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Post by dem bones on Nov 30, 2013 19:23:34 GMT
Stephen Jones & David A. Sutton (eds) – Dark Voices 5: The Pan Book of Horror (Pan, 1993) Peter Mennim Robert Holdstock – Having His Leg Pulled Brian Lumley – Back Row Roberta Lannes – Precious Nicholas Royle – The Editor Graham Joyce – The Ventriloquial Art Melanie Tem – Phantom Daniel Fox – How She Dances Dennis Etchison – The Dog Park Simon Clark – Gerassimos Flamotas: A Day in the Life Kathe Koja – Arrangement for Invisible Voices Brian Mooney – The Lady of Dubhán Alla Les Daniels – Loser David J. Schow – Life Partner Kim Antieau – Sustenance Jean-Daniel Brèque – Stone Dead Jeff VanderMeer – La Siesta del Muerte Peter Valentine Timlett – The Disobedience of Mary Thompson Michael Marshall Smith – More Bitter Than Death Kim Newman – Where the Bodies Are Buried Myrna Elana – Red-Bellied GhostsBlurb: For 34 years the Pan Book of Horror has turned the blood in your veins to red ice. In this latest terrifying collection, horror’s menacing masters and tomorrow’s top names gather together to take you to the furthest reaches of Fear… Cravings… Killers… Cannibalism… Ghosts… Zombies… Arachnids… Parasites… Insanity… Necrophilia… Video Nasties… In Dark Voices 5 the reign of terror continues.
GET PUBLISHED IN DARK VOICES 6; See competition details insideAnother rematch, and again, it has been such a long time it is like having a new book. These three are a bit good. Brian Lumley - Back Row: The Odeon, a midweek matinee, and a bonus cheap thrill for a pensioner sat directly in front of an amorous young couple. The cinema is screening a vintage romance. I Eat Your Entrails would have been better suited to the occasion. Les Daniels - Loser: Our heroine (name withheld) doesn't like her big, fat backside. It is enormous. A bulimic since her teens, she has lost enough weight to build a second her, but all to no avail. She's still a lard arse. Tonight the poor woman's customary evening meal of an orange isn't enough. Will she crack and raid her secret supply? Peter Valentine Timlett - The Disobedience of Mary Thompson: Young and naive, Mary Thompson wed domineering Frank Dobson, thinking she could change him. Seventeen years into their joyless marriage, he's still the same, humourless Right Man, who will have his way in all things, regardless that nobody can stand him. And so Mary lives out her dreary existence, murder fantasies her solitary pleasure until - happy day! - Frank is hit by a car. For years Frank drilled her that, on his death, he was to be cremated - none of that degrading eaten by worms business for him. Mary, free at last, insists on burial, and spends every day gloating at his graveside. But even in death, Frank is a force to be reckoned with. Loved the ending!
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Post by dem bones on Dec 1, 2013 22:00:08 GMT
Kim Newman - Where the Bodies Are Buried: The school bully's progress. Several years have passed since he and number one toady, Reg Jessup, would torture little Alan Keyes in the playground, but Robert Hackwill is still the same nasty bit of goods. A big noise on the local council, Hackwill is pressing forward with a personally lucrative land development deal in the face of much public protest. Fortunately, his early flair for mudslinging, intimidation and plain old blackmail has not deserted him in adulthood, and Hackwill has even the most ferocious of opponents in his pocket. But something feels wrong. He's living on his nerves, and it began when he first laid eyes on the lurid poster advertising a smash hit video nasty.
if Hackwill and Jessup (a self-serving Independent councillor) have done well for themselves, their once victim, Alan Keyes has done even better, lording it in Hollywood as creator of the Where The Bodies Are Buried franchise featuring globally popular Freddie Kruger-a-like, 'Rob Hackwill', a one-eyed maniac with a lust for mass murder. The real-life Hackwill is furious to have indirectly set a pathetic no-mark on his way to undreamed of success, and, inevitably, now has to suffer his detractors - and kids - forever referring to him as 'Hackwill the monster." But that's far from the worst of it. One morning he awakens to find his eye gummed stubbornly shut, never again to reopen. As his political activities take an increasingly criminal turn, so he adopts further unsavoury characteristics of his fictional namesake until the two are very much one.
A winning start to Mr. Newman's Hackwill mini-series. Am looking forward to rematches with the immediate sequel - which I remember nothing about other than liking it plenty - and, especially part III, featuring the glamorous (but sadly, not glamorous enough) Elizabeth Yatman, "monster nurse."
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Post by dem bones on Dec 4, 2013 19:45:53 GMT
Graham Joyce - The Ventriloquial Art: I read scary stories on a regular basis, love them dearly for all kinds of reasons, but very rarely do they achieve the one thing they're meant to do - scare me. I have no idea why a line as simple as "Please, Mike. I'm frightened" should get to me, but get to me it certainly did. The Ventriloquist Act is the sad story of Mike and Spike, a successful ventriloquist act, whose relationship has become untenable due to artistic differences. One party hates performing to infants and demands they play more strip joints, the other takes the opposite viewpoint. The ventriloquist prides himself on a waxen make up job so convincing that the audience can't tell he and the dummy apart. Trouble is, neither can the dummy ....
