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Post by humgoo on Aug 14, 2023 13:46:43 GMT
Haunted Library Publication #77
Rosemary Pardoe [ed.] - The Ghosts & Scholars M. R. James Newsletter #15 (Haunted Library, May 2009) Front-cover: Nick Maloret ("The Game of Bear" by Helen Grant and MRJ) Back-cover: Douglas Walters ("Canon Alberic's Scrap-book") Editorial M. R. James & Helen Grant - The Game of Bear M. R. James & Jacqueline Simpson - The Game of Bear M. R. James & C. E. Ward - The Game of Bear Steve Duffy - Classical Archetypes in "Lost Hearts" Roger Johnson - Gaude, Gaude, Domini in Laude Brian J. Showers [compiler] - Some (More) Remarks on Ghost Stories Jamesian Notes & Queries ReviewsThis issue marked the return of new fiction to the 'zine (no new fiction had been included since the 'zine changed its name to "The Ghosts & Scholars M.R. James Newsletter" in 2002), with the publication of the three winning entries of the unofficial "have a go at completing MRJ's 'The Game of Bear' story draft" competition. On the non-fiction front, in "Some (More) Remarks on Ghost Stories", Mark Valentine has a bone to pick with MRJ, perhaps the harshest piece of criticism on MRJ since S. T. Joshi's "M. R. James and the Limitations of the Ghost Story" in Spectral Tales #1? After finding fault with MRJ's limited world-view, fondness for cliches and stereotypical villains etc, Mr. Valentine concludes that:
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Post by helrunar on Aug 14, 2023 17:35:58 GMT
It's undoubtedly redundant to remark that I strongly disagree with Valentine's criticism, particularly since one could cite quite the bounty of work in various manifestations of "English ghost story" that had come out between, say, 1980 and 2008 (since Valentine's article dates to 2009) that doesn't in any way allude to or fit the typology of "the Jamesian" style of ghost story.
As I get older, I find myself more deeply grateful that the works of writers such as M. R. James, Walter de la Mare, and H. Russell Wakefield--to name three at random--remain in print and available. Their superb mastery of atmosphere, style, characterization and those touches of wit that add the needed savor to the spooky dish provide a collective touchstone sorely needed as we stagger into the era of "work" produced by the switches and pitches of "chat" software.
Thanks for your notes about this issue.
Hel.
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