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Post by helrunar on Apr 20, 2017 12:26:30 GMT
Another fascinating thread! Poor Mr Dire... erm, Dare.
Had he lived into the present "enlightened" era, he could have posted photos of himself posing in his drawers till the cows came home and gotten a considerable fan following on that alone.
Quite intrigued by this one--mainly because of the thematic notes on the tales. It would all depend on how they're told, of course. I just had to deposit the latest Kim Newman comic book in the recycling bin because although there were some intriguing themes mooted, the writing (or whatever it should be called) was unreadable.
cheers, H.
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Post by Swampirella on Apr 20, 2017 12:31:10 GMT
Another fascinating thread! Poor Mr Dire... erm, Dare. Had he lived into the present "enlightened" era, he could have posted photos of himself posing in his drawers to the cows came home and gotten a considerable fan following on that alone. Quite intrigued by this one--mainly because of the thematic notes on the tales. It would all depend on how they're told, of course. I just had to deposit the latest Kim Newman comic book in the recycling bin because although there were some intriguing themes mooted, the writing (or whatever it should be called) was unreadable. cheers, H. I really enjoyed this collection, which is inexpensively priced for Kindle. |
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Post by helrunar on Apr 20, 2017 13:49:32 GMT
They put this on Kindle? Extraordinary!
Thanks for the info and the favorable opinion, Miss Scarlett!
cheers, H.
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Apr 20, 2017 13:59:20 GMT
The photo of the author is missing from the ebook.
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Post by helrunar on Apr 20, 2017 14:09:51 GMT
*SOB!*
Why must these modern "conveniences" of digitization and all the rest of this dreadful rout lacerate me so!
WHY--because it is ALL... THE SPAWN OF SATAN!!!
*dramatic drumroll*
H.
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Post by helrunar on Apr 20, 2017 14:20:20 GMT
And having perused this thread more closely, one has to wonder--perhaps the photo was meant to illustrate the origin of the tale that bears that mocking title--"The Haunted Drawers"??
Between that and thinking about an advert jingle to market "The Borgia Pomade," this one is giving me quite a chuckle.
I have the feeling I'm gonna get chucked outta this club for good due to undue levity--or gratuitously repetitive references to chaps with their kit off...
cheers, H.
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Post by dem on Apr 20, 2017 16:09:03 GMT
I just had to deposit the latest Kim Newman comic book in the recycling bin because although there were some intriguing themes mooted, the writing (or whatever it should be called) was unreadable. I still haven't forgiven him for ruining the extraordinary Zombie Apocalyse trilogy with his "humorous" interjections, the jingle at close of the third book being especially rancid. His many fellow contributors deserve so much better. |
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Post by helrunar on Apr 20, 2017 16:18:29 GMT
That truly does sound dire, Dem.
Apparently Newman has excreted several books in his Anno Dracula series since the early 1990s. I have to presume that he either owns incriminating video on some influential people, or he's calling in favors owed as a professional critic.
Then again, one considers the kind of stuff that makes the masses swoon these days--it's all completely beyond the power of rational comprehension.
cheers, H.
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Post by dem on Apr 20, 2017 17:27:23 GMT
That truly does sound dire, Dem. Apparently Newman has excreted several books in his Anno Dracula series since the early 1990s. I have to presume that he either owns incriminating video on some influential people, or he's calling in favors owed as a professional critic. Then again, one considers the kind of stuff that makes the masses swoon these days--it's all completely beyond the power of rational comprehension. cheers, H. Have liked much of Kim Newman's work well enough (including the first Anno Dracula book), The Original Dr. Shade, Pitbull Brittan and three of the four Where The Bodies Are Buried novellas being particular favourites. I still have the fondest memories of following the outrageously ambitious ZA project, but K.N.'s overall contribution to same didn't do it for me at all. M. P. Dare's Unholy Relics in a deluxe Ash Tree edition is almost as insane a concept as the 'Complete Adventures of Jules de Grandin' audiobook. In case you missed them, a pair of sample stories. A Nun's TragedyThe Haunted Drawers |
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Post by helrunar on Apr 20, 2017 18:30:39 GMT
In all fairness, I have enjoyed Kim Newman's film and television reviews (except when he was expressing disbelief why anyone in their right mind would want to watch Dark Shadows), and I would read them again if I knew where he was publishing now. I used to read them in Video Watchdog which alas has gone the way of all flesh.
After my experience with the AD comic however, I just don't have the patience to try any of his other work in the fields of fiction. At my advanced age, I have limited amounts of stamina.
Many thanks for the links to the two Dare stories. Utterly awesome!!
H.
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Post by andydecker on Apr 20, 2017 20:15:56 GMT
That truly does sound dire, Dem. Apparently Newman has excreted several books in his Anno Dracula series since the early 1990s. I have to presume that he either owns incriminating video on some influential people, or he's calling in favors owed as a professional critic. Then again, one considers the kind of stuff that makes the masses swoon these days--it's all completely beyond the power of rational comprehension. cheers, H. That's a bit harsh. Of course his name-dropping technique in the AD novels can be boring if one doesn't like this sort of stuff, but Dracula Cha cha cha is a very well realized novel. You really can't compare these novels to paranormal romances with fangs, too intelligent.
