|
Post by andydecker on Sept 12, 2020 16:51:06 GMT
I think I recognize most of the charaters on the cover. But who are the guy in the turtleneck and the one with the big glasses beside him?
|
|
|
Post by Dr Strange on Sept 12, 2020 17:00:12 GMT
who are the guy in the turtleneck and the one with the big glasses beside him? Mick Jagger and Elton John?
|
|
|
Post by fritzmaitland on Sept 12, 2020 17:04:03 GMT
Almost! The thiiinnnggg in the turtleneck is Kator from the Norman J Warren film Prey, and can be found in the story Dog Star. The other is, as Dem put it, 'rubbish motorcycle outlaw Tom Latham' (Nicky Henson) from Psychomania.
|
|
|
Post by andydecker on Sept 13, 2020 11:46:15 GMT
Almost! The thiiinnnggg in the turtleneck is Kator from the Norman J Warren film Prey, and can be found in the story Dog Star. The other is, as Dem put it, 'rubbish motorcycle outlaw Tom Latham' (Nicky Henson) from Psychomania. Thank you! Havn't seen either yet.
Where is the book avaiable? Can't find it on A*z*n.
|
|
|
Post by jepersonoatcake on Sept 13, 2020 11:52:19 GMT
|
|
|
Post by andydecker on Sept 13, 2020 12:33:53 GMT
Thanmk you. I missed this.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 14, 2020 7:59:09 GMT
From the editor's Forum Beyond the Grave: These next four stories double as a mini- Black Book of Horror interlude. Fritz Maitland – Death’s Head: The bastard offspring of Prof. Bernard Quatermass comes off worst in a confrontation with the Blood Beast Terror. On a brighter note, Mr. Marco gets to replenish his supply of 'authentic' skulls of the Marquis de Sade. James Stanger – The Half-Deads: The Third Chronicle of Pain: When their daughter is diagnosed with Juvenile Half-dead syndrome, Tom and Claudia Herne turn to a shady underworld action man, Curtis, to spring the girl from a secure Medical Detention faculty. Curtis duly delivers her to to join fellow rescued child zombies at the Unicorn Nursery Club. But his intervention comes at a price. Tom is press-ganged into the club's vigilante group, abducting alleged paedophiles as food for the slobbering youngsters. He doesn't like the work, and questions how many of those taken and murdered are truly child molesters. Deeply unpleasant, and the better for it. Tony Earnshaw – Special Weapons Division: In the aftermath of events leaked as the Dog Soldiers documentary, Cooper, lone survivor of the werewolf massacre is whisked to North Wales by military helicopter for debriefing. Dame Jessica, daughter of Inspector Murray ( Dracula AD 1972, The Satanic Rites of Dracula), and ... something else, treats him to a tour of the complex. He was safer in the Highlands. Daniel McGachey – Last Departure from Hobbs End: Reunion of Professor Bernard Quatermass and Barbara Judd (now Potter; she married the Captain) several years on from the horrors of excavation on the London Underground. Afterword advises author has merged elements from the final Quatermass TV series, BBC radio's The Quatermass Memoirs, and Kneale's unmade prequel, all unfamiliar to me, which made story difficult to follow. Rematch required. To say this is likely to lift my oh-so coveted personal favourite original anthology of 2020 nomination would be to damn it with faint praise - just realised, it's the only new collection I've nabbed all year. But approaching halfway, am already hoping Mr. Buxton will edit another.
|
|
|
Post by fritzmaitland on Sept 14, 2020 11:21:58 GMT
Excellent summing up of Jim's corker there. A real 'ripped from today's headlines' state of the nation address, with terrible moral dilemmas and a ghastly feeling of helplessness ending. Tony's story is great but I couldn't help feeling it was a prelude to much greater things. Nice to see Jessica as a proper upstanding member of society after what Sean Hogan did to her in his Three Mothers One Father tome. Have another go at Dan's tale,Dem. It is convoluted. I'd watched (The) Quatermass (Conclusion) on Talking Pictures, read Kneale's novel and Kim Newman's QATP BFI guide ( which inadvertently inspired part of my own story) and thought I was ready - not so. The story is bursting at the seams with Kneale references and I hope those of The Quatermass Appreciation Society have a crack at it because it is a feast. Oh, and Bernie Q isn't done with the book yet...
