History Literature / TheHungryMoon

Ramsey Campbell's seventh novel takes place in the fictional town of Moonwell, a remote town in the Peaks District of England where traces of ancient paganism still survive. Chiefly among these is the "dressing of the cave" where villagers decorate a cave with flowers on the longest day of the year. Although the origins of the ancient custom are not exactly known, it is said to be a pagan ritual that dates back to the druids.

* TheNightThatNeverEnds: The town becomes dark 24/7 after Mann's descent into the cave.

* TheEighties: Hungry Moon was released in 1986 and shows some of the trends from that time. Godwin Mann is reminiscent of real life preachers, such as Billy Graham, who became famous during the growing evangelical movement. The Moonwell residents' distrust of a nearby nuclear base also reflects the fears many people had of nuclear weapons during the Cold War. There are also references to things like phonebooks, which would make the book seem a bit dated to modern readers.

* {{Demonization}}: The few residents of Moonwell who don't accept Godwin Mann's strict brand of evangelism are looked upon with suspicion by everyone else.

* UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom: When Godwin Mann goes into the cave, he unintentionally releases an ancient evil that has been trapped there since Roman times.

* The80s: Hungry Moon was released in 1986 and shows some of the trends from that time. Godwin Mann is reminiscent of real life preachers, such as Billy Graham, who became famous during the growing evangelical movement. The Moonwell residents' distrust of a nearby nuclear base also reflects the fears many people had of nuclear weapons during the Cold War. There are also references to things like phonebooks, which would make the book seem a bit dated to modern readers.

* DreamingTheTruth: Near the end of the book, Diana stares at a framed picture of a moor and goes into a trance where she has a vision of the creation of the universe, the solar system, the Earth, and the moon. [[spoiler:She learns about the origin of the CosmicEntity that came to Earth from the moon. It is a TopGod that has been feared by mankind since prehistoric times. All religions were created as an attempt to understand and placate it.]]

* DreamingTheTruth: Near the end of the book, Diana stares at a framed picture of a moor and goes into a trance where she has a vision of the creation of the universe, the solar system, the Earth, and the moon. [[spoiler]]She learns about the origin of the *CosmicEntity that came to Earth from the moon. It is a *TopGod that has been feared by mankind since prehistoric times. All religions were created as an attempt to understand and placate it.]]

* TheFundamentalist: Godwinn Mann and his followers who come to Moonwell fit this trope to a T.
* TheManInTheMoon: One character sees a trio of faces appear in the moon one night.

* FormerTeenRebel: Godwin Mann tells the people of Moonwell about the vices he engaged in before his conversion. These include drinking alcohol, using drugs, and visiting a prostitute when he was 15.

* Demonization: The few residents of Moonwell who don't accept Godwin Mann's strict brand of evangelism are looked upon with suspicion by everyone else.

However, Mann underestimates the power of what lurks in the cave. Upon his emergence from the dark underground, an unnatural darkness befalls the town. Soon, the phone lines stop working and roads turn back to Moonwell, making it impossible for residents to escape. Campbell succeeds in creating an atmosphere that gradually becomes more horrifying as the book goes on. With most of the town's populace in Godwin Mann's thrall, it is up to the few outcasts and remaining non-believers to stop the Eldritch abomination that has been unleashed.

* BookBurning: A few of the townspeople buy books which they consider to be obscene from Jeremy and Geraldine and burn them right in front of the shop.

* BookBurning: A few of the townspeople buy books from Jeremy and Geraldine and burn them right in front of the shop.

* BookBurning: A few of the townspeople buy books from Jeremy and Geraldine and burn them right in front of the shop

However, Mann underestimates the power of what lurks in the cave. Upon his emergence from the dark underground, an unnatural darkness befalls the town. Soon, the phone lines stop working and roads turn back to Moonwell, making it impossible for residents to escape. Campbell succeeds in creating an atmosphere that gradually becomes more horrifying as the book goes on. With most of the town's populace in Godwin Mann's thrall, it is up to the few outcasts and remaining non-believers to stop the Eldritch abomination that has been unleashed.