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Post by dem bones on May 6, 2014 6:04:26 GMT
Herbert Van Thal (ed.) – The Second Bedside Book Of Strange Stories (Arthur Barker, 1976) John H Snellings – Flies Dulce Gray – Mumsie Sally Franklin – The Strange Gift Of Sidney Higgins Robert Aickman – The House Of The Russians Harry Harrison – The Last Train A. L. Barker – Happy Event Roger Malisson – Regression Morag Greer – A Cross At Her Head And Feet Willis Hall – Long Winter’s NightBlurb: Herbert van Thal has selected nine sinister tales which should leave even the most hardened horror addict unable to sleep. They have been carefully chosen to cover the spectrum of strange stories : from the seemingly ordinary to the completely inexplicable; from ghosts to gothic.
Flies are unpleasant insects, little more than nuisances in an ordinary house – but what happens if they develop a taste for fresh blood?
Is it possible for humans and insects to exchange bodies?
What happened to the people living on an island on the ‘wrong’ side of a Finnish town?
What was the strange face that appeared momentarily at a window of a great hall?
Is there such a thing as a ghost train?
This anthology is a welcome addition to The Bedside Book of Strange Stories, Herbert van Thal's previous collection of such tales for Arthur Barker.John H Snellings – Flies: Having learned by chance of their passion for raw hamburger and (her) fresh blood, Katherine Morrow takes to feeding her pet flies with the vague intent of using the big beauties to avenge herself on appalling husband Charles. Come the night when, finding the stifling heat in their bedroom uncongenial to sleep, he ventures downstairs to the cellar for a fan .... Dulcie Gray - Mumsie: Henry's nauseating mother, who insists on being called Doll-doll,' is furious when he makes known his intention to marry Patty and make a life of his own. How very dare he! And after all she's sacrificed for him! To add insult to injury, Patty bears him a son, Timothy. Doll-doll absolutely refuses to be a grandmother; she's far too young and girlish - everybody says! Doll-doll fantasises about offing the trio, but it is she who has a brush with death when her car is involved in a head-on collision. the other driver, a young woman, is killed outright. After the accident, toddler Timothy telepathically confides in her that he never wanted to be born and he wants her to murder him and his detested parents. He suggests she start by throwing him down a well. Roger Malisson - Regression: Clare Marshall suffers nightmares in which she's confronted by a tramp-like maniac with a knife. These are so horrifically realistic that she's taken to attacking husband Jim in her sleep. When she claws at his eyes, he realises it's time to get her some psychiatric help and arranges for her to spend three weeks in London alternating between shopping, resting and visiting Harley Street specialist Dr. Deslandes. The sessions go well and she even faces up to the awful truth that she's always blamed Jim for their child's death. Reunited, they make a go of things. Then the prowler shows up outside the house ... Harry Harrison - The Last Train: George Wolsey, an American in London for first time since World War II, making his way back to home to his hotel having drank too much at a party. He slips through the barrier at Gloucester Road tube to catch the last train. The passengers at a dowdy looking bunch; the gent opposite is reading The Times, except it must be a reprint as it's dated December 8th 1941. Wolsey has good reason to remember that date as it was the night the Luftwaffe took out a passenger train as it approached Kensington High Street.
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Post by dem bones on May 9, 2014 10:29:21 GMT
Sally Franklin - The Strange Gift Of Sidney Higgins: A meek, downtrodden middle-aged factory worker, Sid's talent is for willing himself to exchange places with animals, insects, reptiles & Co.. Hence a Sunday afternoon visit to the zoo with moaning Martha and his equally detested plant manager is far more enjoyable than it otherwise might have been. And when Martha launches into one of her trademark harangues, he can always swap bodies with a housefly. But what is that eight-legged monstrosity scuttling across the carpet? Best bail out fast..... Another winner. It's not unreasonable to suspect Van Thal put more effort into compiling this than the same year's 17th Pan Book Of Horror Stories (the one with The Claygo Worm and Alan Lee's unconvincing dislodged eyeball cover painting)
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