Tales of Terror - Part 3

 

Halloween is fast approaching and in this final post celebrating Halloween 2021, I offer a few more of my terror-inducing favorites. These are stories by contemporary writers, my peers, so to speak. And these guys set the bar quite high.

Bleak Mathematics

I love the cosmic horror of Brian Fatah Steele. It is some of the most imaginative stuff I’ve read — by any writer.

Steele’s short story collection, Your Arms Around Entropy: And Other Stories, is one of the best collections of the macabre you will ever come across. And the story “Bleak Mathematics” is not only my favorite from the collection, but one of the most memorable stories I’ve read.

Steele is quite easily the inheritor of Lovecraft’s mantle. Pick up a copy of Your Arms Around Entropy and you will never be the same.

A Crow’s Game

There’s weird, and then there’s Andy Graham’s weird. And Andy’s weird is truly terrifying.

A Crow’s Game is part of The Risen World Series and I could have easily picked any of the 4 books, or the entire series for that matter, to spotlight.

A Crow’s Game is somewhat unusual because it has a weird, nonsensically nightmarish quality about it. Dreampunk terror perhaps.

Andy Graham’s stories are crazy scary. They reveal a world that we really don’t want to know exists. A world that for all of our modern finesse we know does exist, lingering in the deepest recesses of our id.

Get A Crow’s Game on Amazon, and be forewarned: it will scare the bejeezus out of you.

Congeal

John F Leonard is a fairly new to me writer, and I’m very glad to have met him. The stories I’ve read thus far put him amongst the top writers of the tale of terror.

Congeal is a story of post-apocalyptic cosmic horror which, should you read at night, you’ll want to make sure all the lights are on.

I look forward to reading more of Leonard’s work, and I hope you join me on the road into terror.

Pick up a copy of Congeal from Amazon.

Tony Price: Confidential

Richard Schwindt’s work is no stranger to this blog. And his occult detective, Tony Price, is perfect for Halloween. Tony is a colorful character with whom you will quickly fall in love.

The three adventures in Tony Price: Confidential are spooky scary creature-features, filled with dark humor, and, well, scary monsters.

I can’t say enough good things about Richard’s writing, so pick up a copy of Tony Price: Confidential on Amazon and give yourself a scare.

01134 and Exit

Crispian Thurlborn is also no stranger to this blog. I admire the craftsmanship of his work, and when he uncorks the terror it’s the kind that sneaks up on you and grabs you after you’ve read the last page.

01134 and Exit are two super spooky tales of terror. Subtle, understated, they will clobber you in the middle of the night, long after you’ve finished reading. Perfect for Halloween, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Both stories are available on Amazon: 01134 and Exit.

There you have them. Wonderful tales of terror to spook out your Halloween. Enjoy!

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

Tales of Terror - Part 2

 

Halloween is just 12 days away, as of this writing, and, today, I’m continuing with more of my favorite tales of terror.

In the early 1970s, I was re-introduced to HP Lovecraft, learned of Robert E Howard, August Derleth, and the other writers of The Lovecraft Circle. I met, in person, Donald Wandrei and Carl Jacobi. As a result, I had a revival of my interest in horror.

That interest faded in the 80s when I became enamored with mysteries. However, from that time, there are several stories that stand out. Stories that made a lasting impression.

The Transition of Juan Romero

I have always liked HP Lovecraft’s early story “The Transition of Juan Romero”. The story is well-written, in my opinion, and lacks the melodrama that often mars his later work. The tale builds slowly, making allusions to Aztec myth, until it reaches its deliciously terrifying conclusion. A story that is often overlooked. I think it deserves greater attention. You can read it here.

Pigeons From Hell

Robert E Howard was a master storyteller. A writer who was gifted beyond measure and wrote superb stories no matter the genre. And did so all before the age of 30.

“Pigeons from Hell” is a premier example of Southern Gothic horror. It delivers a genuinely terrifying story that builds on the Southern folklore tradition. The story is without a doubt one of the master’s best. You can read it here.

Solomon Kane

Of all Robert E Howard’s characters, I am most partial to Solomon Kane. The dour Puritan knight errant who battles supernatural evil wherever he finds it, but does so mostly on the mysterious Dark Continent.

