Beyond Rue Morgue Anthology: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe's 1st Detective

by Paul Kane (Editor), Charles Prepolec (Editor), Edgar Allan Poe (Editor)

An anthology of stories based around the very first mystery detective, Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin, created by Edgar Allan Poe.

Dupin famously featured in 'The Murders in the Rue Morgue' (1841), then went on to star in two more investigations, 'The Mystery of Marie Rogêt' (1842) and 'The Purloined Letter' (1844).

The anthology will include the original 1841 story and Clive Barker's sequel, 'New Murders in the Rue Morgue' (which was first published in his Books of Blood series) to bookend the stories.

Conributors: Guy Adams, Steve Volk, Thomas Monteleone, Lisa Tuttle, Simon Clark, Joe R. Lansdale, Elizabeth Massie, Ed Gorman, Jonathan Mayberry, Yvonne Navarro, Weston Ochse and Clive Barker

Genres: Mystery, Horror, Anthologies, Short Stories, Crime, Classics, Occult Detective

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Paul Kane has been writing professionally for almost fifteen years. His genre journalism has appeared in such magazines as Fangoria, SFX and Rue Morgue, and his non-fiction books are the critically acclaimed The Hellraiser Films and Their Legacy and Voices in the Dark. His award-winning short fiction has appeared in magazines and anthologies on both sides of the Atlantic (as well as being broadcast on BBC Radio 2), and has been collected in Alone (In the Dark), Touching the Flame, FunnyBones, Peripheral Visions, Shadow Writer, The Butterfly Man and Other Stories, The Spaces Between and GHOSTS. His novella Signs of Life reached the shortlist of the British Fantasy Awards 2006, The Lazarus Condition was introduced by Mick Garris - creator of Masters of Horror - RED featured artwork from Dave (The Graveyard Book) McKean and Pain Cages was introduced by Stephen Volk (The Awakening).

As Special Publications Editor of the British Fantasy Society he worked with authors like Brian Aldiss, Ramsey Campbell, Muriel Gray and Robert Silverberg, he is the co-editor of Hellbound Hearts for Pocket Books (Simon and Schuster), an anthology of original stories inspired by Clive Barker's mythos - featuring contributions from the likes of Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola, Kelley Armstrong and Richard Christian Matheson - The Mammoth Book of Body Horror (Constable & Robinson) - featuring Stephen King, James Herbert and Robert Bloch - and the Poe-inspired Beyond Rue Morgue (for Titan).

In 2008 his zombie story 'Dead Time' was turned into an episode of the Lionsgate/NBC TV series Fear Itself, adapted by Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and directed by Darren Lynn Bousman (SAW II-IV). He also scripted The Opportunity which premiered at Cannes in 2009, The Weeping Woman - starring Fright Night's Stephen Jeffreys - and Wind Chimes (directed by Brad '7th Dimension' Watson. He is the author of the novels Of Darkness and Light, The Gemini Factor and the bestselling Arrowhead trilogy (Arrowhead, Broken Arrow and Arrowland), a post-apocalyptic reworking of the Robin Hood mythology gathered together as the sell-out Hooded Man omnibus. His latest novels are Lunar (which is set to be turned into a feature film) and the short Y.A. book The Rainbow Man (as P.B. Kane). He currently lives in Derbyshire, UK, with his wife - the author Marie O'Regan - his family, and a black cat called Mina. You can find out more at his website www.shadow-writer.co.uk which has featured Guest Writers such as Neil Gaiman, Charlaine Harris, Dean Koontz, John Connolly and Guillermo del Toro.

Reviews

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Kane & Charles Prepolec in their book, “Beyond Rue Morgue” published by Titan Books have edited an anthology of stories based around the very first mystery detective, Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin, created by Edgar Allan Poe.

From the Back Cover: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1st Detective

Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Murder in the Rue Morgue” introduced the world to its first literary detective, Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin. Now Dupin’s legacy continues in brand-new tales of ratiocination, mystery and the macabre. Experience the further exploits of Dupin as he faces enemies both human and otherworldly; follow the adventures of his grandson, the Pinkerton detective; learn the fate of Dupin’s great-granddaughter; discover how Dupin connects his creator, Poe, with Sherlock Holmes; and more!

Featuring original stories from Steve Volk, Lisa Tuttle, Simon Clark, Joe R. Lansdale, Elizabeth Massie, Ed Gorman, Jonathan Maberry, Yvonne Navarro, Weston Ochse and Clive Barker.

