Horror Aficionados discussion

hi, are there any fan or reader of the short fiction of the late Dennis Etchison? he had short stories collections like The Dark Country, Red Dreams or The Blood Kiss, have you read them? what do you think of it? I have heard that his fiction is a bit complicated to read, is it true?

Thanks in advance

Back in the day I remember being a fan of Etchison. However, a couple years ago I read The Death Artist collection and didn't care so much for them. Not sure if it was just those particular stories or if maybe I liked him better at one point than I did more recently. As I recall his writing can be pretty unconventional.

Alan wrote: "Back in the day I remember being a fan of Etchison. However, a couple years ago I read The Death Artist collection and didn't care so much for them. Not sure if it was just those particular stories..."

I'm not a huge fan, either--can't remember why (I know I once had a lot by him, but gave them away).

I read The Dark Country way back in the early 1990s. It was included as an entry in Horror: The 100 Best Books...and I am still trying to knock off all the books in that reading guide, to this day, including anything in the huge "Further Recommendations" section at the end of the book (which is why I need to acquire Red Dreams).

I rate The Dark Country as a solid 3.5 star short story collection, which is probably near to my most common rating for almost any short story book. So I wasn't especially harsh with Etchison - I just find the variety of ideas among bunches of short stories to end up being so hit or miss.

I do recall some oblique, tricky-to-decipher stories, and if I get confused by what the heck happened, and need to read a lot of short stories in a book multiple times to figure stuff out (or move on, and not bother) - well, then the demerit points start rolling in. And yet...hmm...I think the problem with really rating the book super high was because I got it suggested to me as a "100 Best" type of book...and that's a high plateau for a short story collection to start at. Sort of set up to disappoint, if I'm not really dazzled. But again, I'm harsh on short story collections when getting to the end and coming up with one rating. I recall very much enjoying The Dark Country overall...and if it did one thing right, it left my fave story from the book etched pretty firmly in my mind - the one with the psychic and the police (not surprisingly, a not very oblique story, but no less cool for that).

You've reminded me to check again to see if I can get Red Dreams for a decent price, (ie. not ordering from the UK, to Canada!).

Etchison is one of my top favorite short story writers—a master of mood and atmosphere in stories typically set in the contemporary Los Angeles area. His themes can be subtle and complex but the actual writing is simple and stripped-down, not unlike that of his friend and mentor Richard Matheson. Talking in the Dark: Selected Stories is the basic greatest-hits collection, while It Only Comes Out at Night & Other Stories is his career-spanning collected works. His novels are less well-regarded but I found Shadowman to be excellent. Etchison is one of the true masters of the 20th century horror story, yet after he died his widow had to raise funds online to get him properly buried. What a sad end for a brilliant writer.

Christopher wrote: "Etchison is one of my top favorite short story writers—a master of mood and atmosphere in stories typically set in the contemporary Los Angeles area. His themes can be subtle and complex but the ac..."

A very sad story... he was a friend of mine on facebook and he was very kind and friendly everytime I ask him something. He even offered me to be his agent in Spain!!! a true Master

Thanks all for your answers

I've read about half of The Dark Country and plan on finishing it before the year ends, except I keep getting lured away by interesting longer works.

Anyway, I've enjoyed what I've read, especially "It Only Comes Out at Night" (which I've read before, I think originally in Frights) and "Daughter of the Golden West".