I love the Solomon Kane stories. They were an instant hit with me. So much so, I have a small collection of the various additions of the stories.

Tales of high-adventure, filled with action and suspense, and of course terror. Stories very appropriate for Halloween. You can read the stories for free on Project Gutenberg Australia. Just scroll down to the Robert E Howard entry.

1984

No one I am aware of classifies George Orwell’s 1984 as a tale of terror. However, I think it is the scariest book I’ve ever read. It is a slowburn tale of terror, political terror, and if the ending doesn’t scare the bejeezus out of you, nothing will.

I think it an especially appropriate read in our current political and social climate. Halloween will never be the same. Support an independent used bookstore. Or pick it up on Amazon.

Two stories, one novel, and one series character. Plenty of grist for the terror mill.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

Tales of Terror - Part 1

 

Conradin from "Sredni Vashtar"

As of this posting, Halloween is 19 days away. So I thought I’d use this post, and the next two, to talk a bit about some of my favorite tales of terror.

There are quite a number of them, and I certainly won’t be able to cover them all. In fact, I’m only going to talk about a few. I’m going to focus on those that have made the greatest impression. Which means, I’ll mostly be talking about stories I read years ago. Oldies, but goodies.

There are five stories that stand out in my memory from up to the time I was 10 or 11 years old. Stories that have stayed with me all these years, and, I suppose, have exerted a subtle influence on my reading and writing preferences.

The Adventure Of The Engineer’s Thumb

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a prolific writer across several genres, including horror. Although today, he’s mostly remembered for Sherlock Holmes—whom he grew to loathe.

Within the Sherlock Holmes canon, there are two outstanding tales of Gothic suspense: the well-known The Hound Of The Baskervilles, and the lesser known “The Adventure of the Engineer’s Thumb”. I read the tale of the “Engineer’s Thumb” long before the “Hound”, and to this day the gruesome story holds a macabre fascination for me.

With the glut of gruesome and grotesque fair on TV and in books, the “Engineer’s Thumb” is quite tame by today’s standards. Nevertheless, Doyle’s skillful use of atmosphere captivated my young mind and I’ve been fascinated with the story ever since. I think it a superb gothic tale. Read it here, and see if you don’t agree.

The Cask of Amontillado

Edgar Allan Poe still reigns as king of terror, 189 years after publication of his first horror story.

For me, “The Cask of Amontillado” stands out as a masterpiece of terror. The story is not long, yet it captivates you from the very first line. I’ve read a lot of Poe, and this story still stands as one of my all-time favorites.

You can read it here. And I encourage you to do so.

The Colour Out of Space

HP Lovecraft is ranked as the crown prince of terror. Second only to Poe. Personally, I have mixed feelings about HPL. When he’s good, he’s among the very best. But when he’s off the mark, he can be downright horrid. He was, IMO, a very uneven writer.

The first story I ever read by Lovecraft was “The Colour Out of Space”, anthologized by Groff Conklin in The Omnibus of Science Fiction. Which is an excellent anthology of early SF, by the way. Out of print, but used copies are available.

IMO, “The Colour Out of Space” is HPL’s best story. It is a tale of slowburn horror that leaves you with goosebumps and a lingering feeling of dread and uneasiness. The story is not melodramatic as many of Lovecraft’s stories are. “Colour” is superbly crafted from beginning to end. It has stayed with me for 60 or more years, and loses nothing upon re-reading. Read it here. It is one of the all time great tales of terror.

Silent Snow, Secret Snow

“Silent Snow, Secret Snow” is Conrad Aiken’s best-known short story. Once you’ve read it, you’ll know why. It is a powerful story with multiple interpretations and meanings.

I was in elementary school when I first read the story. It made an immediate impression, and 60+ years later I still feel the subtle horror of the tale. It is truly one of the all-time great masterpieces of terror. Read it here for free.

Sredni Vashtar

Saki was the pen name of HH Munro. He was a brilliant writer who was killed in the War to End All Wars. A tragic waste of a life that was so much greater than the conflict that took it.

