|
Post by dem bones on Sept 1, 2016 11:14:21 GMT
Irving S. Cobb - Fishhead: The Darker Tales Of (Parallel Universe, Aug. 2016) Linden Riley - Introduction Bibliography
Fishhead The Escape of Mr. Trimm The Gallowsmith Mr. Lobel's Apoplexy The Unbroken Chain The Second Coming of the First Husband Masterpiece January Thaw Cabbages and Kings We Can't All Be Thoroughbreds Queer Creek Ace, Deuce, Ten Spot, Joker Balm of Gilead Faith, Hope, and CharityIn Pulp Horror 3, editor Justin Marriott commended three contemporary British small press publishers, Mortbury Press, Shadow Press, and the now sadly defunct Grey Friar Press, for their consistently rewarding volumes of macabre fiction, be they golden age revivals or hot off the press modern shockers. Having now sampled thirteen of their collections, I would add the prolific, almost supernaturally eclectic Parallel Universe Publications to that listing. Fishhead: A deadly effective weird tale of racial prejudice in the Deep South. The locals call him Fishhead on account of his looks, his ma reputedly terrified by a huge catfish as she gave birth. Fishhead lives in a cabin along Reelfoot River on the Tennessee-Kentucky border, shunned and feared by blacks and whites alike due to his uncanny rapport with the local marine life. And now the cowardly Baxter brothers, Joel and Jake, are out to kill him. The boys are smarting over the very public beating he dispensed when they falsely accused him of sabotaging their lines ("in the onlookers a sense of the everlasting fitness of things had triumphed over race prejudice and showed them - two freeborn, sovereign whites - to be licked by a black person"). Fishhead spots Joel's rifle trained on him, knows it's the end, but still has valuable seconds to bellow a last piercing cry to his deadly friends ... The Escape of Mr. Trimm: A horrific train crash on the outskirts of Westfield leaves twenty dead, among them, it is reported, the notorious Hobart W. Trimm, 'the iron man of Wall Street', recently sentenced to twelve years hard labour for his pivotal role in the collapse of the Thirteenth National Bank. But Trimm escaped the wreck with nary a scratch, unlike his unfortunate escort, Deputy Marshal Meyers, who was royally crushed and burnt beyond all recognition. All Trimm has to do is rid himself of these flimsy handcuffs, send a telegram to a crooked crony, and he can begin life over with a secret $4 m stash to burn. It's not quite as easy as it seems. The Gallowsmith:Chickaloosa's most celebrated son, Tobias 'Uncle Tobe' Dramm, owes his fame to his morbid occupation. He's the most diligent hangman in the South. Uncle Tobe prides himself on efficiency; thanks to his masterly way with a rope, the condemned depart this world swiftly and with the minimum of suffering. Ten years into his career with no hint of a mishap, Old Tobe meets his biggest challenge in the form of Smith, 'the Lone-Hand Kid', a train-bandit quick to shoot dead any man who ever crossed him. Problem is, Smith has been accused of the one murder he didn't commit, which has left him sore with the world in general and, in particular, the man who will make money from swinging him. Smith's curse at the gallows so unnerves Uncle Tobe that he makes a bad lot of his work and Smith expires in agony. Will the bandit make good on his promise to return from the fiery pit and repay Uncle Tobe in kind? Three stories in and it's already apparent that Cobb has a way with a cracking ending.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 2, 2016 8:15:28 GMT
January Thaw: As featured on the Vault Advent Calendar for 2015. Christmas at Twisted Pond in the Adirondack Mountains. Housebound on account of a broken leg, the man whose passport identifies him as Hubert Champey directs the search for Mortimer, his friend and fellow Brit, who inexplicably wandered off into the frozen night minus a coat. Was ever man more concerned for the fate of a colleague? How it pains Hubert to confide in his kindly hosts that Mortimer is, alas, a dope fiend! The weeks drag by and still no sign of the missing man. And the - the January thaw that nobody told Hubert about. One I made earlier. Faith, Hope And Charity: New Mexico. Gaza, Lafitte and Green, three prisoners facing extradition to their own countries where respectively, the garrotte, guillotine and solitary confinement for life await. With nothing to lose and their worst fears driving them on, the terrible trio overpower their guard and vamoose from a train taking them to New York. Cold blooded murder ensues, but fate is not to be cheated. Michael Avallone recycled the plot to good effect as Tom Dick And Horror for Tales Of The Frightened.
