Old Reads (1988) – In Silence Sealed by Kathryn Ptacek. Tor Horror. By Brian Kirst
Evolving from established facts, Kathryn Ptacek’s involving In Silence Sealed proves that horror can emanate from even the most romantic settings. More importantly, Ptacek also takes the effects of a little seen monstrosity – the deadly power of the succubus – and gives it a mysterious resonance and far reaching effect.
Traveling to Greece, want-to-be painter Winston Early makes the acquaintance of famous Romantic poet Lord Byron. Quickly Early discovers that upon each of their subsequent meetings, the highly regarded writer’s vibrancy fades further and further. It is when Early finds himself in danger, though, that Byron finally collapses into his sorrowful tale. Byron claims to have been seduced in a dream state by the life sucking Kristonosos sisters – and soon acknowledges that he is actually the third in line to receive their deadly attentions. Fellow poets Percy Bysshe Shelley and John Keats have already suffered the fate of death at the hands of the lovely icy bosomed duo.
Ptacek inventively takes the circumstances of the brief lives of the great poets and imagines an exotic, frightening end for them. Enhanced by familiar characters, including Mary Shelley (Frankenstein) who makes a powerful impression, Ptacek confirms that history is never dull especially when a chilling imagination is in full bloom.
Ultimately, a powerful dread permeates her writing and the shocking, adventure laden ending also ensures that one need not be an English major (though that interest is obviously acknowledged) to enjoy the shocking treats that lay between the Kristonosos’ thighs and the sentences of Ptacek’s florid prose.
(Note: It is a true horror if you don’t support the independents. In Chicago, check out After-Words bookstore at 23 E. Illinois, 312-464-1110, for your terror bound old reads needs.)
