The Fisherman is at once a fanciful tale of black magic and folk horror (and extended fishing metaphors), and a deeply grim realistic portrayal of loss, and how fully you can lose yourself in its overwhelming depths. John Langan takes these adages and transforms them into something more. Water as a metaphor for grief is as old as the sayings that come with it (drowning in grief, an ocean of grief, and on and on). Ghost stories are often stories about grief, and The Fisherman, although not a typical ghost story in many ways, is no different. Out of all genres, it often feels the most able to grapple with the daunting task of capturing such an indescribably dark experience. In a way, horror and grief go hand in hand. I recently (today) finished the novel The Fisherman by John Langan, practically in one sitting, and had to write down my thoughts.
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