I was in elementary school when I was introduced to Saki’s tales of terror. The one that has stayed with me the 6 decades since reading them, is “Sredni Vashtar”. A profound story in what I call the “evil child” genre.

The story is short, less than 3,000 words, I believe. But don’t let the shortness fool you. Saki gives you everything you need to walk away with a lingering feeling of dis-ease. The ending packs a punch you won’t ever forget. And if you were ever a child and suffered at the hands of the adult world, I think you’ll love the story. It may even become your favorite. As it may well be mine. You can read it here.

There you have them: 5 stories from my childhood that remain vivid in my memory and imagination. Hopefully, you’ll find them as terrifying as I still do.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!

The Work Itself

The chief reward of any artistic effort (and perhaps of every other effort as well) is the work itself. Success lies in the accomplishment, not in its fruits. If I write well, I’m a success. Wealth and fame might be fun (or they might not) but they’re largely beside the point.

—Lawrence Block, in Telling Lies for Fun & Profit

I am a big fan of Lawrence Block, of both his fiction and his books on writing.

When I first read the above quote, I was very enthusiastic about it. Because it told me that what I write has value in and of itself — if done well — regardless of the fruit that may or may not come of it.

Block’s statement, “If I write well, I’m a success,” resonated with me. Why? Because I wanted to believe it.

However, that statement was made by a man who is in fact a monetarily successful (millionaire), peer acclaimed, and much admired writer. According to his own statement, Mr. Block has always made his living by his typewriter or keyboard.

When I pondered that fact, the steam went out of my enthusiasm for his sentiments.

Years ago, when I was writing poetry and having lots of it published, I had a discussion with the late Jane Reichhold, who was a big name in English language Japanese-style poetry. The discussion had to do with this very subject of success.

Rainer Maria Rilke, in his first letter to the young poet, made the same argument that Mr. Block made. That success lies in writing well. I mentioned this to Jane, and then added, “But Rilke was a published and successful poet.” And her reply was: “There you have it.”

It is easy for the successful (in the eyes of the world and the bank) to tell the rest of us that success lies in doing something well. That “The chief reward of any artistic effort… is the work itself.” Written, I’m sure, while Mr. Block was cashing his royalty checks at the bank.

Now, I don’t wish to take anything away from Mr. Block, because he’s an author I very much like and admire, and who has given me many hours of pleasure and much valuable advice. But that is exactly my point: he has legions of followers and admirers. When the tree falls in his woods, there are many, very many, who hear it.

When the tree falls in my woods, who hears it? Considerably fewer than in Mr. Block’s woods — or Rilke’s, for that matter.

I’m not saying it’s all about the money, or the awards — because I don’t think it is. Those are merely the results of something else. Namely, recognition. Admiration.

When Aeschylus staged his plays, was he actually after the prize? Or was the prize merely the totem signifying the judges’ and audience’s recognition of the greatness of his writing? I’d hazard a guess it was the latter.

In The Birth of Tragedy, Nietzsche posits that the only thing that can save us, once we’ve peered into the abyss, is Art. Art being a symbol of that creative force that distinguishes gods from men. Gods create, and then look upon their creation and pronounce it good, or not (think the Flood).

As a writer, when I complete a work of fiction, I say the same thing: it is good (or not).

And while salvation, according to Nietzsche, lies in Art, I can’t help but wonder if he forgot that all gods want adulation — they demand worshippers.

If the god outside of me is dead, because I’ve become God — then don’t I, too, need worshippers as do all the gods? And if I don’t have them, don’t I become dead as well?

The Star Trek episode “Who Mourns for Adonais?” explored this theme, and the conclusion was that gods do indeed need worshippers in order to be gods.

Therefore, as a creative, is my work its own reward? Or does it need admirers? Do I need admirers? Does a tree falling in the woods make any sound if there’s no one there to hear it? What is the sound of one hand clapping?

I have no answer at this point. I want to believe Mr. Block’s statement and that of Rainer Maria Rilke before him. However, I can’t help but think that the writers of “Who Mourns for Adonais?” got it right.

Comments are always welcome. And until next time, happy reading!