Before there was Sherlock Holmes there was Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin. Sadly Mr. Poe only featured him in three stories, the first of which is included in this volume. Paul Kane & Charles Prepolec have rescued us from this Dupin vacuum and given us nine new stories. Are all of them great? No. They range from great to ah okay. That is my opinion yours may be different the good news is we have nine new stories no matter how we judge the quality. There are some wonderful mysteries presented here and great fun to read and try to solve. I say try to because I think only Dupin or his genealogy can solve these crimes. I assure you if you are a Sherlock Holmes fan then you will enjoy these stories. If you are a Dupin fan then you are going to be thrilled. I hope that Titan will bring us more anthologies like this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Titan Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Missy (myweereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"It will be found, in fact, that the ingenious are always fanciful, and the truly imaginative never otherwise than analytic."

Beyond Rue Morgue Further Tales Of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1st Detective is an anthology edited by Paul Kane and Charles Prepolec. It features the classic written by Edgar Allan Poe to begin with and as you read on different cases are linked to the infamous Detective Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin.

These stories allow the reader to explore Dupin’s legacy through mysterious and dark stories against evils of human and the unnatural kind. They lead us to his grandson, great-granddaughter and links between Poe, Sherlock Holmes and Lovecraft.

Some of my favourites were:

The Sons Of Tammany by Mike Carey

The Unfathomed Darkness by Simon Clark

The Vanishing Assassin by Jonathan Maberry

The Gruesome Affair Of The Electric Blue Lightening by Joe R Lansdale

New Murders In The Rue Morgue by Clive Barker

Many of these turned quite dark and unsettling very quickly and the view on the family legacy was interesting to see. I enjoyed reading the varied situations Dupin was put in and how he handled himself and the case at hand.

An interesting anthology worth exploring.

[Rory · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this collection I gained a newfound love for Dupin. Having read "Murders in the Rue Morgue" a year prior I was quite shocked as to how satisfyingly readable it still is, esepcially if you're into the old school classic mysteries in the Holmes tradition. However I seriously think that he is severely underutilised in the genre which he coincidentally helped create.
Sure there's countless Sherlock pastiches that are published like it's going out of style but Dupin has been unfarily neglected...not anymore.

Going into this I was mostly expecting some average stories with a few gems peppered along the way, was it like that? Well, yes and no.

Let me explain. Yes, in the sense that they follow on from or are inspired by Poe's famous creation but the stories were decent and each had their own unique aspects which made a lot of them slightly above average and regardless of genre each of them tapped into the chevalier's compelling quirkiness.

I don't really want to say which favourites I had because each one I read had something different I enjoyed, even thought there were some gems.
All I will say is that if you like mystery stories, perhaps with a little bit of genre blending. if you need to become au courant with the man who gave birth to the "world's first detective" then you'll probably dig this collection.

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even before opening the cover of'Beyond Rue Morgue', my black little heart was jumping for joy-well as much as it could, given its decrepit state- from the roster of genre names on the cover. What an absolute treasure trove of authors! Full respect is due to editors 'Paul Kane and Charles Prepolec for not only the choice of subject, but also such a stellar contents list!

''Chevalier Dupin is a man who methodically preserves memories of the sights, sounds and odors produced by the horrors of this world,as I would methodically place books on my library shelves. He is the consummate archivist of the accoutrements of tragedy.''

This singular description, by Simon Clark, absolutely nails why Dupin made such an impact at the time Poe released his short stories about the detective. He deduces the truth of the situation from the facts available to him, applies logic and comes up with a solution. He was the the modern detective using forensics before they were even invented.

Re-reading the original tale, The Murders In  the Rue Morgue, is to be reacquainted with an old friend. A friend who has not been visited for quite some time and is overdue a social call. I have not read the stories and poems of Poe for way too many years, and this collection has reignited the spark of wanting to explore the lesser known Poe . As such, I have ordered the Wordsworth edition of the 'Tales Of Mystery And Imagination', and am looking forward to making the acquaintance of old friends, once more.

Walking the same tightrope between thrill, suspense, horror and barely restrained genius, each of the writers in this collection takes the central concept of Poe's detective, and writes a tale with him as the focus using their own unique skills.

From the original which has spawned the anthology, which launches Dupin, he is then taken from France all around the world, via a vast range of talents and genres.

Ending with a modern twist on the tale, via Clive Barker, it is possible to see Dupin's footsteps walking through the streets of New York, Paris, Arizona, in his parlays with Sherlock Holmes, meets his own creator, and  returning, in the final tale, to Paris, his original stomping ground.

