“Wolfcurse” is a short pulp-horror novel by British author Guy N. Smith, published in 1987 as part of his long-running fascination with werewolf lore. Smith was a prolific writer best known for fast-paced, grisly horror paperbacks throughout the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s—most famously his Night of the Crabs series. Below are a few key points about Wolfcurse and how it fits into Smith’s body of work:
1. Part of a Werewolf Sequence
- Earlier Werewolf Novels: Wolfcurse is typically considered the fourth entry in Guy N. Smith’s werewolf cycle. The earlier books include:
- Werewolf by Moonlight (1974)
- Return of the Werewolf (1976)
- The Son of the Werewolf (1978)
- Ongoing Curse: As with many of Smith’s werewolf stories, Wolfcurse deals with the grim legacy of the werewolf plague in a remote, rural setting—often a small British village, with superstitions and local legends feeding the terror.
2. Typical Pulp-Horror Elements
- Fast-Paced and Gory: Smith’s style favors brisk storytelling and vivid, often graphic descriptions of horror. Fans of ’70s and ’80s pulp horror will find plenty of genre hallmarks: sudden violence, bloody werewolf transformations, and frantic chases through moonlit landscapes.
- Local Folklore & Superstition: Smith frequently draws on rural British folklore to heighten atmosphere. Expect villagers fearful of old curses, mysterious family histories, and a sense that the land itself harbors ancient, malevolent powers.
- Atmospheric Settings: Many of Smith’s werewolf novels unfold in isolated communities—sometimes along the Welsh borders or other moody, remote areas. This seclusion intensifies the horror because the residents are cut off from outside help.
3. Plot Overview (Spoiler-Free)
- Persistent Werewolf Threat: In Wolfcurse, the werewolf’s curse from prior books re-emerges. Characters grapple with a legacy of lycanthropy that refuses to end, despite attempts to quell it.
- Investigation & Suspicion: As brutal killings begin, fearful locals turn on one another; suspicions mount about who might be hiding the werewolf secret (or be cursed themselves). Smith often injects police investigations, meddling outsiders, or local “white witch” figures who suspect the truth.
- Themes of Inheritance & Fate: Much like The Son of the Werewolf, Wolfcurse explores the idea that the curse can pass through families, raising the tension around possible heirs or newly infected victims.
4. Style & Reception
- Cult Following: While never achieving mainstream literary acclaim, Guy N. Smith’s novels have a devoted fan base among collectors of 1970s–80s horror paperbacks. His books often deliver exactly what fans of pulp horror expect: monstrous creatures, vivid gore, and relentless pacing.
- Availability: Many of Guy N. Smith’s works, including Wolfcurse, can be harder to find in modern print but show up on the used/collectors’ market and occasionally as eBook re-releases. If you’re a horror enthusiast looking for that retro “video nasty” vibe in book form, Wolfcurse fits the bill.
In Summary
Wolfcurse continues Smith’s signature style of fast, gruesome pulp horror, serving as a capstone to his werewolf series. Its remote, superstitious setting and dark family secrets capture the throwback feel that has kept Guy N. Smith in cult horror conversations for decades. If you enjoy atmospheric werewolf stories laden with bloodshed and old-world curses, Wolfcurse is a noteworthy—and entertainingly lurid—read.