The Incubations

The book is a gripping exploration of psychological horror that pulls you in with its slow-burn suspense. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the story follows Leo Parker, a driving instructor who embarks on a trip to Alphafen, Germany, to reconnect with his pen pal, Hanna. What starts as a seemingly normal visit quickly spirals into unsettling experiences that blur reality and nightmare.

The author has a knack for creating a chilling atmosphere, and the dialogue highlights the difficulties of communication in a confusing world. The folkloric elements of the story add an eerie touch, making you question what’s real and what’s not. While some might find the pacing a bit slow, it allows for deeper character exploration, adding layers to the tension. Overall, This book showcases Campbell's talent for weaving together everyday life with unsettling horror. It’s not his scariest work, but its psychological depth and eerie vibe make it a compelling read. Fans of horror will appreciate this thoughtful entry, earning it a solid four stars.

A thoughtful slow burn of unsettling suspense rather than an out and out horror, the Incubations is strong late period Campbell. There is a delightfully unnerving quality to much of the dialogue, with an inability to speak on a common wavelength with family or strangers being a recurrent issue; Campbell brings out the inherent challenge of making oneself understood in a world that doesn’t quite make sense.
Loved the concept of the Alps, the folkloric aspect is strong and emphasises the off-kilter nature of events.

After the end of the Second World War, in an effort to promote unity and forgiveness, the English town of Settlesham was twinned with Alphafen in Germany. Schoolboy Leo Parker began a pen-pal correspondence with Hanna Weber, and for decades the two have continued this long-distance relationship. Now an adult, he decides at last to visit Hannah in her hometown.

His stay in Alphafen seems enjoyable and enlightening. But as soon as he leaves the town, his life begins to unravel. An experience at the airport is disconcerting and troublesome, a family meal becomes grotesquely nightmarish, and when he attends a council meeting to report on his trip, the images appear to have taken on a life of their own. Is Leo losing his grip on reality or has his trip awakened some ancient Alpine legend from its slumber? Has he returned to England with more than just memories of his trip?

The Incubations is published by Flame Tree Press to mark the 60 years since Ramsey Campbell’s first book was released. Campbell is one of Britain’s finest exponents of the weird tale, and The Incubations is a fitting testament to the author’s career. The novel’s central character, Leo Parker, works for his parents’ driving instructor company, and there’s a refreshingly down-to-earth feel to this. Which makes it all the more frightening when the line between reality and nightmare becomes blurred. This element of Campbell’s writing style is so masterful that it feels almost a trademark part of him. The novel is laced with black humour – albeit much of it due to the characters’ linguistic confusion or through the author’s clever word-play – and there’s an overriding sense of impending threat that propels the story forward.

It would impossible to overstate Ramsey Campbell’s impact and influence on the horror scene – he’s won more awards than any other writer in the field – and The Incubations is a terrific novel, deeply unsettling and dazzlingly original. His early work displayed obvious influences from such writers as HP Lovecraft, MR James and Arthur Machen, but over his career he has carefully honed his own distinct style and created his unique mythos, allowing his own voice to be heard. And what a voice it is. I’ve been a fan of his work since I first came across The Doll Who Ate His Mother back when I was a teenager, and I looked forward to reading his latest short stories in the annual Best New Horror series edited by Stephen Jones. A quick scan of his bibliography will evidence titles that are classics of the genre. After 60 years at the top of his game, his latest novel shows no sign of him losing his touch. The Incubations is yet another fantastic entry into the annals of weird fiction. Highly recommended.

Another great read from Ramsey Campbell. Never disappoints. Great characters, a great story/plot, and great pacing. Always look forward to a new release from Ramsey Campbell. #TheIncubations #NetGalley

It starts with an ordinary man who works as a driving instructor for the family firm, but Leo Parker’s life of turning novices into safe drivers is about to abruptly change. He starts seeing things and has nightmares so vivid, the lines between his dream world and everyday life become hopelessly blurred.

But it is about to get worse. Much, much worse. A trip to Alphafen – near Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest – appears to have left a frightening legacy and, as Leo discovers, when the Weber family talk about Alps, they don’t necessarily mean the picturesque mountain range. These are creatures and they have strayed out of the legends and targeted Leo.

This latest novel, published sixty years after Ramsey Campbell’s first story – The Inhabitant of the Lake - is an enthralling story encompassing elements of the Nazi obsession with the supernatural and cult of the master race, mixed in with Lovecraftian threads and woven together in the author’s inimitable style. The sense of creeping dread that pervades Campbell’s work is well to the fore and keeps the reader hooked and guessing to the end.

Ramsey Campbell has lost none of his ability to tantalize, intrigue, hook and send us, his readers, scurrying under our duvets, hoping the monsters he has so clearly presented on the page don’t come after us.

The Incubations is for anyone who loves great fiction and accomplished prose, served up with a ticking time bomb and a twisted ending.

Another instant classic from the wonderful Mr Campbell. Only he can make eating salad, trying to locate a dropped mobile phone or walking along the street feel like truly horrific moments. This tale combines ancient curses, Nazi occultism and everyday paranoia into a fine stew that will have fans of Campbell (and horror fans in general) looking over their shoulders and seeing things that shouldn’t be there. Highly recommended.