentlichen auf zwei große Plotstränge. Einerseits wird die höchst abwechslungsreiche Vergangenheit der Familie Usher näher beleuchtet, andererseits versuchen Rix und einige seiner Verbündeten den seltsamen Vorgängen auf dem Anwesen auf den Grund zu gehen.Wer in USHER'S PASSING blutrünstigen Horror erwartet, wird vermutlich enttäuscht werden. Robert R. McCammon glänzt hier eher mit sanftem Grusel, der jedoch nicht minder effektiv ist. Jeder, der sich für einen stimmungsvollen Gruselroman begeistern kann, wird bestimmt seine Freude an dem Buch haben. Empfehlenswert!