Welcome back to Dissecting The Dark Descent, where we lovingly delve into the guts of David Hartwell’s seminal 1987 anthology story by story, and in the process, explore the underpinnings of a genre we all love. For an in-depth introduction, here’s the intro post.
Even if you haven’t read it, you’ve encountered “Sticks” by Karl Edward Wagner. Wagner’s unusual Adirondack gothic story about cosmic-horror folk art can be seen as an inspiration for works as diverse as Skinny Puppy songs, audio dramas, an “imaginary soundtrack” album, and most notably The Blair Witch Project. While its central image—odd configurations of sticks lashed together with a vague purpose—might be its most iconic element, it’s only a small part of what makes this story so effective. Rather, Wagner’s tight focus on his protagonist’s own mental state and limited interaction with the outside world, his use of more lurid and sudden horror elements, and the cryptic details suffused throughout the work all underscore the horror of Leverett’s predicament and the self-isolation that becomes his own undoing. Using this relatively simple structure, “Sticks” weaves a portrait of trauma, isolation, and obsession every bit as intricate and unnerving as the latticework of sticks Colin Leverett can’t help but obsess over.
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