Introduction
Peter Kleiweg
I have been reading this newsgroup for a while. I haven't posted
anything yet, and think it proper to introduce myself before
writing about anything else.
I have been a fan of science fiction from since I was a child.
Read all I could find, watched a lot of sf movies. Now and again
I would by accident see a horror movie, it would spellbound me,
but then I would go on to read more sf. Only many years later, I
became more "aware" of horror, and now it is my major interest,
both in books and on films.
It was quite late I read my first horror novel. I think it was
_The uninvited_ by John Farris. I liked it very much, but
reading horror did not become a habit.
After I discovered Clive Barker I started reading horror more
regularly. I read nearly all books of Barker, but have become
disappointed with his later work. I think Coldheart Canyon was
nice of form, but lacked contents. The only thing in the book
that gripped me was the part about the sick dog.
Strangely enough, I read only one book of Stephen King: _The
girl who loved Tom Gordon_. Nice book, though at the time I was
not sure this should be called horror. Now I think, it should.
I read a bunch of short stories. I have _The mammoth book of
best new horror_, volumes 11, 12 and 13 (volume 10 on order). I
read volume 11 and part of volume 12, so I have still some
things to look forward to. I think horror works particularly
well in short prose.
I read some books by Neil Gaiman: _Smoke & Mirrors_, _American
Gods_, and _Good Omens_ (with Terry Pratchett). I particularly
like _American Gods_, but am wondering if people generally
understand it, since it seems to require a lot of background
knowledge on Norse mythology (which I happen to be quite
familiar with because of my (limited) study of Scandinavian
languages).
Lately, I have delved into the classics. I read _Frankenstein or
the modern Prometheus_. That was a bit too artificial in style,
for my taste. Last week I started in _Dracula_, read 150 pages,
so far, and I like it very much. Still to read, I have Horace
Walpole: _The Castle of Otranto_; Edgar Allan Poe: _The Fall of
the House of Usher, and other writings_; Robert Louis Stevenson:
_The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and other tales of
terror_. I have read a few stories and poems by Poe in the past.
I'm a late discoverer of horror, and not a fast reader, so it
doesn't seem like I can keep up with the regulars of this group,
let alone give any insightful comments on the books discussed
here. It is very interesting to read all the recommendations,
though I don't have the time to read most of the books
mentioned. I'm a slow reader, and have more than 40 unread
books, mostly non-horror. I buy more than I can read, but at the
moment, it are the non-horror that remain unread for the longest
periods.
--
Peter Kleiweg [nl,en,ia(,af,nds,de,da,no,sv,fr,it)]
http://www.let.rug.nl/~kleiweg/
David Hatch
> >
> After I discovered Clive Barker I started reading horror more
> regularly. I read nearly all books of Barker, but have become
> disappointed with his later work. I think Coldheart Canyon was
> nice of form, but lacked contents. The only thing in the book
> that gripped me was the part about the sick dog.
Hi, Peter. Yeah, I'm not much of a fan of anything by Barker past THE
DAMNATION GAME. The work he did from about the mid-80's on isn't even
really horror anymore, but rather epic fantasy type stuff, though
pretty dark at times. If you like the supernaturalism and grim feel of
his early books, then take a look at a collection called WORMWOOD by
Poppy Z. Brite - she and Barker share a similar aesthetic, at least
w/r/t their early work.
Al Griffith
> Lately, I have delved into the classics. I read _Frankenstein or
> the modern Prometheus_. That was a bit too artificial in style,
> for my taste. Last week I started in _Dracula_, read 150 pages,
> so far, and I like it very much. Still to read, I have Horace
> Walpole: _The Castle of Otranto_; Edgar Allan Poe: _The Fall of
> the House of Usher, and other writings_; Robert Louis Stevenson:
> _The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and other tales of
> terror_. I have read a few stories and poems by Poe in the past.
You'll also need to read Joseph Sheridan le Fanu's CARMILLA, an excellent
gothic vampire tale.
Al
Al Griffith
> Lately, I have delved into the classics. I read _Frankenstein or
> the modern Prometheus_. That was a bit too artificial in style,
> for my taste. Last week I started in _Dracula_, read 150 pages,
> so far, and I like it very much. Still to read, I have Horace
> Walpole: _The Castle of Otranto_; Edgar Allan Poe: _The Fall of
> the House of Usher, and other writings_; Robert Louis Stevenson:
> _The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and other tales of
> terror_. I have read a few stories and poems by Poe in the past.
I've been reading a lot of classic horror or gothic fiction lately as well,
including Charlottle Perkins Gilman's THE YELLOW WALL-PAPER (extremely good),
Nathaniel Hawthorne's RAPPACINI'S DAUGHTER (superb) and le Fanu's GREEN TEA
(interesting idea).
