|
|
Post by carolinec on Oct 30, 2008 23:48:30 GMT
Just came across this at the BFS site: From: www.hippocampuspress.com/other/inconsequential-tales.htmlInconsequential Tales by Ramsey Campbell
Illustrated by Jason C. Eckhardt
This volume gathers tales, written over a period of more than thirty years, that have not yet been included in any of Campbell’s dozen or more short story collections. Among them are such dark jewels of the supernatural as “The Reshaping of Rossiter,” an early version of the celebrated tale “The Scar”; “Broadcast,” which invests terror in a microphone; “Writer’s Curse,” in which horror writing itself is made a subject of terror; “Murders,” a bizarre mix of horror and science fiction; “Snakes and Ladders,” a powerfully cosmic vignette that served as an early version of “Playing the Game.”
Also included are two previously unpublished tales, “The Precognitive Trip” and “Pet.” Campbell’s distinctive vision, fecund imagination, and meticulous prose shine through every sentence, making the slightest of these tales a literary treasure. Couldn't resist going and buying a copy of this - even though the exchange rate takes it to over £16 with shipping charges from the States. Sounds too good to miss though! ;D |
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Oct 31, 2008 9:10:49 GMT
Tried to find a full list of contents for this as I'm interested in this early story David recently mentioned, The Childish Fear, but no joy yet. I recognise Broadcast and The Other House from Dave Sutton's New Writings In Horror antho's and am guessing the version of The Scar referred to might be the one that appeared in Startling Mystery Stories way back when, though i'm probably wrong. It seems that Ramsey has offered the stories up under this title as they're very deserving of criticism or some-such, which at least proves he still has a sense of humour, something I wondered about after reading his contribution to that woeful Stephen Jones thread on Shocklines which somehow managed to combine just about everything I've come to dislike about certain facets of the horror 'scene' in six handy pages! |
|
|
|
Post by David A. Riley on Oct 31, 2008 10:12:58 GMT
That's why I like this board better than any other. None of that kind of horrible nonsense here, thank God!
(Odin, did you hear me?)
David
|
|
|
|
Post by carolinec on Oct 31, 2008 11:15:31 GMT
I'll post a complete list of contents when it arrives from the States. Still haven't told my husband I've bought yet another book. I only managed to break it to him that I'd ordered Houses on the Borderland the other day. Have to break it gently to him when he comes home from work tonight I reckon. Wish me luck!  |
|
|
|
Post by carolinec on Oct 31, 2008 12:35:36 GMT
That's why I like this board better than any other. None of that kind of horrible nonsense here, thank God! Blimey! I couldn't resist going to the Shocklines forum to see what you were talking about. I've seen message board flare-ups before, but that one beats the lot!  I wonder if Shocklines is where Ramsey got the idea for the 'Smilemime' character in "The Grin of the Dark"?  |
|
|
|
Post by David A. Riley on Oct 31, 2008 12:44:19 GMT
Funnily enough, when he first came on Shocklines a few months ago he used that as his name.
Saying that, there are far worse sites than Shocklines, believe it or not. I don't doubt old Smilemime was solidly based on reality. There used to be a guy on the Abebooks Booksellers Board who called himself Scrawler. He was far worse than Smilemime, believe me! Somehow I eventually ended up friends with him due to a mutual admiration of Lovecraft and the fact I wrote horror stories.
David
|
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Oct 31, 2008 17:21:40 GMT
From what I understand - could be very wrong - 'Smilemime' is a composite figure of internet trolls, with perhaps one fellow in particular providing much of the "inspiration" (those who know who I'm referring to - and some of you certainly do, because it was you told me! - please do not mention the name on here!).
If i didn't keep myself busy here, I'd have joined Shocklines long ago, but as there's no realistic chance of me finding time to post, I dip in when time permits (a lot of friendly faces on there!) and admire from afar. It is an excellent forum, and the driving forces behind it certainly had every right to defend themselves against Stephen Jones remarks in his annual state of the horror nation address. But then you get the attention-seekers pitching in, being important, trying to out-smug one another, insults a-go-go, "buy my book! buy my book! you must buy my book! did I mention my book? buy ME!", etc , blah blah - happens to all boards given time. No exceptions.
But, hey! don't get me started! It's Halloween! I've got an impromptu family party to organise and haven't yet settled on my scary costume!
|
|
coral
New Face In Hell
Posts: 3 
|
Post by coral on Nov 15, 2008 1:59:05 GMT
I know exactly where mr Ramsey got the smilemime character from, so does Sean, who has put in a hell of a lot of work in the section, are you going to delete it now, it's awfully modern?
