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Post by helrunar on May 16, 2018 17:05:43 GMT
I like the drawing on that second issue cover, and some of the content sounds fun. But when I look at this kind of thing now, I see it as the slippery slope that gave birth to the dreadful Twilight series, which in turn vomited forth the unspeakable Shades of Gray horror upon the earth.
One of my favorite series (one of the few from the 1990s I actively enjoyed) was a US-Canadian production, Forever Knight, which was very much an Annie Rice pastiche (and even had an episode with a character based on Ms. Rice). I find this best-selling novelist's work unreadable, nevertheless.
Interesting thread, not one I had spotted previously--will have to look through! Thank you Kev for all your work on these scans.
cheers, Steve
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Post by dem bones on May 17, 2018 9:03:22 GMT
I like the drawing on that second issue cover, and some of the content sounds fun. But when I look at this kind of thing now, I see it as the slippery slope that gave birth to the dreadful Twilight series, which in turn vomited forth the unspeakable Shades of Gray horror upon the earth. One of my favorite series (one of the few from the 1990s I actively enjoyed) was a US-Canadian production, Forever Knight, which was very much an Annie Rice pastiche (and even had an episode with a character based on Ms. Rice). I find this best-selling novelist's work unreadable, nevertheless. cheers, Steve Am with you on Anne R*ce. Could never understand what the fuss was about. In fact, that whole trend toward "sympathetic," po-faced vampires pontificating about the meaning of everything left me cold. Far better Arabella Randolph's adorable rip-off The Vampire Tapes, the Eat Them Alive of fang lit. True to say a number of the 'zines were besotted with all things Rice - the first issue of Dead Records File reads like a glorified press release - but there were also plenty of dissenters. Personal favourites were 'Intervamp,' 'Nocturnal Ecstasy,' 'S.o.u.n.d.,' 'Necropolis,' 'The Coven Journal,' 'Poison Coffin,' 'Pernicious Amnesia,' 'The Vampyre's Crypt,' and the early issues of 'Vampires' (later 'The Velvet Vampire': far more professional in design but ... it lost something). They mostly all had something special about them, even the very few I detested (there were certain tensions between factions and at least one outfit notoriously operated a blacklist. Recipients of the black spot wore it as a badge of honour). The 1988-1994 period was some kind of golden age. By the time Mick Mercer's The Hex Files was published in 1996, several of the featured 'zines had gone under. Have said it before, but it's such a shame there was no vampire equivalent of Martin Lacey's El Tel Was A Space Alien: The Best Of The Alternate Football Press (the football 'zines proliferated from around 1987 onward).
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Post by dem bones on Jul 23, 2018 19:35:50 GMT
Liriel McMahon [ed] - Journal Of Modern Vampirism (Vampirism Research Institute, Seattle, Oct. 1992). Sally Howard From The Director of VRI From Your New Editor Rebecca L. MaConachie - Interview with Simon the Vampire Selina Tuscano - Aqua Altus Michael Weisbrodt - Walk On (Verse/ Illustrations) Fame: A Fashion Page In Sinister Style, Dedicated to The Look Of Power, And The Power Of The Look. Donna - Illustration Cathy Hogan - LA GUNS I found you, you wanted me to. I'll love you to death (Illustration). Lisa Baglini - Interview with Pamela Via Lee Scott - a True Experience With A VampireNot sure what number issue this is, possibly #4. In the words of Selini Tuscano, the VRI was "not the usual Vampire Fun Club. This is a serious institution, with a serious backer and a very serious quest." So Simon, how did you become a vampire? "Right to the point I see. How time plays illusions with my mind. What was so long ago seems like just yesterday. But I know the truth and now so shall you.
I was residing in the south of England (Yorkshire to be a province) in a village called Healaugh, where my family owned a bit of land with a modest manor home ...." That's quite enough of that, Simon. Pamela answered an ad in the personal columns of Dead Of Night magazine requesting correspondence from a "friendly vampire." She wrote to Cathrine as 'Katrina,' a 100-year-old vampire. After the first exchange of letters, Pamela felt bad and admitted she wasn't really a hundred years old, or a vampire, she'd made it all up, but Cathrine encouraged her to keep writing, so she did, developing Katrina's history with some help from Bram Stoker, Anne Rice, and Stephen King novels. "How did it all end?" "Since she hasn't written, I think I will forget the whole thing." Also a fashion piece - apparently "the look of power" is where its at - poetry, lots of ads.
