alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Nov 13, 2008 20:00:05 GMT
I voted for a mix. It seems to me that the key is getting the mix right.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Nov 13, 2008 19:51:54 GMT
First things first - I am a fan of horror period. My definition of horror includes everything from 19th century supernatural fiction and between-the-wars golden age ghost stories to the - as some would have it - 'pretentious/literary so-called horror fiction' being published today. And as a fan of the genre , I think any website or resource that sets out to champion and celebrate horror fiction is of immense value, so it goes without saying that I'd hate to see the vault close its doors for good.
On the one hand I don't really have a problem with Dem redirecting the focus of the vault - it's his site, after all. However, I do think it would be a mistake to omit any and all reference to contemporary horror. By all means make it clear that the vault is now primarily focused on a specific style/period - as someone suggested up thread, pre-1979. That's fine. But I'd suggest doing so in a way that doesn't result in the total exclusion of everything else. It's horror too, however you may feel about it, and to suggest that horror is only this (say, anything published before the 1980s) and nothing else would be wrong.
There have already been some worthy suggestions as to how this might be achieved; have a specific sub board (a vault within the vault) where modern (again to follow the existing example, post-1980) horror can be discussed, likewise a specific area for users to 'pimp' their wares. If that kind of thing doesn't interest you, then you can simply stick to the vault 'proper'. There are specific threads already, but maybe Dem feels there's too much overlap, or simply no clear focus on what the vault, to him, should be about.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Nov 11, 2008 10:40:51 GMT
My order arrived safe and sound last week.
It's a real shame it's come to this - as I've said elsewhere, I've been impressed with every Humdrumming book I've purchased, and I was looking forward to some of their upcoming titles ... Let's just hope this isn't the start of some awful landslide of collapsing small press outfits, because we need 'em. They really are the lifeblood of the genre.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Nov 3, 2008 22:13:49 GMT
Just had the following message from Troo re the outstanding orders: "Sorry for delay in replying. I've not been around much this past week. Outstanding orders will be shipped this week. Please offer the lovely Vaulters my sincere apologies." ;D Thanks Caroline (and Troo), that's good to hear.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Nov 3, 2008 22:12:03 GMT
www.murkydepths.com/Shameless self-promotion, I admit. But a cracking cover, no? It's inspired by my story, 'The Last Marianne'.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Nov 1, 2008 11:02:33 GMT
I wouldn't bother asking Troo about it; she's well aware of the problem. As Mr Alexander Martin has posted elsewhere, due to a combination of factors shipping hasn't occurred yet on a small number of volumes (mine included) but he has every faith that by next week things should start to move again. He asks for your patience a bit longer. I've seen the books and know they're real, folks. You'll get them, but in the interim you might instead start on one of the other volumes in your TBR pile. Oh, and of course, many thanks to Mr Probert for his kind words above, as well as those that have pre-ordered my collection from Humdrumming. I do hope you enjoy the thing. As far as TBR piles go, that's never a problem for me. :-) But thanks for the update, Simon.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Oct 31, 2008 19:45:00 GMT
Does anyone know if the books have been sent out yet? I prepaid for one in July and haven't received it yet They have, and I know the person who's responsible for sending them out (if you're in the UK, that is). If you PM me with your proper name, Lynn, I'll get in touch with her and see if she's got your order OK. It's fellow Vaulter, Troo, I'm talking about by the way, but she won't see your query here as she hasn't been here in ages as she's so busy elsewhere. I have the same problem. Ordered this + Beneath the Surface on September 29 and they still haven't arrived. No reply to my first query email, but Ian Alexander Martin did reply to the second about a week ago - said if the books weren't on the way already they would be shortly ... but as I said, that was a week ago. I was going to email again on Monday, if they haven't turned up ...
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Oct 20, 2008 21:15:42 GMT
For a long time I found Paul Finch to be a very hit or miss writer - some of his stuff I liked, some of it left me cold. But recently it's definitely been more hits than misses - his collection Stains is particularly recommended, and I'm looking forward to his new collection from Ash Tree.