It is pure joy to read these tales by authors I highly admire, and respect, and the way they convey their acknowledgement of Poe's underrated genius (in my mind, at the very least, he is a genius) yet give it a twist with their own inimitable flare. The nameless narrator stays in place, focussing the attention in the titular , book loving detective, whilst we, the reader, stpe into the role of side kick and confidante.

It is such a pleasure to read a collection with heart, as this one is. It would have been easy to slap Poe's most famous tale on the front and wring any old story out of it. However, here the editors have commissioned some truly outstanding fiction which pays homage to a grand master of horror and dark literature.

[Rachel Bridgeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even before opening the cover of'Beyond Rue Morgue', my black little heart was jumping for joy-well as much as it could, given its decrepit state- from the roster of genre names on the cover. What an absolute treasure trove of authors! Full respect is due to editors 'Paul Kane and Charles Prepolec for not only the choice of subject, but also such a stellar contents list!

''Chevalier Dupin is a man who methodically preserves memories of the sights, sounds and odors produced by the horrors of this world,as I would methodically place books on my library shelves. He is the consummate archivist of the accoutrements of tragedy.''

This singular description, by Simon Clark, absolutely nails why Dupin made such an impact at the time Poe released his short stories about the detective. He deduces the truth of the situation from the facts available to him, applies logic and comes up with a solution. He was the the modern detective using forensics before they were even invented.

Re-reading the original tale, The Murders In  the Rue Morgue, is to be reacquainted with an old friend. A friend who has not been visited for quite some time and is overdue a social call. I have not read the stories and poems of Poe for way too many years, and this collection has reignited the spark of wanting to explore the lesser known Poe . As such, I have ordered the Wordsworth edition of the 'Tales Of Mystery And Imagination', and am looking forward to making the acquaintance of old friends, once more.

Walking the same tightrope between thrill, suspense, horror and barely restrained genius, each of the writers in this collection takes the central concept of Poe's detective, and writes a tale with him as the focus using their own unique skills.

From the original which has spawned the anthology, which launches Dupin, he is then taken from France all around the world, via a vast range of talents and genres.

Ending with a modern twist on the tale, via Clive Barker, it is possible to see Dupin's footsteps walking through the streets of New York, Paris, Arizona, in his parlays with Sherlock Holmes, meets his own creator, and  returning, in the final tale, to Paris, his original stomping ground.

It is pure joy to read these tales by authors I highly admire, and respect, and the way they convey their acknowledgement of Poe's underrated genius (in my mind, at the very least, he is a genius) yet give it a twist with their own inimitable flare. The nameless narrator stays in place, focussing the attention in the titular , book loving detective, whilst we, the reader, stpe into the role of side kick and confidante.

It is such a pleasure to read a collection with heart, as this one is. It would have been easy to slap Poe's most famous tale on the front and wring any old story out of it. However, here the editors have commissioned some truly outstanding fiction which pays homage to a grand master of horror and dark literature.

[Lisa K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Checked this out just before Halloween because I felt the need to reread "Murder in the Rue Morgue." The documentary on Poe I'd watched sorta said that all detective stories that feature an Everyman + a Quirky Genius owe that trope to this story. So I had to check. Of the rest of the stories, "From Darkness, Emerged, Returned" by Elizabeth Massie was especially good.

[Keri · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Sons of Tammany" ***1/2 -****
"The Unfathomed Darkness" ***
"The Weight of a Dead Man" ***1/2
"The Vanishing Assassin" ** - **1/2
"The Gruesome Affair of the Electric Blue Lightning" ***1/2 - ****
"From Darkness, Emerged, Returned" ****
"After the End" **
"The Purloined Face" **1/2 - ***
"New Murders in the Rue Morgue" *1/2 - **

[Sharon Jacobs · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its hard to accept authors writing about someone else’s creation. The stories here are varied, some with only a tenuous connection to Poe’s character, and most are simply weird. I did enjoy the Holmes story though.

[M.L.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I preferred the stories featuring Dupin over the stories featuring descendants of Dupin.

[Monique Snyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Titan Books is one of my favourite publishers at the moment, because they breath new life into the classics, whilst giving readers a little something modern from time to time to indulge in. Usually, they know just which buttons to press to give me a happy… this time though, I’m slightly underwhelmed, and rather unsatisfied.

Beyond Rue Morgue Anthology: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1st Detective starts off with Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Murders in The Rue Morgue”, the original tale of where mystery detective, Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin first featured, which is a good start. It gives new readers a background of where the rest of the anthology is heading. Thereafter comes the more modern stories, from renowned authors like Mike Carey, Jonathan Maberry, Clive Barker and Stephen Volk. With such names, what could possibility go wrong, right?

