I made the “mistake” of seeking out biographical information concerning the author before I began reading his book. (Granted, this is a common enough occurrence with me, as I suspect it is with others). In brief, here is what I discovered: Tom Reamy died shortly before "Blind Voices" saw print, at the age of forty-two. He passed in perhaps the best possible way a writer could go: hunched over his typewriter, seven pages into his newest and final story, having just suffered a heart attack. It’s quite a powerful image, and I think this, coupled with the incredible tale Reamy bequeathed to the world, tore at my emotions nearly every step the way. The novel has been compared to Ray Bradbury’s "Something Wicked This Way Comes", which is what initially attracted me to it. There is also an aspect of Stephen King’s "Firestarter" that readers will recognize (though TR’s novel came out two years before SK’s tale of telekinesis). For quite some time I have been interested in writings set in the 1930s, and to have a novel this rich in period detail is quite a gift. Not only is it extremely well-written, but the characters (from the townsfolk to the freaks comprising Mr. Haverstock’s “Traveling Curiosus and Wondershow”) are endlessly fascinating. I am so grateful to have found this book (which, tragically, has long been out of print). It is, in my opinion, a masterpiece of its kind, and one which I will surely revisit.
SO I found out about this book by perusing a GR member's bookshelves, and thought 'Huh, interesting title, circus plot, compared to Ray Bradbury, gotta check it out'. It was impossible to find a copy anywhere. It's from the 60's, written by a guy who died at a young age, eliminating the opportunity to write anything else. A Shame, that. Taking place in a little wheat and farm town in Kansas, we are introduced to a traveling curiosus and wondershow, boasting an incredible freakshow line up - Medusa, a Snake-woman, a Mermaid, a Minotaur, and an Angel the Magic Boy...to name a few.Are they for real? How do they pull it all off? It's all the towns folk can talk about. Unlike most other traveling shows, this one's got something dark and dangerous brewing in the shadows. While not as creepy as I would have liked it to be,(I mean, C'mon! They compare it to Bradbury) it did keep me turning the pages... The more I read, the more I knew, the more I WANTED to know...
Do You like book Blind Voices (2003)?
A beautiful and haunting story, somewhat reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's best and creepiest work. When a traveling circus comes to a small Kansas town, the locals are intrigued by the chance to see strange creatures like Tiny Tim, a cyclops, a mermaid, and a snake woman, among others. When Evelyn Bradley meets the Angel Boy, a mystery and a love story are simultaneously launched. Soon enough, strange things begin to happen in town. As Evelyn investigates, the secrets slowly come into the light. Part love story, part thriller, part mystery, this story is entirely captivating.
—Bill
http://nhw.livejournal.com/952841.html[return][return]Blind Voices is set in the same fictional Kansas town that forms the background to several of the short stories, but it doesn't really matter for continuity purposes: a travelling freak show comes to town, and brings sex and death in its wake. Some people have described it as Bardburyesque, but I think Reamy actually does better than Bradbury in some respects - in particular, the tone of horror is more gripping where Bradbury sometimes risks becoming twee. The book was apparently not completely finished at Reamy's death, but this was not obvious to me; there's a little unevenness of pacing, but I'd put that down to it being a first novel. Gripping and memorable.
—Nicholas Whyte
