In the Book Notes series, authors create and discuss a music playlist that relates in some way to their recently published book.
Alma Katsu’s novel Fiend melds literary horror with generational wealth to unforgettable effect.
Booklist wrote of the book:
“[A] thoroughly enjoyable story of rich people behaving badly—rich people who happen to have a demon at their command—with a plot that’s propelled by the dysfunctional family dynamics far more than by the supernatural elements. Katsu’s first contemporary horror novel is an excellent choice for horror-curious readers who may be leery of gore and jump scares, fans of TV series Succession, and for those who enjoyed Come Closer by Sara Gran, The Corporation by J. F. Gonzalez, or Our Share of Night by Mariana Enríquez”
In her own words, here is Alma Katsu’s Book Notes music playlist for her novel Fiend:
Funnily enough, many years ago, I was a freelance music journalist once upon a time, when I was just starting out. I wrote for a couple newspapers and zines in Boston, which was exploding at the time as a pop hotspot after the Cars broke out. I say funnily enough because now, forty years later, I rarely listen to music and when I do, it’s only because of my husband, musician Bruce Katsu, who is always curious.
Left to my own devices, I tend to go back to the tunes from my twenties and thirties, but surely it wouldn’t be appropriate to draw solely from that well for a playlist for a book I’ve just written? Add to that the fact that these days, I write in complete silence. I live on a remote mountaintop where I’m mostly surrounded by silence.
However, there’s no substitute for the incredible emotional rush you get from music and some days I can hardly believe that I’ve been able to write without music pounding in my brain. As I listen to the songs below, I feel their tremendous power to convey the emotions I put into FIEND.
FIEND got its inspiration in part from the TV show Succession, but it’s also a horror story. I wanted to find a song that would convey the right terrifying vibe, but I’m sorry to report that I have failed you. It might be because the monster in FIEND is a singular figure and finding a song that evokes his essence is an impossible challenge. I promise to keep trying, though. Here’s what I’ve got:
Succession theme by Nicholas Brittell
The producers of Succession must’ve cried tears of joy when they heard the theme composer Nicholas Brittell wrote for their baby. It’s perfect, from the icy, spooky piano runs that open the song to the nervous strings underpinning the legato cellos in the chorus. Everything about this piece shouts cold WASPish reserve, condescension, claustrophobia, privilege. You listen to this piece and you know immediately that something is very, very wrong with these people.
Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie
This could be the Berisha family’s theme. They’re born into pressure, between the huge global concern they’re preside over, the enterprise on which many other people depend for their livelihoods, and of course from the source of their power, the Protector. Plus, this song has the snappy, jangly sound that rock had in the 1980s that makes me think of New York City for some reason. It has an optimistic quality to it, optimism even though you’re helpless to change anything, optimism in the face of everything going to shit.
King by Florence and the Machine
This is a great song for Maris, the main character in FIEND. Poor Maris. She wants to take over her family’s business but also to become the first female head of the Berisha clan. She thinks of herself as powerful and a born leader, and it’ll only be made better when she acquires the family blessing, aka the Protector. She’ll be (haha) unstoppable (see next song). This song, and especially the video, do a great job at expressing women’s anger over the place they’re allowed in society, an anger that Maris feels every day. Maris is the woman who would be king.
Unstoppable by Sia
Because they come from this legendary family, I think each of the Berisha children would believe this song is about them (and having a tremendous force of will is the only way they’ll make it out alive from their nightmare of a family). It really applies to only one of them. Only one of them is truly unstoppable. Can you guess which?
I Did Something Bad by Taylor Swift
This song makes me think of Nora, the youngest sibling. She of the bad reputation, she who has already been discarded by her parents as not suitable for the serious, serious business of being a Berisha. So, she’ll play to her reputation. She’ll be the bad seed. And she’s even learned to like it.
Love Burns by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
This song is like an ode to dysfunctional, destructive love. It’s the perfect song to help you understand the eldest Berisha sibling and heir, Dardan. He started out as a spoiled, bratty boy but by the time he’s sitting at his father’s right hand, he realizes he’s expected to take on a terrible burden, a hereditary burden for which he’ll burn in hell forever. Now he’s trying to be a good guy, do everything by the book, even though he knows it’s just for show because no amount of good behavior can cancel out what’s coming. This extends to his professed love for childhood friend Marcie. The fact that his parents find her unacceptable has always been the failsafe that’ll keep him from having to marry the girl. He’s a coward, but he likes to think he’s just misunderstood.
This is My Fix by Band of Skulls
Another song for Nora! Nora, the youngest of the three Berisha children, is maybe the hardest one for the reader to get a fix on because a major part of her personality is deliberately hidden (she’s the one doing the hiding, not me, for reasons that become apparent by the end of the book). This song captures that personality, I think: bold, swinging, powerful, playful, and unapologetic. I can picture it as her walk-on music the first time she appears in the story.
You Are All That I Am Not by Band of Skulls
I love this song because it seems to encapsulate how many of us feel about ourselves: we want a big, glorious love for ourselves but we don’t think we’re deserving. All the Berisha children have oversized opinions of themselves but underneath all the bluster, they all know they’re corrupt and undeserving of the riches that they have. They’re all tragic princes, and this is a great song of a tragic prince.
Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis
This song makes me think of Nora at the end. She’s gotten what she wanted even though it took burning down the entire house to get it. And her family was evil and corrupt, so burning everything down was the only course of action.
also at Largehearted Boy:
Alma Katsu’s playlist for her novel The Fervor
Alma Katsu is the award-winning author of eight novels, including The Hunger (“supernatural suspense at its finest,” New York Times)and, most recently, The Fervor (“a feat of pure storytelling,” New York Times). Her books have won or been nominated for the Stoker, Locus, Goodreads, and Shirley Jackson awards and made best books lists at NPR, Library Journal, Oprah, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and more. Her novel, Fiend has been optioned for a TV series. www.almakatsubooks.com