Brett Hodnett reviewed The great god Pan by Arthur Machen
Interesting
3 stars
Certainly has good qualities, but feels to me like it could use a serious edit to improve story flow.
English language
Published Nov. 7, 2022 by Independently Published.
Arthur Machen's first book, THE GREAT GOD PAN, published in 1894, is still one of the greatest works of weird horror and decadence ever produced. Arthur Machen with his taste for the bizarre and macabre, unfurls the tale of a young girl cursed by her unnatural parentage to become a creature of shape-shifting, poly-sexual, demi-human evil.
Certainly has good qualities, but feels to me like it could use a serious edit to improve story flow.
Has some appeal but shows its age. It seems to me like it could be improved by a good edit.
The good: instead of creepy night scenes of decay and hooting owls the "scary" imagery was that of the sun-lit and warm forests and meadows.
The bad: The author does not describe anything and simply tells the readers that things are bad and creepy instead of showing anything and letting them draw the conclusion. Indeed, there was not a single interaction with Helen, not any chance for her to demonstrate being alluring and uncanny.