Under Fire (Blackwood novel)

Under Fire is a 1918 novel by Algernon Blackwood. It is a wartime supernatural horror novel set during World War I. The narrative primarily concerns two young British officers serving on the front lines in France, Julian Le Sage and his friend, who are thrust into a series of increasingly terrifying encounters with elemental forces and preternatural manifestations linked to the land itself and the immense violence being inflicted upon it.

The novel explores themes of trauma, the psychic impact of war, and the thin veil between the physical and spiritual realms. The constant shelling and destruction have seemingly awakened ancient and malevolent entities tied to the landscape, leading to psychic disturbances and tangible horrors for the soldiers. Blackwood utilizes a psychological approach to horror, blurring the lines between reality and hallucination, leaving the reader to question the sanity and reliability of the narrators. The intensity of the battlefield acts as a catalyst for the characters' heightened sensitivity to the unseen world.

Under Fire is less a traditional war novel focused on battles and strategy and more an exploration of the psychological and spiritual cost of war. It's considered an example of Blackwood's unique contribution to the horror genre, blending supernatural elements with psychological realism. The novel often delves into the idea that the land itself remembers and reacts to the violence committed upon it, and that certain individuals are more susceptible to sensing these reverberations.