Al
Peter Kleiweg
> Peter Kleiweg <kle...@let.rug.nl> wrote:
> > >
> > After I discovered Clive Barker I started reading horror more
> > regularly. I read nearly all books of Barker, but have become
> > disappointed with his later work. I think Coldheart Canyon was
> > nice of form, but lacked contents. The only thing in the book
> > that gripped me was the part about the sick dog.
>
>
> Hi, Peter. Yeah, I'm not much of a fan of anything by Barker past THE
> DAMNATION GAME. The work he did from about the mid-80's on isn't even
> really horror anymore, but rather epic fantasy type stuff, though
> pretty dark at times.
Actually, the books I do like most are post _Damnation Game_.
The first book by Barker I read was _Cabal_, and it is still one
of my favourites. I also like _Weaveworld_, _Imajica_, and the
children's book _The Thieve of Always_.
> If you like the supernaturalism and grim feel of
> his early books, then take a look at a collection called WORMWOOD by
> Poppy Z. Brite - she and Barker share a similar aesthetic, at least
> w/r/t their early work.
I'm still discovering new types of horror, so it's too early to
tell which type I like the most. So far, I prefer the demonic
(supernatural), but don't much care for psychopathic serial
killer kind of stuff, or the supernatural detective story. I
prefer the tragic, above the gruesome. I don't like the
simplistic good versus evil. Leave that to Tolkien and his
followers. I like horror to have a "Gothic feel" (not sure how
to call it), but dislike sentimental stuff. I read _Interview
with the vampire_ and got really annoyed by all the whining
going on. On the other hand, I did like the extremely
sentimental film _City of Angels_. (I'm not sure how many people
would consider that a horror movie.)
Randy Money
> On Thu, 7 Nov 2002 14:53:01 +0100 Peter Kleiweg <kle...@let.rug.nl> wrote:
>
> > Lately, I have delved into the classics. I read _Frankenstein or
> > the modern Prometheus_. That was a bit too artificial in style,
> > for my taste.
Well, Shelley was pretty young at the time. I doubt I'd have done as
well at 19 or 20.
> > Last week I started in _Dracula_, read 150 pages,
> > so far, and I like it very much. Still to read, I have Horace
> > Walpole: _The Castle of Otranto_; Edgar Allan Poe: _The Fall of
> > the House of Usher, and other writings_; Robert Louis Stevenson:
> > _The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and other tales of
> > terror_. I have read a few stories and poems by Poe in the past.
Some great work to look forward to, although you may find _...Otranto_
heavy going. If you can find it, look for _Vathek_ by William
Beckford. A bit slow to start, but the genuine goods by the end.
> I've been reading a lot of classic horror or gothic fiction lately as well,
> including Charlottle Perkins Gilman's THE YELLOW WALL-PAPER (extremely good),
> Nathaniel Hawthorne's RAPPACINI'S DAUGHTER (superb)
Agreed.
> and le Fanu's GREEN TEA (interesting idea).
>
> Al
If you can find it, _Best Ghost Stories_ by Le Fanu and published by
Dover in the U.S. is a good selection of Le Fanu's work. I understand
why you'd say "interesting idea" because the last time I read it, I
wasn't as taken with the execution as I was when I read it at
approximately 20-years-old. Still, "Carmilla" and "Schalken, the
Painter" are worth the price of the book just on their own.
My guess, if you are the same Al Griffith who occasionally pops up on
rec.arts.sf.written, is that you'd also find the ghost stories of
Robert Aickman and Walter de la Mare interesting, if you haven't
already. And, of course, there's always Henry James and Edith Wharton,
and for something a little lighter, M. R. James. I also expect you'd
find some of Gogol interesting -- "The Viy", "The Nose," "The
Portrait".
For suggestions of a lot good, older work, try this website,
http://home.epix.net/~wallison/
Randy M.
Al Griffith
> Some great work to look forward to, although you may find _...Otranto_
> heavy going. If you can find it, look for _Vathek_ by William
> Beckford. A bit slow to start, but the genuine goods by the end.
_Vathek_ is great, loads of fun. It's been published by Penguin in an edition
that also includes _Otranto__ and _Frankenstein_. _The Castle of Otranto_ is
more of a tongue-in-cheek romp than anything else, although it introduced a
lot of gothic themes.
Al
Al Griffith
> My guess, if you are the same Al Griffith who occasionally pops up on
> rec.arts.sf.written,
Guilty as charged.
> is that you'd also find the ghost stories of
> Robert Aickman and Walter de la Mare interesting, if you haven't
> already.
I love Aickman's stories.
> And, of course, there's always Henry James and Edith Wharton,
I read Edith Wharton's AFTERWARDS recently, a very fine story.
