'Harry'- Rosemary Timperley
rba...@hotmail.com
Read this in Sullivan's LOST SOULS, which got it from THE THIRD GHOST BOOK
(Asquith or Turner?).
The story is narrated by a Mrs. James, who is concerned about her daughter
Christine's adoption of an imaginary playmate, 'Harry', gets no particular
help from her husband Jim (Jim? Does that make him 'James James'?) or the
family doctor, certain facts are revealed, certain developments develop, ends
badly for our heroine, you know the drill !
Not bad, nice grisly turn now and then, but I couldn't help wanting to 'edit'
it, in much the same manner I sometimes wish I could edit Blackwood when he
starts running off down a trail of explanation for what is happening/has
happened; do you ever get this feeling? The writer begins with something
like, 'and it was then that I realized that the Thing I saw was actually
Roderick himself, back from the grave, beyond all hope of human contact, but
STILL trying to communicate in any way possible, even if it meant manifesting
himself as a spectre to frighten, etc. etc.' and you just want to yell, 'Shut
up, shut up, SHUT UP !!!'
Timperley's tale is dated 1955, and Blackwood's period was from the early
1900s through the 20s and beyond; don't know if the times were responsible
for the approach- almost like the old 'rationalization' impulse (the death
knell of what could otherwise have been several examples of a good
supernatural story). It certainly seems that anyone writing a Ghost Story
could at least take it for granted that the reader would realize a ghost
would figure somewhat prominently in the plot somewhere without beating that
reader over the head with the fact. Or maybe I'm too used to people like
Aickman, who often leave one begging to be beaten over the head with
something, anything...!
rbadac
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rbm...@library.syr.edu
In article <6ljlri$sjp$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
rba...@hotmail.com wrote:
>
> Read this in Sullivan's LOST SOULS, which got it from THE THIRD GHOST BOOK
> (Asquith or Turner?).
>
> The story is narrated by a Mrs. James, who is concerned about her daughter
> Christine's adoption of an imaginary playmate, 'Harry', gets no particular
> help from her husband Jim (Jim? Does that make him 'James James'?) or the
> family doctor, certain facts are revealed, certain developments develop, ends
> badly for our heroine, you know the drill !
Anything about a trumpet in there? -- You know, Harry James.
> Not bad, nice grisly turn now and then, but I couldn't help wanting to 'edit'
> it, in much the same manner I sometimes wish I could edit Blackwood when he
> starts running off down a trail of explanation for what is happening/has
> happened; do you ever get this feeling? The writer begins with something
> like, 'and it was then that I realized that the Thing I saw was actually
> Roderick himself, back from the grave, beyond all hope of human contact, but
> STILL trying to communicate in any way possible, even if it meant manifesting
> himself as a spectre to frighten, etc. etc.' and you just want to yell, 'Shut
> up, shut up, SHUT UP !!!'
>
> Timperley's tale is dated 1955, and Blackwood's period was from the early
> 1900s through the 20s and beyond; don't know if the times were responsible
> for the approach- almost like the old 'rationalization' impulse (the death
> knell of what could otherwise have been several examples of a good
> supernatural story). It certainly seems that anyone writing a Ghost Story
> could at least take it for granted that the reader would realize a ghost
> would figure somewhat prominently in the plot somewhere without beating that
> reader over the head with the fact. Or maybe I'm too used to people like
> Aickman, who often leave one begging to be beaten over the head with
> something, anything...!
LOL!
I sympathize, rbadac. I just finished "The Dust-Cloud" by E.F. Benson over
the weekend and while there were some terrific descriptions in it, there were
a couple of spots I wish he'd trimmed.
Randy M.
vio...@drizzle.com
Rosemary Timperley's ghost stories appear in
young adult anthologies one at a time, and in od
issues of London Mystery. I'm sure there are
enough for a collection, which Richard Dalby would
be qualified to edit. I don't know why she never
had a collection of them during her life.
