Haunted Library Newsletter, Christmas 1988

[dem bones]

Found a stash of these late last year. No idea when Ro began publishing a Haunted Library Newsletter, but this is the earliest I have — would not be the least surprised if it was long-established by then. Happy reading!

Rosemary Pardoe - Haunted Library Newsletter, Christmas 1988.

[andydecker]

Feb 3, 2023 11:06:53 GMT dem bones said:

Found a stash of these late last year. No idea when Ro began publishing a Haunted Library Newsletter, but this is the earliest I have — would not be the least surprised if it was long-established by then. Happy reading!

Thanks for those!

Any word how Rosemary is at the time being?

[helrunar]

Wonderful scans, and I love the evocative little drawing.

I saw somebody comment a week or two ago about having had a phone call with Rosemary. It was said that she is planning to get back online "soon" due to wanting to participate in some project or other.

I had presumed that she decided to opt out of being online because, like many folks, she just found she was happier not being involved with all of it. But a British friend did say that due to various circumstances, people in certain districts had been cut off from the internet and been unable to have service restored. Sounds like something one would read about in one of John Linwood Grant's St Botolph Parish newsletters but it seems not to have been a joke.

I also read recently that Alan Moore, the retired author, has NEVER been online. And to that I exclaim, There will always be an England.

cheers, Hel.

[dem bones]

Thanks, Steve. Be lovely to have Ro back online again.

Here's a second sample HLN (fourth page was the same GSS ad as appears above).

Ro Pardoe - Haunted Library Newsletter, March 1990

[helrunar]

So cool to see these. I guffawed reading her comment about S. T. Joshi's James article having just read that blog review of Joshi's new reference work which sounds as if it is the size of a doorstop but not all that helpful, in the event.

I wonder what Rosemary and Darroll's views on the "Pope Joan" legend were. Tarotmancers have discussed this subject since "the Popess" is found in some of the very early Tarot decks. One has to wonder if that image may have come from older "emblem" type material which may have given rise to the stories.

I look forward to perusing more--just popping in here to thank you for posting this latest set.

cheers, Steve

[𝘗rincess 𝘵uvstarr]

Feb 4, 2023 21:18:42 GMT helrunar said:

So cool to see these. I guffawed reading her comment about S. T. Joshi's James article having just read that blog review of Joshi's new reference work which sounds as if it is the size of a doorstop but not all that helpful, in the event.

I wonder what Rosemary and Darroll's views on the "Pope Joan" legend were. Tarotmancers have discussed this subject since "the Popess" is found in some of the very early Tarot decks. One has to wonder if that image may have come from older "emblem" type material which may have given rise to the stories.

I look forward to perusing more--just popping in here to thank you for posting this latest set.

cheers, Steve

You can find out:

www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pardos/PopeJoanHome.html

I'd have thought the Popess was originally a representation of the Church of Rome.

[andydecker]

Feb 4, 2023 19:30:54 GMT dem bones said:

Thanks, Steve. Be lovely to have Ro back online again.

Here's a second sample HLN (fourth page was the same GSS ad as appears above).

Ro Pardoe - Haunted Library Newsletter, March 1990

I guess that Christopher Fowler's Prayerdevil became Rune.

[dem bones]

Feb 5, 2023 10:37:54 GMT andydecker said:

Feb 4, 2023 19:30:54 GMT dem bones said:

I guess that Christopher Fowler's Prayerdevil became Rune.

I'm pretty sure it did. Will holding up posting any more until we hear from Ro. The newsletters pack in so much info into as to provide a glorious snapshot of the era, its thriving fanzine scene in particular. How crushing the Equation chillers went under before they could publish bloody Fear Walks the Night!

[helrunar]

Excellent, Deirdre! Many thanks. There's a complete chapter on the topic of the Popess card!

cheers, Hel.