Horns

Joe Hill

Orion Books / Gollancz (2010)

Reviewer: Jeremy Kong

Ignatius Perrish wakes up one morning with a massive hangover and finds he has grown horns. He has also developed a new, terrible ability. He can influence people to tell him their deepest, innermost secrets. They can’t help but tell him the truth and a lot of it is not pleasant. He can influence them to follow a particular course of action that he feels is right. Noone else can see the horns and nobody suspects his new ability, so Ig starts to use his new power to try to find out who murdered his girlfriend.

The story jumps back in time and we see he was a normal kid, if a little in the shadow of his big brother. He fell in love with Merrin Williams, the girl of his dreams, at church one day. He also met Lee at the same time. Lee became his best friend, even though he was regarded as a little strange following a childhood accident.

When Merrin was brutally raped and killed Ig was crucified by public opinion, even though there was no proof of his guilt. There was some evidence suggesting his brother may also have been involved in the killing. As the story seesaws between past and present we see betrayal, lies and red herrings confusing the issue. Ig’s new rather satanic abilities let him finally work out who the real killer was.

The story has an interesting take on the Devil and his role – he is more of a punisher than a corrupter.

“Even the Christians can’t decide what to do with him. I mean, think about it – him and God are supposed to be at war with each other. But if God hates sin and Satan punishes the sinners, aren’t they working the same side of the street? Aren’t the judge and the executioner on the same team?”

This is the dilemma now facing Ig. Is it now time to give the Devil his due? Can Ig be judge, jury and executioner?

Joe Hill is a comparatively new novelist. Horns is only his second novel after Heart Shaped Box , but he has honed his skills with a range of short stories. Many of these have been published in the compilation 20th Century Ghosts. Already he has been awarded the Ray Bradbury Fellowship as well as numerous other awards. We look forward to more of his work.

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This review will appear in Volume 3 No. 3 of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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