Review | Wyrd and Other Derelictions by Adam Nevill

Wyrd and Other Derelictions is a short stories collection like no other. I went into this without reading other reviews so had no idea of the common theme; that the stories are depictions of various places in the aftermath of a terrible event. Like the people who first arrive at a crime scene, the reader is taken through a journey in locations still quavering in the wake of violent, incomprehensible destructions. Sometimes weeks, sometimes just seconds after.

Spend enough time here and a head eventually numbs, its thoughts thinning. In time perhaps there is only an awareness of being diminished, then finally consumed. 

This collection is unique in that there are no characters or dialogues, but pulled together entirely by settings and atmosphere. An omnipresent narrator prompts the reader to look and ask questions about these deserted sites. The narration is objective, almost clinical, but there is weight in the discoveries. Where human remains are found, I wondered about their lives and what brought them here. The cinematic descriptions of desolate emptiness on ships, coastlines, and homes are vivid and haunting. There’s a post-apocalyptic sense of doom. While the source of these derelictions leans toward the supernatural, it’s easy to imagine them in the hands of something more human. These places actually remind me of the many public areas left vacant by the current coronavirus pandemic. It is unexpectedly stirring.

I really enjoyed how the stories take place in different locations, yet they could easily be in the same universe. Hippocampus is set on a vessel left floating in the ocean, the crew’s fate soon to be discovered. Enlivened goes into an abandoned house where something mysterious flits around inside. Low Tide explores the dark side of the sea where incredible creatures have made their way to land. Hold The World In My Arms For Three Days and All Will Be Changed provides some disturbing images where the threat comes from the sky.

While this is a brave choice of storytelling, it’s also a risky endeavor. I can understand if this collection won’t be to everyone’s liking, especially those who already struggle with short stories. Because there are no answers to be found. You don’t get closure as to why and how the events occur, nor what happens next. I would liken these stories to found footage horror films where you see events unfolding in real time. You are thrown into the unknown and you have to deal with what’s left behind on your own. It’s different and perhaps challenging to read. But in a good way! I haven’t read a collection quite like this before and I must applaud the author for being willing to try something new. I liked that the Story Notes is included as well.

Wyrd and Other Derelictions is a remarkable collection of horror stories that brings something fresh to the horror genre. It will leave unforgettable images in your mind.

I received a complimentary copy from the author for review purposes.

About the author: Adam Nevill

Photo by Igor Goryachev