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Post by Knygathin on Mar 23, 2012 12:18:43 GMT
Yes, it probably won't do to try to sharply categorize between "ghost story" and "horror story", and divide by border. Supernatural literature is a wide field, with many free-ranging subjects, and often flowing borders of content.
However, I still find it meaningful to see what area of content mostly dominates stories; of the most readable worthwhile writers.
(Perhaps it makes more sense to speak of "ghostly elements". Instead of " ghost story", which rigidly defines all of a story's content.)
In some cases, for me, the difference is obvious. "Ghostly elements" work on the spiritual level. "Horror elements" are more concrete manifestations, like monsters, and bodily sensations (including psychological experiences of the brain) and fears. Lovecraft for me would be typical "horror" (with very small elements of the "ghostly"). Poe is "horror". Frankenstein is "horror". Werewolves and Dracula is "horror", although the vampire (and to some degree the werewolf) could also be said to represent a disoriented spirit. In movies, The Creature From the Black Lagoon is 100% "horror", and likewise is Alien 100% "horror" in a science fiction setting.
Arthur Machen works within the "ghostly" spiritual realm, but also very much in "horror" with his culturally rooted contents, "little people", etc.
Algernon Blackwood writes of the "ghostly", but his great genius and some of his divinely talented supernatural explorations, are beyond me to analyse!
Anyhow, most of the writers recommended to me, that I listed in the post above, are mainly "ghostly" I would say. One exceptional talent after another. Good "horror writers" though, seem more rare to come by! Lovecraft and his monsters totally dominates it for me. Clark Ashton Smith is also good. But otherwise, I don't really know.
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Post by Knygathin on Mar 22, 2012 20:54:37 GMT
Is there a defining difference between "horror stories" and "ghost stories"? Is it called "horror" when you show something concrete and shocking to the eyes?
To which category does the biggest lot belong of great supernatural stories, and writers, being discussed on this forum? To "ghost stories" or "horror stories"? Which kind is generally regarded the best?
I have recently over the last few years become acquainted with a bunch of supernatural writers, recommended to me as the finest there are:
Sheridan Le Fanu M. R. James E. F. Benson Walter de la Mare Oliver Onions Robert Aickman ...etc.
These all seem to be "ghost story" writers. I have not been recommended any "horror story" writers. Or, perhaps the above mentioned writers could also be called "horror story" writers?
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Post by Knygathin on Feb 21, 2012 14:15:18 GMT
I once had "The Harbor-Master" (supposedly inspired Lovecraft's amphibian creations) from In Search of the Unknown in a Necronomicon Press booklet, but wasn't particularly fascinated with the story, and eventually got rid of it. I understand there are more stories in that book, telling of invisible beings and other stuff.
I have enjoyed The King in Yellow. Of course!
And I remember liking the "Maker of Moons" short-story, with its romantical Eastern magic elements. I was thinking Slayer of Souls perhaps had something similar.
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Post by Knygathin on Feb 21, 2012 5:11:05 GMT
Lin Carter thought The Slayer of Souls was great.
Are you sure it's garbage? At least it seems to have very exciting exotic elements in it. Some criticism I have read on the internet sound so anxiously PC that it rules out the book simply for racist reasons, letting this sway their overall opinion unfavorably.
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Post by Knygathin on Oct 30, 2010 10:55:27 GMT
Anyway, here's a couple more stories with a "Panistic" theme for you to check out - "The Man Who Went Too Far" by EF Benson, and "The Music On The Hill" by Saki. And, similarily, "The Child That Went With the Fairies" by Le Fanu?
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Post by Knygathin on Aug 30, 2010 10:06:07 GMT
"Sand" was one of the most satisfying reading experiences I've ever had. I was completely mesmerized.
I look forward diving into Incredible Adventures.
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Post by Knygathin on Aug 17, 2010 10:44:15 GMT
Thanks again demonik!
I have just read "The Pikestaff Case". First I thought the use of a mirror rather silly (though that solves itself towards the end), but this story overall strikes the right notes! The gentleman, pleasantly behaved, balanced and poised, who confidently sheds blinders and chooses a better reality. This is not entertainment, it is art. At the very least, the story makes a stand of a certain attitude and outlook towards life.
