Passing itself off as a lost Japanese folk tale discovered by his son, Chet Williamson’s THE STORY OF NOICHI THE BLIND is unlike any novella you’ve possibly ever read. Regardless of whether or not he’s pulling our leg, the simple fact remains that this bastard is dark, full of oh-no-he-didn’t moments to make you exclaim, “なんてこった!”
This slim Cemetery Dance volume unfolds delicately – as any folk tale does – before bludgeoning you with a real left-field turn. Noichi is a lonely woodcutter who takes a wife after she escapes from a brothel because of … well, see, there was this samurai guy … and he did this thing to her where … and, um … well, you’re just going to have to read it for yourself. I’ve read my share of some strange death scenes, but this one tops them all.
Anyway, Noichi and his wife live happily in their home in the forest amidst all the friendly animals, until the day she gets sick and he can’t help her. So Noichi goes to fetch a doctor in a faraway village, but he won’t help her because of … well, see, there was this samurai guy …
Hey, I’m not about to spoil it, nor what happens next, which is where NOICHI gets truly twisted, like a pretzel with a birth defect. It’s a most disturbing thing that occurs, but strangely, the effect is more comical than offensive. Brilliantly, Williamson keeps pushing this “gag” as far as he take it – and even then a little more – and all this happens before the arrival of the demon baby.
Williamson’s introduction and an afterword by one Alan Drew, Ph.D., help preserve the illusion that NOICHI could be the work of KWAIDAN author Lafcadio Hearn. Hell, fellas, for pulling off something this crazed, I’m willing to play along. –Rod Lott