|
|
|
Post by The Lurker In The Shadows on Sept 14, 2020 11:41:33 GMT
Afterword advises author has merged elements from the final Quatermass TV series, BBC radio's The Quatermass Memoirs, and Kneale's unmade prequel, all unfamiliar to me, which made story difficult to follow. Rematch required. Of those, I'd say (or hope) that for anyone familiar already with 'Quatermass and the Pit', only a familiarity with the final TV series is at all needed for insight into the world this is set in and where things are heading. The other elements (the unmade prequel 'Quatermass in the Third Reich', and the radio series) were mainly drawn on to ensure I wasn't straying too far from Nigel Kneale's thoughts on the character... though he probably wouldn't have approved at all of how I chose to link these things, or any offhand references to other works, whether by him or by others, that I felt fit in with the Professor's universe. In any case, this story aside, I recommend the final series - or Kneale's novel based on, and expanded from the series - as I consider it a brilliant piece of dystopian - though ultimately hopeful - science fiction writing.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 15, 2020 6:59:30 GMT
Thanks, Lurkio, Will come back to Last Departure ... once I've completed the rest.
Latest batch. A rat-a-tat volley of micro horrors.
Darrell Buxton – Mister Fixit: A resourceful cockney craftsman creates all manner of elaborate torture devices for name clients Dr. Anton Phibes, the Daughter of Fu Manchu, Count Dracula during his 'Mr. Denham' incarnation, the elderly couple out of The Sorcerers ...
Eric McNaughton – It Could Have Been So Different… : A global virus believed to originate in China hastens the demise of man - and the rise of Trog!
Ken Shinn – A Modest Proposal : Slim Pickings restaurant, Highgate, 1984. Stratton-Villiers of Mi5 addresses representatives of the Monster Club, The Blood of the Lamb, and Vault of Horror's vampire hang-out to plan a strategy that will be beneficial not only to themselves but society at large - with the notable exception of grouchy nosey parker, Inspector Calhoun. All star casts includes 'Mr. Armstrong' the Death Lines cannibal, Sir Roger de Wolff, and Donna Rogers (sister of the house wine in Midnight Mess). Stratton-Villiers pays fulsome tribute to Vault legend, Dr. James Manfred OBE.
Wayne Mook – Mr Hillsings’ Dinner: A Vampire hunter travels to Waterville to confront the clientele of a certain restaurant (Donna Rogers knows it well).
Darrell Buxton – Good for the Soul: Jimmy Lee falls foul of a genuine sorceress while working as directors assistant on Nogit Films' raunchy Lust of the Witch Hunter (Matthew Hopkins does Manningtree). A Globeswatch minor masterpiece.
|
|
|
Post by fritzmaitland on Sept 16, 2020 9:37:37 GMT
Good man! I've managed to make my way through the whole thing and (vested interest aside) enjoyed the heck out of it. Special mentions for Jez Connelly's Nuggets, an appallingly revolting story that is written in a bizarre style that almost distances you from the putridity. A lexicologist's dream for the most part - if Countdown's Susie Dent was immune to disgust I'm sure she'd get something out of it, and Jason D Brawn's Death And Loneliness - a paean to one of Peter Cushing's most affecting performances.
NB re Good For The Soul - the author claims that once he realised Tigon spelt backwards was 'Nogit' the story wrote itself. I almost wish he'd discovered that via a Ouija board.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 17, 2020 9:25:03 GMT
I've managed to make my way through the whole thing and (vested interest aside) enjoyed the heck out of it. Likewise. Had a good feeling about the book when you posted the details, and to date it's lived up to expectation. Ken Shinn – The Naked Ape: A Tale from the Monster Club: As required of those seeking membership, Ray Fay, the once almost-Bride of Queen Kong, relates his story before senior patrons of the Monster Club, who demonstrate their displeasure in time honoured fashion. Come back when you've experienced something properly horrible, sonny! Oh - you can't. Paul Newman – Blood Ties: As the Nazi's discovered to their cost back in 1942, It doesn't do to throw your weight around in Shettel, the small Balkan town in the foothills of the Carpathians. When the mutilated remains of three soldiers are discovered in the forest, Captain Haradinaj, has his men round up the locals for rape/ torture/ execution (delete as applicable). His big mistake is to transfer all the children to the old castle in the mountains. Martin Dallard – The Beast Must Live…!: Immediate aftermath of events leaked to the public in the guise of 'horror movie,' The Beast Must Die. The three survivors, big game hunter, Tom Newcliffe, Davina the werewolf's bride, and Dr. Lundgren, top lycanthropy scholar, each plan their next moves. Newcliffe's attempted suicide by silver bullet causes him to look on the bright side, consider new opportunities now open to him, the potential to become the worlds greatest hunter. Can he be stopped? Jolyon Yates – Cruelty Free: The Creeping Flesh - what happened next? Interview with the notoriously reclusive Mary Stone, corporate leader of Shishkin enterprises, concerning their controversial range of organic Franken-cosmetics. Darrell Buxton – The First Horror Movie: I was hoping there would be at least one of these. BFI archivist Paul Emsley acquires ten sealed cannisters recently discovered in a Yorkshire cellar. The grisly footage, shot by pioneering director Lewis Ferrall, is too vile for Paul 's stomach to stomach, and yet he feels like he owes it to himself to watch the entire batch in sequence. This one reminded me of something Lord Probert might write, which is not a compliment I'm known to bandy around. Not sure I recognised the inspiration for Paul Newman's grim vampire offering?
