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Post by marksamuels on Sept 27, 2010 15:21:56 GMT
I haven't read all of the stories yet, but from what I've read:
Lord P's was definitely a high-class Birkin jag, you knew what was coming, oh! but the sheer black fiendishness of it all. Very good. Possibly my favourite JLP thus far.
Lady P's was a treat. Hitting on that image of the pier and its sinister memento moris: great inspiration. And the ending is truly cosmic, deep foggy depths of ghostly terror. Superb.
Mr Stanger: I salute you. It's been a long time since I've seen something so sick, twisted and depraved. Thank heavens my favourite comics are the EC horrors; without such training I might not have been able to handle it.
And I think David has come up with the best "zombie" tale I've read all year. Aside from the ending possibly being a little rushed (and then only probably from my perspective, because I wanted it to go on and on, such was my degree of appreciation), this was an absolute gem: I adored it.
This is shaping up to be the most enjoyable Black Book so far. A true classic.
Mark S.
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Post by Johnlprobert on Sept 27, 2010 19:53:35 GMT
Lord P's was definitely a high-class Birkin jag, you knew what was coming, oh! but the sheer black fiendishness of it all. Very good. Possibly my favourite JLP thus far. Lady P's was a treat. Hitting on that image of the pier and its sinister memento moris: great inspiration. And the ending is truly cosmic, deep foggy depths of ghostly terror. Superb. Hi Mark! Lady P is still locked in the attic because of earlier so I'd just like to say thank you on behalf of both of us from Probert Towers.
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Post by carolinec on Sept 27, 2010 20:04:41 GMT
I have never read "Kowlongo Plaything" or "Love on The Farm", as some thought this might be a homage to it. That was me, Corpsie, who said that on the RCMB. I've never read "Eric the Pie" so I was just going by what I knew about those other two stories. But I definitely didn't think you wrote it just to be disgusting - I hope you don't think that was me! You certainly did push the boundaries - well done for doing it - but I'm afraid the story is way too strong for my delicate tastes! As I've said to Charlie elsewhere, I'm loving this book so far. It could certainly be the best to date. Well done everyone! ;D
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Post by corpsecandle on Sept 28, 2010 0:22:23 GMT
I think that was Allyson Bird and I couldn't address stuff there as the forum needs a mod to approve membership. It is a pretty sick tale, my only hope is that there is justification to the stuff I do within it's by no means something I would expect everyone to read. I have utter respect for everyones tastes and personal boundaries. It was only a little bit of confussion on my part that the story was a homage to two stories I had never read. I admit to being curious as to Kowlongos Plaything but have you seen the prices on e-bay it's bad enough trying to complete my GNS collection hehe. My fiancee kept telling me to push the boundaries when she read it as I was a little afraid to do so, so I did just that and then well...I guess you read it, lol. Eric The Pie was a story I have read and one that freaked me out for ages, this one deffently shown me how boundaries can be pushed, so that was an influence. Sorry I couldn't say anything directly to you on the other board :/ Anyhow this is brilliant book that I am currently making my way through as we speak, I'll do my own review soon enough
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Post by dem bones on Sept 28, 2010 8:01:21 GMT
Anna Taborska - The Creaking: Anna's Bagpuss is The Sixth Black Book is as morbid a horror story as I've ever read and The Creaking is likewise commendably short on good cheer. Healer Alice Goodman has noted the growing hostility toward her from the villagers, even those she's helped with her herbal remedies and poultices. When little Tommy Tyrell goes missing, his father, a Parish constable and violent drunk, needs little persuading that the "witch" has abducted the boy to drain his blood, and leads a lynch mob to her cottage. Everybody loves a scapegoat.
Craig Herbertson - New Teacher: The demoralised staff at the seriously under-performing Bellport High includes an impressive quota of sadistic tawse fiends, perverts, chain-smokers and alkies, and when they hear an almighty ruckus coming from the new music teacher's class, they're in no rush to interrupt their break and investigate the riot - until arch skiver Mr. Clark catches a headline in the local newspaper. A neat touch of the Tales From The Crypt's about the ending. Is it me or have Craig and Lord P. swapped heads to write their stories for number 7?
David Williamson - Rest In Pieces: Undertaker Harry Jones devises a fool proof plan for disposing of his overbearing wife Valerie without drawing suspicion upon himself. Having cut her into pieces, Harry evenly distributes the body parts among the coffins awaiting burial. What could possibly go wrong?
