The Scarecrows (Magill’s Guide to Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature)
At a glance:
- Author: Robert Westall
- First Published: 1981
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Fantasy—extrasensory powers
- Time of Work: The 1970’s
- Setting: Cheshire, England
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Fantasy
- Subjects: 1970’s, Family or family life, Murder or homicide, Supernatural, Extrasensory perception or powers, Emotions, Jealousy, envy, or resentment, Mental illness, England or English people, Mysteries, Remarriage, Stepfamily, Scarecrows, Mills or millwork
- Locales: Cheshire, England
The Plot
Simon Wood’s father was a decorated officer in the British Army and was killed in action in Aden, then still a British colony. Simon idealizes his father and is fiercely protective of his mother. When the dormitory bully at Simon’s boarding school had insulted her, Simon had gone berserk and pulverized him. This experience frightened Simon, however, because it made him realize the uncontrolled anger within himself that, it is suggested, also may have been in his father.
The story opens with his mother announcing that she is to marry Joe Morton, a well-known...
[The entire page is 1021 words long]

