What an interesting amalgamation Jonathan Janz has crafted with The Dark Game. The story within takes on the trope of reclusive person(author in this case) invites people to partake in some sort of contest taking place at their estate. We've seen it everywhere from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to the Haunting, but never quite like this.

Janz transforms the story into something of a love letter to horror literature, and writing in general, and even adds a dash of autobiography to the mix. I remember hearing an interview with Janz in which he recounts an inspiring piece of advice from Jack Ketchum that makes its way into The Dark Game as an anecdote told by one of the main characters. Not to mention, dropping nods to his beloved Chicago Cubs throughout; a Janz staple.

The story opens with a gathering of writers coming together at the house of world-famous, and reclusive, author Roderick Wells to learn under his tutelage and compete for the opportunity of a cash prize and a major-league publishing deal. We get a fair few authors to keep track of, but through backstory, as well as presentations of journal entries, stories in progress from the different authors, and the like, keeping them straight doesn't present much of a problem. Also, if you know this author's work it won't surprise you to learn they don't all stick around. The formatting that jumps back and forth between the main story, and bits of fiction relevant, and serving, to move the narrative along brought me back to Chuck Palahniuk's Haunted, another favorite in this very specific sub-genre.

The whole book contains quite a few quandaries into morals and ethics, primarily visited via backstory, but certainly explored in the present tense as well. When Janz turns up the heat right around parts 4 and 5, we get to see how the chess pieces left on the board will carry on in light of the things we've discovered about them. The way things pan out did not leave me disappointed in the slightest.

I've truly enjoyed, and blasted through, everything I've picked up by this author, and will be making a concentrated effort to make my way through his back catalog in the coming year. In the mean time, The Dark Game is an easy recommend because in its' exploration of character, writing, and imagination, there's a little bit for anyone and everyone. Also, just my opinion, but with how self-referential this book can get at times, I have to imagine Jonathan Janz had a hell of a time writing this.