Author | Critic
For many fans of fiction writing, the horror genre is exciting, tense and leaves uncomfortable impressions regarding characters set in everyday life. For Calgary-based author Mike Thorn, the uncomfortable nature of the horror genre is what inspired him and his debut novel Shelter for the Damned.
“A gifted horror writer weds the realities of real world terror to the realities of supernatural terror….which is what Mike Thorn does exceptionally well.”
“To sum up my thoughts on this book in one word, I’m IMPRESSED. […] Though the premise and setting aren’t particularly abnormal, the author digs deep into the psyche of the main character and warps everything into a maddening descent from ordinary suburban life to a truly horrifying nightmare.”
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“What Thorn explores to great effect […] is what you don’t see when walking those streets at night. Malice lurking behind practiced smiles. Violence hidden behind manicured lawns.”
“With this short novel, Thorn tackles unknown sentient horrors, teenage rage, violence, and toxic masculinity in a stunning and intimate debut.”
“We made it through 2020, folks. We did it! As a reward, we’ve got an absolutely stacked year ahead of us when it comes to 2021’s new horror books. There are already over 100 titles on our radar for this year, with more expected to be announced for publication in the fall and winter. New releases include Grady Hendrix, Rivers Solomon, Stephen Graham Jones, Brian Evenson, Cassandra Khaw, Richard Chizmar, Zoje Stage, Josh Malerman, Cynthia Pelayo, Gemma Files, Ramsey Campbell, Catriona Ward, Chuck Wendig, Jeffrey Ford, V. Castro, and many, many, many more.”
What inspired Shelter for the Damned?
Like most creative projects, Shelter for the Damned took inspiration from numerous places. I wanted to write something in the suburban horror tradition, and I wanted to write something with adolescent characters. I drew a lot on the novels of Hubert Selby Jr. and Jim Thompson, specifically their pessimism and their unblinking commitment to disturbed protagonists devoured by their own demons …
“The novel’s pacing is relentless. You may find yourself breathing only during page turns. Thorn has a real knack for building intensity to a fever pitch and letting the effect carry over into the action. His prose is smooth and his dialogue stretches the anger of juvenile angst without forcing it into unnatural banter. What’s really terrifying about this novel is its fidelity to the suburban experience—that is, what’s scary is how realistic so much of it is.”
Mike Thorn 