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Post by helrunar on Jul 24, 2018 17:44:27 GMT
What a hoot! I really don't know where you find this stuff, Kev. But I am glad you do and that you, along with other nice folks such as James and Cro do the scans and write-ups so we can all have a bit of fun in the midst of our days and nights of toil.
That cover drawing makes me think of the (in)famous subterranean-budget film by US Sixties sleaze-cult director, Andy Milligan, The Body Beneath.
cheers, Steve
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Post by dem bones on Jul 25, 2018 8:32:41 GMT
What a hoot! I really don't know where you find this stuff, Kev. A misspent youth is the honest answer to that. I love the vampire zines so there was never any question of binning them. Unlike, say, the British Fantasy Society publications, I doubt many were created with any kind of longevity in mind, making them even more a unique snapshot of a moment in time. It all seemed of critical importance just then, and Vault is as good a place as any to acknowledge all the love, fun/ misery and hard work that went into compiling them. And The Body Beneath indeed played a part in it all ....
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Post by dem bones on Aug 11, 2018 12:18:17 GMT
Angela Readman & Lee Powell (eds.) - The Penny Dreadfull #1 (Gateshead, n.d, circa late 1993 ?) Dreadful Editorial Angela Readman - The Tangled Web of Goth History Angela Readman - "Death Can Be Fun": Incubus Succubus Interview Angela Readman - Sheridan le Fanu's Carmilla: Scarlet sensuality. A History of The Sex Gang Children The Adam's Family: An introduction in their own words. Vampyre Society reviews Poetry page Angela Readman - Pre-Raphaelite Women & Victorian Values Gabriel Ernest Vane - Letter from a Madman Anne Rice Family Tree Interview With A Vampire: Director Kills the Undead? Interview with Terminal Power Company Angela Readman - Grave News: Book & Film Reviews Lee Powell - Haunting Echoes: Shadow Sounds. Record Reviews Anonymous - Vampyre Untitled (fiction) Acknowledgements & ThanksAngela Readman & Lee Powell (eds.) - The Penny Dreadfull #2 (Gateshead, Summer 1994) Editorial Angela Readman - The Fetishist in Crushed Velvet Angela Readman - The Novices' Guide To Fetish Magazine Angela Readman - Adam’s Family: Through the Tracks. Interview. C. Stewart - The Purple Pen: Poems from the Heart of The Black Rose (Confessions of a You-made Man, Circumflex Medusa, Morbid, Daddy's Little Girl Bats from the Belfry: Your Letters. Angela Readman - Premature Burial: fact or fiction? Angela Readman - Edgar Allan Poe Directory Lee Powell - Terminal Power Company. Interview & Discography Readman & Powell - Witterings with the Witch: post-gig interview with Candia of Incubus Succubus Angela Readman - 'Nottingham Rock City' Alternative Allnighter Review 'Nottingham Rock City' Photo Special Readman & Powell - Mayhem, Madness & The Marionettes: Interview Angela Readman - Goth but not Forgotten Lee Powell & Angela Readman - Haunting Echoes: Record Reviews Angela Readman - Grave News: Book & Film Reviews Michael Pidd - The Bogle-Bitch (fiction) Contacts from the Crypt.Lo-fi production, deliberately (?) misspelt title, Goth rock-vampire-pagan hybrid with feminist slant. Strong on content, notably Angela Readman's thoughtful articles on the goth-fetish scene crossover, enduring appeal of Carmilla over Dracula, Victorian sensibilities, a brief history of premature burial in fact and fiction, etc. The consumer guide to Skin Two competitors is fun. Redeemer praised (each to their own: I loathed it) but not so Fetish Times (lacks visuals, overpriced at £5.95 for a newspaper), O ("very much an upmarket men's jazz mag ... Not much for women ... at least, tomato sauce sploshed bimbo's pouting in pink rubber don't do anything for me - although it may well make some women laugh! ... hide it under your bed, lads!") and the budget priced Draculina ("Lots of interviews with big-breasted horror starlets who nobody has heard of"). Bands featured include Pagan rock favourites Incubus Succubus (fresh from touring with Nosferatu), Adam's Family, Marionettes and Batcave legends, The Sex Gang Children. Also capsule reviews of, among others, Christopher Frayling's Vampyres, Alan Ryan's Penguin Book of Vampire Stories, Creation's Blood & Roses: The Vampire in 19th Century Literature and a Wordsworth edition of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The poetry is, as ever, poetry. Might come back to this one as have found two later issues, #5 being a vampire special.
