As an instructor in his parents’ driving school, Leo Parker should always maintain proper control while teaching. However, when his language skills degenerate during his most recent trip on the roads, he finds his control over basic functions slipping. The pupil believes he is teasing at first, but ultimately assumes he’s making fun of her dyslexia. He is doing neither of these things. He is caught up in strangeness.

Might this have to do with a trauma from long ago, witnessing the death of a school chum while he was young? Or does it perhaps have to do with a trip he took to Germany, visit a pen pal he’s had since his youthful school days? Or could he possibly be the target of some sinister external force he can neither explain or understand?

Soon, he discovers the strangeness is not only affecting him, but those around him. His father loses his driving skills for a time. Leo’s mother loses her confidence in cooking … and her desire for food at all. And their livelihood is called into question when the car stinks of cannabis, convincing the local authorities it might be used to smuggle illegal drugs. Only Leo’s fiancé Ellen seems unaffected by these odd circumstances. But how long will she be exempt from the weird rash?

And when a presentation he gives to his town about the location he visited reveals some curious, unidentifiable fauna in the snapshots, Leo starts to believe that he may have brought a supernatural force back with him. The Alphafen region has a troubled history. Even before it became a favored vacation spot for Adolf Hitler, it was home to fiendish folklore. But why would his chum Hanna Weber or her kindly family expose him to such things? Perhaps the folks he thought friends are not as friendly as they seem.

If Leo is infected with horror instead of suffering from simple psychological issues, as Ellen believes, then he will have to find a way to cure his affliction. Otherwise, he will simply continue sowing misrule and misery among those he interacts with. Ramsey Campbell weaves folk horror and psychological horror elements together in his latest novel, The Incubations.

Some of the best horror fiction does not aim for conventional “horror” at all but veers into the realms of unease. Ramsey Campbell evokes this kind of dread through his fiction with enviable proficiency. This latest work is a psychological piece, a look into the unraveling life of a man who may be suffering mental breakdowns or a supernatural affliction. Either way, Leo’s journey is one that takes him into disquieting terrain and carries Campbell’s readers along for the ride.

His prose is carefully crafted, suggesting just enough to get the imaginations filling in the blanks and galloping into nightmare. Large buildings that somehow become inescapable labyrinths, peculiar butterflies appearing in photographs in places they were not visible in life, vermin in foodstuffs, rooms that feel close enough to squeeze the air from the lungs, loss of control … Campbell is playing with all manner of surreal fears here, putting a plethora of phobias to wonderful effect. Much of the horror here is of the quieter variety, but there is a set piece in the final quarter that ought to appeal to readers looking for a more visceral shock like those found in, say, the stories found in the author’s Scared Stiff collection.

However, the author is also playing with folklore. There’s a linguistic playfulness at work in the title, relating to a mythical beastie. But Campbell builds up some local legends for the region Leo ventures to and eventually returns from, which is steadily revealed over the course of the book. Although Leo is no academic, there is a sense of his undergoing an M. R. Jamesian journey into unsettling folk tales and the very real horrors that gave rise to them. The nods to dark fiction explorers of the past abound, but this is no pastiche. The Incubations is a wholly original product of Campbell’s imagination, which continues to synthesize his own unique vision with the methods and elements found in Machen, James, Lovecraft, Smith, and other purveyors of nightmare fiction.

Here, we also get a sense of satiric jabs at the social scene both in Britain as well as over on the continent. Leo’s trip to meet his pen pal Hanna is seen by locals as nothing less than some kind of international coming together, with the protagonist as ambassador. His trip is greeted warmly by many, and less so by a handful of folks in each location. One of the local naysayers is Paddy Bloore, a politician in the Brian Johnson mold, loud and brash and bandying about Brexit-type ideologies. On the other side is a fellow who despises Leo as being cast from the same mold as Bloore.

Campbell also employs the wry, dark humor he’s known for. In addition to the complications of language, the social awkwardness of dealing with people who cannot help but read too much into what one another says, there are some more overtly comic situations. Uneasy ones, to be sure. For example, as Leo’s situation progresses, he soon discovers the one person who might have the answers he seeks is a German historian he met while in Alphafen, a loud individual who turned out to be a Nazi sympathizer. Jerome Pugh is someone whose ideology Leo cannot condone, but he is repeatedly put in the man’s company, and each instance is both unsettling and played for situational humor. As well, Leo’s parents have a cop for a neighbor, and he stops by to mention the deepening mess Leo finds himself caught up in. Each appearance of the copper adds additional levels of absurd bureaucratic complications to his already overwhelming difficulties. And absurdity is found somewhere between the disturbing and the humorous.