|
|
|
Post by fullbreakfast on Sept 2, 2016 17:12:05 GMT
I'll be interested to see what you make of The Unbroken Chain, which I tracked down years ago having been impressed by Fishhead. I actually don't remember a great deal about the story other than that it was appallingly racist, which maybe shouldn't have been the surprise it was. Disappointing though.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 3, 2016 9:01:07 GMT
I'll be interested to see what you make of The Unbroken Chain, which I tracked down years ago having been impressed by Fishhead. I actually don't remember a great deal about the story other than that it was appallingly racist, which maybe shouldn't have been the surprise it was. Disappointing though. Good to hear from you, Mr. Breakfast. The Unbroken Chain is tough going, I'll grant you, but to my mind it's been the stand-out story to date in a very strong collection. *SPOILER ALERT* The Unbroken Chain: ( Cosmopolitan, September 1923). The first half, set in Africa in 1819, concerns an attack on twenty helpless, yoked slaves by a bull rhinoceros. The solitary survivor, half mad with terror, is sold to a church minister from Maine. Cut to present day (1920) Smithstown, Long Island. Judge Sylvester and a landowner named Blackburn are discussing the latter's new neighbour, Mr. G. Claybourne Brissot, gentleman, decent enough chap, but, the Judge suspects, tainted with "the negroid smudge" and that won't do at all! No wonder Brissot keeps himself to himself and clams up when the conversation turns to matters pedigree. "I don't want to be morbid but just to satisfy my own curiosity I should like to have a look at the man stripped," confides the Judge. He is denied his wish when Brissot is mangled in a spectacular collision at a railway crossing, but it seems Sylvester was onto something. Colonel Bate-Farnaro, the famous explorer and big game hunter, who miraculously survived the accident, reports that, as the express bore down on him, Brissot repeatedly screamed three times in fluent Mbana, "Niama tumba!" (trans: "great animal" or "rhinoceros"). That a noted humorist should have given us this! The account of the rhino attack is presented as dispassionate reportage (it reminds me of Charles Birkin's audience-dividing A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts, but then, I have that particular "story" on the brain). Part two, Cobb has the principle characters exchange racist rhetoric but whether he is advocating, attacking or merely acknowledging that such attitudes are prevalent in the South, is open to the reader to decide.
|
|
|
Post by fullbreakfast on Sept 3, 2016 14:55:16 GMT
I'll be interested to see what you make of The Unbroken Chain, which I tracked down years ago having been impressed by Fishhead. I actually don't remember a great deal about the story other than that it was appallingly racist, which maybe shouldn't have been the surprise it was. Disappointing though. Good to hear from you, Mr. Breakfast. The Unbroken Chain is tough going, I'll grant you, but to my mind it's been the stand-out story to date in a very strong collection. *SPOILER ALERT* The Unbroken Chain: ( Cosmopolitan, September 1923). The first half, set in Africa in 1819, concerns an attack on twenty helpless, yoked slaves by a bull rhinoceros. The solitary survivor, half mad with terror, is sold to a church minister from Maine. Cut to present day (1920) Smithstown, Long Island. Judge Sylvester and a landowner named Blackburn are discussing the latter's new neighbour, Mr. G. Claybourne Brissot, gentleman, decent enough chap, but, the Judge suspects, tainted with "the negroid smudge" and that won't do at all! No wonder Brissot keeps himself to himself and clams up when the conversation turns to matters pedigree. "I don't want to be morbid but just to satisfy my own curiosity I should like to have a look at the man stripped," confides the Judge. He is denied his wish when Brissot is mangled in a spectacular collision at a railway crossing, but it seems Sylvester was onto something. Colonel Bate-Farnaro, the famous explorer and big game hunter, who miraculously survived the accident, reports that, as the express bore down on him, Brissot repeatedly screamed three times in fluent Mbana, "Niama tumba!" (trans: "great animal" or "rhinoceros"). That a noted humorist should have given us this! The account of the rhino attack is presented as dispassionate reportage (it reminds me of Charles Birkin's audience-dividing A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts, but then, I have that particular "story" on the brain). Part two, Cobb has the principle characters exchange racist rhetoric but whether he is advocating, attacking or merely acknowledging that such attitudes are prevalent in the South, is open to the reader to decide. I haven't been in these parts for a while, glad to see the forum is still alive and kicking...or at least twitching spasmodically! The story comes back to me now that you recount it. Re your last sentence, I know what you mean, and it's tempting to give authors whose other works we like the benefit of the doubt. But I think a skilled writer - and I'd certainly say Cobb was that - gives us subtle cues that allow us to frame their attitude to the subject matter. A stone cold satirist might deliberately not do, but Cobb wasn't one of those. As you say it's a matter of judgment for the reader, but I came down against Cobb on this one. Which really just means I think he was a product of his times. This isn't in Medusa territory - thank God - but it still left an unpleasant taste for me.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 3, 2016 15:23:15 GMT
I haven't been in these parts for a while, glad to see the forum is still alive and kicking...or at least twitching spasmodically! The story comes back to me now that you recount it. Re your last sentence, I know what you mean, and it's tempting to give authors whose other works we like the benefit of the doubt. But I think a skilled writer - and I'd certainly say Cobb was that - gives us subtle cues that allow us to frame their attitude to the subject matter. A stone cold satirist might deliberately not do, but Cobb wasn't one of those. As you say it's a matter of judgment for the reader, but I came down against Cobb on this one. Which really just means I think he was a product of his times. This isn't in Medusa territory - thank God - but it still left an unpleasant taste for me. This line suggests a degree of self-awareness - - but the narrative is so neutral I couldn't begin to guess at Cobb's motive in writing the story, and wouldn't want to. It is certainly not an easy one to "like". A macabre comedy interlude. We Can't All Be Thoroughbreds: A brave young settler sacrifices herself to an Apache raiding party that her child might live. The boy is adopted, given the name Renfrew Jacobs, and thrives. By the age of fifty Jacobs is the world renowned multimillionaire president of corporate giants, Inter Hemisphere Copper, but his callous disregard for butchered mother's memory is enough to set her spinning in her grave.
