What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

The House of Usher Falls Again

There’s something rotten in the state of Ruravia. A creeping, crawling decay that seeps into the very bones of the land and its inhabitants. T. Kingfisher’s “What Moves the Dead” plunges readers into a world where the line between life and death becomes as blurred and permeable as the border between sanity and madness. This gripping novella, a reimagining of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” manages to both honor its source material and carve out its own uniquely disturbing identity.

A Soldier’s Tale

Our guide through this mycological nightmare is Alex Easton, a retired soldier from the fictional country of Gallacia. Easton, who uses the pronouns ka/kan, receives word that kan childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying. Without hesitation, ka sets off for the Usher ancestral home in remote Ruravia.

Kingfisher’s choice of protagonist is inspired. Easton’s military background provides a grounding, pragmatic perspective that serves as a counterpoint to the increasingly bizarre events. Ka is no stranger to death or horror, yet even Easton finds kanself unprepared for the otherworldly threat that lurks within the House of Usher.

A Fungal Menace

Upon arriving at the decaying Usher estate, Easton is confronted with a nightmarish tableau. The house itself seems to slouch under the weight of its own rot, while a dark, pulsing lake dominates the grounds. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices, her brother Roderick is consumed by a mysterious nervous affliction, and the local wildlife behaves in deeply unsettling ways.

The true star of this horror show, however, is the omnipresent fungus. Kingfisher’s fascination with mycology shines through in vivid, skin-crawling detail. From the stinking redgills that populate the grounds to the white, thread-like hyphae that begin to sprout from human skin, the fungal invasion is described with a mix of scientific precision and visceral revulsion that will have readers squirming in their seats.

A Stellar Supporting Cast

While Easton serves as our anchor, the supporting characters are equally well-drawn. Madeline and Roderick Usher are tragic figures, their decline mirroring that of their ancestral home. The American doctor Denton provides both medical expertise and an outsider’s perspective on the strange customs of this corner of Europe.

But it’s Miss Eugenia Potter, an English mycologist, who nearly steals the show. Her no-nonsense attitude and scientific approach to the horrors unfolding around her provide both comic relief and crucial plot advancement. One can’t help but wonder if Kingfisher drew inspiration from real-life mycologist Beatrix Potter (yes, that Beatrix Potter) in crafting this delightful character.

Gothic Horror Meets Body Horror

Kingfisher strikes a delicate balance between atmospheric dread and visceral revulsion. The decaying Usher mansion and the oppressive landscape surrounding it create a palpable sense of unease that permeates every page. But it’s when the fungal invasion begins to manifest in human bodies that the true horror takes hold.

The descriptions of Madeline’s transformation are particularly harrowing. The image of white hyphae sprouting from her skin, her neck bent at an unnatural angle as some alien intelligence puppets her corpse, will linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve finished the book.

A Timely Tale

While “What Moves the Dead” is set in the 1890s, its themes resonate strongly with our current moment. The idea of an unseen, insidious force that spreads through a population, altering minds and bodies, feels eerily relevant in our pandemic-altered world. The story also touches on issues of bodily autonomy, the limits of scientific understanding, and the sometimes blurry line between symbiosis and parasitism.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Kingfisher’s prose is a joy to read, striking the perfect balance between period-appropriate formality and modern readability. The pacing is relentless, with each new revelation ratcheting up the tension until the explosive finale.

The novella format serves the story well, allowing for a tight focus on the central mystery without getting bogged down in extraneous subplots. However, some readers may find themselves wishing for a bit more development of the world outside the Usher estate.

While the ending is satisfying, it does feel somewhat abrupt. The implications of the final revelations are so mind-bending that one can’t help but want to see them explored further. Perhaps this leaves room for a sequel? (Indeed, a follow-up titled “What Feasts at Night” is slated for release, promising to continue Easton’s adventures.)

In the Tradition of Weird Fiction

“What Moves the Dead” sits comfortably alongside other works of weird fiction, calling to mind not only Poe but also the fungal horrors of Jeff VanderMeer’s “Ambergris” series or the body horror of Junji Ito’s manga. Fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s “Mexican Gothic” will find much to love here, though Kingfisher’s take on sentient fungus is distinctly her own.

A Master of Modern Gothic

This novella further cements T. Kingfisher’s reputation as a master of modern gothic horror. Readers familiar with her work, such as “The Twisted Ones” or “The Hollow Places,” will recognize her talent for blending humor, horror, and heart. Newcomers to her writing will find “What Moves the Dead” an excellent entry point.

Final Thoughts

“What Moves the Dead” is a triumph of weird fiction, a story that will have you eyeing mushrooms with suspicion and maybe checking your own skin for signs of hyphae. It’s a testament to Kingfisher’s skill that she can take a nearly 200-year-old story and make it feel fresh and relevant.

While it’s not a perfect book—the brevity sometimes works against it, leaving certain elements feeling underdeveloped—its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. The central mystery is compelling, the characters are vivid, and the horror elements are genuinely unsettling.

For fans of gothic horror, weird fiction, or anyone looking for a read that will keep them up at night (possibly checking their houseplants), “What Moves the Dead” is a must-read. Just maybe don’t consume it with a side of mushroom risotto.

The Good:

• Masterful blend of gothic atmosphere and body horror
• Compelling protagonist in Alex Easton
• Fascinating exploration of mycology in a horror context
• Clever reimagining of a classic tale

The Not-So-Good:

• Some readers may wish for more world-building
• The ending feels slightly rushed
• Certain side characters could use more development

The Sworn Soldier Series

“What Moves the Dead” is the first book in T. Kingfisher’s Sworn Soldier series, featuring Alex Easton. The second book, “What Feasts at Night,” is eagerly anticipated by fans. While “What Moves the Dead” stands perfectly well on its own, it sets up an intriguing world and protagonist that readers will be excited to revisit.

For Fans Of:

• Edgar Allan Poe’s original “The Fall of the House of Usher”
• “Mexican Gothic” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• “The Twisted Ones” by T. Kingfisher
• Jeff VanderMeer’s “Southern Reach” trilogy
• “The Haunting of Hill House” by Shirley Jackson

A Taste of the Terror

To give you a sense of Kingfisher’s evocative prose, consider this passage:

“The hare kicked twice, not seeming to care that its guts were open to the air, and managed to roll itself over. Angus flung himself in front of Miss Potter. I flung myself backward in my chair, knocking it over and taking me with it. This proved to be providential, because Denton flung his scalpel aside and would have speared me handily with it if I hadn’t been on my back on the floor.”

This scene, blending horror and a touch of slapstick, perfectly encapsulates Kingfisher’s ability to keep readers on edge while also providing moments of nervous laughter.

In Conclusion

“What Moves the Dead” is a book that lingers, like spores in the air or hyphae beneath the skin. It’s a story that will have you looking at the natural world with new eyes, wondering what secrets might be lurking just beneath the surface. T. Kingfisher has crafted a tale that is at once a loving homage to a classic and a thoroughly modern nightmare. Whether you’re a longtime fan of gothic horror or new to the genre, this fungal fever dream is well worth your time. Just be prepared to sleep with the lights on afterwards… and maybe invest in some antifungal cream, just in case.