Some readers may have issues with the pacing. Reading Campbell’s fiction is a much more active endeavor than some readers might anticipate or wish in their leisure reading. This book features a slow burn opening that may turn off readers looking for fright from the first page. Instead, they are given a day in the life of a protagonist who is slowly losing control of his words, offering cheeky spins on more or less traditional names and terms. There is not even a whiff of a supernatural presence until later chapters and even then, we are left to wonder if this aspect is for real. Keeping a balance between the “is this paranormal or not” for any length of time is no small feat. But Campbell performs it nicely, giving us plenty of glimpses into Leo’s experiences and interpretations while also giving Ellen and Leo’s therapist Dr. Chattopadhyay as voices of reason, trying to penetrate magical thinking with far more mundane solutions. This is all cleverly done, adding to the mystery.

In the final analysis, The Incubations is a slow burn chiller of the best sort, showcasing Ramsey Campbell’s talent for manipulating mundane details in such a sly way to reveal terrors dwelling just out of sight. Drawing upon some intriguing folklore and elements of classic horror fiction, Campbell weaves a loose but compelling narrative, inviting readers to plumb the darkest depths that high quality psychological horror has to offer. Campbell long ago proved his mastery at this sort of material, and here we find him trying new angle and approaches with eagerness, style, and no small amount of wit. This darkly comic horror with a satiric punch is another terrific release from one of the UK’s finest horror writers.

A masterful blend of character development and storytelling creates an instant horror classic, leaving readers unsettled.

The book is a gripping exploration of psychological horror that pulls you in with its slow-burn suspense. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the story follows Leo Parker, a driving instructor who embarks on a trip to Alphafen, Germany, to reconnect with his pen pal, Hanna. What starts as a seemingly normal visit quickly spirals into unsettling experiences that blur reality and nightmare.

The author has a knack for creating a chilling atmosphere, and the dialogue highlights the difficulties of communication in a confusing world. The folkloric elements of the story add an eerie touch, making you question what’s real and what’s not. While some might find the pacing a bit slow, it allows for deeper character exploration, adding layers to the tension. Overall, This book showcases Campbell's talent for weaving together everyday life with unsettling horror. It’s not his scariest work, but its psychological depth and eerie vibe make it a compelling read. Fans of horror will appreciate this thoughtful entry, earning it a solid four stars.

A thoughtful slow burn of unsettling suspense rather than an out and out horror, the Incubations is strong late period Campbell. There is a delightfully unnerving quality to much of the dialogue, with an inability to speak on a common wavelength with family or strangers being a recurrent issue; Campbell brings out the inherent challenge of making oneself understood in a world that doesn’t quite make sense.
Loved the concept of the Alps, the folkloric aspect is strong and emphasises the off-kilter nature of events.

After the end of the Second World War, in an effort to promote unity and forgiveness, the English town of Settlesham was twinned with Alphafen in Germany. Schoolboy Leo Parker began a pen-pal correspondence with Hanna Weber, and for decades the two have continued this long-distance relationship. Now an adult, he decides at last to visit Hannah in her hometown.

His stay in Alphafen seems enjoyable and enlightening. But as soon as he leaves the town, his life begins to unravel. An experience at the airport is disconcerting and troublesome, a family meal becomes grotesquely nightmarish, and when he attends a council meeting to report on his trip, the images appear to have taken on a life of their own. Is Leo losing his grip on reality or has his trip awakened some ancient Alpine legend from its slumber? Has he returned to England with more than just memories of his trip?

The Incubations is published by Flame Tree Press to mark the 60 years since Ramsey Campbell’s first book was released. Campbell is one of Britain’s finest exponents of the weird tale, and The Incubations is a fitting testament to the author’s career. The novel’s central character, Leo Parker, works for his parents’ driving instructor company, and there’s a refreshingly down-to-earth feel to this. Which makes it all the more frightening when the line between reality and nightmare becomes blurred. This element of Campbell’s writing style is so masterful that it feels almost a trademark part of him. The novel is laced with black humour – albeit much of it due to the characters’ linguistic confusion or through the author’s clever word-play – and there’s an overriding sense of impending threat that propels the story forward.

It would impossible to overstate Ramsey Campbell’s impact and influence on the horror scene – he’s won more awards than any other writer in the field – and The Incubations is a terrific novel, deeply unsettling and dazzlingly original. His early work displayed obvious influences from such writers as HP Lovecraft, MR James and Arthur Machen, but over his career he has carefully honed his own distinct style and created his unique mythos, allowing his own voice to be heard. And what a voice it is. I’ve been a fan of his work since I first came across The Doll Who Ate His Mother back when I was a teenager, and I looked forward to reading his latest short stories in the annual Best New Horror series edited by Stephen Jones. A quick scan of his bibliography will evidence titles that are classics of the genre. After 60 years at the top of his game, his latest novel shows no sign of him losing his touch. The Incubations is yet another fantastic entry into the annals of weird fiction. Highly recommended.