|
|
|
|
Post by carolinec on Nov 15, 2008 15:33:53 GMT
I know exactly where mr Ramsey got the smilemime character from, so does Sean, who has put in a hell of a lot of work in the section, are you going to delete it now, it's awfully modern? Hi again, Coral! Gosh, you've chosen a good time to come back!  Yes, if people do want me to post a contents list for this now that I've got it, I will do - just let me know. I'll try to rustle up a cover scan too if you want. |
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Nov 19, 2008 18:27:25 GMT
Oh, the bitter irony ... Well, if anyone would like to post the contents of Ramsey's latest - and a scan - I'd much appreciate it. Also, is the version of The Scar the one that was published in issue 13 of the incredible Startling Mystery Stories? When the readers got around to delivering their verdict on the fictional content of #13 two issues later, The Scar was best placed of the new stories in the voting poll. Mr. Probert (!) of Toronto wrote in to say that The Scar ... "has Campbell's trademarks - Brichester, the brooding, malignant atmosphere - but the ending was ambiguous for this reader". Mr P. was more a fan of RC in The Inhabitant Of The Lake mode which he suspected would go on to be considered a classic. The indefatigable Mike Ashley was very supportive; "Knowing Ramsey personally perhaps swayed me a little in my voting for the yarn, because I could imagine him reading the story out himself, and with his incredible voice it couldn't help being a winner. But it was well-plotted and generally well-written, and that's about all I can say about it." |
|
|
|
Post by carolinec on Nov 19, 2008 19:57:52 GMT
I'm still here, Dem - just lurking a bit! I'm a little quiet as: a) I'm incredibly busy - not just with work but with another little editing thing which has come along (don't worry, I'm not going to plug it ), and b) I've developed a morbid fear of forums (only joking!  So, here's a quick contents list - haven't yet got time to do more, but when I do I'll sort out a scan and tell you where all the previously published stories first appeared. From a quick flick through the intro "The Reshaping of Rossiter" is, apparently, the first version of "The Scar", but I don't know the answer to your question above. Contents: Truth or Consequences The Childish Fear The Offering to the Dead The Reshaping of Rossiter The Void The Other House Broadcast The Urge The Sunshine Club Writer's Curse Property of the Ring The Shadows in the Barn Night Beat The Precognitive Trip Murders Point of View The Grip of Peace Only the Wind Morning Call Pet Hain's Island Bait Snakes and Ladders The Burning A Play for the Jaded The cover is the best I've seen for a while! By Jason Eckhardt, it shows Ramsey sitting in a cinema happily eating his popcorn and watching a film, whilst all kinds of ghosts, demons, etc frolic around in the seats behind him - classic! ;D Blimey, I've just looked back at the contents of this thread and realised how prophetic it was! |
|
|
|
Post by David A. Riley on Nov 19, 2008 20:36:37 GMT
Interesting to see that The Childish Fear is included in this collection (see my mention on this re Alien Worlds on the Horror Magazines section). I think this might be the first time this story has been reprinted since the 1960s (and a damned good tale it is too!)  David |
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Nov 19, 2008 22:50:05 GMT
I'm seriously thinking of getting this - not just for The Childish Fear (though that certainly adds appeal), but i enjoy his commentaries and the idea behind the collection sounds fun. The Sunshine Club is his vampire on the psychiatrist's couch story, isn't it? If so, I remember being confused as hell by it and i wanna check if he was too.
|
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Jan 8, 2009 21:22:33 GMT
The Reshaping Of Rossiter. As soon as I saw that title, I knew i'd encountered it before but where? Well, there is obscure and there is this one-off booklet, limited to 100 copies and written and compiled by various Ghost Story Society/ Dark Dreams fiends which eventually saw the light in 1990. Don't know for the life of me how I came to end up with a copy as it doesn't look like my kind of thing at all, but here's: David Cowperthwaite (ed.) - Transactions Of The Doppelganger Society (1990) Colin P. Langeveld - The BeginningRamsey Campbell - The Reshaping Of RossiterDaphne de Rose - Night Wing
Mark Valentine - Go To The West
Malcolm Furnass - A Cautious Rendezvous
Sir Oliver Nutherwun - Through Lands Unknown
Keith Jones - An Alien Soul
Daphne de Rose - Hallowe'en
Joel Lane - Imperfect Strangers
Doppleganger Dan - She Dances
David Cowperthwaite - "Over The Brandy, Gentlemen?"
Malcolm Furnass - Back For Christmas
William A. McCabe - Creatures Of The Light
Barry Duggan - The New Heart
John Whitbourn - A Partial CureACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The editor would like to thank Mr. Mark Valentine for the nucleus of this collection; and for his valiant efforts in trying to get the publication together. Mr Colin P. Langeveld for the cover, illustration on page 4, and the engraving of the Society on page 47. The two poems by the late Daphne de Rose are from the privately printed collection A CHORUS OF DAWN. De Rose died in the mid-80's after an horrific domestic accident. Thanks are due to her niece, Phyllis Sinner, for permission to reprint these two pieces. Finally, I would like to thank our two guest contributors, Mr Ramsey Campbell and Mr John Whitbourn, for their excellent stories. Rosemary Pardoe was certainly enthusiastic, writing in the Ghost Story Society Newsletter #6 (October 1990) that it was "highly recommended and well worth the wait (how many years was it?) ..... Aside from the excellent Campbell and Whitbourn stories, the best of the rest are those which give some insight into, or are at least firmly in the spirit of, the Doppelganger Society. These include Colin Langeveld's introductory tale in which he explains how the Society was formed, and those by David Cowperthwaite and John Howard - er, I mean, Sir Oliver Nutherwun. The gem for me, though, is Mark Valentine's alchemical tale - so serious and yet built around a pun: it proves, if nothing else, that one should be careful about one's diction, even on one's deathbed....."
|
|
albie
Devils Coach Horse
Posts: 134
|
Post by albie on Mar 13, 2009 13:08:50 GMT
Ramsey's short stories are like an alternate universe that intersects mine. I like to gather up the feelings they give me and pretend they are my past.
|
|