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Post by helrunar on Aug 11, 2018 13:33:15 GMT
Thanks, Kev, for another witty and diverting zine review. I hope Mrs Dem Bones realizes what a GOLD MINE the two of you are sitting on with this eminently curated ephemera collection. Your retirement is well and repetely sorted, rest assured.
I'm somehow fascinated by the story title, "The Bogle-Bitch." Although some might wonder if it's a novelette-a-clef about the likes of Germaine Greer, I speculate that it might be another variant on the phantom hound or "black dog" ("black-eyed dog" in the Nick Drake fragment) genre.
Presumably there was some cheap amusement to be found in the editor's trashing of the film version of that book by Miss Rice. "Director kills Undead" is very neatly done.
cheers, Steve
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Post by dem bones on Aug 12, 2018 11:52:01 GMT
I'm somehow fascinated by the story title, "The Bogle-Bitch." Although some might wonder if it's a novelette-a-clef about the likes of Germaine Greer, I speculate that it might be another variant on the phantom hound or "black dog" ("black-eyed dog" in the Nick Drake fragment) genre. Michael Pidd - The Bogle-Bitch: A grim folk-horror story concerning the village outcast, an old spinster named Jane Alfreton, mother to countless illegitimate offspring, who, it's claimed, are fairy folk. Local wisdom also has it that Miss Alfreton is the 300-year-old daughter of Demagorgon, the feaster on naughty children. She is also a prostitute. Hideously ugly, she assumes the body of a beautiful woman to lure frustrated husbands to her cottage. Obviously, none of the pious locals would ever stoop so low, but when they invariably do, Miss Alfreton's demon lover destroys their wives in childbirth. David Milton has been brought up to believe all this nonsense, but, now Marian is pregnant and disinterested, needs must .... Also from #1: Gabriel Ernest Vane - Letter from a Madman: Manfred Hall, Glos., November 1804. Gabriel and Isabella's wedding night is ruined when a putty-skinned extra-terrestrial invades the bedroom and removes a foetus from the belly of the fifteen-year-old "virgin" bride. Come the morning and Isabella denies all knowledge of the episode. Gabriel is concerned for his sanity, but subsequent events suggest that Isabella is not telling all she knows. Presumably there was some cheap amusement to be found in the editor's trashing of the film version of that book by Miss Rice. "Director kills Undead" is very neatly done. Angela Readman - Interview With A Vampire: Director Kills the Undead?: I routinely skip Anne Rice content but the gist of the author's complaint is that various uncomfortable aspects of the novel have been ditched for fear of offending Middle American sensibilities. Neither is Miss Readman happy with the casting of Tom Cruise as Lestat and "an eighteen year old model" to play eternal fifteen-year-old Claudia. It's worth bearing in mind that no-one had seen the film when the article was published. The author is criticising the accidentally-on-purposely leaked script. Angela Readman - Goth But Not Forgotten?: Addressing the merciless belittling of Goth acts and their fans in the popular music press was the perpetual gripe of the 'zines, in several cases their very reason for existence. Author makes her point more eloquently than most.
