In his notes to part three of
The Other Worlds: 25 Modern Stories Of Mystery & Imagination, Phil Strong writes of August Derleth's supernatural fiction.
"There is no question about preciosity in his style - it is clean and straight and simple; if it reminded one of anything but the style of a forthright and experienced writer with a story to get told as directly as possible, he might be referred to the brawny school of Morgan Bassett sic and Jack London, with inflections of Conrad. He is not one to say, 'Conflagration Devastates Canine Edifice' when he can say 'Fire Burns Kennel.' He might even say 'Hot Dog.'".Such qualities may not be what everybody looks for in their authors but this reader finds them admirable, which is doubtless why I've had such a good time revisiting a number of Derleth's
Weird Tales in recent weeks. Mr. Strong's comments could be applied with equal justification to the ghost & horror stories of Sydney J. Bounds. Like Derleth, Syd kept it brief and uncluttered. He took traditional horror comic plots, didn't fool around with them unnecessarily, yet the results were invariably fresh and lively. We had ghosts, vampires, carnivorous plants, the odd gorgon. A mad scientist here, a deranged artist there. Cheeky variations on Ray Bradbury's
Skeleton and Robert Bloch's
The Man Who Collected Poe (namely
The Flesh Is Weak and
A Complete Collection; the latter introducing the epitome of the scalp-hunting serial Horror-Con attendee (it's like Jarvis Cocker once said of how he imagined the lobby to Phil Collins' mansion. Wall's festooned with life-size framed photographs of Phil being best mates with Sting, Sir Mick, Eric Clapton ....). The children's stories are, admittedly, hit and miss, but
The Train Watchers scores with a grim pay-off line, and there's a spirited re-enactment of a witch-burning in
Hunter's Hill.
Writing in
Who's Who In Horror & Fantasy Fiction (Elm Tree, 1977), Mike Ashley reveals that Syd "sold his first horror story during the Second World War, but it never appeared and is probably now lost. His first in print was
Strange Portrait (1946) which follows the Dorian Grey theme." When he began writing full time in 1951, there was little or no UK horror market to sell to, so Syd went Science fiction, wrote crime novels and savage westerns, ghosted the odd 'Sexton Blake' and juvenile adventure short. Andrew Darlington, who interviewed him for
The Zone, even mentions some 'Spicy's. It's not unlikely he knocked out some terror tales during this twenty-year period, just that I don't know of any prior to his second coming as a graveyard ghoul at close of the 'sixties when, noting all these nasty-looking paperbacks showing up in the newsagents, he sent Christine Barnard a couple of short-shorts to consider for the
Fontana Book Of Ghost Stories. Which, I guess, is where the post up-top of this thread comes in.
Anyway, to the best of my ability, a Ghost & horror-specific Sydneyography!
Last updated January 12 2018I. Horror & Supernatural fiction
Strange Portrait: -
Outlands, 1946: Phil Harbottle (ed.)
Strange Portrait & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 1 (Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003)
Cardillo's Shadow:
London Mystery Magazine, #20, 1954: Philip Harbottle [ed.],
Time For Murder, Borgo/Wildside, 2012
Terror Stalks The Seance Room: [as Clifford Wallace]
Suspense Stories #2, Sept. 1954: Philip Harbottle [ed.],
Time For Murder, Borgo/Wildside, 2012
The Relic: -
London Mystery Magazine #82, 1969: Phil Harbottle (ed.) -
The Wayward Ship & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 2, Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003
The Flesh Is Weak: - Christine Barnard (ed.)
4th Fontana Book Of Great Horror Stories, 1969: Phil Harbottle (ed.) -
The Wayward Ship & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 2, Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003
Young Blood: - Christine Barnard (ed.)
4th Fontana Book Of Great Horror Stories, 1969
Cold Sleep: - Mary Danby (ed.) -
6th Fontana Book Of Great Horror Stories, 1971; Phil Harbottle (ed.) -
The Wayward Ship & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 2, Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003
Hothouse: - Mary Danby (ed.) -
Frighteners, Fontana 1974; Mary Danby (ed.) -
65 Great Tales Of Horror, Octopus 1981: Phil Harbottle (ed.) -
The Wayward Ship & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 2, Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003
The Mask: - Mary Danby (ed.) -
Frighteners, Fontana 1974: Phil Harbottle (ed.) -
The Wayward Ship & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 2, Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003
The Animators: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.) -
Tales Of Terror From Outer Space, Fontana 1975
Homecoming: - Mary Danby (ed.)