It is similar in structure (although focusing on ecstasy rather than horror) to Lovecraft's "From Beyond" and a personal favorite of mine, Ramsey Campbell's "The Render of the Veils".
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Post by Knygathin on Aug 10, 2010 21:36:50 GMT
Does the last sentence in the fourth paragraph from the end in May Day Eve, read "...and ‘vith Inc perhaps..."? I am reading an online version, and it doesn't make sense. I don't understand what that means. Anyone has the story in bookform so you can check?
Thanks!
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Post by Knygathin on Jul 26, 2010 19:44:40 GMT
That last bit can be both a blessing and a curse; anyway - have you read Machen's "N"? That may not be 'Panistic', exactly, but it has a distinct effect of its own that may be related. I have never heard of "N". I have read his most famous works, The Great God Pan, The Hill of Dreams, The Three Impostors, The White People, and a couple more. I love his majestic style. There is also Dunsany's The Blessing of Pan, which I have not read yet. For those interested in Blackwood's Nature stories besides his horror stories, there is the great collection Pan's Garden. Hidden supernatural forces in Nature and the expansion of the human mind, whether it leads to terror or exaltation, is Blackwood's main field of interest and expression, not his horror elements. And it's not merely entertainment either; he was serious.
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Post by Knygathin on Jul 26, 2010 19:15:08 GMT
Don't you believe there are energies in Nature (as symbolized by Pan) that our senses have become too numbed to take in and appreciate? I believe that if you spend enough time in a certain environment, whether in a city or out in the wilds, it will eventually transform you. No. And I am not sure that "energies" is a real word. Of course the environment impacts on the development of the individual - I don't know anyone who doesn't believe that. ...you are not really a horror fan at all. Then I will not press the issue further.
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Post by Knygathin on Jul 4, 2010 17:08:05 GMT
In old books with Blackwood stories, there are spaces between words and exclamation marks, quotation marks, and semicolons, (and sometimes single quotation marks are used instead of double for ordinary conversation). Like this:
“ I must face it alone ! ”
He measured the bed with his eye ;
Is this likely to be the publisher's encroachment? Or did Blackwood actually write this way, to get a sense of space and pause in the reading?
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Post by Knygathin on Jul 4, 2010 15:07:35 GMT
I fear you may have confused the freedom to choose your own shackles with actual freedom... Why do you say that? Don't you believe there are energies in Nature (as symbolized by Pan) that our senses have become too numbed to take in and appreciate? Or do you mean that I can't make my own choice whether I want to experience those energies or not? I believe that if you spend enough time in a certain environment, whether in a city or out in the wilds, it will eventually transform you. Especially if you are willing, and have open senses. That is my experience. Arthur Machen (at his best - e.g. "The Great God Pan", "The White People", "The Novel of the Black Seal", "The Red Hand") is quite as good as Blackwood... Machen is a great writer and exquisite artist. But, for me at least, he doesn't really open up and lead you into those nature forces as much as Blackwood does; I read somewhere that Machen was a Christian, and regarded Panistic forces as terror, and thus morally rejected them, and that may be one reason his stories don't stir in the same manner. Blackwood on the other hand was a pagan and welcomed those forces.
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Post by Knygathin on Jul 3, 2010 20:08:02 GMT
But otherwise, if one wants to help open up the consciousness to awareness of Panistic forces, and free oneself from the psychological shackles of semitic religion, I can't think of a better writer than Blackwood. I think his writings hold a key, and I couldn't say that for any other weird tales writer I have read.
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Post by Knygathin on Jul 3, 2010 20:02:42 GMT
There is something about his eyes. He must have looked into the Abyss. Attachments:
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Post by Knygathin on Jul 2, 2010 0:14:29 GMT
Hello,
I am especially fond of Blackwood's nature tales. Is The Trod a worthwhile story to pursue? I understand it is about the "little people". Does it have interesting fairy or weird elements?
I also wonder if The Pikestaff Case is good.
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