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Post by cw67q on Jan 28, 2010 11:55:23 GMT
Thanks Demonik, that sounds like a real doorstep. I'll need to get a copy of this too. - chris The Wordsworth is already available, Chris, all 418 pages of it! Not made a proper start yet, but in his introduction, David Stuart Davies claims (and i don't doubt him) "never have so many of W. F. Harvey's stories been collected in one volume." The Double Eye isn't quite as generous, but trust that pesky Richard Dalby to uncover another handful of stories! Or maybe they're some from the Wordsworth under original titles, as i'm guessing he contributed to the day's periodicals?
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Post by cw67q on Jan 28, 2010 11:58:48 GMT
BTW those of you that like Harvey may also enjoy Ulric Daubeny's collection "the Elemental". Daubeny writes in a similar style (to my mind at least). This should still be available from Ash-Tree Press. I don't know of any more budget option that is available.
- chris
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Post by dem bones on Jan 28, 2010 18:30:00 GMT
"Ulric Daubney might have blossomed into one of the greatest British writers of supernatural horror fiction had he not been struck down by meningitis in his 34th year." From Richard Dalby's introduction to The Sumach, still the only one of his stories i've read, in Dracula's Brood. I see Mr. Dalby gives Daubney's dates as (1888-1922) so it's another to suggest to Wordsworth.
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Post by Johnlprobert on Jan 29, 2010 7:45:23 GMT
Well I've just finished the book and it gets a JLP recommendation. Chris - I thought Ghosts and Jossers was a haunting and touching little story and certainly deserved to be rescued from obscurity. The Habeas Corpus Club is a clever little idea to finish the volume on as well.
None of these stories 'pack a punch' exactly - they're far more subtle than that. And despite often being 'weird' they're never 'throw the book across the room in utter confusion' weird (anyone else ever have this problem?). Despite having the Tartarus book I'm tempted by the Wordsworth edition so I might get that too.
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Post by dem bones on Jan 29, 2010 12:50:58 GMT
God, yes! was a time when you had your work cut out in this place dodging low-flying mid-nineties editions of 'Mammoth Best New Horror', Ellen Datlow's 'A Whisper Of Blood', particularly lunatic examples of "vampires: non-fiction" ....
the wordsworth Beast With Five Fingers is worth £2.99 of anyone's money (£2.50 in the magnificent Lovejoys on Charing Cross Road: planning a visit tomorrow morning to see if Varney .... and Australian Ghost Stories are in yet) and you get plenty that didn't make the Ash Tree collection. As mentioned elsewhere, there's an Oliver Onions collection due in the autumn and Crowley's The Drug & Other Stories (September) will be good for some sick chuckles. another i'm particularly looking forward to is Amyas (Brickett Bottom, The Late Mrs. Fowke, The Downs, etc.) Northcote's In Ghostly Company (July).
Outside of the Mystery & Supernatural series, there's also something called The Collectors Book Of Westerns due March.
Chris, if you read this, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
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Post by monker on Jan 29, 2010 14:29:25 GMT
I certainly used to have spasms back when three out of every five new horror stories was about somebody's spouse, for no apparent reason, turning into some blood sucking, jelly like, primordial monstrosity - usually in the bedroom. It was as if the writers were trying to be all self-consciously modern and acquainted 'modern' with all too obvious adult issues. It was a good part of the reason why I largely stick to the old stuff. I'll try out Daubeny's collection later, I wasn't aware it existed.
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Post by cw67q on Jan 29, 2010 16:10:46 GMT
Gee thanks Demonik. How'd you know that though? Northcote's "In Ghostly Company" is another good collection, quite varied too. Brickett Bottom is my favourite of the the set - chris
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Post by Swampirella on Dec 13, 2016 20:57:22 GMT
The Beast With Five Fingers - W.F. Harvey ISBN 9781840221794 - Published May 2009 (From Midnight Tales) The Beast with Five Fingers Midnight House The Dabblers Unwinding Mrs Omerod Double Demon The Tool The Heart of the Fire The Clock Peter Lewisham Miss Cornelius The Man Who Hated Aspidistras Sambo The Star Across the Moors The Follower August Heat Sarah Bennet's Possession The Ankerdyne Pew Miss Avenal (From Midnight House) Last of the Race Deaf and Dumb Middle Class Tragedy The Fern The Angel of Stone The Tortoise After the Flower Show The Desecrator The Educationalist (From The Arm of Mrs Egan) Dead of Night Mishandled The Habeas Corpus Club The Long Road Twelve Strange Cases The Lake Chemist & Druggist[/center Euphemia Witchmaid Ripe for Development Atmospherics The Vicar's Web Dark Horses The Arm of Mrs Egan Old Masters No Body Account Rendered The Flying Out of Barnard Hollis I'd never heard of him until now His collected works are available for Kindle for just over 1 pound/US/CAD $1. Now at the top of my to-buy list.....
