Literary Horror discussion

Robert Aickman to be honoured with resurrection of horror classics

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014...

Karl wrote: "Robert Aickman to be honoured with resurrection of horror classics

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014..."

I just recently finished his The Wine-Dark Sea -- my introduction to Aickman, and fell in love.

It seems like every time I read a post in this forum my tbr pile grows larger and my wallet shrinks.

Randolph wrote: "Well, they get one thing wrong, that The Model "has been out of print for decades." I'm excited about the other offerings though. I seems that Aickman may be having something of a Renaissance."

Perhaps it is out of print in the UK, as the article was from the Guardian a UK paper. Yes, it is good to see him making a comeback, as he is really an enjoyable read.

Randolph wrote: "I don't think the Tartarus edition is out of print in the UK. It just came out, in the UK."

The machinations of the publishing industry appear to be beyond my ken. or perhaps that is why newspapers are failing, they can not get their facts straight, or .. perhaps the reporter just didn't do that much research - after all he was just a C- student in school and liked the huff glue. It's a mystery to me...

It's in print in my (UK) house!

Today I was super psyched to discover some Robert Aickman books available through my customer satisfaction program at work! I've been searching their ebook catalogue every month for just over 3 years now and today it paid off! (Still no Wine-Dark Sea, though.)
So, maybe you pros can help me decide which one to tackle first Cold Hand in Mine: Strange Stories or Dark Entries?

Cold Hand is probably the stronger (although both ace) and the first story in their, "The Swords" was the first Aickman I ever read.

Charlene wrote: "Today I was super psyched to discover some Robert Aickman books available through my customer satisfaction program at work! I've been searching their ebook catalogue every month for just over 3 yea..."

Close your eyes and pick one, you can not loose with either selection.

With Cold Hands, I go. :)

Thanks for the post, Randolph — that was an interesting program. I might quibble with a couple of the points made by Jeremy Dyson. First, there was (I thought) undue emphasis on Aickman as the first writer of ghost stories whose art truly embraced the complexities of human psychology. That strikes me as wrong-headed. Writers as far back as Vernon Lee wrote pieces that reflected various psychological theories, either their own or those of others. I liked better Dyson’s description of Aickman as one of the first postmodern supernatural writers.

Second, Dyson, like many Aickman enthusiasts, laments Aickman’s literary obscurity as unjust and something to be remedied. This kind of thinking has always struck me as unrealistic. Horror fiction is always going to be a modest niche market and literary horror, of the sort exemplified by Aickman, an even smaller one. That’s not a judgment on the quality of Aickman’s prose but rather a statement about the realities of the marketplace.

Finally, during the BBC piece someone (not Dyson) remarked that after reading “The Trains” for something like the fourth or fifth time, he still wasn’t sure he understood it. I chuckled a bit at that. I wonder how many times we’ll hear that refrain over the course of the September discussions.

Randolph wrote: "BBC 4 radio has put this excellent documentary back up on the site for the Aickman centennial with host Jeremy Dyson.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0184v2s"

Thank you for posting this link, I just listened to it and quite enjoyed it. Well done. Thumbs up.

I just bought a pile of books at the Salvation Army. A big stack for $4. One of them was a first edition Robert Aickman. Sub Rosa: Strange Tales Hardcover –from 1968!! :)

Kirstin wrote: "I just bought a pile of books at the Salvation Army. A big stack for $4. One of them was a first edition Robert Aickman. Sub Rosa: Strange Tales Hardcover –from 1968!! :)"

Congratulations, Not only is it an amazingly good book, but also quite valuable. Way to go.

Thanks Karl! I'm excited to read it. Unfortunately there is a blue price sticker on the front and tears on the dust cover. I'm not complaining...the words are still fine. :)

Kirstin wrote: "Thanks Karl! I'm excited to read it. Unfortunately there is a blue price sticker on the front and tears on the dust cover. I'm not complaining...the words are still fine. :)"

There is a product sold in all the drug stores, or walmart or target, called goo-b-gone that might help you remove the sticker from the dust cover - use it sparingly - it stinks a bit like lemons and oranges, but will not damage the book. That may help. as for the tears don't tape them, perhaps you can purchase some of those plastic jacket protectors to keep what you have intact. there are a bunch of places that sell them, like brodart or library supply places. Congratulations on your find ! I think it may be his best book.

Thanks again! I will look for the book covers. May try the goo as well. I have a few books that could use it.

Kirstin wrote: "Thanks again! I will look for the book covers. May try the goo as well. I have a few books that could use it."

Gook luck, enjoy the Aickman when you read it. I just read that particular one a few weeks ago.

