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Post by andydecker on May 22, 2012 14:01:23 GMT
The Best Horror Stories of Karl Edward Wagner (Centipede Press 2012)
Edited with an Introduction by Stephen Jones, Illustrated by J.K.Potter
Vol.1 - Where the Summer Ends 359 pages
Contents:
Foreword: My Friend Karl by Stephen Jones (2011)
Introduction: Unthreatened by the Morning Light by KEW
In the Pines
Sticks
The Fourth Seal
Where the Summer Ends
.220 Swift
The River of Night’s Dreaming
Beyond Any Measure
Neither Brute Nor Human
Blue Lady, Come Back
Afterword: In the Shadows of the Pines by Laird Barron (2011)Vol.2 - Walk on the Wilde Side 359 pages
Contents:
Introduction: Various Encounters with Karl by Peter Straub (1983)
The Last Wolf
Into Whose Hands
More Sinned Against
Shrapnel
Silted In
Lost Exits
Endless Night
An Awareness of Angels
But You’ll Never Follow Me
Cedar Lane
The Kind Men Like
The Slug
Did They Get You to Trade?
Little Lessons in Gardening
A Walk on the Wild Side
Passages
In the Middle of a Snow Dream
Gremlin
Prince of the Punks
The Picture of Jonathan Collins
Locked Away
I’ve Come to Talk with You Again
Final Cut
Brushed Away
Old Loves
Lacunae
Afterword: The Truth Insofar As I Know It by David Drake (1995)
AcknowledgementsTwo very well done hardcovers. The new introduction by Jones is a trip down memory lane and rather personal and moving, and the remembrance by David Drake, previously published in "Excorcisms and Ecstacies", has lost nothing of its anger. The artwork is great. What can I say? I am a fan of KEW and can´t wait to re-read the stories, also there are a few included I never heard about. |
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Post by David A. Riley on May 22, 2012 15:27:48 GMT
Having seen these I must have those books, even though I probably already have quite a few of his stories elsewhere.
Back in 1995, when I was publishing the magazine Beyond with my wife, we included one of his last stories, Gremlin, in our first issue. Unfortunately Karl died not long before it was published.
Of all the writers I was in contact with then Karl was the first I wrote to for a story and the one I wanted most in our first issue. In fact, I wanted to have something from him as often as I could manage.
I remember being shocked when I saw him at the last convention he went to in the UK the previous year, where we discussed the magazine and the story he had already sent for it. He looked dreadfully ill and died only a few weeks later.
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Post by andydecker on May 22, 2012 16:45:18 GMT
Having seen these I must have those books According to Centipedes not very helpful website this edition is also limited. I ordered mine through Amazon Germany, but it was touch and go. Got a few weeks messages worth this item isn´t avaible, which is often the case with small press books, but then they arrived two months later then originally announced. Frankly I expected the order to be cancelled. I remember being shocked when I saw him at the last convention he went to in the UK the previous year, where we discussed the magazine and the story he had already sent for it. He looked dreadfully ill and died only a few weeks later. Everyone is writing this. I wonder how he managed to travel in his condition. His last years seemed to have been grim, lonely and sad. |
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Post by David A. Riley on May 22, 2012 17:05:20 GMT
Just managed to order both of them on Amazon UK.  Their site now says there are only 3 left of one and 1 of the second. |
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Post by David A. Riley on May 22, 2012 18:18:45 GMT
I remember being shocked when I saw him at the last convention he went to in the UK the previous year, where we discussed the magazine and the story he had already sent for it. He looked dreadfully ill and died only a few weeks later. Everyone is writing this. I wonder how he managed to travel in his condition. His last years seemed to have been grim, lonely and sad. Word was that he had been told he needed dialysis but had refused. His complexion was distinctively yellow, which showed just how far gone his liver was by then. He still drank, though. Very sad. He was a great bloke. One of the best. |
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Post by Johnlprobert on May 22, 2012 20:04:18 GMT
I think the two volume set may be limited to 500 copies. I ordered it from Amazon UK ages ago for £50. I think Andy Richards has them for £65 and the really posh one for £185 (  ) I've just started reading the first volume and I think the stories are marvellous so far. |
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Post by cw67q on May 23, 2012 17:29:42 GMT
Vol 1 contains KEW's earlier, generally longer, horror tales and is a pretty strong volume. I'm not keen on his later shorter work in Vol 2. I never made it through Ecstacies and Exorcisms, but picked up some recommendations for selected later stories recently which I might give a go at some poitn (don't have the recommendations to hand though).
One short tale in Vol 2 which is very good, but very subtle, is : I've Come to Talk with You Again.
I opted for just ordering Vol 1.
- Chris
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Post by helrunar on Feb 18, 2021 13:42:00 GMT
Thanks, Andreas, for pointing me to this thread. Wagner's horror fiction would seem to be the only aspect of his work that would be of interest to me. I will look for a couple of the stories.
Best wishes,
Steve
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Post by jamesdoig on Jan 22, 2023 20:01:25 GMT
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Post by andydecker on Jan 22, 2023 21:56:17 GMT
I hate this surprise-game. I am supposed to pay a lot of money for what is basically a reprint of a paperback plus some mystery story which can be anything from one of the fragments in Exorcisms and Ecstasies to something out of a fanzine. I would want to know what I am buying beforehand.
And why does the cover-art for a Case Laminate Hardcover has to be that bland?
On the other hand it is good that this collection is being reprinted.
Edit: If they follow the Centipede Press edition it will be Blue Lady, Come Back.
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Post by 𝘗rincess 𝘵uvstarr on Jan 22, 2023 22:17:50 GMT
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Post by pbsplatter on Jan 22, 2023 22:43:32 GMT
Which is one helluva story |
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) I've just started reading the first volume and I think the stories are marvellous so far.
