Academy by Bentley Little, An Amazing Horror Satire with Lots of Graphic Violence

Stephen King, the most competent person when it comes to horror and suspense, appreciates Bentley Little – which says enough. Bentley, so unlike King, may lack subtlety and depth in characterisation, and his language may not be exquisite, but the plot and the atmosphere are more than enough to make him a great author. Warning: Academy does contain graphic violence. How I enjoy it!



A Californian school John Tyler High becomes a charter school, "the Academy". Nobody controls the principal, Jody Hawkes (once a calm and kind person) any longer, thus she is allowed to do anything she wishes – and she does so, turning into a scary, aggressive leader. The students and teachers who obey the new system start act like followers of a strange cult. The principal recruits a squad, the joining students patrol the school and start to behave like members of a Nazi militia. The ones who oppose the rules of the Academy disappear without a trace, and even if they return, a fearful change occurs in their behaviour. Many of the students see odd apparitions in the school building, they hear voices out of nowhere. Members of the staff experience frightening events when they enter the building after nightfall. Some teachers and students indulge in sick sexuality. The Tyler Scouts take part in dark rituals. At last two teachers and three students decide to stand up against the malignant supernatural power. It turns out that several decades ago Tyler High was run by a dismal religious fanatic, John Hawkes, and some of his books remained in the school library…
By the way, I do agree with Bentley Little’s political views, no matter how hard many people criticise him for those.