Dead and Gone Fishing?: "The Fisherman" by John Langan Takes A Look At The Intensity Of Grief
“But there are times you pull something out of the water for which there's no accounting, the only remnant of a story whose contours are a mystery.”
― John Langan, The Fisherman
Perhaps my local Barnes & Noble heard my silent plea to stock more literary horror because I was delighted to walk in and find that not only has the horror section been expanded to three whole shelves (that's almost a whole row!), BUT I also saw the addition of many horror books I had never heard of before. Along with the horror section staples of King and Koontz, the shelves were lined with single copies of lesser-known authors. Although they say "don't judge a book by its cover," I can usually discern subgenres and "vibes" from the cover.
When I spotted the breathtaking cover of "The Fisherman" by John Langan, I was immediately intrigued. The Albert Bierstadt painting, "Puget Sound on the Pacific Coast," graces the cover of the Bram Stoker Award-winning novel. Luckily, I was just as interested in the synopsis and blurbs, one being from Paul Tremblay, as I was in the beautiful cover.
A literary masterpiece diving into the intensity of grief unlike anything I've ever read before, including Stephen King’s Pet Sematary (blasphemy, I know). Langan exposes and explores the hidden thoughts and dark feelings associated with loss in a nautical folktale that spans decades. Using two storylines that span decades, Langan interweaves the story of 'Der Fischer,' a German legend that has the power to bring the dead back to life. However, they do not return as they were in life; instead, they haunt and attack in search of victims to help bring power to Der Fischer.
Our story begins with our protagonist, Abe, living through the immediate aftermath of his wife dying from cancer. After finding no respite in alcohol, he finds himself purchasing fishing gear on a pure whim to try and distract from his grief. He begins fishing every weekend and soon, every day.
Several years later, Abe invites his colleague, Dan, to join him fishing. Dan lost his wife and two twin boys in a tragic car accident just months before. Although all outside parties suspected Dan was handling it to the best of his abilities, Abe could sense his intense mourning. Accepting the offer, Dan and Abe formed a friendship over fishing.
While eating breakfast at their usual spot before casting the line, Dan suggested they go to a new location called "Dutchman's Creek." The owner of the diner overheard him and, in an attempt to dissuade them from visiting the creek, told the two widowers the long story of 'Der Fischer.'
This lengthy and detailed story is later penned by Abe and follows the small immigrant mining settlement along Dutchman's Creek and their experience with the legend of Der Fischer.
Told in a classic, early 19th-century folktale setting, Langan expertly crafts a constantly eerie atmosphere that leaves readers wanting more despite the slow and detailed nature of the writing. Allowing for modern notions of grief that we accept more freely, he still finds a way to make this story seem as though it was a dusty old book hidden under floorboards of a long-forgotten cabin. Langan urges readers to reflect on how far they would go to bring back someone they loved, or to what extent they would go to protect those they love.
Overflowing with beautiful prose and nautical symbolism, this story will be an instant classic, timeless in the discussion of grief and loss. Reminiscent of Early American literature and ghost stories you hope are not true, it's easy to see why this masterpiece took Langan over ten years to write.
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