|
|
|
Post by David A. Riley on Sept 3, 2016 16:08:58 GMT
I haven't been in these parts for a while, glad to see the forum is still alive and kicking...or at least twitching spasmodically! The story comes back to me now that you recount it. Re your last sentence, I know what you mean, and it's tempting to give authors whose other works we like the benefit of the doubt. But I think a skilled writer - and I'd certainly say Cobb was that - gives us subtle cues that allow us to frame their attitude to the subject matter. A stone cold satirist might deliberately not do, but Cobb wasn't one of those. As you say it's a matter of judgment for the reader, but I came down against Cobb on this one. Which really just means I think he was a product of his times. This isn't in Medusa territory - thank God - but it still left an unpleasant taste for me. This line suggests a degree of self-awareness - - but the narrative is so neutral I couldn't begin to guess at Cobb's motive in writing the story, and wouldn't want to. It is certainly not an easy one to "like". A macabre comedy interlude. We Can't All Be Thoroughbreds: A brave young settler sacrifices herself to an Apache raiding party that her child might live. The boy is adopted, given the name Renfrew Jacobs, and thrives. By the age of fifty Jacobs is the world renowned multimillionaire president of corporate giants, Inter Hemisphere Copper, but his callous disregard for butchered mother's memory is enough to set her spinning in her grave. I agree, Dem. The main reason why I included this was because of its Lovecraft link (having supposedly given HPL the idea behind The Rats in the Walls). I tend to think Cobb was sympathetic to the doomed protagonist, about whom he had nothing bad to say. Having said that, I think Lovecraft made far better use of the idea.
|
|
|
Post by fullbreakfast on Sept 3, 2016 17:15:26 GMT
^ ^^ I should probably read it again. I have it in an anthology of his stories that I got somewhere for a couple of quid, and didn't look at the others. This thread has piqued my interest again so I'll have to dig it out.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 3, 2016 20:13:34 GMT
I agree, Dem. The main reason why I included this was because of its Lovecraft link (having supposedly given HPL the idea behind The Rats in the Walls). I tend to think Cobb was sympathetic to the doomed protagonist, about whom he had nothing bad to say. Having said that, I think Lovecraft made far better use of the idea. A Lovecraft endorsement never hurt anyone, but for me The Unbroken Chain is worthy of inclusion on its own merit. ^ ^^ I should probably read it again. I have it in an anthology of his stories that I got somewhere for a couple of quid, and didn't look at the others. This thread has piqued my interest again so I'll have to dig it out. Hope you'll let us know what you think after a rematch, Mr. B. I gave it a going over on consecutive nights, the second time because I couldn't quite believe what I'd read on the first! Am finding this collection extremely rewarding. Next one up looks to have something to do with the movie industry .....
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 4, 2016 14:38:10 GMT
Two of the cheerier tales.
Mr. Lobel's Apoplexy: Big dilemma at Lobel Masterfilms! No sooner is the steamy, big budget The She Demon's Doom under wraps than it's starlet, Sarah Glassman, better known to her adoring fans as 'Vida Monte', is dead at thirty-two, victim to the Spanish flu epidemic. Should Max Lobel shelve the movie out of respect to the late vamp? No, of course not! However, cinema-goers have scruples and may react badly to watching a dead woman cavort half naked before their eyes (this was in the 'twenties remember, people evidently had standards). But think of all that lovely money up in smoke!
Max has a brainwave. Away from the screen, Sarah lived a life so reclusive that even her neighbours were unaware that she and the famous Vida were one. Is there really any need for the public to be informed of her death?
Sarah is quietly buried in Hamletsburg Cemetery. Max and his minions check the rushes, and ... why are there two Vida's on the screen at the same time, the one acting the scene, the other staring morosely into the lens? Go away, gloomy Vida doppelgänger, you are ruining it!