Well, something just felt a little off, in my opinion. Some stories were awesome, I mean really they captured Dupin perfectly, whereas others just kind of failed to invoke the proper feelings in me. Poe is a tough act to follow, there’s no denying that, but whilst some authors were able to give the reader what they wanted with their stories, the others just felt like forced tales.

Now, I’m not going to review each individual story (that’ll take too long), but I’m looking at the anthology in a whole, which I usually do in anthology cases anyway.

The editing was great, Paul Kane and Charles Prepolec did a fantastic job in that department, and yeah the stories were positioned in the right spots too. But I feel that maybe it would have been wiser not to pick the big names just because of their marketability. Surely there are other lesser known authors out there that could have blended in alongside some of the greats?

Perhaps I’m being a bit harsh, but I’m so used to Titan Books always publishing absolute winners that when I finished this book, I was left rather bemused. However, Titan’s worst is still better than some other publishers’ best, so that alone says a lot.

So, should you buy it?

It’s entirely up to you. Beyond Rue Morgue Anthology: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1st Detective is on the fringe of yay and nay, which makes it difficult to decide. Hardcore Dupin fans might find this book a treat though, whereas others might not. That being said, it is an excellent introductory book to Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin, so keep that in mind when you’re deciding.

(review originally posted on www.killeraphrodite.com)

[Paper Droids · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

For fans of Edgar Allan Poe, this anthology of detective Dupin stories could be reason enough to buy it. A collection of adult fanfiction (without, of course, the negative connotations), Beyond Rue Morgue: Further Tales of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1st Detective is exactly what it sounds like: a group of talented writers dreaming up stories of Dupin and the other mysteries he could have solved and more.

Le Chevalier C. Auguste Dupin was the world’s first literary detective, brought to life by Poe in 1841 in the first of three mysteries: “The Murders in the Rue Morgue”. A classic Poe piece, decorated with fancy Romantic language and detailed eloquently in speech, Rue Morgue is a necessary read for all Edgar Allan Poe fans and for mystery book lovers alike.

For those who haven’t read the original story, or for those who aren’t too familiar with the crime-solving detective, the anthology thoughtfully includes the famous Rue Morgue story, to introduce new readers to the mystique of Dupin.

Beyond Rue Morgue is a great collection of short stories of new, re-imagined adventures for Dupin — ranging from old-school mysteries told in first person to stories with subtle commentary on race and media, to introducing the audience to both Dupin’s grandson, to “meeting” Edgar Allan Poe — and introduces an unusual and creative connection with Sherlock Holmes, creating some ~super meta~ situations (“The Purloined Face” by Stephen Volk is highly recommended).

Complete review: http://www.paperdroids.com/2013/08/11...

[Karen M · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought I would rate each story individually but gradually I changed my mind. After all, no one is going to read just a few of the stories nor should they. Each story has it's twists and turns and some references to literary characters or historical events. There were some stories I finished and the word clever came to mind. They are all in the spirit of Edgar Allan Poe's writing though not necessarily in his voice or even in the character of C. August Dupin himself.

Each author has created their own version of a Poe type mystery with his detective, Dupin, playing a part directly or indirectly, so each mystery is a distinctly different and individual effort. I enjoyed the literary references to other authors' characters and some you may actually have to think about before you catch on to what the writer is doing.

This is an anthology written by a variety of authors so some stories are perhaps more Poelike than others but I enjoyed each one for different reasons. I recommend this book for all the Edgar Allan Poe fans, whether you are a fan of Dupin or his more macabre characters, you will enjoy reading this tribute to Edgar Allan Poe.

This book was won in a FirstReads giveaway.

[Steve Folan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Edgar Allan Poe and this anthology takes a prism to one of the greatest detective stories and moves it around with different perspectives from other authors. I liked the spikiness of the original detective as well as the puzzle to be solved. That particular time had other great writers such as Jules Verne creating new genres of fiction, Lewis Carroll published Alice in Wonderland. Something was going on.

Most of the stories were great but with an anthology you will always find one or two that don't resonate as much as the others but this was well worth the effort.

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK, but I got bored.

[Karl Øen · Rating 3 out of 5]

To much formulaic action, and too little ratiocination in this uneven collection.
It's a pity Poe himself didn't write more Dupin-stories.

[Rosann · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with all anthologies, some were a hit with me, some a miss. An interesting concept.