Another great read from Ramsey Campbell. Never disappoints. Great characters, a great story/plot, and great pacing. Always look forward to a new release from Ramsey Campbell. #TheIncubations #NetGalley

Over the last few years Flame Tree Press has undoubtedly become the new home-from-home for horror legend Ramsey Campbell, who have released a number of both new novels and repackaged a number of his older works. His latest release, The Incubations, coincides with the celebrations connected to the author’s sixty years since he was first published. As a reader I have particularly enjoyed Campbell’s association with Flame Tree Press, the blend of old and new fiction is nicely balanced due to the fact that his recent output is so strong Campbell does not need to fall back upon past glories. However, mining one of the most outstanding back-catalogues in 20th century horror fiction for rereleases such as Ancient Images, The Influence (1988) and the much more recent Three Births of Daoloth trilogy is a clever move, hopefully bringing this unique talent to a younger generation of readers.

Although many of Campbell’s recent novels have been top drawer, check out Thirteen Days at Sunset Beach (2018), The Wise Friend (2020), Somebody’s Voice (2021) and The Lonely Lands (2023), his latest tested my patience. It was not a long book, and I never came close to abandoning it, but it ended when things were warming up after a lot of faffing around. There was barely anything supernatural in large parts of the novel which might well frustrate many readers. As I’ve read most of Campbell’s recent fiction, I have noticed his central characters have just become too samey; they’re argumentative, usually cross and always angry about something or someone. They also have an annoying habit of continually answering a question with their own question. Leo Parker is the main can in The Incubations and is slightly younger than most of Campbell’s main characters but behaves exactly the same as all the others lurching between bewilderment and confusion. He was incredibly unlikable and I had zero sympathy for the predicament he finds himself in.

The premise of The Incubations had a lot of promise but the manner in which it was delivered was clunky, much too talky, and underwhelming. Leo works as a driving instructor and after a trip to the German town of Alphafen (near Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest) begins to have nightmares and is paranoid something has followed him from Germany back to the UK. Historically, his local town has been paired with Alphafen and he renews a pen pal contact from his childhood. There are further complications brought on by the fact that this area was very badly bombed by Britain in the Second World War with questions over where blame and guilt ought to lie.

Bubbling in the background is the idea that there were occult or supernatural goings on during the war and that they are far from dead, tracking Leo back in the UK. Ramsey Cambell novels are usually littered with memorable scenes and set pieces; this was rather pedestrian and I struggled to follow the timeline from the war era, via the pen pal letters to Leo as an adult. On one occasion Leo tries to buy and then busy a mobile phone, on others avoids telephone calls from Germany, furtherly gets into a confrontation after helping a seemingly lost child. He seems to be permanently confused and the scenes with his parents, the success of their driving school, was more soap opera than horror. Accusations are thrown willy-nilly, (somebody might have poisoned the punch!) but this came across as an episode of Midsummer Murders, rather than a horror novel. There many well be Lovecraftian strands lurking in the ether but they were much to far in the background for my taste and there was very little to unsettle in this rather bland offering.

Long term fans may well be able to glean some nuggets from The Incubations, but of all the Campbell novels I have read this was one of the weakest and is not one I would recommend to a reader looking to investigate his work. In my recently published The YA Horror 400 almanac the prologue discusses some of my favourite adult horror novels and those I recommended to teenagers in the school library where I work and recount the story of a sixteen year old boy who said he had a nightmare after reading The Grin of the Dark (2007). So if you are looking to explore Ramsey Campbell, that’s the place to start, where you will discover this magnificent author at his terrifying best.

It starts with an ordinary man who works as a driving instructor for the family firm, but Leo Parker’s life of turning novices into safe drivers is about to abruptly change. He starts seeing things and has nightmares so vivid, the lines between his dream world and everyday life become hopelessly blurred.

But it is about to get worse. Much, much worse. A trip to Alphafen – near Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest – appears to have left a frightening legacy and, as Leo discovers, when the Weber family talk about Alps, they don’t necessarily mean the picturesque mountain range. These are creatures and they have strayed out of the legends and targeted Leo.

This latest novel, published sixty years after Ramsey Campbell’s first story – The Inhabitant of the Lake - is an enthralling story encompassing elements of the Nazi obsession with the supernatural and cult of the master race, mixed in with Lovecraftian threads and woven together in the author’s inimitable style. The sense of creeping dread that pervades Campbell’s work is well to the fore and keeps the reader hooked and guessing to the end.

Ramsey Campbell has lost none of his ability to tantalize, intrigue, hook and send us, his readers, scurrying under our duvets, hoping the monsters he has so clearly presented on the page don’t come after us.

The Incubations is for anyone who loves great fiction and accomplished prose, served up with a ticking time bomb and a twisted ending.

I'm usually a fan of Campbell's work but this one read as a bit of a disjointed mess. The prose was all over the place and the story almost indiscernible. Not one for me.

I’m giving this a three on the strength of it being a really terribly paced first book in a trilogy as opposed to a really terrible stand alone book. Very little gels and there are a lot of extraneous elements.

Another instant classic from the wonderful Mr Campbell. Only he can make eating salad, trying to locate a dropped mobile phone or walking along the street feel like truly horrific moments. This tale combines ancient curses, Nazi occultism and everyday paranoia into a fine stew that will have fans of Campbell (and horror fans in general) looking over their shoulders and seeing things that shouldn’t be there. Highly recommended.