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Post by Michael Connolly on Aug 11, 2017 12:23:33 GMT
It's all news to me that Michael Harrison is of any Jamesian interest. For years I've known him as the author of books about Sherlock Holmes that treat him as a real person. While that is a nutty proposition, such pointless books tend to be very tedious to read.
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Post by Michael Connolly on Aug 11, 2017 14:22:04 GMT
Separated at birth?
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Post by helrunar on Aug 11, 2017 14:45:46 GMT
OMGss I see Christina Hole AND Ruth Wynn Owen mentioned in that London Mystery Mag issue. *ENVY*
Thanks for posting!
cheers, H.
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Post by helrunar on Aug 11, 2017 14:48:48 GMT
Ro, has there ever been an article about Margaret Irwin in the pages of your eminent publication? I just read two stories by her and she's definitely in the "family." "The Earlier Service," which was included in Best Black Magic Stories edited for Faber by John Keir Cross in 1960, also had a touch of Shirley Jackson but that may have been sheer phantasmagoria on my part since I am not sure just when the story was written.
I am definitely going to look for more by Margaret Irwin.
cheers, H.
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Post by ropardoe on Aug 11, 2017 16:05:30 GMT
Ro, has there ever been an article about Margaret Irwin in the pages of your eminent publication? I just read two stories by her and she's definitely in the "family." "The Earlier Service," which was included in Best Black Magic Stories edited for Faber by John Keir Cross in 1960, also had a touch of Shirley Jackson but that may have been sheer phantasmagoria on my part since I am not sure just when the story was written. I am definitely going to look for more by Margaret Irwin. cheers, H. No, but she's on the "James List". I only know of two of her stories which qualify as Jamesian: "The Earlier Service" is definitely one (in fact, this was one of the earliest Jamesian stories I ever read - possibly even before I read anything by MRJ himself). The other is ""The Book". I'd be interested to know if anyone has read any of her other stories and spotted Jamesian tales among them. Or, of course, if anyone wanted to research her and do me an article for G&S (I hope that goes without saying - I'm always desperate for material).
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Post by helrunar on Aug 11, 2017 16:30:43 GMT
I read "The Book" last night and it definitely has a Jamesian element in the material about the titular book itself, which has an unpleasant habit of issuing spectral commands in bits of crabbed, handwritten church Latin overnight. Latinity of course is also a significant element in "The Earlier Service," along with mediaeval relics of Church architecture.
I looked up Irwin's "Wikipedia" entry this morning. She was primarily a historical novelist, and both the short stories have elements of domestic and feminine psychology (forgive this awkward, dated phrasing) that feel as if they are from a rather different realm of affairs from that one thinks of in connection with the Master. Some of the spiky humor in "The Earlier Service" also feels like something of a departure.
cheers, H.
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Post by dem bones on Aug 11, 2017 17:21:07 GMT
Separated at birth? I only restored that Told In The Dark cover scan this morning along with the rest of the 'fifties stuff! Definitely looks like they shared a designer.
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Post by Michael Connolly on Aug 12, 2017 11:37:02 GMT
Separated at birth? I only restored that Told In The Dark cover scan this morning along with the rest of the 'fifties stuff! Definitely looks like they shared a designer. The original cover The London Mystery Magazine was drawn by Joan Hassall. The cover for Told in the Dark (probably my favourite for an anthology) was drawn by Val Biro.
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Post by Michael Connolly on Aug 12, 2017 11:47:19 GMT
Thanks for that link. I'm working up an article for "Jamesian Notes & Queries" on Harrison's supernatural stories (for the Spring 2018 G&S), so this will come in very handy. The forceps illustration is exactly as described in "Some Very Odd Happenings at Kibblesham Manor House", but according to Roger Pearse on his blog, these weren't used (as stated in the story) as "nutcrackers" but to prevent blood loss while the actual work was being done with a knife. Not sure whether that makes any of the gentlemen among us feel any better! Judging from my quick scan through the Roots of Witchcraft pdf, this was a seriously misguided book (Harrison idolised Margaret Murray), but one which I shall probably enjoy reading! I've just read "Some Very Odd Happenings at Kibblesham Manor House". It's all very unsavoury. However, the reference on p.41 to the "crack plastic surgeon [who] repaired the damage to Father" did make me laugh. The story reminded me of a sketch set in a harem in Round the Horne. One character said: "I am the Chief Eunuch. And I miss nothing!" "But you must!" said another character played by Kenneth Williams.