But his comic work didn't, well, work for me either. His Witchfinder for Dark Horse was lame and disappointing. Can't say anything to the AD comic, as I thought the art so terrible that I didn't buy it. You can't master all forms.
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Post by mcannon on Apr 20, 2017 23:43:57 GMT
In all fairness, I have enjoyed Kim Newman's film and television reviews (except when he was expressing disbelief why anyone in their right mind would want to watch Dark Shadows), and I would read them again if I knew where he was publishing now. I used to read them in Video Watchdog which alas has gone the way of all flesh. After my experience with the AD comic however, I just don't have the patience to try any of his other work in the fields of fiction. At my advanced age, I have limited amounts of stamina. Many thanks for the links to the two Dare stories. Utterly awesome!! H. I'm much more of a fan of Kim Newman's fiction than you are, H; I've followed and enjoyed the "Anno Dracula" series since it began, though I haven't checked out the comics version yet. However, like you I've enjoyed his reviews (and I miss "Video Watchdog", not least because I still had a couple of issues remaining on my subscription when they ceased publication!). If you're interested, Newman publishes links to many of his reviews on his website, at johnnyalucard.com/ As for poor old M P Dare, I purchased the Ash-Tree Press ebook edition of "Unholy Relics", along with a lot of others, directly from Ash-Tree itself, at www.ash-tree.bc.ca/eBooks.htm While it would be nice to have hard copy editions, the digital versions are a damn sight more affordable than the insane prices many of the titles now command in the collectors' market! Mark |
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Post by helrunar on Apr 21, 2017 1:28:14 GMT
Thanks, Mark, for the URL for Newman's site. There's a lot on there! I will have a look when time permits.
That is really unfair that Watchdog folded and you were left being owed issues. But it's an old story with zines, and with other pubs as well. I remember in the mid 70s pre-ordering a Mirage Press book to be edited by Lin Carter, The Lost Star of Mnar I think it was called. It was going to be a gathering-up of Carter's Necronomicon pastiches. I kept writing to ask when the book was coming out and I did get at least one note from Jack Chalker (I think it was him) telling me it had been delayed. If the book ever came out, I never saw it. Years later I did find a copy of the material which had been published by Carter in a Lovecraft mythos zine. It's here somewhere. Actually reading what he had written was strangely anti-climactic however. Again, so often the case.
As for the redoubtable Marcus Dare, I did read that Nun tale on my commute home tonight and it was fun! I'd say he was a Weird Tales/Not at Night writer with some Jamesian propensities or stylistic bits of window-dressing. I have been re-reading More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary on my lunch breaks this past week and it's fascinating just how artfully James steers a course in between antiquarian atmosphere, touches of local color and wit, and moments of exquisitely nuanced horror. I really know of no other author quite like him. What I'm really noticing on this particular pass through the canon is the wit. How potently he sends up various types of scholarly and clerical personality shows a master touch far beyond the felicities of your typical overly lubricated dominie at High Table.
H.
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Post by helrunar on Apr 22, 2017 14:25:11 GMT
I did get the Kindle edition--this kind of thing is perfect for my commute reading (have been re-reading MR James More ghost stories of an antiquary).
I skipped ahead to "The Demoniac Goat" and while I enjoyed it, I'm wondering if the author intended these to be read as satires? The "Goat" in particular seems to be a parody of Dennis Wheatley.
From the plot notes, it sounds as if "The Borgia Pomade" might have been a send-up of Sax Rohmer (in a mood he had that those who only know his Fu Manchu stories may not be familiar with). Will weigh in with my opinion, for what it is worth, when I've read that one. I am going back and starting from the beginning now.
Curiouser and curiouser! Also, there are no hints of anything romantic, but in every other respect the behavior of the two protagonists is that of an older gay male couple.
cheers, H.
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Post by helrunar on Apr 27, 2017 19:44:03 GMT
Finished the stories today. This one is a VERY odd curio--I'd only recommend to those who have a taste for Thirties occult fiction (despite the 1940s date of original pub, the stylistic milieu feels inarguably Thirties) AND have a high degree of tolerance for some of the more commonplace prejudices of earlier generations. The unrelenting misogyny in particular has to be deplored. Apparently neither of the author's marriages ended well so the women who had to share a roof with him apparently did not find this endeavor ultimately worth the effort.
Some of the stories are only sketches, evidently written to record occult incidents the author had known, or heard about. In "The Abbot's Magic" a promising beginning dries up with a rather feeble attempt at venturing into Dennis Wheatley terrain. I personally do think that "The Demoniac Goat" was written as a send-up of Wheatley.
The author's "colleague," who only appears in some of the tales, faints at least three times in the course of the proceedings. Apparently a more delicate fruit from the vine...
I have to confess I enjoyed it a great deal--more a reflection of the peculiarities of my own taste than any intrinsic worth.
H.
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