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Post by ropardoe on Dec 14, 2016 9:30:40 GMT
The Beast With Five Fingers - W.F. Harvey ISBN 9781840221794 - Published May 2009 I'd never heard of him until now His collected works are available for Kindle for just over 1 pound/US/CAD $1. Now at the top of my to-buy list..... Definitely a must, if only (and not only) for "The Clock" - the best short-short spooky story ever written; and "The Ankardyne Pew", Harvey's most Jamesian story and with a splendid anti-bloodsports theme.
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Post by dem bones on Dec 14, 2016 10:27:45 GMT
I'd never heard of him until now His collected works are available for Kindle for just over 1 pound/US/CAD $1. Now at the top of my to-buy list..... Definitely a must, if only (and not only) for "The Clock" - the best short-short spooky story ever written; and "The Ankardyne Pew", Harvey's most Jamesian story and with a splendid anti-bloodsports theme. Like just about every author you care to name, I find his work is best appreciated if you ration the stories to one or two per reading, especially when tackling a monster like the wonderful Wordsworth selection. Personal favourites include greatest hits August Heat and The Beast With Five Fingers (perhaps the most archly comic of all disembodied hand stories before Patrick McGrath's Hand Of A Wanker), plus Miss Avenal, Miss Cornelius, The Tool and the lamentably titled Sambo. Have yet to get around to the post- Midnight Tales, though Lord P.'s postings suggest there are further thrills 'n chills to be had.
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Post by Shrink Proof on Dec 14, 2016 15:33:18 GMT
I'd never heard of him until now His collected works are available for Kindle for just over 1 pound/US/CAD $1. Now at the top of my to-buy list..... I bought the Kindle version a little while back. Having read this thread I've pushed it several places up my "read this next" list.
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Post by Swampirella on Dec 14, 2016 23:26:48 GMT
I'd never heard of him until now His collected works are available for Kindle for just over 1 pound/US/CAD $1. Now at the top of my to-buy list..... Definitely a must, if only (and not only) for "The Clock" - the best short-short spooky story ever written; and "The Ankardyne Pew", Harvey's most Jamesian story and with a splendid anti-bloodsports theme. Thanks for the recommendations!
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Post by Swampirella on Dec 14, 2016 23:29:36 GMT
Definitely a must, if only (and not only) for "The Clock" - the best short-short spooky story ever written; and "The Ankardyne Pew", Harvey's most Jamesian story and with a splendid anti-bloodsports theme. Like just about every author you care to name, I find his work is best appreciated if you ration the stories to one or two per reading, especially when tackling a monster like the wonderful Wordsworth selection. Personal favourites include greatest hits August Heat and The Beast With Five Fingers (perhaps the most archly comic of all disembodied hand stories before Patrick McGrath's Hand Of A Wanker), plus Miss Avenal, Miss Cornelius, The Tool and the lamentably titled Sambo. Have yet to get around to the post- Midnight Tales, though Lord P.'s postings suggest there are further thrills 'n chills to be had. I read "August Heat" this morning; it wasn't bad. Realized I'd read it at some time in the past. I'm sure I won't be disappointed with most of his collected works.
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Post by bobby on Dec 17, 2016 14:25:59 GMT
I didn't know that "The Beast With Five Fingers" and "August Heat" were by the same author. Makes me wonder if a copy of the hardcover edition of The Beast With Five Fingers & Other Midnight Tales was on the shelves at the EC offices, since EC did "unauthorized" adaptations of both stories, plus they appeared only two issues apart.
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Post by Swampirella on Feb 22, 2017 17:40:49 GMT
I'm 70% through the complete collection and have to say I'm rather disappointed. The title story is the best so far; "The Habeus Corpus Club" is amusing but the rest haven't impressed me much....
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