|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Jan 7, 2008 19:21:12 GMT
Best books read in 2007? Get hold of any good DVD's? Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in "Behind the Fridge", imported from Australia. Ah, that should have the wonderful taxi scetch on it...superb. I wish they'd been able to do more stuff as dark as that! The Taxi Sketch isn't on this one, as the Australian "Behind the Fridge" show predates the UK one and I think it was written for the UK version. It is in the BBC production "Excerpts from Behind the Fridge", which I've also seen recently. You're right, though, it is a wonderfully dark and worrying sketch, with a nice touch of "Dr Strangelove" in Cook's single black glove. That said, there are still some brilliant sketches in the Australian version that I'd never encountered before. But talking of Peter cook has reminded me of one of my other happy finds of last year. I got a handful of back issues of "Publish & Bedazzled", the Peter Cook "fagazine" from eBay and, in one issue, Ramsey Campbell introduces "Bric-a-Brac", a short horror story Cook wrote when he was 17. It's a splendid little story about a girl hired by a rather odd couple to babysit for their infant in the nursery above their creepy old shop. As Campbell says, it becomes easy to imagine a world where Cook went on to become one of our foremost horror authors.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Jan 4, 2008 22:06:37 GMT
Hi, Andy, Ghosts & Scholars was a small press magazine, A5 size with card covers, that ran to 33 issues between 1979 and 2001. It started as a one-off, featuring stories in the Jamesian tradition, but the founder and editor, Rosemary Pardoe, found she had enough material for a second issue and it then led to an annual publication which later became twice-yearly. It featured mainly new stories in the Jamesian mold, features on MRJ, his contemporaries and other writers in the tradition, book, film and TV reviews, etc. It also published various forgotten stories by MRJ himself as well as fragments of his uncompleted tales. After the original magazine folded, Rosemary has continued to publish a twice-yearly "Ghosts & Scholars M.R. James Newsletter". This doesn't feature any fiction and is focussed mainly on articles and reviews centred on MRJ's life and works. There is an excellent Ghosts & Scholars website, though technical problems mean that it hasn't been updated in a few months. It does have a large archive of material that featured in both the original magazine and the Newsletter. It can be found at; www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pardos/GS.htmlThere is also a thread on G&S and other publications from Rosemary's Haunted Library imprint in the Small Press, Fanzines and E-Zines section on this forum, with information on the contents of various issues (and where I hope to add more soon on the issues I've managed to get hold of). vaultofevil.proboards75.com/index.cgi?board=gandsCheers, Lurker
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Jan 4, 2008 15:09:58 GMT
Best books read in 2007? Predictably, but honestly, "The Black Book of Horror". A great mix of styles and subjects, just as an anthology should be. Stephen Volk's "Dark Corners", particularly his tales of the paranormal investigator, Venables. Christopher Fowler's Bryant & May mysteries. Only read a couple of them but looking forward to cracking on with the rest. Edmund Crispin's "The Case of the Gilded Fly", fun murder mystery with a Jamesian tale thrown in halfway through. Chris Priestley's "Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror" "Tragically, I Was An Only Twin – The Complete Peter Cook"
Favourite finds of the year? Has to be the 27 issues of "Ghosts & Scholars" in one go from eBay in January. I've still got a lot of reading left there.
Attend any decent events? Any rubbish ones? I rarely get out of Dundee, so, besides a splendid day meeting some of the lads and lasses from the BHF Board in Edinburgh, nothing.
Best magazines, small press, e-zines, etc of 2007? Apart from "Filthy Creations" and "The Ghosts & Scholars Newsletter", both of which I love, I haven't really seen much else in this area. "Shivers", which I used to buy regularly, mutated into something unrecognisable.
Anything worthwhile on TV or at the cinema? Last year, I have mostly enjoyed "Doctor Who", some of "Torchwood", "Primeval", bits of "Jekyll" (mainly the bits with Michelle Ryan in), "Heroes" and "Life On Mars". I don't get to the cinema much. Mainly because of the other people who will be there specifically to annoy ME!
Get hold of any good DVD's? Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in "Behind the Fridge", imported from Australia. Cook again in "The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer". "Beyond The Fringe", imported from the USA. (I suspect I may have been in a bit of a Peter Cook phase recently.) "Doctor Who – The Key to Time" boxset, mainly for the inclusion of "Late Night Story", but some great stories and extras. "Brian Clemens' Thriller" the Complete Series boxset. Sometimes silly, sometimes scary, always hugely entertaining. "Cribb" Alan Dobie as Peter Lovesey's Victorian detective. Terrific fun.
Sites, forums, blogs, etc? Here, the BHF and G&S, mainly.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Dec 7, 2007 2:08:21 GMT
I sometimes think Yeats had it right with, "The best lack all conviction while the worst are filled with passion and intensity." Not that I'm anti-religious. My family is full of people for whom religion is an important and beneficial thing and I take offence at anyone mocking religious beliefs on those grounds, ie the Richard Dawkins approach that, if you believe in God you're some sort of educationally subnormal idiot. I actually think Dawkins has some interesting things to say but, unfortunately, his dogmatic approach makes me disinclined to listen to him. I have a basic sort of faith, but faith and religion are two separate things and I do think that organised religion is often comparable to the ultimate protection racket, pay now and if you're not fully satisfied, too late, you're dead. It strikes me that the press have been encouraged to make a big thing about the bear story because, amidst the hoo-ha, more important issues can be allowed to slip past under the radar.