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Post by carolinec on Sept 28, 2010 11:08:52 GMT
Hey, Corpsie! What makes you think Gary wouldn't let you on the RCMB to talk about your story? I'd have thought he would if you want to do so. He let me on there, after all! Your comments about the story make perfect sense to me. Though the story isn't to my taste, I respect your reasons for writing it. I haven't been able to read it all the way through, but I know someone on the RCMB said it was "a great story showing the emergence of a monster" or something like that. More power to you for writing it (and more power to Charlie for publishing it). I'm a bit strange about reading stories which involve cruelty to animals. Cruelty to old people, kids, etc - stuff like that I can handle. But pluck a live chicken and I can't read any further!
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Thana Niveau
Devils Coach Horse
We who walk here walk alone.
Posts: 109
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Post by Thana Niveau on Sept 28, 2010 11:24:44 GMT
Corpsie, I did make it all the way through but only because Lord P was reading it to me. On my own I'd probably have had to look away. It was Simon Bestwick who said it showed how a monster was made and in that sense you've certainly created a memorable monster! "Bernard Bought the Farm" is definitely the bad boy of BB7! And Caroline - hey, I know exactly how you feel because I feel exactly the same. It's funny - I adore Charles Birkin's gleeful sadism and can grin right along with loony old ladies who put babies in the oven, but cruelty to animals - even fictional ones - is just too much for me. Maybe it's a girl thing?
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Post by Johnlprobert on Sept 28, 2010 12:52:37 GMT
Maybe it's a girl thing? I suspect this is a debate for a different thread (or even a different board!) but weirdly enough one of my staff told me today said she stopped reading Wicked Delights because of my story De Vermis Infestis. When she got to the bit about the cat dying she said couldn't read any further, even though she'd read all the stories up to that point.
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Post by David A. Riley on Sept 28, 2010 14:48:17 GMT
Maybe it's a girl thing? I suspect this is a debate for a different thread (or even a different board!) but weirdly enough one of my staff told me today said she stopped reading Wicked Delights because of my story De Vermis Infestis. When she got to the bit about the cat dying she said couldn't read any further, even though she'd read all the stories up to that point. It's funny what bothers us. I remember years and years ago when I was reading Arthur Machen's Hill of Dreams, I was stopped in my tracks when some young louts hang a cat. I'm almost ashamed to admit my squeamishness at that time. But I've never read anymore of that book since then.
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Post by carolinec on Sept 28, 2010 18:25:21 GMT
Aw, I'm glad I'm not the only one here who can't read about horrible things happening to our furry and feathered friends. In another BBoH (was it #5?) there were two stories involving cats which I had difficulty reading - Reggie Oliver's "Mrs Midnight" and Anna Taborska's "Schroedinger's Human". I struggled with both of these - although in the Taborska tale the cat gets the upper hand, so that's fine by me. BTW Dem, have you read Reggie Oliver's story in the latest BBoH yet? It's superb IMHO. Like I said, cruelty to kids I can handle.
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Post by corpsecandle on Sept 28, 2010 18:27:30 GMT
It also reminds me that the one scene in the film Threads that makes almost everyone feel sick is the bit with the dying cat.
It certianly something that a LOT of people connect with and I would think the majority rather than the minority.
I am halfway through The Green Bath right now so I won't say anything about it yet but I finished It Begins at Home.
I have to say stories like these that make you think about the quite horrors behind things you think are genuine really make for a great chill. What strikes me most about the way John Llewellyn Proberts ends his story is that it leaves it you.
Like "You and I both know what happens now" and that knowing tragidy betwen writer and reader makes you hold your breath.
It did with me.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Sept 28, 2010 21:25:48 GMT
Aw, I'm glad I'm not the only one here who can't read about horrible things happening to our furry and feathered friends. In another BBoH (was it #5?) there were two stories involving cats which I had difficulty reading - Reggie Oliver's "Mrs Midnight" and Anna Taborska's "Schroedinger's Human". I struggled with both of these - although in the Taborska tale the cat gets the upper hand, so that's fine by me. BTW Dem, have you read Reggie Oliver's story in the latest BBoH yet? It's superb IMHO. Like I said, cruelty to kids I can handle. I'm sorry - I'll first have to say that I come from a cat family - but I keep getting recurring images of members of the vault, who specialise in the description and elucidation of almost every form of depravity, regularly invent despicable horrors better buried in the nether reaches of the imagination, blithely dismiss the slaying of millions, pacts with devils, inhuman torture and the crushing, mashing and disruption of souls, hands, fingers and the population of continents - yet produce a small animal in a poor condition and you're almost frightened to open the vault door. Having said that I've not read the story yet...