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Post by helrunar on Aug 12, 2017 12:46:26 GMT
Funny, Michael, and at some point yesterday I was wondering about that line as well! Lovely to see someone mention Round the Horne and Kenneth Williams here, too.
H.
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Post by ramseycampbell on Aug 19, 2017 13:19:54 GMT
[/quote]It may comfort you somewhat to know that that bookstore, along with all other Borders stores, has since vanished from the face of the earth. [/quote]
Not before I derived a novel from the one in which I worked, though.
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Post by dem bones on Nov 25, 2017 11:26:08 GMT
Hugh Rankin [/img] Pope Joan as told by Alvin F. Harlow in his regular 'Folks Used To Believe' column, Weird Tales, Feb. 1929)
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Post by ropardoe on Nov 25, 2017 13:29:01 GMT
Considering its brevity, that's not too bad a summary, I think.
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Post by dem bones on Feb 3, 2021 22:26:39 GMT
Norman Kark [ed.] - London Mystery Selection 102, (Sept. 1974) Roy Bolitho - Not a Hitch James D. Brown - The Bell B. R. Swan - Dips Dilemma Oliver Taylor - Laughter Is the Best Medicine Lyn Bacon - The Secret Cupboard Guy N. Smith - Man Astray Michael W. Powell - Girl Friend Brenda Lilian Smith - “Nowhere in Particular” Nesta Pinn - A Body in Store Derwent Vale - Toni or Somebody Else? Brian Whalen - “Kenny, My Friend” Norman P. Kaufman - Head Don Llewellyn - Diamond for Sale J. B. Sanderson - The Strange One Leslie D. Knights - The Red Barn (verse)Michael Scott Norman P. Kaufman - Head: Kalker kills the detective (our narrator) by forcing his head out of the carriage window in the path of the oncoming express. The severed head continues the investigation. "I mean, I know the man had a shock, but to defecate in sheer fright - it's just not done, is it?" Good old Norman on top sick Pan Horror form. Leslie D. Knights - The Red Barn: Short verse commemorating the murder of Maria Marten and part played in same by her jealous stepmother. Roy Bolitho - Not a Hitch: Gerald wants rid of harridan wife so he can marry his hot bit on the side. So an approach from an outfit specialising in discreet murder is initially welcome. Michael W. Powell - Girl Friend: Now rhere's a welcome surprise - a ghoul vignette. Although in truth Marie is an all rounder. Vampire, werewolf, gorgon.
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Post by dem bones on Feb 4, 2021 10:25:45 GMT
Vera Jarman Lyn Bacon - The Secret Cupboard: Mill Cottage, Barleyway, is reputedly haunted by the ghost of a seventeen year old suicide, Corrine Melton, the squire's only daughter, who hung herself on Christmas eve 1695 following the murder of her lover and death of their infant child. The baby's bones were never recovered. Now Jane Lauder, recently bereaved of husband and daughter in a car accident, moves in .... Brian Whalen - 'Kenny, My Friend': The master of Hunter's Moon Farm returns home with his beautiful new bride. It soon becomes clear to all bar her husband that Mrs. Merryfield Mk II has a keen eye for anything remotely fit in trousers. Harry, simple young farm labourer, worried that best pal Kenny is getting in above his head, resolves to get rid of the problem. A proper horror story. With scarecrow. Oliver Taylor - Laughter is the best Medicine: I could feel the thing undulating obscenely towards my bed. Narrator takes an inordinate pride in his heartlessness - until a midnight visit from a murderous spirit. Have found Head and 'Kenny, My Friend particularly horribly entertaining, though even the not-so-great ones make me wish there were still an equivalent of LMS to look forward to every month.
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