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Post by dem bones on Aug 26, 2010 18:44:09 GMT
Mike Ashley - Who's Who In Horror & Fantasy Fiction (Elm Tree, 1977) Jacket design by Lawrence Edwards. Jacket shows, left to right : Top row : Brain Stoker, Mary Shelley, H. P. Lovecraft Middle row : Algernon Blackwood, Clark Ashton Smith, Edgar Allan Poe Bottom row : Sheridan Le Fanu, Charles Birkin. Blurb Which author virtually predicted his own death in the story Who Knows? What memorable meeting led to the writing of Frankenstein? Who or what is Conan? And what is Gormenghast? The answers can be found in this volume, the first popular and authoritative Who's Who devoted to authors living and dead whose writings form the core of the horror and fantasy genres. Whether you simply enjoy an occasional escape to the magical, mystical worlds of adult fantasy, like reading stories so frightening that it's difficult to look up, or are a confirmed addict to horror and fantasy fiction, this thorough and informative guide will be a valuable reference work.
The 400 entries range from the towering gods of the field, like Poe, Blackwood and M. R. James, to promising newcomers such as Louise Cooper and Brian Lumley; also included are those writers such as Gerald Biss and J. D. Kerruish, who contributed at least one masterpiece and then vanished into oblivion. Each entry provides full biographical details of the author, his major contributions, and a discussion of how he features in the framework of the horror and fantasy fields. The content of the fiction discussed ranges from pure ghost stories through gothic horror and psychological horror to the simple pastoral Oriental fantasies of Bramah, the blood-and-thunder heroics of Howard, and the complex interlinked fantasies of Moorcock.
The author's introduction supplements the entries, tracing the development of the genres from the ancient myths to the present day. Also included are four appendices covering leading novels and stories in the field, important anthologies, magazines, and awards.Back in the early 'nineties, i had this book on all but permanent renewal from Bethnal Green library. Eventually i bought this XL notebook, began copying out every entry from the A-Z of contributors in longhand. i still have the mouldering remnants of the notebook, page after page of microscopic spidery scrawl which, if i could decipher at the time, i sure can't now. All these years later, and this morning i finally nailed a copy in Type - beautiful condition, and ¼ the price of your average Ex-Occidente title. I'm sure everyone has experienced this; you look at something so many times but you don't really see it, and it's only now i've spotted that Charles Birkin is on the cover next to Frankenstein's monster! As i cross-reference madly through the entries, i'm already finding plenty that didn't register first time around - for example, i don't remember reading that Oscar Cook "actually knew the original Si Urag Of The Tail"! Appendix II, Selected Weird Fiction anthologies, will doubtless throw up more titles for the never ending wants list. Even Web Terror Stories is name-checked ("mostly mediocre stories"? man, i need to have words with Mr. Ashley!). The Saddest thing that hits you is just how many of those active in the field at the time are no longer with us. An invaluable reference work and a magnificent celebration of the genre, Who's Who Of Horror & Fantasy Fiction is sure to be mercilessly regurgitated all over Vault for months to come.
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Aug 26, 2010 18:49:26 GMT
Ok, I am curious: Which author virtually predicted his own death in the story "Who Knows"?
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Post by dem bones on Aug 26, 2010 18:58:52 GMT
de maupassant, as far as i know.
this is great; there's a generous entry on Robert Lory and "despite research it has not been possible to ascertain the identity of Lory who may be a house name of two or more writers." Justin, send him a copy of Fanatic #4 quick!
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Post by jamesdoig on Aug 26, 2010 21:21:24 GMT
It's still a great reference book. I think at one stage Mike A. was thinking about doing a new updated edition, but he seems to be too busy doing other things like his massive Index to British Popular Fiction Magazines 1880-1950.
I once asked Derek if Wordsworth was interested in something similar for its M&S series, but he said no - it would fit better in the Wordsworth reference series like the recent A-Z of English Lit.
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Post by dem bones on Aug 26, 2010 21:58:22 GMT
I hope you're going to take him up on it, James. I can't think of a better man for the job. The introductory notes to each story in Australian Ghosts add another dimension, making for not just a collection of wonderful stories, but a brief history of Aus. weird fiction which is exactly what i wanted from the book. In that respect, i think David Blair's Gothic Short Stories and Australian Ghost Stories are the most rounded of the Wordsworth anthologies to date. Twist Derek's arm!
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Post by jamesdoig on Aug 27, 2010 22:38:16 GMT
Ah, Dem - kind words indeed! I'm a fan of Gothic Short Stories too. I notice that Jim Lowder used "The Lame Priest" in his recently published anthology of mostly modern werewolf stories.
Have you seen the Penguin Book of Ghost Stoories edited by Michael Newton? Still haven't committed to buying it because the contents are so bog standard - it's also more expensive than your average Penguin paperback.
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Post by dem bones on Aug 28, 2010 6:53:01 GMT
Not 'kind', James, more mercenary - it's something i'd love to read.
Since the recent Prism thread, whenever i mention your book i have to check myself against typing Australian Weird Tales because that's how i think of it now. The original title is not only better but more appropriate by far.
Thanks for putting me onto the Michael Newton (and i guess i'd best look up the Jim Lowder werewolf job, too). Given it its own thread. You're not wrong about the content!
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