Dagon (novel)

Dagon is a novella by American author Fred Chappell, published in 1968. It's a Southern Gothic work blending elements of horror, psychological thriller, and stream-of-consciousness narration.

The story centers on a young man named Charles, a newlywed on his honeymoon in the rural South. While exploring the countryside, he becomes obsessed with a mysterious and reclusive family, the Ledfords, who live in a remote, decaying mansion. Charles's fascination with the Ledfords, particularly the enigmatic old woman named Aunt Dagon, grows increasingly disturbing.

Aunt Dagon is depicted as a powerful and unsettling figure connected to the land and its history in ways that Charles cannot comprehend. Her presence evokes a sense of ancient secrets and potentially supernatural forces.

The narrative is fragmented and unreliable, reflecting Charles's deteriorating mental state as he becomes increasingly isolated and consumed by his obsession. The novella explores themes of Southern decay, the burden of the past, madness, and the unsettling power of the unknown.

While sharing the name with the ancient Semitic fish god Dagon, the connection to Lovecraftian horror is tangential. Chappell uses the name "Dagon" to represent something ancient, powerful, and vaguely malevolent, tied to the specific setting and history of the American South. The Ledford family, particularly Aunt Dagon, embody a hidden, decaying world that challenges Charles's understanding of reality. The story leaves the reader to question the nature of Charles's experiences and the true extent of the Ledfords' influence.