|
|
|
Post by fritzmaitland on Sept 17, 2020 10:22:30 GMT
Heh! Some of 'em are pretty subtle, aren't they? I really enjoyed Cruelty Free. Had to look up who the characters were. D'oh! Jolyon did the illustration for Polish too. I think the village of Shtettel is taken from Vampire Circus re Blood Ties.
|
|
|
Post by dem bones on Sept 18, 2020 8:23:53 GMT
Groan. Vampire Circus, of course. Then again, am amazed to have (mis?) identified so many - its ages since I last watched a movie, horror or otherwise.
A string of five sparklers in a row!
Samantha Crosby – Pillage of the Damned: Legendary punk band versus the Children of the Damned. Rat Scabies and a supremely reckless Sensible take the fight to the killer kids, but who fathered the creepy blonde bastards?
Jez Conolly – Nuggets: Early 'seventies kitchen drama from an alternative universe. A meticulously detailed account of John Reginald Christie's pre-breakfast toilet habits prior to receiving his first customer of the day: Mrs. Rita Rusk, mother of Bob, the Necktie Murderer. Banalities and filthy habits exchanged, Reg pops down to the cellar freezer with her shopping list. His basement leads into the tunnel at Russell Square tube station, so no shortage of fresh supplies. Tony Earnshaw – Raw: A seaplane crash lands within swimming distance of a small island. Only four of the six aboard make it through the shark infested waters to the shore. The survivors' immediate concern: what to do for food? Source movie?
Franklin Marsh – OfficeTech Intra-Personal Relationships Course – October 30th 11 p.m.: The semi-late Vault co-founder at the height of his macabre powers. An unruly all-star night class for Milton Maitland turns delightfully violent. Matthew Hopkins, Countess Bathory, Carla Hoffman, Vlad Tspepech and that disruptive Kronos fellow, I hope you're proud of yourselves!
|
|
|
Post by fritzmaitland on Sept 18, 2020 13:03:33 GMT
Great stuff! 'Mantha is a good egg, knows her horror and her punk rock. She and her husband played in a band that supported the likes of The Damned and Sham (I've got a copy of their album somewhere) and hubby Alan plays guitar in the current line-up of The Drones, whose drummer is their Mancunian pal Brian 'The Mad Muffet' Grantham of Slaughter & The Dogs fame. They know Ed Banger as well.
Jez's story is something else, but I was fascinated by his portrait of Bob Rusk's mum, the unsung heroine Rita Webb. I've found out from Jolyon Yates that 'Mary Stone' in his story Cruelty Free is a tribute to another unsung actress Marianne Stone, who appeared in supporting roles in countless British films - great to see her finally get a leading role - but Mr Yates has remained tight-lipped about the name of the cosmetics firm.
Raw is apparently not based on anything in particular. Tony has been heard to mutter 'Lord Of The Flies' but I think the Ed was taken with the male protagonist of the story being an "It's Man." Named after Michael Palin's hermit in the first series of Monty Python's Flying Circus, "It's Man" became a jovial term for some of the most disappointing monsters in British Horror History - those of us quaking behind cushions as kids during the likes of Beast In The Cellar and/or Tower Of Evil, imagining all kinds of hideous creatures were very let down when the reveal showed an old git with long hair, a long beard and long nails.
Thanks for the kind comments re Office Tech - written as Marshy (me) was being made redundant back when the book was originally mooted, and forced to attend many ridiculous office boy courses, hence my disappearance from London. I still miss Spitalfields Market - and The Ten Bells.
|
|