Volume 6- Issue 8, August 2007
Published by Llumina Press

Demon

Teen/Horror/Fiction

Craig W. Tweedie

Llumina Press (2007)

Reviewed by: Daniel J. Neumann (1/30/07)

            The world, as we know it, is a mere mask – a fallacy – in Craig W. Tweedie debut novel, Demon. Behind every act of cowardice, violence, and terrorism, a demon smiles—adding one more cause to end humanity. Those that are tormented through life do not die that way; rather, they are offered immortality. The trade off? Their souls alter to the sum of all hate experienced, in order to achieve one thing: revenge. Neil MacAllistair, bullied all his life, (and eventually to death), accepts.

            Craig Tweedie places the reader into a supernatural world, where demons are created from tormented humans and plan their reprisal from another realm. He challenges the reader to sympathize with both weak human and all-powerful beast, with both doomed bully and overcoming outcast. His style of writing catches the perspective of both enemy and friend, and then reverses the order for even more insight. The alternating point of views keep the reader on his toes, as the once timid Neil becomes the demon Andorean, picking off foe by foe.

            One paragraph can surmise the gut-wrenching retribution a demon unleashes. “Rob screamed as little Neil tore Rob’s arm from shoulder. The spray of blood was so intense that it reached Richard’s cell, leaving little freckles of blood on his face. MacAllistair rolled around on the cement floor, clutching the torn flesh of his shoulder. As he looked outside the bars, he saw little Neil walk through them, materializing as Andorean the moment he passed. Rob kicked himself into the corner of his cell as he watched what used to be his son turn into the evil creature before him.”

            Tweedie began writing his book at the age of sixteen, while he experienced similar acts of bullying. The project allowed him a faucet to frustrations. He managed to vent his rage, while also pursuing something constructive. Now, at age thirty-six, Demon has provided Craig closure to a less-than-fortunate chapter of his life.

            I can recommend this book to any teenager, whether he or she is bullied, a bully, or otherwise. It will certainly be entertaining, but also teaches the young reader a valuable lesson: terrorism is murder, revenge is suicide, and creativity is salvation. Perhaps more teenagers will end violence, and use the energy to craft stories. In the meantime, I will be looking forward to Craig’s next exciting work.