As a collection of horror, religion, mystery and angst, Caitlin R. Kiernan creates a world in Alabaster: Pale Horse that is like looking angrily at the world through a kaleidoscope with her expressively visual scenes that can only be described as art.
Kiernan is ultimately able to weave a striking story that entangles the reader in Dancy Flammarion’s life of horror.
Though it is a collection of short stories, all of them follow the life of Flammarion, They aren’t in any specific order, but even so, the reader is able to get attached to Flammarion as she grows and changes in each story. The concept is similar to a television show wherein each episode the main character learns something new. They are all separated- yet connected in that manner.
Flammarion is an albino young woman born and raised in the south. Although, Flammarion was raised in a place that’s known for its “Southern hospitality,†she was removed as socially as possible both when she was young and while she was in her own. Her affliction already deterred some- her white hair and red eyes alarm those who came across her. Her orphaned homeless state did the rest- she gives no thought to hygiene and other basic necessities.
As if she wasn’t already the embodiment of miserable, Flammarion hunts demons assigned to her by an “angel.†This “angel,†however never seems to answer Flammarion’s prayers, nor come to aide her in times of need. For that reason, Flammarion displays true faith as she never really questions just looks forward to her promised reward that always seem to out of reach.
She then travels through the southern hot sun during the summer with her sun sensitivity as a constant reminder of her rejection to the world. The thought of permanent damage from the sun being one of her constant worries such as, blindness so she tries her best to shield herself as much as possible by finding usable garbage.
Kiernan’s writing style is graphic- giving the reader a perfect look at her demented and tortured world. She is able to move the reader from one place to another as if the world is spinning rapidly. Through the chaos she guides the reader elegantly so that the story doesn’t confuse instead there’s a feeling of intrigue.
In this world, not everything is as it seems. Here, someone of the law could travel leisurely with vampires. An heiress could also turn out to be a grave robber and a cannibal or other questionable instances that may cause the reader to question and wonder if Flammarion is actually who she claims to be. Is she really a demon slayer or is she actually or is this all just in her head? This is up to the reader to determine.
Similar to the writing style, the illustrations done by Ted Naifeh reflects the darkness and horror depicted in the stories. With the angular lines and darkly shaded pictures the main character comes off as a light in a dimly lit room. Even the ‘angel’ who guides her is darker than she is, yet she just might be the darkest and most tortured of them all.
The angst in Alabaster: Pale Horse brings out the darkness in anyone who reads it. No one is innocent and anyone can be a demon yet everyone has an angel. Nothing is as black and white as the pictures leaving grey areas where vampires might not be the most evil things to come across nor is guy who handle them. Yet everything connects and collides in someway that could never truly be understood.
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