Weird Fiction discussion

As we are now so well aware, this is the topic at which I ask you to nominate one, or perhaps even two, works of (genre) weird fiction that our humble group of 449 members might enjoy reading and discussing together. Other than the weird fiction requirement that is firmly in place, that is the only requirement that is. I accept novella nominations, short story collection nominations, anthology nominations (including magazine issues, which are really just anthologies if you think about it), poetry nominations (there have been some great weird fiction poets), graphic novel suggestions, even drama suggestions (like a weird fiction play, if one exists, and really any Twilight Zone TV script would qualify). Weird fiction comes in a lot of forms and spans a lot of time: Edgar Allan Poe (1830s) on forward. I personally consider the 1930s the best and defining decade for weird fiction, but that can be debated.

My first nomination is Lovecraft Unbound, edited by the ubiquitous Ellen Datlow. What drew my attention to this anthology is that the first story is written by the fellow that is winning the May poll currently (Nathan Ballingrud). What made me nominate it is the caliber of the rest of the contributing writers and the fact I've not yet read a single one of the stories contained in it.

I'm gonna go with The Retrospective & Other Phantasmagorical Stories by Ramsey Campbell.

And a poetry collection by Clark Ashton Smith called The Last Oblivion: Best Fantastic Poems of Clark Ashton Smith! :D

I'd like to nominate The Etched City by K.J. Bishop--a "Weird West" story. I've heard the term in passing but never got around to checking out anything related to it. I enjoy western shows and movies like Gunsmoke, Tombstone, and some of the spaghetti classics and old radio shows, too. I'm interested to see what a combo of weird fiction + western will look like, and Bishop's novel sounds like a good place to start.

I would like to renominate Terra Incognita: New Short Speculative Stories from Africa if for no other reason than I have read precious few books written in Africa.

My second nomination will be Titus Crow: The Burrowers Beneath / The Transition of Titus Crow. Author Brian Lumley is one of those weird fiction writers that came just before new weird. I recall seeing a few of his stories in some late 1980s early 1990s Weird Tales magazines. I am pretty sure he was the feature author one issue. Anyway, he's most famous for his Necroscope series, of which I am completely ignorant. This is some of his highly regarded Lovecraftian work outside that series. The Kindle version, which GoodReads fails to link to for some odd reason, is just $2.99.

Dan wrote: "My second nomination will be Titus Crow: The Burrowers Beneath / The Transition of Titus Crow. Author Brian Lumley is one of those weird fiction writers that came just b..." I remember we read some of his stories. I ran a search on the posts, and at the very least, we had his "The Fairground Horror" as part of Ctulhu Mythos book in 2022 or so. [about this altar in the back of a Fairgrounds Horror exhibit; ran by this guy's brother Hamilton] But I think, we probably saw more of his elsewhere too - anybody remembers?

What a memory! You are right. The group did read a Lumley story three years ago. Here is the topic: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/....

I made it only to page 205. So I didn't read the Lumley story. Did you? Was it good?

i found the Weird Tales magazine issue that was devoted to Brian Lumley on my bookshelves. It was issue number 295, the Winter 1989/90 issue. What a beautiful Vincent Di Fate cover! The issue contained three Lumley stories only, none of which I have read. The middle one, "Iced on Aran," is billed as a "return to Lovecraft's dreamworld." Looks interesting.

If you like Lumley, that issue is not expensive to acquire. I saw a very nice copy selling on Amazon for just $8 (including shipping).

Dan wrote: "What a memory! You are right. The group did read a Lumley story three years ago. Here is the topic: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/......" I did read it. I remember having feelings somehow - so I guess it did leave an impression. Much of the time I forget the details but I remember feelings and iimagery. I had to look it up, because I didn't remember what it was about, but the synopsis brought up dark imagery. That brother Hamilton - don't remember exacctly, but there was something very dark about him.

I like dark. And you know, I've never read a word of Lumley. I just found that Book of Cthulhu on my shelf. Sure enough, my book marker is on page 205. Sigh. I'm going to read that Lumley story this very night. I will pay special attention to Hamilton, see if he creeps me out as much as he did you.

Hey folks, there's one more day to make nominations. Remember, you may make up to two every month! (What other group allows so many nominations from its members? The group is doing well by the way, closing in on 500 members, and that's with me culling the dead wood who don't log into GoodReads for at least a year.) I will start the poll this Thursday night / Friday morning.