This novella I bought,read because i was intrigued by the bluesman protagonist,the jazz element mixed with the supernatural horror story. The mix of jThis novella I bought,read because i was intrigued by the bluesman protagonist,the jazz element mixed with the supernatural horror story. The mix of jazz, horror didn't disappoint and I was impressed with poetic language the writer used when writing about horrific atmosphere as well as the music imagery, the complex feelings of Decon James being a black man playing music in Jim Crow era....more
I finally read this story after having enjoyed Le Fanu's ghost,weird stories for few years. His prose in this story was finer than in his other storieI finally read this story after having enjoyed Le Fanu's ghost,weird stories for few years. His prose in this story was finer than in his other stories, the way he build the supernatural,creepy mood was near perfect. Carmilla,Laura,the schloss(palace), the gothic country side etc was really well done. The kind of horror story, vampire horror i rate highly when its well written. Carmilla i might have expected to be less freaky ruthless monster which is a nice surprise. I liked how naturally her being lesbian was written. She wanted to love her girls before she feeded on them. It could have been tamer,less important part of the story for a story written in 1872
I have not been overly impressed by many vampire horror stories and i havent read Dracula,Polidori's The Vampyre for example so this was the best vampire story i have read. I enjoyed it immensly because it is a story that deserve all its acclaim,classic status. ...more
Solomon Kane is the strongest, most interesting character i have read by Howard. Kane is perfect for his stories, his somber personality,style createsSolomon Kane is the strongest, most interesting character i have read by Howard. Kane is perfect for his stories, his somber personality,style creates the weird atmosphere for the stories so seamlessly.
There are not many Kane stories and they are not the most consistent collection of stories i have read by Howard. The minor stories are somewhat uneven. But stories like Red Shadows, Hills of the Dead, Wings in the Night is very hard to improve on when it comes to stark atmosphere, quality stories in the realm between fantasy,horror. The high quality stories overshadow the more flawed stories like Moon of the Skulls.
The prose of Howard was more crisp,toned down in that it wasnt too colorful and thats why i enjoyed these stories so much. His prose style and Solomon Kane stories was a perfect fit.
Personally its a bonus to read and enjoy his creepy,hellish African settings for some of the stories. Hills of the Dead with african vampires is a wonderful nightmare to read. Not many strong fantasy,horror writers using supernatural stories in that kind of setting. ...more
This is only my third Ray Bradbury book and the others have been The Illustrated Man and The October Country they were great collections of weird,fantThis is only my third Ray Bradbury book and the others have been The Illustrated Man and The October Country they were great collections of weird,fantasy,SF stories. I saw his greatness there with his clear and unspectacular prose style. This Novel shattered my view of his prose. There was so many impresive turn of words, dark poetic writing that i could with pleasure let the words sing inside my mind to enjoy them slowly.
The mundane part of the story about the boys and their friendship and what it was like being boys in that age he excelled with too. Most importantly it is like cover blurb say its an incomparble masterwork of dark fantastic. I have read great similar stories in classic weird short stories but not a Novel like his so atmosphere strong so weird,dark beauty that engaged my heart and brain fully. I didnt have to excuse literary flaws of writing and storytelling just because i enjoyed the story.
The only real flaw was that Charles Halloway was too much " im very old and not a boy like my son Will!" early in the Novel. Mr. Dark was wonderfully creepy, great villain and one of the many reasons to re-read this Novel and to face The Dark Carnival again....more
My favourite stories in this collection and the reason i rate it highly are: "The One Who Waits" "The Vacation" "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" "Boys! RaiMy favourite stories in this collection and the reason i rate it highly are: "The One Who Waits" "The Vacation" "The Drummer Boy of Shiloh" "Boys! Raise Giant Mushrooms in Your Cellar!" "And So Died Riabouchinska" "The Beggar on O'Connell Bridge "
There was many different types of stories in this collection. I enjoyed not knowing which kind of stories you are gonna read next. "The One Who Waits" was from the POV of a weird alien waiting for humans to prey on in Mars type of story. My fav of the SF/horror stories.
"The Beggar on O'Connell Bridge" was a little wonderful story about a tourist couple in Dublin and how they try to deal with beggars who they feel acts different roles to get sympathy and their money. The beggar in the title is different. One of several mundane,general fiction type stories in the collection. This was one was easily the best. A timeless topic to say the least.
Interesting enough the only very weak story is the title story....more
The episodes in this second book is more connected with each other and more about Rider's main storyline. I thought the strongest episodes was the firThe episodes in this second book is more connected with each other and more about Rider's main storyline. I thought the strongest episodes was the first and the last one, The Infernal Napoleon and The Pandaemonium Ride.
