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Post by andydecker on Nov 13, 2008 18:59:58 GMT
I also check the 30 new posts regulary as I am a lazy bastard. Also you have a chance to discover something new which I would miss otherwise.
As I am a foreigner a lot of the new stuff goes over my head, as I don´t have the context. So I have zero interest in the new stuff and I skipp it.
So I wouldn´t miss it - I don´t read it anyway :-) Bring on the old stuff. There are so many blogs out there concentrating on the new, and there is still so much to discover - or write - about the classics.
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Post by franklinmarsh on Nov 13, 2008 19:19:44 GMT
Blimey, Dem. You been at the metal polish again? Cheer up you miserable old bugger! Take the Smiths and Leonard Cohen and Joy Division off your turntable and put the Pistols or the Subs on. Or raid Glampunk's collection and amp up Ziggy or The Sweet. Soon be Christmas - Bob (RIP)'s anniversary. Just think how he'd have felt about the new Dennis Wordsworth's. Justin and Pulps have brought in the booze and fags. All is not lost. Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. Onwards and upwards. Remember what you have done. It's an amazing legacy. There is forever an old corner of the Vault festooned with empty beer cans, dog ends, jazz mags, unpaid bills and tatty paperbacks, that stinks of booze, cigarette smoke, socks, unwashed bodies and the coppery tang of blood (Possibly a hint of Chanel No. 5 - but we'll gloss over that). Herbert Van Thal, Robert Lory, Guy N Smith, Richard Allen, George G Gilman, Peter Tremayne, Etienne Aubin and a good few others have puked, pissed and scrawled their initials there. And they probably wouldn't have bothered if it weren't for you. Open up, light up and chin up. It ain't over 'til it's over.
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Post by carolinec on Nov 13, 2008 19:24:00 GMT
the Vault Of Evil is where we discuss and share our passion and knowledge for horror culture pre-1979. If that had been drawn to my attention earlier ... That's the key comment for me. This is the first I knew about a pre-1979 rule! If that's the case, then we all need to know about it. I thought - despite my lack of knowledge about horror literature - that I was performing some useful service here in providing social chit-chat like saying happy birthday to people, telling people about events, new publications which I thought would be of interest, etc. But if that's not what people here want then let us know so that we don't post these kinds of things. Justin - I thought your posting of the article about the Magazine of Horror was fascinating, but I'm just not knowledgeable enough to comment on it, add to it, or what ever. The Apache posts were of no interest to me at all however, but the last thing I'd want to do is say that people shouldn't be posting about Apache, what ever it happens to be! Can we not all live together happily no matter what kind of "pulp" we're into? ie. just read/post in the bits of interest to us?
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Post by troo on Nov 13, 2008 19:44:06 GMT
I think that's the way forward- want your product promoted? Well privately e-mail Dem and ask for his address so you can post it to him. If he likes it he plugs it. If he don't, he don't. Um. Dem does like my crappy modern ezine - at least, he keeps saying so, and is willing to plug it in the blog. Or is the new rule that we're not allowed to discuss things unless key members of the community individually approve each item of discussion? This is nonsense. If I'm not welcome, I'll bugger off again. It's no skin off my nose. I'll bid love and kisses to all those I'll miss (you knows who you are, yes you does!) and likely meet you elsewhere.
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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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Post by carolinec on Nov 13, 2008 20:06:01 GMT
If I'm not welcome, I'll bugger off again. It's no skin off my nose. I'll bid love and kisses to all those I'll miss (you knows who you are, yes you does!) and likely meet you elsewhere. Noooo, Troo! Don't go. This is just us having a discussion - everybody's entitled to their opinions. Wait and see how things pan out ("pan" - that wasn't intended as a pun on Pan, but it might raise a smile! ). But what I can't understand is this. If Justin, Pulphack and anyone else who feels the way they do want posts on the older stuff - then why aren't they posting them? To simply not post on the board and then all of a sudden complain about people talking about newer stuff seems a bit daft to me. I really don't mean any offence to any of you, but we're doing some straight-talking here - which is good - so I hope you don't mind me saying what I feel about this situation. If you want posts on the older stuff, then provide those posts and start those kinds of discussions! Perhaps the idea of having two sections to the board - one for old and one for new - is a good idea. But would those of us who are interested in both the old and the new be able to just do one search, or would it be like having to visit two different boards? Basically, it's up to Dem - what kind of board do you want Dem?
