IN THE LAND OF THE PIGS:
A Western Horror Novella
By Caesar Ruell
***
Levi Harlen is a butcher in Crow’s River, struggling to get by, running his shop and taking care of his wife, Adeline, who has come down with a terrible illness. Within the wild, wretched town he lives in, Levi also has to contend with the violence and murder that have become startlingly commonplace, as of late. But those on higher plains have been watching, and they’ve decided that a correction is desperately needed.
Soon, a storm sweeps in, and the townsfolk deemed genuinely evil are transformed into pig-creatures – grotesque human-animal hybrids with otherworldly strength and an insatiable bloodlust. The most sinful among them, is a vicious outlaw named Benjamin Sidney, who lost a part of his skull in the war, causing him to speak in Shakespearian dialect, and who is thought to be the leader of the pigs.
When a celestial messenger informs Levi that his wife has succumbed to her disease, at the same time, she offers him a deal – cleanse the land of the creatures, and he will get Adeline back.
Will the butcher be able to stop the pigs’ rampage, or is he destined to simply become the slops in their feeding troughs?
***
Review
In the Land of the Pigs by Caesar Ruell is one part extreme supernatural western horror and one part profound statement about people and society. This story is gruesome, evocative, and deeply impactful, but it’s also full of wild action and dark humor.
So many things set this story apart. One is the nostalgic use of martial arts in an old west setting, which is both amusing and cheekily reminiscent of old movies. Another is the daring level of supernatural and cosmic elements, which, in my opinion, make it that much more fun. Most clever to me is the reverse Rapture scenario that’s going on and how it reflects and defines the current state of humanity.
There are wild fight scenes, graphic gruesomeness, entertaining dialogue, wicked humor, intriguing suspense, and a horse who just wants to go home. But at the heart of it all is an imperfect but good and simple man with a broken heart who is willing to face what he must for the love of his life, even if that means wading into a situation beyond his understanding and facing an evil beyond his ken.
Levi and what he represents is contrasted sharply by the symbolism of the pig-men and their brutal, vicious greed. The depth does not hamper the entertainment factor but rather compliments it, and I found the ending to be deep and wrenching.
There is so much here to appreciate, but Extreme Horror and Splatterpunk fans only, please.
***
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About the Author: Caesar Ruell
Caesar Ruell is the author of The Circus of Hungry Clowns, along with several other written works of horror. When not writing, he is usually working his day job, hiking, golfing, playing guitar, or spending time with his partner – who is not a fan of horror whatsoever.
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