Strange Journeys Without and Within
Tony Tremblay - Dark Roads Traveled: Four Novellas
Reviewed by Barry Lee Dejasu
The history of four-novella collections in dark and horror fiction is rich with varied and masterful works. Stephen King, of course, has Different Seasons (1982), Four Past Midnight (1990), and If It Bleeds (2020). Rick Hautala had a fall-themed collection of interconnected works, Four Octobers (2006). And T. E. D. Klein’s seminal Dark Gods (1985) is considered a classic of modern horror. So it is that New Hampshire author Tony Tremblay has joined these ranks with his new release, Dark Roads Traveled.
In Orange Eyes, a troubled taxi driver discovers that his own mysteries—amnesia, and orange-colored eyes—are uncannily mirrored by someone else: his fare’s sister. Soon, the trio embark upon a dark, hallucinatory, feverish journey to figure out the mystery that binds them all together.
The eponymous Cabin on the Mountain marks the entrance to a path upon which many a person has traveled, never to be seen again. A mysterious caretaker heralds these visitors along their journeys, although even he doesn’t know what awaits them. But his whole world gets turned upside-down with the arrival of a vengeful husband seeking his runaway wife and, soon after, a young boy trying to escape his abusive father. This tale also begins with a mysterious and heartbreaking illustration of a wife struggling to care for her husband, who has been suffering dementia—setting up for a genuine surprise for when these roads converge…
Ghosts is full of surprises, starting with those that a woman discovers upon moving into her new home—a grisly history of murder that occurred within its walls. Things quickly become eerier as signs of something uncanny manifest, driving her to seek information and help from neighbors and locals alike—and she very quickly realizes just how far in over her head she really is. There are some clever spins on the notions of ghosts here, transcending expectations and making for a very unpredictable tale.
And finally, The Tempest may not have to do with Shakespeare, but it is every bit as unique and vast a tale. An apocalypse is upon us, both with literal storms as well as a sound that kills people and animals alike. The atmospheric descriptions are palpably real throughout this tale, positing the reader directly alongside its two main characters, an elderly man and a young woman, as they struggle to survive in this dangerous and darkening world—leading them to a hole in the ground that holds mystery and maybe, just maybe, hope.
These four tales of horror and wonder are as memorable as they are unique, yet all told in Tremblay’s distinct and confidently comfortable voice. A signature of his works is the frequent use of the very real town of Goffstown, New Hampshire, as their setting and backdrop. Charles L. Grant set much of his works in his fictional town of Oxrun Station; Stephen King frequently returns to his towns of Castle Rock and Derry; Kevin Lucia has Clifton Heights—and so Tremblay has Goffstown, with some familiar sights and sounds recurring, including his frequent protagonist, Goffstown Police Department Captain Pendleton.
A personal confession: I’m a big fan of stories set in a single, shared universe, both in what I read and what I write, and so I greatly enjoyed this aspect of these novellas. I personally have never been to Goffstown, but with the rich illustrations and atmosphere in describing it, it is both familiar and effective for me in Tremblay’s storytelling template.
Dark Roads Traveled is a strong and memorable collection of four tales, and is not to be missed. Take these journeys today—and be sure to share your experiences when you return.
