Dark Hollow (novel)
A satyr terrorizes a Pennsylvania town.
Dark Hollow is a 2006 horror novel by Brian Keene, first published as The Rutting Season. The story follows Adam Senft, a struggling writer who discovers that an evil satyr summoned by a local witch is hypnotizing and abducting women in his Pennsylvania town.
- Author
- Brian Keene
- First published
- 2006
- Original title
- The Rutting Season
- Genre
- Horror novel
- Setting
- York County, Pennsylvania
- Inspiration
- Rehmeyer's Hollow and Pennsylvania Dutch pow-wow
- Film optioned
- 2009
Lore & Background
The novel centers on Adam Senft, who discovers his neighbor Shelly Carpenter performing a sexual act on a stone satyr statue that comes to life. After women begin disappearing, including Shelly, Adam investigates with friends and learns the satyr was summoned by Nelson LeHorn, a local 'black' Pow-wow witch. The satyr, named Hylinus, hypnotizes women to procreate with them. Adam and his allies must convince the police of the supernatural threat and destroy the creature using white magic. The story ends with Adam's wife Tara pregnant with a satyr child, and Adam contemplating killing her.
Reader's Guide
Dark Hollow is significant as a modern horror novel that blends folkloric elements with contemporary small-town dread. Its basis in Pennsylvania Dutch pow-wow and Rehmeyer's Hollow grounds the supernatural in regional folklore. The novel's exploration of marital strain, miscarriage, and the horror of the familiar turning monstrous adds psychological depth. The ambiguous ending—Adam's decision to kill his pregnant wife—leaves a lasting impact. The book was optioned for film in 2009, indicating its cultural reach within the horror genre.
Did You Know?
- The novel was first published under the title The Rutting Season.
- The story is loosely based on Rehmeyer's Hollow and Pennsylvania Dutch pow-wow.
- The satyr is named Hylinus in the novel.
- The novel was optioned for a film adaptation in 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the faun in Dark Hollow (novel)?
The creature is a malevolent satyr that haunts a small Pennsylvania town, preying on its female residents. It was conjured by a local witch and serves as the central antagonist of Brian Keene's 2006 horror novel.
What powers does the satyr in Dark Hollow have?
The satyr exerts a hypnotic influence over women, subduing them and then abducting them from the community. This supernatural compulsion is the primary mechanism of terror throughout the story.
Who summons the satyr in Dark Hollow?
A local witch is responsible for calling the satyr into the world of York County, Pennsylvania. Once summoned, the creature operates on its own, hunting women throughout the town.
How does the satyr's threat resolve in Dark Hollow?
The protagonist, Adam Senft—a struggling writer—discovers the satyr's campaign of abductions and works to confront and stop the creature's rampage through the community.
Why is the satyr in Dark Hollow notable in faun fiction?
It reimagines the classical satyr not as a playful woodland spirit but as a predatory, supernatural threat in a modern American small-town setting. The novel draws on Pennsylvania Dutch folklore and the legend of Rehmeyer's Hollow to ground its mythological horror.
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