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Post by helrunar on Aug 12, 2018 20:25:09 GMT
Thanks, Kev! "The Bogle-Bitch" sounds like a lovely little tale. Unfortunately google knows nothing of Michael Pidd. Fascinating what you can find in these zines of yore.
cheers, Steve
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Post by dem bones on Aug 13, 2018 16:16:30 GMT
Black Angel [ed.] - Black Death/ Dante's Dream (Chesterfield, c. 1991-3) "Bleeding the emotion of the Gothic cult." Primarily a Goth Rock 'zine with sporadic vampire content. Produced by future 13 Candles keyboards man, Black Angel. Originally Black Death, changed name to Dante's Dream on issue #4. The one-off A Priori and Dante's Dream were handwritten ("My typewriter has broken.") Bands featured include Nosferatu, Drama Asylum (West Harrow Goth-Techno-Samplist trio), Adam's Family, Every New Dead Ghost, Empyrean ("Their first ever interview!"), The Vengeful Widows, & Co. Capsule reviews of The Cure's Faith, The Birthday Party's Junkyard, Mick Mercer's Gothic Rock compilation, and Storm Constantine's novel Burying The Shadow. Lead article The Story of Goth continued over issue's 1-3. Occasional artwork and poetry by 'Morticia' (Angela West). Personal column, newsdesk, short fiction, verse. A Priori, "Empyrean & Nosferatu: Two extremes of the Gothic Culture," comprises interviews with both bands and the former's manager, Storm Constantine. Louis Inisis - The Undergraduate Vampire: Chapter 1: Asphyxia: ( Black Death #2[/i], 1992). Seven days undead, she can no longer resist the urge to drink her flatmate's blood. Black Angel - The Portrait of Passing [extract]: ( Dante's Dream, Feb 1993). Any damage to the portrait is replicated across the face of its subject, model Jade Henderson. When the artist throws his ruined canvas on the fire, Jade dies!
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Post by dem bones on Aug 14, 2018 18:31:00 GMT
Jule Ghoul (ed) - Vampire Archives #35 (Chicago, July 22 1994) Covers: Syd Edwards (#35) and Henry Smedley (#36) Essential compendium of vampire related lit, film, theatre, music and 'zine news and reviews. No contents list, you just dived straight in. Cathy Krusberg's exhaustive listing of recent and forthcoming book titles is bibliography in itself. Jule Ghoul reviews Anne Bilson's Suckers (London yuppies = the undead) and Nancy Kilpatrick's Near Death. Cover artist is favourably impressed by Type O Negative's Bloody Kisses masterpieces. Kelly Gunter Atlas on the recent trend for Vampire Romance novels. Issue #36 (Sept. 1994) is more of same supplemented by several pages of vampire-interest press clippings. Nosferatu Society For Vampire Fans Newsletter (McKean, Pennsylvania, 1993) Fig A. Would that I could tell you more about this publication. All I received for my $20 sub was a letter of acceptance ("You are our 1st member overseas!"), a little plastic skeleton [fig A] and a Dracula sticker [fig B; Be my guest] Fig B.
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Post by jamesdoig on Aug 15, 2018 8:10:27 GMT
Would that I could tell you more about this publication. All I received for my $20 sub was a letter of acceptance ("You are our 1st member overseas!"), a little plastic skeleton [fig A] and a Dracula sticker [fig B; Be my guest] Looks all class (especially the plastic skeleton).
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Post by dem bones on Aug 15, 2018 19:06:35 GMT
Would that I could tell you more about this publication. All I received for my $20 sub was a letter of acceptance ("You are our 1st member overseas!"), a little plastic skeleton [fig A] and a Dracula sticker [fig B; Be my guest] Looks all class (especially the plastic skeleton). And then there was the "EXCLUSIVE free t-shirt .... bound to become a collector's item."
