Media, in any given genre, throws up myriad different versions; some will be for commercial consumption, fun in and of themselves, whereas others will strive to say something about the world of the author. The werewolf novel has often been the subject of some of the most generic pulp or horror tropes. Then there are times when an author will take a genre and try to use it to say something about the world.

Red Moon by Benjamin Percy, winner of the prestigious Whiting Writers’ Award, creates a world where werewolves exist alongside their human counterparts, although the two races do not live together harmoniously.

Three disparate characters, seemingly unconnected whose fates are inextricably linked in a world divided. Patrick Gamble is an ordinary young man until he finds himself on a plane with a Lycan terrorist who kills all the passengers, only the fact that he is buried beneath another victims body saves him. President Chase Williams, following the attack, vows to get tough with the Lycan insurgents, whilst at the same time dealing with the fact that having been bitten, he too is a Lycan and Claire Forrester is living an ordinary live until agents kick down her door, kill her parents, forcing her on the run.

Percy’s work reminded me very much of Stephen King, in the sense that Percy goes to great lengths to build and develop his characters. There is horror but the emphasis does not appear to be on grossing out the reader. This is a literate attempt at a horror novel, with action aplenty.

Whilst the best novels work on many levels I did find the use of the Lycan troubling. They are used in a way that mirrors the equal rights fight in sixties America, but more than this there is a direct connection between the Americans fighting in the Lycan Republic and the radicalisation of local Lycans to the situation in America today, even including a September 11th type attack.

Allegory is a valid literary tool to discuss modern problems in a fictional world, but I think Percy went a little too far when he likens the creation of the Lycans to a disease, is he stating that he thinks the spread of Islam is akin to a disease and should be dealt with accordingly? Only the author can answer.

Well written, the book's overall feeling is heavy with little in the way of humour or lightness to offer tonal shades. The allegory is heavy handed and the characters fail to excite. Still, it’s a good attempt at elevating the genre.

7

Charles Packer