I would heed the editor's suggestion and read one or two here or there, rather than digging into them all in a few sittings. The stories themselves are episodic in nature, entirely monster-of-the-week in their formula. There are giants bigger than Paul Bunyan, strange creatures like the Behinder (no one has ever seen one because it always attacks from behind), witch-men cursing with the hoodoo, Satan, perhaps, Jesus makes an appearance, and all manner of evil, scary, wondrous beings. These stories make up what is a uniquely American fantasy, as the legends and myths are drawn from Appalachian folklore and an American-brand of Christianity. As a matter of fact, I'd be surprised if both Lansdale and King weren't highly influenced by Wellman. Lovecraft by way of Uncle Remus, with a bit of Lansdale and King. Silver John is a guitar-playing, God-fearing, humanity-loving, traveling balladeer who roams around the Appalachian mountains fighting evil (both natural and supernatural) and writing wrongs. It would seem the Manly Wade Wellman's Silver John stories were tailored made for me. Who Fears the Devil? by Manly Wade Wellman
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