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Post by marksamuels on Sept 28, 2010 21:28:28 GMT
"The Creaking" by Anna Taborska
An excellent and disturbing little tale, in which a title is used to maximum effect. The fate of the “witch” Alice, is foreshadowed very subtly and effectively in the early part of the story, in which a terrified young boy is brutalised by his father to the extent he serves up a handy scapegoat for all the self-loathing felt by himself as an individual and by the self-hatred the community in which he lives experiences. It’s tragic, it’s horrible, it’s powerful, it’s moving and it’s nasty. What’s not to like?
"The Green Bath" by Paul Finch
Pick of the anthology thus far. I’ve long admired Paul Finch, who is as accomplished an author as the very best in the field, and has only recently been afforded a degree of the recognition he truly deserves. His account of a couple’s holiday in Cornwall, of sexual obsession and a monstrous pagan force from the age of the saints is masterful. His descriptive powers when it comes to landscape are pretty much unequalled in contemporary horror fiction, and his grasp of characterisation and motives are first-rate. This is definitely another contender for Best of... anthologies.
"New Teacher" by Craig Herbertson
What seems, at first, like a slight story, is redeemed by its powerful Roald Dahl-like twist. I have to admit, this one really caught me on the hop; and my expectation was much more “Lord of the Flies” than what actually transpires. Craig pulled out the rug from under me with this beauty. Like Dem, I really enjoyed the depictions of the booze-sodden teachers clustered in the smoky staffroom; reminded me very much of how school-life used to be back in the 70s and early 80s.
"Minos or Rhadamanthus" by Reggie Oliver
Well, for sheer quality, Reggie’s story is very much on a par with Paul Finch’s and it similarly seethes with a sense of oeutre sexuality. Whereas Paul’s was obsessive, this one’s sado-masochistic. Caverner recalls his days as a public-school boy under the tutelage of the Rev. C.W. Margetson and his titular, and symbolic, twin canes alluding to Classical Greek mythology. Seeing as it’s Reggie at work, and given the fact he is, imo, the best ghost story author now living, mere sexual kicks aren’t just what this story is all about. There’s also a persuasive sense of the corrosive guilt of characters drowning in the psychological torment of having become their own worst enemy, which, coupled with an incomparably flawless prose-style, are executed with a panache far beyond the powers of most of the highly lauded writers prominent in the field today. Again, another 1st class story and a prime contender for the Best of... horror anthologies.
I retract my claim about this being possibly the best anthology I've seen this year: it is the best anthology I've seen this year.
Mark S.
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Post by weirdmonger on Sept 28, 2010 21:42:06 GMT
I'm sorry - I'll first have to say that I come from a cat family - but I keep getting recurring images of members of the vault, who specialise in the description and elucidation of almost every form of depravity, regularly invent despicable horrors better buried in the nether reaches of the imagination, blithely dismiss the slaying of millions, pacts with devils, inhuman torture and the crushing, mashing and disruption of souls, hands, fingers and the population of continents - yet produce a small animal in a poor condition and you're almost frightened to open the vault door. Joe Lansdale's story in the NEVER AGAIN anthology seems to be addressing this conundrum! des PS and I've alluded to the apparent Stanger story connection in my real-time review of NA.
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Post by marksamuels on Sept 28, 2010 23:47:47 GMT
Ooops, I've also read
Alex Langley "Walking the Dyke"
Must admit, I thought this was pretty middling. Apart from the "in-the-know" Alex White reference from Pan #14, it left me rather cold. It's not, on the one hand, well-written enough to be meritorious. However, on the other hand, it's not outrageous enough to be memorable.
So, imo, not much more than distinctly average.
Doesn't detract from the high quality of the anthology overall, however. In fact, it's probably a decent little tale that suffers by virtue of being displayed alongside an exceptionally powerful selection.
Mark S.
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