9th Fontana Book Of Great Horror Stories, 1975; Stephen Jones (ed)
Keep Out The Night, P.S., 2002
The Man In The Mirror: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.) -
11th Fontana Book Of Great Ghost Stories, 1975
A Complete Collection: - Mary Danby (ed.) -
Frighteners 2 , Fontana 1976; Julian Lloyd Webber,
Short Sharp Shocks, Weidenfeld & Nicolson 1990: Phil Harbottle (ed.) -
The Wayward Ship & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 2, Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003
An Eye For Beauty: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Frighteners 2 , Fontana 1976: Phil Harbottle (ed.) -
The Wayward Ship & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 2, Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003
A Little Night Fishing: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.) -
12th Fontana Book Of Great Ghost Stories, 1976
The Pauper’s Feast: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.) -
Gaslight Tales Of Terror, Fontana 1976
Borden Wood: Stephen Jones & David A. Sutton [eds.],
Fantasy Tales #2,Winter 1977.
No Face: - Mary Danby (ed.)
9th Fontana Book Of Great Horror Stories, 1978
The Night Walkers: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.)
15th Fontana Book Of Great Ghost Stories, 1979
The Circus: - Mary Danby (ed.)
13th Fontana Book Of Great Horror Stories, 1980: Mitchell Galin & Tom Allen (eds) -
Tales from the Darkside: Vol. 1, Berkley 1988: Phil Harbottle (ed.) -
The Wayward Ship & Other Stories; The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds Vol 2, Cosmos/ Wildside Press, 2003: Stephen Jones (ed)
The Mammoth Book of New Terrors, Robinson, 2004.
Something Old, Something Evil: - Peter Coleborn (ed)
'Winter Chills #1, British Fantasy Society, 1987
Worst Enemy: - Simon Gosden (ed.)
Out Of The Woodwork #2, Simon Gosden, 1987.
The Organ Bank Caper:
Mystique: Tales Of Wonder, Jan. 1988: Philip Harbottle [ed.],
Time For Murder, Borgo/Wildside, 2012
Mage of the Monkeys: - Richard Dalby (ed.) -
Mystery for Christmas (O’Mara 1990)
In His Image: Philip Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Booklet #1, 1991; Philip Harbottle [ed.],
The Best Of Sydney J. Bounds: Vol II, Cosmos, 2003
The Footprints: Maurice Flannagan [ed.],
The First UK Paperback & Pulp Bookfair Official Souvenir Booklet, Zeon, Sept. 1991: Philip Harbottle [ed.],
Time For Murder, Borgo/Wildside, 2012
Writer for Hire: [as David Somers] Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 2, Cosmos, 2002
The Ballet Of The Cats: [as David Somers] Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 3, Cosmos, 2003
The Wall: Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 5, Cosmos, 2003
The Excavation: [as David Somers] Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 6, Cosmos, 2003
The Trunk: Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 7, Cosmos, 2003
Dreamboat: Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 9, Cosmos, 2004
Victim: (Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 11, Cosmos, 2004)
A Taster For Blood: - Stephen Jones (ed)
The Mammoth Book of Vampires (New edition, 2004)
Downmarket: - Stephen Jones (ed)
The Mammoth Book of Monsters (Robinson, 2007)
In The Frame: Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 13, Cosmos, 2008
Plague Pit: Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 13, Cosmos, 2008
Second Victim: Phil Harbottle [ed.],
Fantasy Adventures, # 13, Cosmos, 2008
The House In The Pines: Philip Harbottle [ed.],
Time For Murder, Borgo/Wildside, 2012
II. Syd For Kids
The Armada Ghost SeriesHouse of Fear: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #3 (1970)
The Ghost Train: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #4 (1972): Linda Sonntag (ed.) -
The Ghost Story Treasury Kingfisher, 1987)
The Haunted Tower: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #5 (1973)
Room At The Inn: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #6 (1974); Dennis Pepper (ed.)
The Young Oxford Book Of Ghost Stories (1996)
The Hanging Tree: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #7 (1975)
Dream Ghost: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #8 (1976): Dennis Pepper (ed.)