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Post by Johnlprobert on Nov 13, 2008 20:42:51 GMT
Well I rarely get involved in these sorts of discussions as life's too short but having come across this thread I realised I like the Vault too much not to say something so here goes:
For me the Vault of Evil is old school. Or rather, it is An Old School. Its corridors smell faintly of damp duffle coats and chalk dust, the floor is wooden, chipped and ink-stained. The windows are grubby and have been lashed by the rains of a hundred winters and the walls probably haven’t been painted for twice as long. And yet, despite this grubby unkemptness, as you walk its corridors and peruse its many rooms there is a palpable sense of learning, of experience, of a heritage so strong you can almost cut it with a knife. This is the most brilliantly academic board devoted to horror I have ever come across and I love it. To some it may feel like a bunch of old men with a fetish for old horror paperbacks, but there are plenty of new books on the library shelves too. And the reason I love this board (wipes tear from eye now) is that all this material is discussed not just in the context of horror literature in general but pulp horror in particular. And it’s not good enough to say you ‘don’t know about that’ or you ‘haven’t read those sorts of books’. It’s okay if you haven’t when you find this place, but if you want to stay and take part then please go away and read some of this wonderful stuff and come back with an opinion. No-one’s stopping you do that. And if you don’t want to, or it’s not your thing, or if what concerns you more than anything else is talking about what your own work, then this really isn’t the right place for you. To me the Vault of Evil isn’t a newsroom, or a chatroom, or a publicity platform. It’s the only place where I can post something about that story in the Ninth Pan Book of Horror Stories that really scared me, it’s the only place where I can realise other people still love Charles Birkin too, and it’s the only place where people post stuff about utterly insane NEL paperbacks I have never heard of. And because I haven’t heard of them I’ll go off and read them if I can find the buggers and post my opinions on them along with everyone else. The future of this board should not be decided by a vote. Dem knows what he’s doing, striding up and down the school’s corridors resembling a cadaverous creature of the night in his schoolmaster’s gown. And as long as he is this board is in the very best hands.
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Post by carolinec on Nov 13, 2008 20:54:20 GMT
And it’s not good enough to say you ‘don’t know about that’ or you ‘haven’t read those sorts of books’. It’s okay if you haven’t when you find this place, but if you want to stay and take part then please go away and read some of this wonderful stuff and come back with an opinion.. I agree with everything you say here John - except the above. For the following reasons: (1) people here perhaps don't want to read everything - I really have no interest in cowboy books or books about skinheads at all for example! So what's wrong with picking the bits that are of interest to us personally? There is so much here - there really is something for everyone! (2) people here might not have the time/space in their lives to read everything. I certainly fall into that category too. My "to be read" pile is huge! I'll get around to it eventually, but to say someone shouldn't post here unless they've read everything mentioned here seems like a nonsense to me! Anyway, that's my lot on the subject - I've said more than enough. I feel passionate about what I believed the Vault was about. If it turns out I was mistaken about what you wanted here, then so be it.
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Post by killercrab on Nov 13, 2008 21:53:25 GMT
To simply not post on the board and then all of a sudden complain about people talking about newer stuff seems a bit daft to me. >>
Your point isn't without merit Caroline - though a little inaccurate in regard to Vault's history. Let me recap a little if I may? The forum started out as a humble venue for a bunch of enthusiasts who loved horror books that were published pre 1980's vintage roughly speaking. Nowhere else really catered to this particular obsession and every new post was about the subject and ONLY that.
Then creative writing took a small foothold with Filthy Creations. At this stage it stayed a small foothold but has expotentially grown as author after author has joined - writers who don't read rubbish like Dracula's Virgin Lepers or whatever - writers who have aspirations ( and who can honestly blame them?). Problem is the balance tipped in favour of creative talk and the old guard muttered away to themselves and slowly drifted away.
Personally I'm old guard - so tar me with a brush as I stand by Dem , Pulps and Justin. I was here at the start and made an effort a few months back with my GNS reviews ( as did Steve (X) ) plus Dem and others to bring back the sputtering golden years . But it just got too hard competing with the panties, cones and assorted works in production.
Maybe .. just maybe the renegades should move house and start again and leave the members who like a broader spectrum to run this place . I'd like to see the bloody Nels and biker boys rise again but with the caveat that authors stay off the topic of themselves and that as an artist includes me ( something I practically never mentioned here).
ade
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Post by weirdmonger on Nov 13, 2008 22:20:21 GMT
I was brought up on sixties & seventies horror. A passion of mine. I see this passion as associated (fed and feeding) with many other and similar (even dissimilar) aspects of writing, art and TV/film. I think the main problem on this site is the high dependability on the last 30 posts feature. Think about it. When loogged in even the Filthy Workshop (private) crops up in the list!