The spectral manifestation persuades Max to abandon his selfish scheme and burn every reel of The She Demon's Doom. But ....
The Second Coming of the First Husband: Three years into her widowhood, Evelyn remarries. She keeps Tom Bain in check by constantly comparing him with the late, sainted Arthur who always dressed for dinner, never questioned her judgement and never, ever uttered a cross word. Poor Tom does his best to emulate his predecessor, but it is a tough ask. Even baby Jesus would find Arthur a hard act to follow.
Arthur is so incensed at Evelyn's version of events that his ghost returns from the beyond to give her a sharp talking to. He does not take kindly to being slandered as a doormat, and, furthermore, he thoroughly approves of Tom as a decent chap. Unless Evelyn mends her ways, the next time he appears it will be to embarrass her before all her friends. Evelyn learns her lesson, and her second marriage is a happy one for both parties.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 7, 2016 13:07:44 GMT
Masterpiece: While it is true he made a hash of robbing Mrs. Olivia Thames, that perma-sozzled old harridan, as she slept, Wally Staggner consoles himself with the knowledge that he has committed the perfect murder. When the old bat inconveniently revived as he was trousering her jewels, Staggner was left with no option but to brain her with a poker. But now he is in the clear, having skilfully deflected blame to a bogus butler with a history of villainy.
The problem is, Mrs. Thames hateful face haunts his nights and days until he too is an unpredictable drink-addled ruin. All roads lead to a Coney Island wax museum where Mr. Siggy Gottschalk, entrepreneur, has added a striking new tableau to the Grotto of Great Murder Mysteries.
Queer Creek: Fugitive bank-robbers Connor and Sauer make a break for it on horseback across a seemingly endless expanse of wasteland. Unwilling to tolerate his mean confederate's sneering and ominous asides, Sauer shoots Connor dead and leaves the corpse to the buzzards. Better to have all the money and take his chances alone. Besides, how hard can it be to follow a river until it eventually reaches the ocean?
He didn't reckon with Queer Creek.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 8, 2016 18:22:36 GMT
Virgil Finlay Famous Fantastic Mysteries, June 1942. Cabbages And Kings: Told in leisurely style during a duck shoot. Dan Thorne, detective, investigates the murder of Dr. Adrian Trant, respectable if unpopular medic to the community of Uniondale, Kentucky. Thorne patiently unravels the mystery, but, on learning the unlikely killer's motive, decides that this is one case that would better remain "unsolved". Cobb loves his incredible coincidences as much as he does an "unbroken chain" and puts both to good use here.
|
|
|
Post by andydecker on Sept 9, 2016 8:39:21 GMT
Always when I see these illustrations which were done as purely commercial art, just to be used and then forgotten, I ask myself how it could go so wrong. Compared to the crap which is done today for covers this is like the Mona Lisa.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 9, 2016 14:18:29 GMT
Its not all bad news, Andy. Jim Pitts (from Fishhead: The Darker Tales of Irving S. Cobb)
Ace, Deuce, Ten Spot, Joker: Gangland variation on Faith, Hope and Charity. Torpedo Mike Romano, aka Big Casino, is displeased with two of his boys and gives orders that they be eliminated. Sammy the Suet goes into hiding, but his creeping paranoia proves justified when he's gunned down in the street. M. J. 'Slats' Horan thinks he will avoid a similar fate by pleading guilty to a murder charge. A victim of his own vanity, Slats doesn't make it to prison. His empire secured, Big Casino can now enjoy Christmas with his "small, fat" wife and beloved three-year-old son. The cosmic joker has other ideas. Finally, a feelgood story for twisted people .... Balm of Gilead: "Moving on past, silent and contemptuous and brooding, the shaggy ex-clansman paid no heed to their staring. Mentally he brushed them from his path, abolishing them, one and all, with a psychic gesture. By his standards their sort, and not his sort, were the universe's weirdest and most curious folk." Men of violence, 'twenties style! After centuries of killing one another, the respective heads of the Tallbee and Zachary clans agree to a peace settlement for the sake of their children. A condition of the truce is that Zach Zacherly moves to California while old Jethro Tallbee relocate to Chicago. He hates it. City folk ain't normal. He misses Kentucky, misses his friends but, most of all, he misses his enemies. What's the point of life if you ain't looking to shoot the other fellow afore he shoots you. All seems lost until a gang of punk racketeers get it into their heads to rob the local bank .... Another cracker from PUP. For this reader - who'd only read the title story and Faith, Hope & Charity until Mr. Riley kindly donated January Thaw to our most recent advent calendar - The Unbroken Chain is the stand-out supernatural horror story, but there's not a dud in the entire collection. As the subtitle suggests, several of these weird parables are dark sardonic as opposed to full on, Pan-style horror, and if you're not a fan of the conte cruel you may need to look elsewhere for your kicks. Me, I loved it.
|
|