The Young Oxford Book Of Nightmares 2002
The Haunted Circus: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #9 (1977)
Hunters' Hill: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #10 (1978)
The Old Siege House: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #11 (1979)
The Haunted Village: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #12 (1980)
Ghost Hunter: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #13 (1981): Dennis Pepper (ed.)
The Young Oxford Book Of Nasty Endings (1997)
The Train Watchers: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #14 (1982)
Spirit of the Trail: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Armada Ghost #15 (1983)
Hunters’ Hill,
Spirit of the Trail,
The Train Watchers and
The Haunted Circus are reprinted in Mary Danby's
The Green Ghost & Other Stories (1989).
House Of Fear,
The Hanging Tree,
The Old Siege HouseThe Haunted Village and
The Haunted Tower come again in
The Bumper Book Of Ghost Stories (1991),
Armada Monster seriesThe Guardian at Hell's Mouth: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.)
1st Armada Monster Book (Armada, 1975)
The Well at Wurrum's End: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.)
2nd Armada Monster Book (Armada, 1976)
Valley of the Monsters: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.)
3nd Armada Monster Book (Armada, 1977)
Satan: - R. Chetwynd-Hayes (ed.)
5th Armada Monster Book (Armada, 1979)
And .....The Haunted Cave: - Carolyn Lloyd (ed.)
Animal Ghosts (Armada, 1971)
Something Nasty: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Nightmares (Armada 1983)
House of Horror: - Mary Danby (ed.)
Nightmares 3 (Armada 1985)
back to the story notes:
The Relic: Syd's film crew in peril outing. Veteran horror actor Chan Carlos lands the starring role in 'the Hunchback of Hammerhill', based on the exploits of a real-life Jack the Ripper clone who burned to death in a mysterious warehouse fire. A stranger in a grey suit imposes upon him to use the same cold, clammy bolster the madman shoved down back of his shirt to affect a terrifying appearance. As the shoot drags on, Carlos grows fond of his hump and refuses to remove it, even in bed. Meanwhile, his performance has become so intense that co-star Julie Lake is scared to share the set with him. Director Max Gribble is delighted. The way things are going, this film will be an even bigger sensation than
Dracula! All is well until, after the day's filming, Julie hears footsteps behind her as she totters home along the foggy street ...
Worst Enemy: Now this one strikes me as something of a departure. He'd written a few downbeat stories prior to this, but i can't recall any quite so grim.
At his peak, Adrian Poole held down a well-paid position at a top advertising agency. Now aged 53, he's a self-loathing, chain-smoking alcoholic, earning his pay as a filing clerk in some crummy insurance office where he's forever ordered around by that embittered cow Miss Cavendish. It's got him down so that this evening he's already demolished the best part of a bottle of vodka on the 152 bus-ride home.
He's broke. His house is the local slum. It's only a matter of days before the electricity is cut off. He's forgotten the cat food. Again.
All it needs now is for his doppelganger to climb out of the mirror and he might as well top himself - which, now he thinks of it, would be infinitely preferable to merely living out the days.
His doppelganger steps out of the mirror.
It's not even as though his ghostly twin means him harm, but a miserable existence is about to get a whole lot worse for Adrian Poole.
A glimpse at the contents of the Phil Harbottle two-volume
Best Of ...' above reveals Syd was not adverse to writing for small press publications so maybe there are more of his terror tales secreted away in 'zines we've not even heard of?
Downmarket: 'Jimmy', a homeless vagrant, helps out at the Fruit & Veg market where he befriends the traders, even enjoys fetching and carrying for them in return for food. England is in recession but you'd not know it from these guys - they flog crates of produce as fast as Jimmy can fetch it. Comes the night Jimmy finds himself chained to the railings before a hideous, bird-shit encrusted gargoyle perched on a plinth ...
Dream Ghost: Fourteen-year-old Mandy's sleep is troubled by the vision of a sad little ghost girl haunting a ruins. On holiday in Dartmoor with her uncle who designs covers for pop records, Mandy chances upon the exact location she's dreamed of so often. The spectre grabs her wrist to prevent her falling down a well. Her uncle urges the police to inspect the well. A skeleton is recovered.