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Post by dem bones on Aug 17, 2018 11:40:17 GMT
John Raven [ed.] - Vampires (The Count Dracula Fan Club, London 197? - ?) John Raven The publication of John Raven's London-based Count Dracula Fan Club which, according to Suzanne Ruthven's Charnel House Blues; The Vampyre's Tale (John Hunt, 2014) "ceased to exist in a blaze of controversy early this century," though I'm sure this CDFC had already given up the ghost long before then. One of only six 'Dracula Societies' listed in Peter Haining's Dracula Centenary Book (Souvenir Press, 1987) which did not go down at all well with an American organisation trading under the same name. Never seen a copy, but the excellent Paul has posted a lovely tribute on his The Cobwebbed Room blog, from whom I borrowed the scan. We'd hazard that Vampires' content was significantly different to that churned out over a variety of newsletters by their New York namesakes ... Maria Todd [ed.] - The Count Dracula Fan Club Bi-annual Special Unicorn Edition (New York, Spring, 1979) A Word from our Guest Editor Martin Proctor - Unicorn City and Me Books available at Unicorn City Janice Arter - 81 Things You May Not Have Known About Unicorns T.P. - The Animal That Never Was T.P. - The Narwhal M. J. Fairweather - The Real Story Tom Peck - A Kid For Two Farthings: Movie review Margaret G. Keyes - The Vampire's Love Song (verse) Chris Robertson - Toot (verse) Chris Robertson - A Bad Day (verse) An old English Nursery Rhyme Carole Anne Lombardo - About the Count Dracula Fan Club James Martin [ed.] - The Dracula News-Journal, (New York, June 1990) Editorial. A Tribute to Dr. Jeannie 'The Prez' Youngson Martin V. Riccardo - A Tribute To The "Prez" Wallace Burns - A Brief History: Celebrating 25 years of The Count Dracula Fan Club Special Notices (CDFC Merchandise: "From the Moldavian Marketplace ... One dozen 'Count Dracula Available for Blood Drives: Nights Only" cards in beautiful baby blue hue. Only $1.50 & 45c p&h.," etc.) The Vampire Pen-Pal Network Other Societies Recommended Source Books For Vampire ResearchIt's taken a few decades, but think I'm beginning to warm to them.
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Post by dem bones on Aug 20, 2018 8:12:33 GMT
Jo (ed.) - Bats & Red Velvet #*8 (Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1994) Another Goth rock/ Vampire crossover with the occasional nods to Paganism and the fetish scene. Began life as The House Of Dracula as featured way back near the beginning of this thread. Editor and founder Jeff Hemlock quit after issue #6 (July 1993). Ironically, his last editorial began "My God we are getting popular!" A year on from his departure he was still copping it in the neck from all and sundry, mostly for his Continued Reflections on the 90's Goth Scene ( B&RV #6[/i]), which bemoaned "Crap" bands, the apathy of the "Gothic Community", the lack of effort male Goths put into their appearance, London Goth's resembling greasy long-haired rockers, the shortcomings of Mick Mercer's Gothic Rock ... Anyway. Issue #8's promoted bands include fanzine perennials 13 Candles,The Vengeful Widows, and Mescal Dance. The editor offers an apology and right of reply to editor of Crimson (uncredited artwork) and Restoration II (JH had singled them out as an example of aforementioned crap bands). D. F. Lewis continues his quest for entire world 'zine domination by micro-fiction with a weird little something called Jack Sprat Could Eat No Fat. Jo (ed.) - Bats & Red Velvet #*9 (Newcastle Upon Tyne, 1994) Interviews with Deutcher goths Dronning Maud Land, The Horatti, Whores Of Babylon and Sundown .... Sunrise novelist Jackie Askew. Gig news and reviews, CDs and demo tapes, fanzine focus, letters page, Regular strips The Count and Jess's The Sexploits of Chris P. Cock which always seemed to find at least one thin-skinned reader to offend. The vampire content is restricted to the odd generic article (e.g., Elizabeth Bathory: The Queen Of Blood in a hundred or so words), and original short fiction. Nick Nedzynski - Powerland: A thousand year old vampire contemplates suicide by silver bullet. So what's stopping him? The prospect of living long enough to see the day when man and vampire live in harmony (!). Dawn Dethick - An Evening's Entertainment: Rhianna, the beautiful mortal, and Morgan the vampire have no time for hippy idealism, they're too busy swanning around Goth venues procuring victims. She seduces 'em, he finishes 'em off.
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