Dark Carnivals: Modern Horror and the Origins of American Empire by W. Scott Poole

Ah, my reward for getting through this very heavy (in every sense of the word) tome is to be the first to review it. Ok, so…
This was meant to me my smart book of the month and sure enough…combining two things I enjoy: historical nonfiction and my beloved fictional genre, the author explores the not inconsiderable connection between the two, specifically the way the latter reflects the former.
If you somehow expected an encomium of the great again country and the fun scary stories it inspires, this isn’t a book for you. Oh, no.
Poole, who is - based on his previous published work - an expert on both subjects, presents a much more terrifying picture of a country gone mad with power and a genre that has done so well to reflect this madness.
In this book, unjust wars lead to dancing with chainsaws and ever-increasing social inequality results in purges, one greater than the next.
Poole’s America is an empire more so than a democracy. The amount of effort taken lately to undermine that democracy makes it difficult to argue this posit, but Poole goes further saying that it wasn’t much of a democracy to begin with. Much more of an empire. Built on war, conquest, genocide, power, blood. Like many empires - evil.
And no greater reflection of that than the genre that thrives on evil.
And so, to support this thesis, Poole takes the readers on a harrowing journey through American past with heavy focus on US meddling in other countries by flexing its sizable military muscles. With dictators installed and supported, wars waged and assisted, money and power applied precisely and strategically, USA has been a major player on the global arena. It is Poole’s assertion that the role has been that of an antagonist. Albeit one who doesn’t think of themselves that way, one that categorically thinks themselves and their actions heroic.
This book isn’t merely critical, it’s pretty much a vicious incisive opprobrium. And, unlike most such things seen in media, it’s loaded with supporting facts. Well, the historical aspect of it, anyway. Although the media (books and movies both) criticism is quite clever too.
Like most people with a hammerlike aim and determination, Poole does view most things he comes across as nails, but it’s difficult to fault him for the overall presentation is well written, well researched, coherent, intelligent, and very strong. A powerhouse, really.
It took me a while to get through but was very well worth a read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.