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THREE new books coming out
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I'm there. I really like discussing all this stuff w/ all you guys. I need some recommendations on new-ish writers, especially.
We should probably stop hijacking this thread about Garrett's work. I'm off to start a thread about current reading. Join me?
Jeannie wrote: "Me too.I could never get into his stuff."Sandman was good, American Gods was less than Sandman but passable but after that, everything went downhill.
Thank,Robert.I will have to check them out.
I am getting my fill of anthologies so will start The Man in the Moss by Rickman tonight.
Jeannie, I'm glad you ordered Foundations - it's really great. Seriously check out those stories I mentioned above. In particular, "When Darkness Loves Us" (by Elizabeth Engstrom, who is a Goodreads author), and "Sandkings" by George R.R. Martin, just knocked me out. I just finished The Blackwater series and recommend it. It's spread out over 6 books and reads super fast - took me just a week to plow through them. It's a unique mixture of one of those 70s sweeping family sagas (ala The Thorn Birds) with southern gothic horror. After the high points of books 2 & 3, it sags a bit in volumes 4 & 5 (too much sweeping family saga and not enough gothic horror), but the last book wraps everything up in a wholly satisfying fashion. The star of the book is an inhuman monster from the depths of the river who becomes the matriarch (in human form) of a family of many richly drawn characters, and there is a supporting cast of a few vengeful (and very frightening) revenants....yup, I recommend the series - it was a very fun read!
Garrett wrote: "Barker has become too whimsical for his own good, as of late, kind of a pale imitation of Neil Gaiman who became too whimsical for his own good a few years ago."FINALLY someone who dares criticize Neil Gaiman! He's always been too whimsical for me....
Oh and Robert-
Thanks for the heads up for Foundations of Fear.I just bought it on Amazon.I didn't know it was even out there so thank you very much!
Robert-I do have to tell you that my favorite anthology of old horror stories is Great Tales of Terror and the Supernatural by Wagner and Wise.It has the best selection of 'classic' horror so if you are into these kind of stories it's a really great book.
I'm about to start reading some Ramsey Campbell which I don't know too well but hear that he is very good.
Enjoy Dunbar and let me know what you think of him.
Oh,and I love McCammon too!
<<Robert Dunbar was very good and creepy!>>
<<Great. I want that on my tombstone.>>
I would have them specify it was your WRITING that was creepy though. Your writing. We're all sure that you personally are *very nice.*
Barker has become too whimsical for his own good, as of late, kind of a pale imitation of Neil Gaiman who became too whimsical for his own good a few years ago.
I also got Mister B. Gone by Clive Barker today.The reviews on it are some good and a lot bad but I will give it a try.I like his other stuff a great deal.He is a little graphic sometimes for my taste but I tend to just skip over the really bloody parts and still enjoy the stories.
I agree - The Dark Descent is a 5 star anthology - a real keeper. I also highly recommend the sequel, Foundations of Fear, if you haven't read it - a lot of great work in there by Daphne Du Maurier, Elizabeth Engstrom, Arthur Machen, George R.R. Martin, Richard Matheson, and many others. I thought the Joshi anthology was quite good but the stories representing the 70s through the 90s were largely lackluster, with the exception of T.E.D. Klein's classic "The Events of Poroth Farm," Dennis Etchison's "The Late Shift" and the final story by Caitlin Kiernan. PS and I am excited to read R Dunbar too - his short story collection in particular, but I plan on reading everything in chronological order.
Robert- I liked American Supernatural Tales but I think I got spoiled by the Oxford's books on ghosts and the supernatural.Also by The Dark Descent, which is probably my favorite anthology.
There is never enough time!If you get the chance to check out The Dark Descent I think that you will like it quite a bit.It has mostly older stories-before 1980-and some really old stories-1800's.
Hope you are enjoying what you are reading!
I am on Book 5 (6 total) of the Blackwater series by Michael McDowell (RIP). This is a really fun, well-written southern gothic supernatural family saga. They are totally involving and read quickly. McDowell knew the southern milieu well and his dialogue in particular is spot-on. I had always heard good things about his work and glad I can finally sample some of his work! Next up I want to read The Pines and the other 2 books by Rob't Dunbar, a couple books by Robert McCammon (another author I have yet to read - let's hear it for the Roberts, including Aickman!), Cursed by J. Shipp, and a zillion other things, including lots of non-weird fiction & nonfiction as well. Like I said, never enough time! Are you liking American Supernatural Tales? I read it a couple months ago - some amazing stuff in that one.
Robert wrote: "I'm so glad I re-read some Robert Aickman when I was older and able to understand them better (or be ok with not fully understanding them). His story "The Hospice" is wonderfully flesh crawling. I..."
There in not enough time.I tend to read a few things at a time so that I can get through them all.What are you reading now?
Actually,I live near Seattle and we are supposed to have a wind storm tonight.Hopefully, the lights will go out...I'll put the cats on my lap and light the fire....boo......