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Post by erebus on Dec 5, 2013 13:29:26 GMT
Your summary of this has really enticed me into getting these books. I loved the pans and have all but number 30 ( Where is it ? ) But never sampled these later incarnations. I'm currently undergoing the mammoth task of re reading King's IT as its been a few years. But sometimes to break things down and take a rest from Pennywise and his mayhem I look for a quick short to read through. Thanks to you I've found my next batch to track down. How many did they actually do ? Theres a fair few up on ebay seems thats the way to go. Sod the kids christmas pressies, priorities etc.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Dec 5, 2013 14:57:10 GMT
It goes a huge prices. This nowadays is about the cheapest. link
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Post by dem bones on Dec 6, 2013 7:12:06 GMT
Your summary of this has really enticed me into getting these books. I loved the pans and have all but number 30 ( Where is it ? ) But never sampled these later incarnations. I'm currently undergoing the mammoth task of re reading King's IT as its been a few years. But sometimes to break things down and take a rest from Pennywise and his mayhem I look for a quick short to read through. Thanks to you I've found my next batch to track down. How many did they actually do ? Theres a fair few up on ebay seems thats the way to go. Sod the kids christmas pressies, priorities etc. It's an interesting series for sure, though be warned - not every story has that essential Pan horror-ness about it, which is even truer of the later Dark Terrors books when the operation shifted to Gollancz. The first in the series is subtitled 'The Best Of The Pan Books of Horror Stories' and, while it's an excellent read, it is hardly representative. Stephen King, John Lennon, Alan Ryan, Harry Harrison & Co., were hardly series regulars, and no room for stalwarts 'Alex White', Alan Temperley, Norman Kaufman, Dulce Grey, Rosemary Timperley, Martin Waddell .... I think of Dark Voices 2 as the real beginning, with David A. Sutton having replaced the late Clarence Paget as Stephen Jones' co-editor on the project, and if you're looking to sample the series, that's as good a place to start as any.
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Post by David A. Riley on Dec 6, 2013 12:58:12 GMT
It's an interesting series for sure, though be warned - not every story has that essential Pan horror-ness about it, which is even truer of the later Dark Terrors books when the operation shifted to Gollancz. The first in the series is subtitled 'The Best Of The Pan Books of Horror Stories' and, while it's an excellent read, it is hardly representative. Stephen King, John Lennon, Alan Ryan, Harry Harrison & Co., were hardly series regulars, and no room for stalwarts 'Alex White', Alan Temperley, Norman Kaufman, Dulce Grey, Rosemary Timperley, Martin Waddell .... I think of Dark Voices 2 as the real beginning, with David A. Sutton having replaced the late Clarence Paget as Stephen Jones' co-editor on the project, and if you're looking to sample the series, that's as good a place to start as any. I thought the inclusion of the John Lennon story particularly ridiculous. That was a terrible, terrible story and I can only imagine it was reprinted because of who wrote it and for no other reason. That was possibly the worst story ever published in the series.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Dec 6, 2013 14:03:31 GMT
I'd only add that from a publishing perspective it was possibly not so riculous as it could have been a good sales device. As a story - ho hum...
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Post by dem bones on Dec 13, 2013 13:29:55 GMT
Michael Marshall Smith – More Bitter Than Death: The narrator falls for a pretty seventeen year old regular in North London's famous The Archway pub. The girl and her friends frequent the pool tables where he and his mate are forever honing their skills. Although not a word has passed between them, he knows the attraction is mutual. Why else would she break into his flat and deface his every photograph of the lost love of his life and his dear departed mum? After a bad week at work, he needs better than sly glances and shy smiles. Time to make that first move ...
Well, that doesn't sound especially horrific or even suspenseful, but, trust dem - this is MMS at the top of his game, and the final pages are a tough, tough read. Perhaps my favourite story of the great man's this side of More Tomorrow.
Nicholas Royle - The Editor: Simon Watkiss has a relatively cushy number working on a successful London magazine, but his heart is no longer in the job, and worse, he's just been handed a perfectly good submission to butcher. His editor Zara is far less sensitive about such things, and, with her every stroke of the blue pencil, so a crucial relationship or treasured memory is erased from Simon's life. But Zara still thinks its too long and prepares to apply the final, radical edit.
Plenty of pop culture references including Nelson Mandela's then recent release from prison, the blame game over who sparked the Poll Tax Riots, freebie mags Ms. London and Midweek, Julee Cruise, etc.
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Post by dem bones on Dec 14, 2013 8:35:44 GMT
Robert Holdstock - Having His Leg Pulled: Jack Gilman is a bad egg. Over the alcohol limit, speeding through country lanes in his flash Volvo 740, it's no surprise when he mows down a teenage thug who has deliberately stepped into the road to wind him up. The victim survives - most of him, anyhow. Once he's recovered from the shock, Gilman can afford to congratulate himself that he'll never be caught, especially now he's exchanged his damaged bumper with that of his dozy father-in-law, Mr. Crays. But Gilman has another terrible secret, this one concerning his wife, Sandra, and there'll be hell to pay should her estranged parents ever learn the truth ....
