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Post by Craig Herbertson on Aug 21, 2008 22:30:37 GMT
Well done Johnnie... of all my gay serial killer friends you're definitely the one with the best reading tastes. Nice plug there
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Aug 23, 2008 19:12:54 GMT
I finally got around to reading this a few weeks back, but what with one thing and another I haven't had the chance to drop by and post a few comments before now. Overall, a very strong anthology - there's only really a couple of the 'short-shorts' that didn't really work for me. 'The Scavenger' was a great opener (any chance of a collection from Rog Pile? I'd certainly like to see one ...), liked 'A Sense of Movement' and 'Widow's Weeds' too, though 'Family Ties' was a bit of a let down - Lockley and Lewis have produced better. My favourites were Mike Chinn's 'Like a Bird', Craig Herbertson's 'Synchronicity' - really great characterisation in this one, and a perfect closing sentence - Paul Finch's 'In the Thicket' and Franck Nicholas' 'In an Old Overcoat'. I'm not entirely certain I know what was going on in the Nicholas, but the ambiguity - whether actually there in the story or just something I brought to the experience as a reader - really worked. In a word, unnerving. But I like unnerving.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Aug 24, 2008 19:48:49 GMT
Interesting.
I think its time for a Rog Pile anthology too. Last two stories have been mature works. That's the second time Family Ties has been criticised and I have to say that I thought it was brilliant. It was like Wyndham meets King at their best. I don't think it was pushing any new boundaries, like the first two stories for example, but it was a thoroughly good read.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Aug 24, 2008 20:07:55 GMT
I think my problem with 'Family Ties' was I clocked the outcome before the end of the second page. Competently written, and as you say not pushing any boundaries, but the fact that was revealed so early on meant the story as a whole was a bit of a letdown.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Aug 24, 2008 20:11:54 GMT
I know where you're coming from. A large part of the appeal of this story for me was that comfortable feeling you get with the likes of Wyndham. You know where its going but you sort of relax and go with it.
I must confess very few stories surprise me really. I take a sort of Homeric stance on it where the audience knows the endings but just likes the telling of it
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Aug 24, 2008 20:41:14 GMT
Maybe I was just in the mood for having my expectations challenged when I read it.
I generally like Lockley & Lewis' work - I believe they have a collection due from Pendragon Press sometime next year. That's one to look out for.
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Post by eddempster on Aug 24, 2008 23:05:46 GMT
I've got to be really into the protagonist's character to enjoy seeing a story unfold as expected. If you're rooting for them and the story concludes how you had hoped it would, that can be quite satisfying. Generally, though, I prefer to be surprised in some way, even if only through being kept guessing until the final scene.
BTW, I'm only commenting in a general sense - I haven't read the stories mentioned above.
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Post by sean on Aug 26, 2008 14:14:50 GMT
DEATH-CON 1 - Sean Parker a nice little piece of pure entertainment. Glad you liked it, Benedict. Quite fun to write, that one!
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Post by benedictjjones on Aug 26, 2008 14:46:36 GMT
^AND I THINK THAT CAME ACROSS IN THE WRITING SEAN!
i also would love to see a collection of rog's stuff. 'the pit' and 'the scavenger' are two of my favourite stories from the black books.
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Post by dem bones on Sept 3, 2008 13:04:42 GMT
It's Rog's Cords that does most it for me, although I've not had the pleasure of Scavenger yet. Being a slow-coach, I only got my hands on a copy of 3rd Black Book of Horror this morning and .... here we go again. Three horror collections on the go at once - and rising. Will people please ease off publishing interesting books for a few months - it's doing my fucken head in. After my pathetic attempt at tackling the second volume (a bunch of useless notes, mercifully mislaid before I could type 'em up), thought it best to just dive in this time, so I'll start with the real short stuff and add bits as I read 'em. Sean Parker - Death-Con 1: Ha! I'm sure anyone who's attended a Fantasy Convention or Society meeting that didn't go so well will readily identify with protagonist Robert Neville and wish they had the guts to address a 'Tasmin Saylor' figure as he does! Even so, i'm kind of glad he gets his just desserts in the dealers room. I mean, wiping out the author of "the most important addition to the literature of the fantastic since the Gor novels"? What was the mad bastard thinking? While I'm here, and veering off into a wibbly wobbly world of my own already, I might mention in passing Sean's Character in Filthy Creations #4 for no other reason than I love it: "The Martian slug clung from the ceiling dripping slime on the three pretty prostitutes from the first story Albert had ever written ...". And L. P. Hartley's William Streeter thought he had problems! At least he was only persecuted by one of his literary creations, not the whole crew. Widowed horror author Albert Hodewood is driven to alcoholism and madness by the massed ghosts of his fictitious creations. Now, where was I? Julia Clifford - The Looker: It's the summer of '67 and handsome git and all round heartless bastard Johnny hits the Love Inn where it takes him little time to select tonight's lucky victim. Babycham-sipping Carol ticks all the right boxes: "a dolly bird wearing a black and white PVC mini-dress and kinky boots" and a virgin into the bargain - just the way he likes 'em. Trouble is, she takes him at his word when he tells her he loves her and doesn't take kindly to being duped .... John Mains - The Spoon: Career cutlery-botherer gets long overdue come-uppance. Short 'n nasty. Spoons, Reading F.C. and Exeter City supporters will probably adopt the author as their Patron Saint after this one. John Llewellyn Probert - John & Jenny And The Lump: A Cautionary Tale: Macabre bedtime story to settle the toddlers off to their nightmares. I couldn't fathom why John took on so at his cuddly offspring, though. I'd have been overjoyed. Christine Mortimer - Out Of Her Head: A nasty hangover for Tracy who'll maybe know better than to eyeball that "stuck up cow" and "old witch" Martha Briggs when she's had a few in future ... Before I hit the shops, I can't not acknowledge Moodies superb cover ilustration and I was delighted yet again with Charles choice of dedication! Well, at least it's a start ....
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Post by dem bones on Sept 5, 2008 6:42:05 GMT
... and speaking of people who's work I'd like to see collected ...
Franklin Marsh - The Lake: Painter and decorator Tom used to love playing here as a kid. The Lake had a bad reputation on account of a drowning incident and mothers warned their kids not to go there, ensuring they did. Now a father of two and married to Mo, Tom has been seeing desperate housewife Audrey on the side and he's ashamed, hence this picnic at his old haunt to tell her it's over. Audrey doesn't take rejection kindly, and gives his face a spiteful raking before wading out further and further into the water ....
As he flees the scene in a blind panic, Tom is intercepted by jovial sweary Reverend Gordon 'Scourge of Satan' Bluett who helps him into the church where his housekeeper Mrs. Biggins sullenly offers him a cup of her highly combustible tea. Rev. Bluett explains that the Lake has become the suicide spot of choice for guilt-ridden adulterers ....
Joel Lane - Last Night: A walking dead, alcoholic Morrisey fan becomes too much to handle for his lover-carer. Another moody short piece that comes on like a weird relative of J. K. Dunham's Spare Rib: A Romance in the first Black Book.
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Post by Dr Terror on Sept 5, 2008 11:18:32 GMT
I've been plugging the interviews Johnny did for the radio and newspaper on a few boards and it's led to an interesting comment on the Evening Star website.
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Post by benedictjjones on Sept 5, 2008 12:04:10 GMT
HEHE! nice one!!
also looking forward to no. 4 charles after reading the interview on panties
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Post by David A. Riley on Sept 5, 2008 12:04:58 GMT
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Sept 5, 2008 12:11:11 GMT
definite nom de plume but the guys quite right - who on earth would read that garbage - hang on...
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