<<'Madam Crowl's Ghost and other stories'by Le Fanu edited by MR James>>
Oh, how wonderful! Yes. A nice fire. A little brandy ... now if we could just arrange a thunderstorm ...
I also received,in the mail, 'American Supernatural Tales'ed. by S.T. Joshi.
I'm going to have fun tonight!Now I have to go and get wood for the fire...
Robert,
I just received 'Madam Crowl's Ghost and other stories'by Le Fanu edited by MR James. Should be a lot of fun!
Jeannie
"Audrey's Door" is wonderful, literate and skillful -- my kind of book. And the door John Connolly arrived today. Be still my heart! Plus I just pre-ordered Greg Gifune's new one: Kingdom of Shadows.
(Bierce's "The Boarded Window" is one of the great horror stories of all time. Just thinking about it gives me actual goosebumps.)
I'm so glad I re-read some Robert Aickman when I was older and able to understand them better (or be ok with not fully understanding them). His story "The Hospice" is wonderfully flesh crawling. I must read more of his stuff - I had Cold Hand in Mine years ago but maybe Wine Dark Sea is the one to get? I agree that M.R. James & Edith Wharton are great and I love them both to death - both their ghost story collections should also be required reading for all ghost/horror/weird fiction fans (James's Casting the Runes and Others is the one I recommend most).
It's wonderfully frustrating to have so many great books and authors to read and re-read - never enough time, is there?
I even like Bierce though I understand he was quite the stinker in real life.
How is 'Audrey's Door' coming along?It's still on my shelf to read.
Jeannie
Again, your chanting the names of all my favorites. What? Were we separated at birth?
Blackwood in particular ...
Roberts,
I love this book so much that I just ordered it from Amazon(The Wine Dark Sea).These are my favorite kinds of stories.No or not much gore and good characterizations and the stories themselve are great!I find myself thinking of them and dreaming about them.
Speaking of Amazon I just received 'Ghosts' ed. by Marvin Kaye.I am still reading 'Masterpieces of Terror and the Supernatural by the same editor and like it a great deal.
I wish that I could find even more stories by all of the anthology authors.
One book I liked was the ghost stories of Edith Wharton. And,of course, M.R. James and Lovecraft and Dickens and Blackwood and de Muppassant...I could go on and on!
Hope everyone is enjoying what they are reading.
I am going to have a great night with my 'Ghosts'!
Jeannie
Good to see you here, Robert. The Dark Descent was great (especially the Charlie Grant story), and Great Tales of course should be required reading for all civilized people.
Jeannie, I love Robert Aickman -- how wonderful that you're reading The Wine Dark Sea. I didn't think anyone was reading this sort of thing anymore. Very encouraging!
Hello, my name is Robert. I have never posted here before (well, I just joined the group a few days ago) but thought I would put in my 2 pennies about what I am reading and what to read by way of classic horror anthologies (I am all about the classic horror anthologies). I highly recommend The Dark Descent (Edited by David Hartwell), Great Tales of Terror and The Supernatural (Cerf and Wise) and just finished Joyce Carol Oates's American Gothic Tales last month. All of them are pretty great. In a more modern vein, I recently wrapped up Dennis Etchison's Cutting Edge anthology, which was good too, though a bit more uneven. Right now reading Michael McDowell's southern gothic Blackwater series, which I am enjoying. Planning on reading Silk by Kiernan and Robt. Dunbar's stuff soon too. Always open to suggestions for what's new and exciting (and old and exciting too).
Robert Aikman is an aquired taste in some ways.He doesn't really end his stories.They just keep going on which makes it interesting but sometimes frustrating.I always want to know what happens next.I just finished a little book called "Ladies of Horror' which was good and had some nice drawings.
I am about to crack the anthology 'Gathering The Bones'which I heard from a friend in England has a few very good stories,some ok and a couple of duds.
I'm reading 'The Best Ghost Stories' by J.S. Le Fanu.How are you liking Audrey's door?I have it on my shelf to read but haven't got to it yet.I am also about to start reading 'The Wine Dark Sea' by Robert Aikman.
I like the older ghost and horror stories because they don't have the gore of a lot of current horror out there.I do have King's latest book also but am waiting to read it after I am finished with these anthologies.
Hope that you are enjoying your book!
Jeannie
Glad to hear it, Jeannie. All the info you need can be found at http://thegarrettcook.blogspot.com. Scroll down and you'll find a bibliography section. Everything is clickable there. Also, you can read excerpts from and preorder my upcoming book Jimmy Plush, Teddy Bear Detective at http://jimmyplush.blogspot.com.
It's going up in my blurbs tab. On Sunday, Archelon Ranch came out and yesterday, Murderland II Life During Wartime did. I've got five signed copies available on the blog I mentioned, both at a pretty solid discount.
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Books mentioned in this topic
Murderland II: Life During Wartime (other topics)Archelon Ranch (other topics)
