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Post by dem on Dec 16, 2012 8:21:25 GMT
Todays Lesson: The first of two from Vault co-founder Franklin Marsh, sees Ker-Pow, "Britain’s premier T’Pau tribute band", gamely perform an impromptu gig at a backwater pub where a party of undertakers are holding their annual shin-dig. If you like your horror stories on the grimly feendish side, Mr. Marsh is your man. Franklin's Gregory Pendennis 'Black Sorcery' novel, The Horror Of Dreadstone Moor, was serialised over the first five issues of the missing-in-action Filthy Creations magazine, and his work has also appeared in The Black Book Of Horror and Christopher Wood's 2nd BFS Book of Horror Stories. Attachments:
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Dec 16, 2012 20:52:46 GMT
Todays Lesson: The first of two from Vault co-founder Franklin Marsh, sees Ker-Pow, "Britain’s premier T’Pau tribute band", gamely perform an impromptu gig at a backwater pub where a party of undertakers are holding their annual shin-dig. If you like your horror stories on the grimly feendish side, Mr. Marsh is your man. Franklin's Gregory Pendennis 'Black Sorcery' novel, The Horror Of Dreadstone Moor, was serialised over the first five issues of the missing-in-action Filthy Creations magazine, and his work has also appeared in The Black Book Of Horror and Christopher Wood's 2nd BFS Book of Horror Stories. Good one. Some great one liners |
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Post by dem on Dec 17, 2012 7:46:36 GMT
“God? God? Always God. Have you thought for one second about the nature of God? If God exists, why would He be remotely interested in us? Why did the angels rebel?”2012 saw the publication of three seriously-belated collections of considerable merit: The Female Of The Species & Other Terror Tales by the late Richard Davis, David A. Riley's aforementioned His Own Mad Demons, and, 24 years after the title novella appeared in 29th Pan Book of Horror Stories without his knowledge, Craig Herbertson's The Heaven Makers & Other Gruesome Tales from the recently revived Parallel Universe Publications. I hadn't thought of it til now, but all the contemporary authors featured to date are regular contributors to Dr. Terror's Black Book of Horror Stories - in fact, you'll have to wait until Wednesday for a story from outside Charles' impressive stable. Craig is quite possibly the only person in history to write a new story for the Vault Advent Calendar while warming up for a Midge Ure support slot. It Could Have Been Me concerns the fate of the recently, crushingly bereaved Simon Parfait. after he takes a job as gardener for Peter Marr, the saturnine owner of a mediaeval restaurant. It's only Simon's unwavering belief in the mercy of Christ the Saviour has got him this far, but how good a man must you be to be saved? For those of us who find Monday morning's the most miserable of the week, rest assured, this one is about to take a turn for the worse .... Attachments:
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Post by David A. Riley on Dec 17, 2012 9:40:41 GMT
Another lunchtime's reading sorted.  I'll really miss all these in the New Year! |
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Thana Niveau
Devils Coach Horse
We who walk here walk alone.
Posts: 109
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Post by Thana Niveau on Dec 17, 2012 10:00:12 GMT
Meet Neville Dearden, North London Bistro Baron, a compulsive collector of crime novels and DVD's. Meet also the local balaclava-clad wrecking crew who've got it into their heads that Dearden is a child molester. Learn what happened when - They Pissed On My Sofa. And I'm glad I did! As someone absolutely terrified of home invasion, mugging or any other kind of personal violation, I love this kind of revenge story. Good one, David! |
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Dec 17, 2012 17:29:51 GMT
The Trendelenberg Concerto, the first story John LLewellyn Probert ever wrote, was published in issue 2 of the sadly defunct Here & Now magazine (Autumn 2002), and is, the author tells us, "so rare that even Lady P. hasn't read it! That is a mighty impressive first story. Todays Lesson: The first of two from Vault co-founder Franklin Marsh, sees Ker-Pow, "Britain’s premier T’Pau tribute band", gamely perform an impromptu gig at a backwater pub where a party of undertakers are holding their annual shin-dig. Mr. Marsh had me at "Ker-Pow, Britain's premier T'Pau tribute band." The ELP bit was an unexpected bonus. Another lunchtime's reading sorted. These are just the perfect length for lunchtime reading, aren't they? Unfortunately, I've had a series of lunchtime obligations lately, so I'm playing catch-up. |
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Dec 17, 2012 19:06:12 GMT
[ Mr. Marsh had me at "Ker-Pow, Britain's premier T'Pau tribute band." The ELP bit was an unexpected bonus. Funny, exactly my sentiments. Used to love that track. Thought of Creme Broleau when I read Ker-Pow. |
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Post by jamesdoig on Dec 17, 2012 23:27:49 GMT
Much enjoyed the last three, read at a sitting. Neville is a chap after my own heart. "A Delicate Undertaking" indeed. And who needs the Cthulhu mythos when the Christian mythos works so well?