Daniel Fox - How She Dances: By his own admission, Mick Hunter, was a "student and piss-head" the night he met the weird-looking woman who would change his life for all time. Alice approached him at the Taxi rank, begging to jump his ride so she could get home to Anne-Marie, her six month old baby daughter. Anne-Marie has been six months old for .... quite a lot longer than six months. She doesn't look or smell so healthy, either. But oh ... how she dances. Charles Birkin minus the gloating, but even so and in all seriousness, if you've ever lost an infant, you'd be advised to give How She Dances a miss.
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Post by dem bones on May 18, 2022 15:39:16 GMT
Simon Clark – Gerassimos Flamotas: A Day in the Life: Bankrupt and facing destitution due to the failure of his vineyard, Gerassimos vandalizes the shrine of his namesake Saint. That same afternoon a stranger arrives at the farm and offers him a million drachmas to borrow Rose, his mute daughter, until five this evening.
Melanie Tem – Phantom: Since his death, Frank's ghost has assisted wife Fran to dismantle herself piece by bloody piece. Give me strength.
Myrna Elana – Red-Bellied Ghosts: Mom warns Jill to keep out of the middle stable as it's haunted. Jill can't help but explore. She finds a crate and, inside, a decrepit doll. And a bible. And a newspaper clipping. And what became of her missing, adulterous father.
Dennis Etchison – The Dog Park: Before he quits Hollywood, David Madding, one-hit novelist, pays a last visit to the park to try find his missing dog. The green space is frequented by media folk - jobbing actors, aspiring screenwriters, agents, wannabe dentitions to the stars, etc. - all of them hustling a piece of the action. This afternoon, manning meets young Stacey Chernak walking her pup, Greta. Stacey's working on a docudrama, A Little-known Side of Elvis, she hopes will make movie-of-the-week.
As security arrive to empty the park, Greta disappears down the canyon prowled by coyotes and, some claim, a mountain lion. On a balcony overlooking the drop, partying rich folk snicker and applaud in anticipation of their favourite bloodsport.
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Post by dem bones on May 19, 2022 9:18:51 GMT
Kim Antieau – Sustenance: Peggy, raised on a Michigan farm by a bullying father, was introduced to and overcame the horrors of the slaughterhouse in childhood. Abusive husband and son would do well not to call her by a despised nickname.
Roberta Lannes – Precious: "We're going to have a gorgeous son, and your body will stay just as luscious as it is today." Not when Dr. Harris Stone, psycho-gynaecologist, has finished with her, it won't. Screen star Natalie Bright craves her philandering soap producer husband's baby, but only once she's free of venereal warts. Stone can't wait to get started on the treatment.
Brian Mooney – The Lady of Dubhán Alla: Canavan is the lone survivor of a failed IRA bomb attempt on a packed army bus. The fugitive calls at an isolated mansion on the border, home to a recluse, Siobhan, who, fortunately for the Provo, is sympathetic to the cause and offers him food, whiskey and shelter for the night. This place would be quite a palace were it not for the all the cobwebs. Awoken by an agonized groan in the night, Cavanan sneaks out onto the corridor to investigate. Maybe this place is not the safe haven our hostess would have him believe. There really should be a Brian Mooney collection.
Kathe Koja – Arrangement for Invisible Voices: No idea.
David J. Schow – Life Partner: It's been a week since they drank too much at the party, and, for the first time in their long relationship, JJ is truly in love with Walter. It's like at last she has him all to herself, all the time. And the sex is a-mazing!
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Post by dem bones on May 19, 2022 19:17:08 GMT
Jeff VanderMeer – La Siesta del Muerte: "Soldiers. This is the voice of Bananama city and if you want peace come down to La Siesta del Muerte ... and we will kiss you. We will lick you. We will love you until you are limp."
On the President's instruction, exactly 666 US soldiers in Santa costume parachute into Bananama on Christmas Eve on a mission to capture Tuper Zapata, Panama's most powerful drug baron. Zapata responds with voodoo, raising the siren call of Death's siesta to lure guilt-racked veteran David MacDairmid to his doom. Quite the most hectic story in the book.
Jean-Daniel Brèque – Stone Dead: Translated from the French by Nicholas Royle. Not sure if I understood this any better than I did Koja's story, the difference being this one held my interest over thirty-plus pages.
Two years on from the death of her only child in a drunk drive hit-and-run, Christiane Valentine, abandoned by her husband and facing destitution, falls under the spell of an icy cold little girl and her guardian, a particularly unnerving man in a black coat. They entice her to a derelict church at Montparnasse, whose catacombs serve as a workshop for macabre bone sculptures and the manufacture of incomplete hybrid creatures of flesh, marble, sinew and stone. They turn unpleasant. Returned to the Paris streets, Christiane finds it impossible to tell apart the living and her own kind, the stone dead.
Can't say I enjoyed all the stories, but am glad to have retrieved this one from the cobwebs for those by Brian Mooney, Dennis Etchison, Simon Clark and David J Schow. Should really go back and start again as I've forgotten those commented upon back in 2013.
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