-Jessica
ash...@mail.netshop.net
I'm sorry to keep doing this, but I'll confirm that Richard Dalby is working
hard to put together one, possibly two, volumes of Rosemary Timperley
stories, and that it is on a list of around 25 projects that Ash-Tree is
discussing with him for some stage in the next few years.
Christopher Roden
In article <6lkge5$3r2$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
William Allison
ash...@mail.netshop.net <ash...@mail.netshop.net> wrote:
>I'm sorry to keep doing this, but I'll confirm that Richard Dalby is working
>hard to put together one, possibly two, volumes of Rosemary Timperley
>stories, and that it is on a list of around 25 projects that Ash-Tree is
>discussing with him for some stage in the next few years.
>
>Christopher Roden
>
>In article <6lkge5$3r2$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
> vio...@drizzle.com wrote:
>>
>> Rosemary Timperley's ghost stories appear in
>> young adult anthologies one at a time, and in od
>> issues of London Mystery. I'm sure there are
>> enough for a collection, which Richard Dalby would
>> be qualified to edit. I don't know why she never
>> had a collection of them during her life.
>> -Jessica
Don't be sorry Christopher, as someone else (Robert?) said a bit
ago, ten years back we were all dreaming of seeing these books come
out, but thinking they never would...
Bill A.
jpe...@cnw.com
In article <slrn6nrr6e....@unaha-closp.epix.net>,
wall...@epix.net wrote:
>
> ash...@mail.netshop.net <ash...@mail.netshop.net> wrote:
>
> >I'm sorry to keep doing this, but I'll confirm that Richard Dalby is working
> >hard to put together one, possibly two, volumes of Rosemary Timperley
> >stories, and that it is on a list of around 25 projects that Ash-Tree is
> >discussing with him for some stage in the next few years.
> >
> >Christopher Roden
> >
> ago, ten years back we were all dreaming of seeing these books come
> out, but thinking they never would...
>
> Bill A.
>
Sounds wonderful! Certainly no need to apologize! Between Jessica's posts and
yours, we've quite a bit of great news today... Where do the F. Cowles books
fit in? Or are they on the schedule yet?
Though it's a bit early to announce, it looks like Silver Salamander Press
will have a "classics" imprint in 1999 (and no Bill, I won't call it "Aickman
House"); our first two collections will be by Charles Birkin and Edward Lucas
White; the former volume is a collection assembled by Mike Ashley and Sir
Charles just prior to his death. The latter collecting all of White's
supernatural fiction from LUKUNDOO and THE SONG OF THE SIRENS.
Cheers,
JP
Peder Wagtskjold
jpe...@cnw.com wrote:
> > >
>
>
> Though it's a bit early to announce, it looks like Silver Salamander Press
> will have a "classics" imprint in 1999 (and no Bill, I won't call it "Aickman
> House"); our first two collections will be by Charles Birkin and Edward Lucas
> White; the former volume is a collection assembled by Mike Ashley and Sir
> Charles just prior to his death. The latter collecting all of White's
> supernatural fiction from LUKUNDOO and THE SONG OF THE SIRENS.
That is very good news indeed John.....I've been looking for a reasonable copy of
Lukundo for a while without much luck.....is the Birkin likely to include any of
his pseudonymous stuff from the "Creeps" series?
Peder W.
>
>
>
bbar...@peabody.jhu.edu
In article <6llvpo$9ae$1...@nnrp1.dejanews.com>,
jpe...@cnw.com wrote:
> Though it's a bit early to announce, it looks like Silver Salamander Press
> will have a "classics" imprint in 1999 (and no Bill, I won't call it "Aickman
> House");
Well in that case, you may pick from the following list:
Painted Devil Press
Cold Hand Press
Ravissante Books
Neimandsbücher
Night Voices Press
Breakthrough Press
Meeting Mr Pelan
Printing the Changes
You get the picture... I'm looking forward to it!
Bill B.