Caroline is right. Mixed messages. We've been misled. Look at the heading at the top of the page. This is Vault of Evil A.D. 2007, still aka K. C. and the Sunshine Crabs, still a shrine to vintage pulp horror novels, anthologies, any ghastly books you care to mention, e.t.c., but now ALL NEW (some of it)!!! Meanwhile, I respect and empathise with the old school that seem to have have stung us in ambush today.
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Post by allthingshorror on Nov 13, 2008 22:28:03 GMT
POST EDITED COS I HAD A SHIT AND WHILE SITTING ON THE CAN I THOUGHT THAT I MAY HAVE WRITTEN A BIT TOO MUCH.
The site should be about what Alan Temperley story caused the end of the Pan Horrors - who was the gnarliest NEL author - what Edge book was the shittest (sorry can't stand Westerns!) - but this is pulp and this is relevant to what I see the board being.
The dude who yabbers on about his horror authors website in thread after thread after thread. Go away. Shit, I yabber on about my website - but at least I try and make sure that the shit I yabber about is relevant to what this site is and what it's all about. Oh - I have Shaun Hutson talking about his 80's hairdo coming soon....
Charles Black should rightly have a thread talking about his Black Books - because they are relevant to what the original Pan Horrors were all about. The Black Books take me back to when I read those nastly little things as a teen for the first time. That inherent joy.
Magazines like Panties - hard to dismiss out of hand - they were kind to publish me! But maybe these publications should be dropped down to the bottom of the thread. But for people to say that things are not fair - and they have a life and kids and yadda yadda - just grow up and smell the f**k**g coffee. We all have lifes - and on a personal note - I'm going through hell at the moment - but do I go on in every thread about it? No - because this is a pulp and horror site - not an Oprah Winfrey chat forum.
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Post by killercrab on Nov 13, 2008 22:44:07 GMT
This is Vault of Evil A.D. 2007, still aka K. C. and the Sunshine Crabs, still a shrine to vintage pulp horror novels, anthologies, any ghastly books you care to mention, e.t.c., but now ALL NEW (some of it)!!! >>
What is exactly misleading? Vintage horror , anthologies and ghastly books - check. The ALL NEW doesn't mean NEW works of fiction but that it's Version 2 of VOE ( hence the NEW comment). what Edge book was the shittest (sorry can't stand Westerns!)LOL!! I was gonna ask what's the shittest PAN book of Horror ! ade
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Post by David A. Riley on Nov 13, 2008 22:47:08 GMT
Personally I'm saddened to see the personal invective that has entered this site. Reminds me all too much of Shlocklines.
To be honest, nothing I've seen written here, until this spat started, bothered me. If what some people wrote didn't interest me, I ignored it and went on to look at something else. No great issue and nothing to get upset about.
David
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Post by weirdmonger on Nov 13, 2008 22:48:35 GMT
This is Vault of Evil A.D. 2007, still aka K. C. and the Sunshine Crabs, still a shrine to vintage pulp horror novels, anthologies, any ghastly books you care to mention, e.t.c., but now ALL NEW (some of it)!!! >>
What is exactly misleading? Vintage horror , anthologies and ghastly books - check. The ALL NEW doesn't mean NEW works of fiction but that it's Version 2 of VOE ( hence the NEW comment). what Edge book was the shittest (sorry can't stand Westerns!)LOL!! I was gonna ask what's the shittest PAN book of Horror ! ade Ade, I knew what the NEW meant. But did others? And ANY ghastly books ETCHence the 19 page Small Press Pulp Horror covers of the Nineties, for example. I'm sure this can be eased somewhat if the 30 last posts feature is not the only default way to navigate. best wishes, des
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Post by killercrab on Nov 13, 2008 22:55:58 GMT
I'm sure this can be eased somewhat if the 30 last posts feature is not the only default way to navigate. >>
In many ways the 30 latest is what gives the forum a humanity. I frequent another site similarily set out ( no 30 latest) , which is far less welcoming because the subjects feel more remote in their respective boxes. What interests me is that pretty much this subject got broached about 4 months back and it's still unresolved.
Don't get me wrong Des - I'm as creative as you'll find but I guess I'm not looking for a platform - just a place to doss and talk smelly old books.
ade
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