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Post by dem bones on Sept 24, 2020 18:45:42 GMT
Peter Haining (ed.) – The Ghost Finders: Tales of Some Famous Phantoms (Victor Gollancz, 1978) Peter Haining - Introduction
H.R. Wakefield – Ghost Hunt M.R. James – Wailing Well Joseph Bishop – The Banshee & Patrick O’Bannon Manly Wade Wellman – Kelpie W.F. Harvey – Miss Cornelius Elizabeth Wetmore – Ghost of a Head Amelia B. Edwards – The Phantom Coach Richard Sale – Till Doomsday August Derleth – Pikeman Lafcadio Hearn – The Story of Ming-Y L.P. Hartley – A Visitor from Down Under Ray Bradbury – The Screaming Woman Robert Bloch – The Indian Spirit GuideBlurb: This book could almost be called “The Ghost Hunters’ Dictionary“ because the stories in the collection are about the most famous types of ghosts such as the Banshee — that horrid, wailing Irish phantom; the Poltergeist — an unseen destructive elemental; the Revenant — a ghostly visitor from the grave and the Spook — an American spirit in search of a body.
To these one can add the shunned haunted house, the wildly galloping phantom coach, the terrifying disembodied head, and even that shimmering phantom ship, The Flying Dutchman.
Peter Haining has gathered together a variety of stories about famous phantoms from all over the world, written by such distinguished authors as M. R. James, H. Russell Wakefield, Lafcadio Hearn, Robert Bloch and Ray Bradbury.
Whether they are investigating cases of ancient evil or modern psychic phenomena, the ghost finders come face to face with the supernatural in every story ... Manly Wade Wellman – Kelpie: ( Weird Tales, July 1936). "It's a little frog or toad - must have been gathered with the weeds and shipped all the way from Scotland." The tiny amphibian is not the only surprise free gift with the consignment. On transferring the pond kelp to an aquarium, a gold band drops to the bottom of the glass. Cannon slips it on his wedding finger. Damn thing won't budge! Cannon's lover calls around. The 'frog' spies from the tank as he and Lu canoodle. Overcome with insane jealousy, the creature waits until Cannon leaves the room before emerging from behind the weeds and assuming it's full height and true form. The Kelpie, malicious water-sprite, is no looker. Spinach green, warty and malformed, it resembles a spiteful caricature of womankind. Poor Lu never stood a chance. Elizabeth Wetmore – Ghost of a Head: Peter Leroux, a simple Beaugency ploughman, is convicted of a murder he likely didn't commit, this merely to satisfy the vanity of the prosecution lawyer. M. Desalleaux had boasted to all the ladies of court that his oratory prowess would secure victory. When Peter is duly found guilty on the flimsiest evidence, his head, complete with bloody stump, returns to ruins the legal eagle's wedding night something terrible. Richard Sale – Till Doomsday: ( Argosy, 9th March 1940). The flying Dutchman saves the frigate Mary Watson from destruction during a storm off the Cape of Good Hope. "There's more things in Heaven and earth and ocean than a man could even dream about" decides Captain Lowne to his incredulous first officer. Boris Dolgov August Derleth – Pikeman: ( Weird Tales, Jan. 1946). The Tombstone warned "Prepare for death and follow me!" Jeffrey Morton, a collector of epitaphs, pauses before a lonesome slab in the wood denoting the resting place of Septimus Pike, Indian Agent, died (or to be specific) lynched August 17, 1845. Beneath the inscription, a second hand has carved; "He died by a hand not his own, but it were better had it been his own. Let no one call upon him." Morton hears a voice, seemingly coming from beneath his feet, asking "Well aren't you going to invite me up?" Believing himself the victim of a prank, Morton does so - with disastrous consequences.
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Post by Jojo Lapin X on Sept 24, 2020 18:58:55 GMT
Surely this is the last of them? All done with Haining now, right?
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Post by helrunar on Sept 25, 2020 15:38:11 GMT
One imagines Mr H going in and out of the loo trailing galley-sheets to and from... a ceaseless hive of industry!
This title actually sounds quite entertaining. Thanks Kev!
H.
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Post by dem bones on Oct 6, 2020 19:24:00 GMT
Jon Arfstrom Joe Bishop - The Banshee and Patrick O'Bannon: ( Weird Tales, May 1954). Though usually silent, the Banshee's wail could not be stopped; it meant death – maybe that of the man who tried it." Young Sean McManus is dying of fever. The Doctor asks our narrator, who is known to be friendly with the little people, to rid Connerman's Bog of its resident Banshee that the patient may yet recover. Boree the leprechaun and Will of the Wisp advise O'Bannon that it can't be done - but he can buy time for the boy by distracting the crone so she is too preoccupied to moan her death-dealing cry. M. R. James - Wailing Well: (1928). Grim tale of Stanley Jodkins, Eton's most willfully recalcitrant pupil, who defies his masters and a local shepherd to trespass in the haunted field after dark. The resident stick people see to it that he never leaves. For me, this is James' funniest proper horror after Lost Souls.
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