The saga of the Merkabah Rider became so much bigger in scope than i expected in this book, things was so desperate for The Rider. It wasnt as much action as the first book but i liked getting inside the mind of the Rider who had so much to deal with. The way the writer wrote about the Jewish mythology, the old Gods seemed natural to the story and not pasted in, superficial world building. I was glad to see The Rider getting a new ally in one of the stories. The Hour of Incursion was getting too much for him mentally,physically. I cant wait to see what happens in the next few episodes and the new book.
The only weakness i can really mention is that the action was not as vivid, as clear to see as the first book. It didnt matter because the stories in this book focused more on The Rider himself, the main storyline. It was not stand alone supernatural monster killing stories like the first few stories.
A legend has to somewhere and thats why i read this collection. The quality of the stories wasnt really what i was interested in. I wanted to see the A legend has to somewhere and thats why i read this collection. The quality of the stories wasnt really what i was interested in. I wanted to see the young Vance experimenting,learning his craft. Thats what you could see in every story of this collection. The first "Hard-Luck Diggings" from 1948 had his Sherlock Holmes in space character Magnus Ridolph. Not the best of that short story series but still fun,enjoyable. The two stories after that was weak and him trying to sell the straight forward pulp sf of the 50s. The fourth story "Abercrombie Station" started to show his famous, weird style coming forth. The rest of the stories was good to very good quality.
My fav stories were:
"Abercrombie Station" (1952) A fun sf caper with strong female lead.
"The Absent-Minded Professor" (1954)- a contemporary mystery that pyschological and very interesting. I enjoyed Dodkin's Job only more.
"The Devil on Salvation Bluff" (1955)- Imaginative sf of humans trying to change aliens in weird planet.
"Where Hesperus Falls" (1956)- An story about Immortal who tries to kill himself but future evolved humans see him as a freak and doesnt want to let him die.
"Dodkin's Job" (1959) - Scating social commentary,satire on bureaucracy. It might have been about far future city but it could have been the same story with any real world goverment,company....more
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is much more fascinating,disturbing than people who only know the movies,tv,comics version of Jekyll,Hyde The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is much more fascinating,disturbing than people who only know the movies,tv,comics version of Jekyll,Hyde story think.
Stevenson is also very good prose wise. I agree with G. K. Chesterton, who said of him that he "seemed to pick the right word up on the point of his pen, like a man playing spillikins"....more
I enjoyed the story of the elderly man who lived alone with his sister and their pets. The book so hauntingly conveyed a sense of terrible loneliness I enjoyed the story of the elderly man who lived alone with his sister and their pets. The book so hauntingly conveyed a sense of terrible loneliness and isolation that made me like the story.
I rate 4 stars for the first half of the book,the last pages with the haunting end. The cosmic melodrama,the travel through time,space in the second half was so hard to read and almost destroyed a good story. I was so near to skim pages and i didnt only because i was already a big fan of WHH. That part of the story is worth 2 stars.......more
Lord Dunsany in top form is like the finest of poetry. Surreal,magical fantasy and a collection of stories that is darker than Sword of Welleran and OLord Dunsany in top form is like the finest of poetry. Surreal,magical fantasy and a collection of stories that is darker than Sword of Welleran and Other Stories....more
The October County is my first book/collection of Bradbury. The stories in the collection are haunting,disturbing,emotionally strong. There was a magicThe October County is my first book/collection of Bradbury. The stories in the collection are haunting,disturbing,emotionally strong. There was a magical,ageless quality to Bradbury's writing and most of the stories are of high quality.
The best stories,the ones that stood out most are "The Scythe", "Uncle Einar", "The Skeleton", The Emissary, "The Jar".
Easily one of the best collections of stories I have read in this kind of fiction.
A strong,original take on supernatural biengs and the vampire story. The writing,characters,the ideas in the book is better than the trashy cover willA strong,original take on supernatural biengs and the vampire story. The writing,characters,the ideas in the book is better than the trashy cover will make you think.
I can only hope Lumley can repeat quality of the story,writing in this book in the other books of the series,in some of his other works....more
It started with a brilliant opening prolouge about a Theif and WWII Polen which i thought prose wise was the strongest part of the book. It took a lonIt started with a brilliant opening prolouge about a Theif and WWII Polen which i thought prose wise was the strongest part of the book. It took a long time to get fantastic,horrific but Barker's writing and complex characters made it easy,compelling read.
Characters wise the book was very strong from Strauss to the complex villain.
This was better than i thought, better than it was very good and almost great.
I look forward very much reading more of Clive Barker....more
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