First published back in December of 1981, Guy N Smith’s novel ‘Warhead’ was a relatively early standalone novel from the prolific and highly revered pulp horror author.
DLS Synopsis:
Hidden away within a remote Welsh mountain village along the shores of the Solway Firth, lies a closely guarded military base. Caerlaverock is the most up-to-date missile-base in Britain, despite the British have very little involvement with the missile-base. Instead, it’s entirely controlled by the US. The launching site of Spectre Mark III – the deadliest nuclear missile in existence.
The government are confident the mere presence of the most advanced intercontinental ballistic missile in the world will prove to be an effective deterrent. Nevertheless, tensions are running high with the Soviets in Afghanistan as well as in Pakistan.
However, not everyone saw the presence of Caerlaverock keeping the world’s forces in check. Unbeknown to those within the missile-base, one of the colleagues named Herman Szulc was working against the western world. His presence in Caerlaverock a danger to every nation.
The Soviet Union are increasingly concerned that America might be trigger happy with their weapon of mass destruction. That a domino effect might lead to a devastating retaliation which could mean the end of their people, if not the world.
Even Africa sought the riddance of Caerlaverock. This inhuman weapon of destruction, hidden from sight below the ground, had to be destroyed in the name of Africa. One man had taken it upon himself to attempt just that. African born mercenary, Lu Machin, was already wanted by the FBI for murder along with a string of ritual murders in Mombasa. Now he was believed to have obtained illegal entry into Britain and was on his way to Caerlaverock.
But there’s more at play than just a collection of anxious countries around the globe yearning for the riddance of this US controlled nuclear power which threatened them all. In desperation, the Petro Gods had been summoned to assist with bringing Caerlaverock to an end. The ancient dark gods of voodoo, with powers beyond those witnessed within the mortal realm.
Humanity is edging along a precarious tightrope. With each day comes further escalation in a mounting tension. A rising threat pushing those in control ever closer to unleashing Armageddon.
Everyone can see the threat. Everyone can sense the unease, the unrest, the escalating tension. However, no one seems able to stop it. To bring the rising threat of ultimate retaliation to an end before it’s too late…
DLS Review:
Honestly, this wasn’t the novel I was expecting. Although it certainly has close links to Smith’s previous novel ‘Manitou Doll’ (1981) insomuch as the tale weaves in a historic ancient dark power – here with the voodoo gods, whereas with ‘Manitou Doll’ (1981) it was with ancient Red Indian spirits – we nevertheless have a very different structure, substance and direction to the novel than seen in Smith’s other work.
Essentially, it’s a bleak and oppressive Cold War thriller with ancient voodoo gods woven into the storyline. However, it holds more than just an apocalyptic threat within its setting. The whole Cold War angle, the conspiracies, the tensions, the governmental influence and political power play, all have dominant roles to play within the unfolding story. This is where the voodoo elements become almost superficial afterthoughts to the overriding drive of the depressing Cold War commentary of the piece. Bolt-on additions to keep the novel within the horror genre Smith was now established within.
That said, when the voodoo gods arrive into the tale they certainly make their presence known! We have lengthy passages of nightmarish sequences, where horrifying beings can be seen trudging across post-apocalyptic wastelands. An evil that can be summoned and telepathically sent to wreak havoc on one’s foe.
Within the Petro gods we have Erzulie – the Black Venus and temptress of men. This foxy dark-skinned goddess uses her sexuality to tempt and then control her ‘victims’ (if you can call them that). So, we see her going about the place, usually semi or stark-bollock naked, seducing fellas then making them obsess over her to the point they’ll do whatever she wants. Yep, pretty much a standard female!
Anyway, it’s not just the water-tight security of Caerlaverock and the invading forces of darkness that this novel offers up. We also have all the escalating tension within the neighbouring remote Welsh village. With this we have Major George Kirkton, who’s set up his own breakaway Volunteer Defence Corps. We join the Major whilst he’s in the process of training a local ‘Fighting Force’ to protect local property and independence after the looming war is over. A war which he maintains is imminent.
However, despite his heart potentially being in the right place, his head perhaps isn’t. In fact, the Major’s efforts ultimately lead to a pretty horrendous atrocity, which is perhaps again, a chain reaction of the rising tension within the overarching plot.
I guess the bleak gloominess of the piece is what really stands out from the novel. Like with ‘Manitou Doll’ (1981), absolutely nothing in the tale offers up any joy or happiness. The novel’s instead a wallowing soiree into doom and gloom, with the US and Soviets made out to be those responsible for much of this.
Casual readers might find some of the language a tad dated and challenging, with a frequent use of the N-word from the US personnel within Caerlaverock. Furthermore, the story isn’t really as linear, structured or indeed as grounded in an easily decipherable direction as Smith’s other novels. Indeed, frequent flashbacks, nightmare sequences, and a constantly zigzagging narrative, often leaves us needing to put together the jigsaw pieces of the story.
The somewhat bloated cast of characters doesn’t help with this. Try to pull out a leading protagonist, or indeed a consistent band of any characters you can latch onto! Honestly, you’ll struggle. Instead, we’re flung back and forth like a crowdsurfer at a concert, with character after character carrying us along for a mere chapter or so, before someone else is introduced and subsequently takes up the reins.
The end result is possibly one of Smith’s most bat-shit crazy stories in how much the story leans towards the whole Cold War thriller side, whilst going off wherever the hell Smith fancied going with the voodoo shenanigans. It’s a page turner, but not necessarily one that feels like it really has you invested in any of the characters or gripped by the peril within the storyline. More, you just wanna see what wild shit the next few pages have in store for you. And on that front, nine-times-out-of-ten, the story delivers!
The novel runs for a total of 256 pages.
© DLS Reviews
