The Magic Cottage

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Potter, Adam Lee (5 September 2012). "James Herbert: My new thriller about Princess Diana's secret son". Daily Express . Retrieved 1 September 2017.

The finale is both impressive and daunting in its wildly elaborate and imaginative outburst of the surreal. Tolkien-esque with the elements of sorcery that take predominance within the last stages of the tale, the final battle of good versus evil takes on nigh on epic proportions.

Shortly after their arrival, they were greeted by some human neighbors, members of some sort of cult that lived in a nearby old manor house. They seemed friendly enough, if a little strange, but the local town did not like them at all. Something is not quite right about the cottage, however. Besides the friendly local wildlife, Mike and Midge seemed to have creative spells that are unprecedented. Further, a lot of the work that needed to be done to the cottage that they noted was mysteriously fixed before the repair crew arrived. It seems the cottage is somehow a channel for magic, at first for the good, but perhaps there is a dark side as well... Cult: From their mansion retreat, the Synergists' peddling of homemade goods, and attempt to indoctrinate the youth of Cantrip, earn a disdainful such reputation. Mike is somewhat unsettled by their earnest openness. Their seemingly harmless bid to commune with the "Divine Will," said to permeate all, turns out to be not so harmless - leader Mycroft is a power-crazed fanatic.

Starfish Aliens: Possibly - in a glimpse of deep space offered by Mycroft's channelling of cosmic energy, Mike and Midge see, amidst the hinted stars and planets, "shapes that were sometimes human and sometimes vast expanses of protoplasmic masses, a coagulation of life forms."

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The conclusion is a well-rounded and a thoroughly entertaining read that mixes in some impressively likeable characters with a truly enchanting storyline. Imagination is given precedence in this glorious story of ‘the perfect fairy-tale ’ that takes on a dark and cancerous twist. The Stoner: Mike's old pal, tour manager Bob, to an overnight stay at Gramarye, sneaks some "bad shit." That night, it seems to enhance his encounter with something he saw downstairs to leave him paralysed with fear. a b Schudel, Matt (22 March 2013). "James Herbert, Britain's Stephen King, dies at 69". The Washington Post . Retrieved 24 March 2013. He was one of our greatest popular novelists, whose books are sold in thirty-three other languages, including Russian and Chinese. Widely imitated and hugely influential, his 19 novels have sold more than 42 million copies worldwide.

James Herbert wa Cabell, Craig (2003). James Herbert: Devil in the Dark. United Kingdom: John Blake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84358-059-1. Spark, Alasdair (1993). "Horrible Writing: the Early Fiction of James Herbert". In Bloom, Clive (ed.). Creepers: British Horror & Fantasy in the Twentieth Century. London: Pluto Press. pp.147–160. ISBN 9780745306650. a b c d Holland, Steve (21 March 2013). "James Herbert obituary". Guardian.co.uk. London . Retrieved 24 March 2013. Godhood Seeker: Mycroft’s desire to tap the magic leyline of Gramarye is driven by the unadulterated power it would give him.

Hermit Guru: Reclusive Flora Chaldean was known for some healing ability, and guarded the secret of Gramarye against the insidious influence of the Synergists. Sealed Good in a Can: The benevolent magic innate to Gramarye nurtures Mike and Midge's creativity and intimacy.

Empathic Environment: Gramarye's manifestations seem to respond both to benevolence and malignancy. Once the ghost of Flora passes the power of the cottage to Mike, every object within the round room exudes a "blue-violet sheen."

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Williamson, J.N., ed. (1987). Masques II: All-New Stories of Horror and the Supernatural. Baltimore: Maclay & Assoc. ISBN 978-0-940776-24-1. From the very beginning, Herbert weaves a magical, fairy-tale like story, drawing together elements of mysterious surprises with a rich tapestry of intriguing twists. The characters are each brought to life with nurtured and well developed personalities that complement the unfolding storyline. Indeed, everything seems to somehow fit snugly in to place, even the strange almost ‘magical ’ aspects. That is, until the Synergists show up on the scene. Het einde voelt als een explosie van geweld vergeleken met het rustige karakter van de rest van het boek. In a nearby mansion which serves as the Synergist Temple, a darkened room is built in the shape of a double pyramid, to channel energy from both above and below. urn:lcp:magiccottage00herb:epub:da70915f-d0ac-4583-a35d-171c3aba178b Extramarc OhioLINK Library Catalog Foldoutcount 0 Identifier magiccottage00herb Identifier-ark ark:/13960/t80k34775 Isbn 0451401069