The Fisherman Audiobook By John Langan cover art

The Fisherman

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The Fisherman

By: John Langan
Narrated by: Danny Campbell
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In upstate New York, in the woods around Woodstock, Dutchman's Creek flows out of the Ashokan Reservoir. Steep-banked, fast-moving, it offers the promise of fine fishing, and of something more, a possibility too fantastic to be true. When Abe and Dan, two widowers who have found solace in each other's company and a shared passion for fishing, hear rumors of the Creek, and what might be found there, the remedy to both their losses, they dismiss it as just another fish story.

Soon, though, the men find themselves drawn into a tale as deep and old as the Reservoir. It's a tale of dark pacts, of long-buried secrets, and of a mysterious figure known as Der Fischer: the Fisherman. It will bring Abe and Dan face to face with all that they have lost, and with the price they must pay to regain it.

©2016 John Langan (P)2017 Tantor Genre Fiction Horror Sea Adventures Scary
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Critic reviews

"Shifting between past and present, Langan builds terrifying scenes...the mythology is genuinely creepy." ( Publishers Weekly)

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Hands down, the best audio book I've ever heard. 1st one I've ever shared, absolutely fantastic.

An instant classic...

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First off I want to comment on the quality of the writing in The Fisherman. It's vivid. Wow. Puts you right there.

You might not be into fishing, but if you even had a mild exposure to someone who was into it, accompanying them to try it out, say, this story recreates all the details, sensations and even mental perceptions, exactly. To the nth degree. You're standing on the stream bank again, letting the beauty of the locale sink in, the soft burble of the water, the soothing shades of green and brown, the warmth of sunshine on your shoulders, feeling life's cares slough away.

The story also delves indepth into grief. The main character and secondary character go through it. Again, it's captured perfectly. To the nth degree. Where you're at mentally, physically, as well as the external influences like work and societal interactions during this emotional time. How the older character was extended compassion, the company giving him leave and turning a blind eye on his bad days, while the younger (several years later during changing times and a competitive market) was expected to be at his desk within days of his loss or be fired.

If you've lived through that kind of work experience the story is intense, bringing up emotions you thought were long buried. If not, it's still gripping, giving you a heads up what it's like. And like I said, vivid.

And then about a third of the way through The Fisherman transitions into a story being told to the MC, recounting the history and background of the legend of 'the fisherman'. While it's fascinating material, the abrupt loss of intensity and vividness breaks the reader's emotional engagement. The new characters don't have the same depth of detail which results in being distanced from what they're dealing with. Which is where the creepy, supernatural elements are introduced. They're really good creepy, supernatural elements, but instead of gripping you down deep like the start of the book, it's a shallower experience.

Which is a pity. I suppose Langan was playing with writing styles, staying true to form and letting the reader know this part of the story is suspect. It could be a recounting of Lovecraftian horrors that are lurking in the area or it could just be a tall tale told to the tourists up from the city.

Danny Campbell does a great job on narration. His light pitch and slight rasp to his voice is a perfect fit for an older character and makes his recounting of events utterly believable.

Well worth the credit.

Vivid

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Loved this book, had me engrossed from start to finish. Couldn't put it down. Would highly recommend it.

Loved it

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the story was original, I'll give it that, but not much else. Very little actual suspense and horror for me, especially because of the narration. A droaning voice, no difference between characters, and by the end I just wanted it to be over.

The feel was like your grandfather telling a very long fishing story, that might have been what they were going for but it just didn't work for me.

Like listening to your grandpa

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get past the first hour and you won't regret it. the story weaves a bit but the complete narrative is worth reading

unexpectedly good very well narrated.

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