I'll be snapping up a copy of Houses on the Borderland too, as soon as I'm able.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Oct 20, 2008 18:19:07 GMT
Thanks, dem. Hopefully the mixup will result in more awareness of the series, and consequently more sales, which is always a good thing. Long may BNH continue, I say!
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Oct 20, 2008 17:30:59 GMT
If it helps any, Caroline, I feel exactly the same way, having gone and started a thread over at the Ramsey Campbell message board decrying the death of BNH. You live and learn, I guess... Aw, sorry, Alan. If you could pop Guy's comment on there too (unless he's already on that board - in which case he'll have done it himself!), that'd be great. You can tell them it was the fault of some silly woman on this board for passing it on if you like! And thanks Mr X - I do feel a bit of a idiot, I must admit. Somebody had already posted Guy's correction, which is how I discovered I'd got the wrong end in the first place ... But it's no one's fault, really. Just a case of The Internet Strikes Again!
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Oct 20, 2008 16:33:20 GMT
Hmmm, the dangers of believing everything you read on the internet. I now have egg on my face and am eating humble pie about this issue ... It seems that maybe BNH isn't as under threat as I thought it was. I've had a little communication with Guy Adams, the new BFS Chair, after he became aware of the initial post from Paul Campbell on the BFS forum, and he says he's been in touch with Steve Jones and BNH isn't about to be cancelled! He's put the following message on the BFS and other forums, and has asked me to do the same here: Just to reassure everyone: Best New Horror isn't being cancelled just yet. I've just had word from Steve Jones that not only are Constable & Robinson publishing Volume 20 as Paul mentions but they are also doing a special commemorative 'best of' to celebrate 20 years of this excellent anthology.
Please don't panic the internets! All is well in the world of BNH! Guy AdamsSo, I'm not quite sure what's going on here - I reckon Paul C simply got hold of the wrong end of the stick somehow and has been doing this in good faith. I certainly passed the message on in good faith anyway, but I'm really sorry if I've caused anyone any concerns or got you all dashing off to spread the word all over the place. I'm very red-faced. Still, I guess it can do no harm for people to be saying nice things about any of the Mammoths on the Constable Robinson site, but it seems our initial fears that BNH was about to be cancelled are unfounded. Sorry to have misled everyone ... If it helps any, Caroline, I feel exactly the same way, having gone and started a thread over at the Ramsey Campbell message board decrying the death of BNH. You live and learn, I guess...
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Oct 19, 2008 10:54:01 GMT
I submitted a comment on the Robinson website as well, but as carolinec says, Robinson have to 'approve' them before they appear.
Let's hope they're inundated!
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Oct 18, 2008 16:50:12 GMT
No more Best New Horror? That really is a frightening prospect ...
If the worst does happen and #20 proves to be the series' swan song, it will mean Datlow's horror selections for YBF&H will be the only annual selection of the best horror fiction from the previous year. There is supposed to be a Horror: Best of the Year series from Prime, but last year's volume never appeared, and I have no idea if/when this year's volume (to be edited by Stefan Dziemianowicz, covering 2007) will be published. Compare that to SF and fantasy, which are covered by at least three annual year's best volumes each.
I really do believe there's so much great short horror fiction being published right now that the genre not only deserves but needs Best New Horror. A single year's best volume with only half its contents devoted to horror simply isn't good enough.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Oct 14, 2008 17:37:31 GMT
Apparently there's a 1000+ page book of Irish ghost stories to go along with horror volume, though I have't seen it.
Totally agree the Wordsworths deserve much notice and praise - taken in toto they provide an excellent introduction to the classics of the genre.
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alansjf
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 107
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Post by alansjf on Sept 22, 2008 10:44:28 GMT
I was very tempted to vote 70s, simply for the vast number of great anthologies that decade produced ... in fact, if the poll was 'Best Decade for Horror Anthologies' I think I would have.
There's some good stuff in Post Mortem, I recall; the Ramsey Campbell, Thomas Tessier, and Charles L. Grant stories would be my top picks.
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