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Post by Dr Strange on Sept 30, 2013 16:26:54 GMT
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Post by cauldronbrewer on Oct 1, 2013 17:37:10 GMT
That's a good read. I haven't read Joshi's latest, but based on the earlier books of his I've read the review parallels my take on him. The key line for me is, "Trust Joshi on the books he praises, but look for yourself at those he dismisses or disdains." Joshi's commentary can be both lively and insightful. However, he sometimes comes across as insisting that horror writers present a coherent perspective on life/the universe/everything--preferably one that Joshi himself shares. I merely ask that a horror writer entertain me. I suppose that's why he's a literary critic and I'm not.
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Post by jamesdoig on Oct 1, 2013 20:33:53 GMT
Joshi's commentary can be both lively and insightful. However, he sometimes comes across as insisting that horror writers present a coherent perspective on life/the universe/everything--preferably one that Joshi himself shares. I merely ask that a horror writer entertain me. I suppose that's why he's a literary critic and I'm not. My sentiments exactly - he's always insightful, but can be pretty cruel - isn't his mentor Harold Bloom? I'd certainly buy the book but it's so bloody expensive - PS must be aiming at the academic market. Hopefully they'll bring out a budget edition sometime...
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Post by Michael Connolly on Oct 4, 2013 11:42:50 GMT
While I agree with all of its faults pointed out, UNUTTERABLE HORROR is the best history of the genre I have ever read. S.T. Joshi, who retains the copyright, hopes to have a paperback edition. If so, I hope he gets rid of the hardback edition's shocking amount of typographical errors.
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Post by ramseycampbell on Oct 4, 2013 21:12:21 GMT
Oh dear! Have you noted the errors?
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Post by jamesdoig on Oct 4, 2013 21:35:59 GMT
Oh dear! Have you noted the errors? The Michael Dirda review also mentioned typos - I'd have thought Joshi was a stickler for proof reading and accuracy.
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Post by Michael Connolly on May 9, 2015 10:58:50 GMT
Has anyone else read UNUTTERABLE HORROR? I am re-reading it and still think it is the best history of the genre. While I might not agree with all of Joshi's opinions, he is very good at explaining what type of horror story that a particular author writes, which makes his books a good guide for further reading. The two volumes are now available in paperback from Hippocampus Press.
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Post by Michael Connolly on Oct 27, 2021 11:51:00 GMT
Has anyone else read UNUTTERABLE HORROR? I am re-reading it and still think it is the best history of the genre. While I might not agree with all of Joshi's opinions, he is very good at explaining what type of horror story that a particular author writes, which makes his books a good guide for further reading. The two volumes are now available in paperback from Hippocampus Press. I've just re-read volume one. Apart from the necessary but overlong discussion on the theory of Gothic fiction (all of which is unreadable anyway) to put modern horror fiction into context, my high opinion still stands. I'll start on volume two tonight (if I'm spared).
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