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Thana Niveau
Devils Coach Horse
We who walk here walk alone.
Posts: 109
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Post by Thana Niveau on Dec 18, 2012 8:44:05 GMT
And who needs the Cthulhu mythos when the Christian mythos works so well? I can't put it better than that! Really disturbing story, Craig. Beautifully written and what a great ending! I didn't see that coming. |
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Post by dem on Dec 18, 2012 8:52:06 GMT
Day 18, and a first-ever Vault Advent Calendar appearance from Paul Finch with Down In The Dying-Rooms, a violent supernatural thriller first published in the summer 2005 issue of Dark Discoveries. Mr. Finch's 2012 output includes the novel, Dark North (Abaddon Books), Enemies At The Door, an excellent collection of short stories and novellas, and, as editor, volumes two are three in his welcome revival of the 'seventies 'Tales of Terror' series, Terror Tales Of East Anglia and Terror Tales of The Cotswolds (all Gray Friars Press). His recent anthology appearances include Zombie Apocalypse - Fightback, The 9th Black Book Of Horror, The 13 Ghosts of Christmas and The Screaming Book of Horror. Not being the most finger on the pulse guy, I've but recently caught up with Groaning Shadows (Gray Friars, 2009), which provided perhaps my most vivid reading experiences of the year: If ever there was a novella to complete in the local (St. George-In-The-East) churchyard after sundown, We Are The Shadows is it. You can catch up with Paul's latest news - there's always plenty of it! - on his blog, Walking In The Dark. So, time to join Vic Mortimer, recently paroled drug baron, as he stalks a super-grass through the dark halls of Saint Evangelista’s, an abandoned Children's Hospital with a terrible history .... Squeak … squeak … squeeeak … Many thanks Paul! Attachments:
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Dec 18, 2012 16:55:30 GMT
I particularly like that we're never really sure if the wannabe vigilantes, however appalling, have actually got it right and he is what they accuse him of. I liked that too - as an old git myself who likes his books and is bewildered by young people, the story produces quite a few telling emotional ambiguities Agreed--the ambiguity in the portrayal of the protagonist was my favorite aspect of the story. It works as a simple revenge fantasy, but there seems to be more going on there as well. |
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Post by dem on Dec 19, 2012 8:08:58 GMT
Our second new face on the calendar in as many days is - I am very pleased about this! - Mr. Ramsey Campbell. Snakes And Ladders first appeared in T. E. D. Klein's Twilight Zone magazine (April 1982), and has since been exhumed for Inconsequential Tales (Hippocampus Press, 2008), winningly publicised by the author as a compilation of “misshapen creatures.” Be that as it may, our readers seem to have a great fondness for them, if the dedicated thread is anything to go by. This being the festive season, time to get those emergency board games down from the attic to scare away annoying guests who outstay their welcome. People like investigative reporter, Mr. Booth, who intends to expose a much loved "miracle worker" as a phoney .... Many thanks, Ramsey! Attachments:
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Dec 19, 2012 9:28:09 GMT
Couple of classics from Mr. Finch and Mr. Campbell who both demonstrate that you can mix concepts with entertainment - as one might expect.
I'm a sucker for stories about games and the imagery in Ramsey's Snakes and Ladders was superb.
Paul knows far too much about the criminal mind I think - The psychological portrait was horribly convincing, coupled with the sense of place it reminded me a bit of To Let the Spanish Horror film for some indefinable reason - maybe the trashed empty rooms.
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Post by David A. Riley on Dec 19, 2012 10:10:49 GMT
Paul knows far too much about the criminal mind I think - The psychological portrait was horribly convincing, coupled with the sense of place it reminded me a bit of To Let the Spanish Horror film for some indefinable reason - maybe the trashed empty rooms. I haven't seen that film, but Paul's story is definitely a classic. The story moved forward with convincing inexorability towards a truly horrifying climax. Like Craig, I think Paul knows far too much about the criminal mind - though, given his past profession, that's hardly surprising. A thoroughly engrossing read. Am looking forward to reading Ramsey's contribution later today with anticipation. |
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Dec 19, 2012 17:12:28 GMT
And who needs the Cthulhu mythos when the Christian mythos works so well? I can't put it better than that! Really disturbing story, Craig. Beautifully written and what a great ending! I didn't see that coming. Damn, Craig! (Hmm--I just typed that without thinking of the implications). That is a powerful tale. I was drawn in by the aura of unease without being able to tell exactly where it was all going. An intriguing and provocative handling of the religious themes. By the way, I seem recall that you've read many of Algernon Blackwood's stories. Have you read "The Damned," and if so what did you make of it? I ask given that I see a potential thematic parallel, even though the two stories are otherwise very different ("nothing happens" in "The Damned," whereas in your tale . . . ). |
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