Randolph wrote: "The book covers are somewhat hard to find in stores, at least here in the US. Google Brodart and you will find them on the internet. I use cotton tipped swabs with the goo-gone, a very little bit..."

Here in phoenix a couple of the bookstores will sell/give you the individual covers if you ask nice. I always offered to pay them, till I started ordering them my self by the hundreds, certainly not the big chain stores, as they will only give you bad attitude and not even know what you are asking for, but the smaller independent book stores that still cater to individuals and encase some of their books themselves, especially if you shop there.

Randolph wrote: "I have added the video: Robert Aickman: Author of Strange Tales, R.B. Russell's excellent documentary that was only previously available as a limited edition DVD from Tartarus Pres..."

-- Thank You for posting this.... Unsettling Surreal and Bizarre --

Randolph wrote: "I have this Aickman's Heirs book here. Is it any good? As I've stated in the past, "themed" anthologies have me usually sceptical because I've read too many bad to mediocre ones. Th..."

-- My review is here, as all of these tribute anthologies some stories are better than others, most here are pretty good. Aickman is a tough one to emulate.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
--

Randolph wrote: "Karl wrote: "Randolph wrote: "I have this Aickman's Heirs book here. Is it any good? As I've stated in the past, "themed" anthologies have me usually sceptical because I've read too..."

-- I have a similar problem, I also acquire more books than I can possible ever read, yet with good intentions of doing so. Books often fall off the radar screen as new (or old) and interesting prospects come along to lure me away. Often to good conclusions. - Oh BTW I bid on one of your ebay auctions and had to drop out at forty bucks, Congratulations to the winner, the book went for twice that amount. --

I hope it's better than Poe's Children.

Randolph wrote: "Karl wrote: "Randolph wrote: "Karl wrote: "Randolph wrote: "I have this Aickman's Heirs book here. Is it any good? As I've stated in the past, "themed" anthologies have me usually s..."

-- I believe "Fog Heart" is on sale from Centipede as we speak. --

-- in order to get the $29 deal you had to order the book through the link Jared sent with the deal's e-mail notification. Ordering through the website just got the Centipede list price. --

Looking for suggestions(s) for a good first Aickman to pick up.

Aickman's collections can be rather hit-and-miss. And all the different anthology groupings make things very confusing.

I suggest Painted Devils: Strange Stories; should be lots of cheap copies on bookfinder.com. It has probably my all-time favorite Aickman story, "Ravissante". This is an awesome review, but with spoilers:

https://themenaceofobjects.wordpress....

NYRB will add this supposedly "best of" Aickman collection to their increasingly great catalogue next year :

https://www.nyrb.com/collections/robe...

_Compulsory Games_ by Robert Aickman, which has some previously unpublished stories, is now available:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

I just read the introduction by Victoria Nelson. One of the most exciting introductions I've read. For example, this is from the Introduction: “Raising the Wind” in this volume is his counterpart to Elizabeth Jane Howard's magnificent waterways story “Three Miles Up” in _We Are For The Dark_.

I was wondering, given the story's setting and content, does anyone else think that "Pages From A Young Girl's Journal" could have been influnced by Vernon Lee?

Randolph wrote: "I bought this nyrb book because I was curious. Compulsory Games "
I think Compulsory Games is one of Aickman's lesser collections. But I've complained about it at length already.

Keep in mind that I have this (well-deserved) reputation for being picky!

There are a number of overlapping Aickman collections, which makes life complicated. But I've been lucky and scored cheap copies of older compilations.

Painted Devils: Strange Stories has my all-time favorite Aickman story "Ravissante". Also "The View" and "The School Friend". Matt Sampaio-Hackney's wonderful article on Ravissante is also worth your time:
https://themenaceofobjects.wordpress....

Cold Hand in Mine: Strange Stories has "The Swords", "The Same Dog", and "The Hospice". See Nate D's excellent review.

I love Aickman, but confess to having set aside "The Late Breakfasters". Anyone else have feelings on this one? Audio was probably not the best choice, but at the time audio was the only version available. (The reading was excellent, I just don't think it's the best way to go about Aickman stories.)

Whitney wrote: "I love Aickman, but confess to having set aside "The Late Breakfasters"."
Hard slog for me too, though I grit my teeth and soldiered to the bitter end. Marie-Therese warned me, but I had to give it a shot.

Bill wrote: "Whitney wrote: "I love Aickman, but confess to having set aside "The Late Breakfasters"."
Hard slog for me too, though I grit my teeth and soldiered to the bitter end. Marie-Therese warned me, but ..."

Glad to hear it isn't just me. AIckman's comment that “those, if any, who wish to know more about me, should plunge beneath the frivolous surface of The Late Breakfasters" made me feel superficial in my inability to plunge very far.