Al
Al Griffith
> Actually, the books I do like most are post _Damnation Game_.
> The first book by Barker I read was _Cabal_, and it is still one
> of my favourites. I also like _Weaveworld_, _Imajica_, and the
> children's book _The Thieve of Always_.
_The Thief of Always_ is excellent. _Imajica_ was a classic case of a
potentially excellent book ruined by bloat.
Al
Al Griffith
> pretty dark at times. If you like the supernaturalism and grim feel of
> his early books, then take a look at a collection called WORMWOOD by
> Poppy Z. Brite - she and Barker share a similar aesthetic, at least
> w/r/t their early work.
WORMWOOD (UK title SWAMP FOETUS) is a superb collection.
Al
Al Griffith
> rec.arts.sf.written, is that you'd also find the ghost stories of
> Robert Aickman and Walter de la Mare interesting, if you haven't
> already. And, of course, there's always Henry James and Edith Wharton,
I found one of de la Mare's stories in an anthology, SEATON'S AUNT. A nicely
understated story.
> and for something a little lighter, M. R. James.
I've only read one of his stories, which didn't impress me overmuch. But I'll
give him another go.
I've also been reading some Shirley Jackson recently - her story _The Summer
People_ is an absolute gem (especially if, like me, you have a horror of the
countryside at the best of times).
I'm now reading Hawthorne's _The House of Seven Gables_.
Al
Randy Money
> On 8 Nov 2002 14:00:36 -0800 rbm...@library.syr.edu (Randy Money) wrote:
>
> > rec.arts.sf.written, is that you'd also find the ghost stories of
> > Robert Aickman and Walter de la Mare interesting, if you haven't
> > already. And, of course, there's always Henry James and Edith Wharton,
>
> I found one of de la Mare's stories in an anthology, SEATON'S AUNT. A nicely
> understated story.
That's a favorite of mine. If you can find his story, "Mr. Kempe," I
think you'd be pleased by it. Oddly, much as I've liked "Seaton's
Aunt" since I was a teen, I haven't read that much of de la Mare. I
keep thinking I will, then getting sidetracked.
Have you come across Elizabeth Bowen's short stories, yet? She's
another one I haven't read a lot by, but the emotional resonance in
stories like, "Mysterious Kor" and "The Happy Autumn Fields" impresses
me greatly. I'm less impressed by "The Demon Lover," though many
reader's think it wonderful. "The Cat Jumps" gives me a good laugh
whenever I read it.
> > and for something a little lighter, M. R. James.
>
> I've only read one of his stories, which didn't impress me overmuch. But I'll
> give him another go.
He's the touchstone for most ghost story lovers. He doesn't use the
supernatural to comment on other things, like Henry James, but as an
end in and of itself. If you enjoy the quiet build of tension and the
payoff, "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come for You, My Lad" is quite good, as
are all the stories in his, _Ghost Stories of an Antiquary_.
> I've also been reading some Shirley Jackson recently - her story _The Summer
> People_ is an absolute gem (especially if, like me, you have a horror of the
> countryside at the best of times).
Another great story. I'd also recommend her "One Ordinary Day, With
Peanuts" and "The Bus," though latter may be a bit less allusive than
others by Jackson, a bit more "Twilight Zone"-like.
> I'm now reading Hawthorne's _The House of Seven Gables_.
>
> Al
Ah, another one I've been thinking about but haven't gotten to, yet.
I'd be interested in hearing what you think when you've finished.
Randy M.
Al Griffith
> Have you come across Elizabeth Bowen's short stories, yet? She's
> another one I haven't read a lot by, but the emotional resonance in
> stories like, "Mysterious Kor" and "The Happy Autumn Fields" impresses
> me greatly. I'm less impressed by "The Demon Lover," though many
> reader's think it wonderful. "The Cat Jumps" gives me a good laugh
> whenever I read it.
Davenport-Hines in his "Gothic: Four HUndred Years of Excess, Horror, Evil and
Ruin" recommends Bowen's "The Demon Lover" very highly indeed. Can't say I've
read any of Bowen's work.
Al
John Pelan
Highly recommended, and there's a massive omnibus of her complete
stories that can be had rather cheaply.
Cheers,
John
Julie
> >
> >Davenport-Hines in his "Gothic: Four Hundred Years of Excess, Horror, Evil and
> >read any of Bowen's work.
> >
> >Al
>
> Highly recommended, and there's a massive omnibus of her complete
> stories that can be had rather cheaply.
>
> Cheers,
>
> John
Encyclopedia of Fantasy - though Marjorie Bowen does... "The Demon
Lover" is a great short story in my opinion.
I have the updated edition of the E of F, with omissions (among them
Shirley Jackson) rectified, too. It's still a good reference book,
though.
Julie