One of my favourite book genres to read is horror fiction. And I have found that I don't necessarily enjoy the genre for the scary elements only. I enjoy the bizarre elements, the elements that make things feel out of place, the feeling that things don't make sense because I don't know enough. That being said, while reading many horror stories, I was in awe, impressed by the imaginative depth that authors project. But with Robert Aickman's Ringing the Changes, I was genuinely afraid.
Ringing the Changes is a short story about a newlywed couple (Gerald and Phrynne) who decide to spend their honeymoon in Holihaven, where the streets are deserted, and the church bells never stop ringing. The bells are being rung for a cliché reason that I won't mention, as it will ruin the mystery.
As I was reading the story, I had a weird feeling about everything (just like Gerald himself). On the couple's arrival to Holihaven, there was a constant ringing sound coming from church bells. This sound annoyed me (there was repetitive mention of the bells), and I just wanted to know the source and reason for this commotion.
Then, the couple arrived at the Bell Hotel, where the characters they met there didn't make the situation any better. Mrs. Pascoe, one of the owners of the hotel, had a stern and clandestine demeanour. Commandant Shotcroft, a long-term guest in the hotel, seemed uninterested and cold. None of these people felt welcoming at all.
Later in the evening, Gerald and Phrynne went to the beach. They walked on the shore and they smelled the sea salt. But there was no sea! This made me anxious. Where is the sea? They have been walking towards the sea for a long while now, I said to myself. Eventually, the couple gave up looking for the sea, and returned back to the hotel.
These aforementioned details, and others, were what created an unsettling setup for a final revelation. And it was that, when Gerald found out the reason behind the tolling bells, that he and I freaked out. Robert Aickman hit the hammer on the nail. And to be clear, it was not the revelation itself that was remarkable, but everything leading up to that point. His writing style was also mesmerising in that it put you in Gerald's shoes, emphasising a disconcerting viewpoint. All in all, the story is a testament to Aickman's brilliance. I started Ringing the Changes with an introduction to Robert Aickman; I ended it with a solidified admiration for his storytelling.
So who should read it? If you like Poe's The House of Usher, or Lovecraft's The Music of Erich Zann, then definitely give Ringing the Changes a try.