This is uncommonly serious of me. I need to stay away from the computer when I've been out in the pub.
So, in short, I think Monkey had it right. Though he'll probably find he doesn't want to chuck away all his crucifixes and holy water if he wants to keep ahead in the vampire hunting game.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Oct 31, 2007 21:33:53 GMT
Happy Hallowe'en, folks. Hope nobody's been got by the ghoulies!
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Feb 27, 2008 13:26:20 GMT
It is Death Ray issue 10. Just had a glance at it in WHSmith. "A superior example of its type," is how the book is summed up.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Nov 17, 2007 16:21:16 GMT
Special nod to Lurker. Your animated skeleton with creepy-crawly accessories (p. 272-3) will be with me for the rest of my days and, most likely, beyond. Many thanks, dem. Glad to hear the thing whose name I'd better not mention made an impression. I don't know if we've heard the last of it either.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Nov 13, 2007 12:22:09 GMT
Yes, "The Sound of Muzak" was one of my favourites out of an excellent collection. Just the relentlessly escalating sense of doom, really worked for me.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Nov 20, 2007 19:28:48 GMT
This really is sad news. Mr Haining was responsible for so many books on many of my favourite characters, be it Doctor Who, Sherlock Holmes or Dracula. I only recently got his delightful "M.R. James Book of the Supernatural" and it was like rediscovering the joy of those previous volumes. And, of course, there were his charming collaborations with Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee on a few anthologies.
R.I. P. Peter Haining.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Mar 2, 2008 15:11:14 GMT
Congratulations and all best wishes for your future together.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Mar 25, 2008 22:46:42 GMT
I've been unforgivably slow in giving a response on "The Second Black Book" and I can only apologise to Charles for my rudeness in not getting back to him before now and letting him know what a fantastic collection he's put together... again. It appears that whoever has been scripting my life up until recently has been sacked and a psycho has taken over the writing duties over the past few months, as it's all been drama, excitement and, quite frankly, pretty far-fetched goings on around here of late. Most of it pretty enjoyable, I must admit.
Still, as I seem to have a lull in the insanity, I wanted to say that I'm extremely proud to have a place in such a strong collection. I'm loath to single out favourites, as there isn't a weak story in the book and everything had something to offer. However, that said, I'd really enjoyed Steve Goodwin's "The Cold Harvest" when I read it online here under its original title and it certainly bore re-reading; the endings of both David A. Sutton's "Amygdala" and John L. Probert's "In Sckness And..." will stay with me for a long time; and Rog Pile's "The Pit" manages to be touching and extremely nasty at the same time, with some particularly effective understated hints about the narrator.
Also, I must say, many, many thanks for the very kind words about "The Crimson Picture", Rog. I'm glad it made an impression. I'm also grateful to yourself and Charles for some very constructive criticism during the editing stage. I'm almost done reworking it as a radio script for "Imagination Theater".
So, another resounding success and another book I'm proud to have on my shelves. I'm already looking forward to "The Third Black Book of Horror".
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Feb 19, 2008 20:00:16 GMT
Fantastic news. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll start badgering my friends for their orders.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Jan 24, 2008 9:58:52 GMT
Fantastic cover... more excellent Mudie artwork. Really looking forward to this.
I'm also surprised that Charles doesn't have a story in it.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Dec 31, 2007 22:20:14 GMT
Personally, 2007 can't end quick enough. Some highs (mainly "The Black Book of Horror", "Filthy Creations 3", "The Beacon" getting an airing, my continued involvement with "Ghosts & Scholars" which, despite some technical difficulties on the website front is still going strong, this place generally and some people I've "met" through it who I respect, admire and consider good friends) but some definite lows. However, 2008, I hope, will bring happiness and joy to all.
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Dec 25, 2007 0:17:08 GMT
Christmas time is what we all see as a time for friends, for family, for being with loved ones...
For some, it isn't so easy. For some, who have lost someone, who have had a relationship fail, who have found that life is sometimes not what we expect, let's spare a thought.
Things often don't work out the way we planned, expected or hoped. That is not to say that what we have striven for is a failure. Even if you feel like you have been striking your head against a brick wall, sometimes, even though that wall hasn't tumbled, you haven't been striking in vean.
I know this forum is full of good hearted people, of all faiths, creeds, nationalities, colours, whatever so called denominations anyone wishes to make. I know this forum is full of good people. All I ask is that you all have a wonderful time. That you tell the people you love that you love them, that you enjoy the friendship and the kinship that Christmas seems to bring out in all of us that we should maybe, sometimes, share all year round. But, I would also ask, if you think someone you know is maybe not having such a good time, is not so happy, please just give them a call, a shout, a hug. Sometimes that's all it takes. Someone saying, "Hello, how are you?" A voice and a friend.
If you are alone this Christmas, please believe, you are not the only one and you are not as alone as you think. Please pick up a phone, find a voice, there will be someone, be it a friend who you haven';t spoken to in years or be it the Samaritans or be it typing some words onto a forum about daft old horror books that we all love. No one deserves to be alone and no one should be alone.
I apologise for sermonising but please all just take time to think.
My love and best wishes to all, D
|
|