Exploring Dark Short Fiction #6: A Primer to Ramsey Campbell

by Eric J. Guignard (Editor, Contributor), Ramsey Campbell (Contributor), Michael A. Arnzen (Contributor)

Hailed by The Oxford Companion to English Literature as “Britain's most respected living horror writer,” Ramsey Campbell has authored an astounding body of work for over half a century that embodies the weird, the supernatural, and the subtle, much of which is widely considered classics of dark fiction today. He has been given more awards than any other writer in the field, including being made an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University for outstanding services to literature.

Dark Moon Books and editor Eric J. Guignard bring you this introduction to his work, the sixth in a series of primers exploring modern masters of literary dark short fiction. Herein is a chance to discover—or learn more of—the remarkable voice of Ramsey Campbell, as beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich.

Included within these pages are:
• Six short stories, one written exclusively for this book
• Author interview
• Biography and bibliography
• Academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD (former humanities chair and professor of the year, Seton Hill University)
• … and more!

Enter this doorway to the vast and fantastic: Get to know Ramsey Campbell.

Genres: Horror

196 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2021

About the author

ERIC J. GUIGNARD is a writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press, Dark Moon Books. He’s twice won the Bram Stoker Award (the highest literary award of horror fiction), won the Shirley Jackson Award, and been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and International Thriller Writers Award for his works of dark and speculative fiction.

He has over one hundred stories and non-fiction author credits appearing in publications around the world. As editor, Eric’s published multiple fiction anthologies, including his most recent, Pop the Clutch: Thrilling Tales of Rockabilly, Monsters, and Hot Rod Horror , and A World of Horror , a showcase of international horror short fiction.

He currently publishes the acclaimed series of author primers created to champion modern masters of the dark and macabre, Exploring Dark Short Fiction ( Vol. I: Steve Rasnic Tem ; Vol. II: Kaaron Warren ; Vol. III: Nisi Shawl ; Vol. IV: Jeffrey Ford ; Vol. V: Han Song ; Vol. VI: Ramsey Campbell).

He is also publisher and acquisitions editor for the renowned +Horror Library+ anthology series. Additionally he curates the series, The Horror Writers Association Presents: Haunted Library of Horror Classics through SourceBooks with co-editor Leslie S. Klinger.

His latest books are Last Case at a Baggage Auction ; Doorways to the Deadeye ; and short story collection That Which Grows Wild (Cemetery Dance).

Outside the glamorous and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, dogs, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com, his blog: ericjguignard.blogspot.com, or Twitter: @ericjguignard.

Reviews

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

This volume is a great way to introduce yourself to the work of Ramsey Campbell. If you are already familiar with his work, you will surely enjoy this edition, which contains an entirely new story.

I enjoyed reading all the short stories, of which there are 6, the commentaries, Ramsey's interview and essay. Also included are a bibliography and wonderful illustrations by Michelle Prebich.

This is the second book from the series that I've read, (I started with the authors already familiar to me.) I plan to read the entire series.

The Exploring Dark Short Fiction series is a wonderful collection of books, each one focused on a different author. I've said it before, but I'll say it again anyway, I feel like I've discovered a treasure trove!

Highly recommended!

*I bought this book with my hard earned cash and this is my honest opinion of it.*

[Catherine McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has long admired Ramsey Campbell's work I jumped on the chance to read and review this when I saw it on NetGalley.
The way in which this series is set out with short stories, some previously published and at least one original, plus commentaries by Michael Arnzen to accompany them is great. As well as incredible fiction you also get a chance to discover more about the author's background, accomplishments, and also an insight into what makes them tick.
The autobiographical account at the beginning reinforced my view of Ramsey as someone who is humble and generous in spirit, someone who is willing to share the self-professed foibles that occur during the learning process of becoming a true great, which he is.
Listen, I love reading the work of authors I feel I can learn from and Ramsey Campbell is one such author. Every single story is strong, therefore I struggled to determine a favourite. I found I connected to them on many levels, both from a writer's POV and as a reader.
First up is The Place of Revelation, an excellent starter story that explores childhood fears, then comes The Companion, which has a dream-like quality and is far deeper than one first realizes. The third story, The Alternative, is highly emotive and thought-provoking. I loved reading the next one, One Copy Only. It brought back memories of trips to Hay-on-Wye - a book lover's paradise on the border between Wales and England - where I've spent many an hour. The sense of place is extremely strong in this one, the impoverished part of the neighbourhood, but also the inside of the mysterious old book shop which is portrayed in such a multi-sensory way I could smell and hear it as well as visualize it. A little whimsical, this again is a story that demands not only a second reading but also for the layers to be pulled back in order to reveal its true meaning. If you write yourself and live with the fear of dying before your ideas get chance to come to fruition this is a must-read. That aspect certainly hit a nerve as far as I'm concerned.
The short story, Recently Used, laid bare my greatest fear: that of losing my husband. I felt the strength of this couple's relationship without it needing to be said. I've had nightmares of being in a similar situation to the protagonist, so this story came close to initiating a panic attack. So well written! I made copious notes on this one because it struck so many nerves and left me bereft.
The final story, The Bill, uses horror to deliver a tale of social justice and cleverly utilizes the setting of an optometrist shop in order to do so. Loved it! It even inspired a story idea of my own.
The commentator Michael Arnzen concludes the stories with an essay called Why Ramsey Campbell Matters in which he states: "He's (Campbell) literary the way all genre writing is when an author is aware of predecessors, when an author is exceedingly well-read and in love with books, and when an author is exceptionally thoughtful about the shape of the written word." I wholeheartedly agree.
This is followed by an interesting interview between Ramsey Campbell and the editor Eric Guignard and more or less concludes with an essay which explores Campbell's roots.
To conclude then, I highly recommend this Primer and look forward to reading more from the series.
I would like to thank the publisher for providing a free copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited to share this title, to which I contributed several analytical essays in addition to a longer essay, called "Why Ramsey Campbell Matters." Every one of these "primers" from Dark Moon Books includes at least one original story, on top of a selection of the author's 4-5 best short stories, with interviews and more. I would be buying this series if I wasn't already a part of it, and the Ramsey Campbell entry is an outstanding one. If you want to understand how the "uncanny" plays out in horror fiction, or about "psychological irrealism," or about how horror has evolved since the mid-20th century to the 21st century today, then check this book out!

[David Agranoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who am I to argue with The Oxford Companion to English Literature who refers to Ramsey Campbell as “Britain's most respected living horror writer.” I would never dare which is why I want to start this review with something I shouldn’t. It is like giving the terrorists a win but on one of the many horror writer Facebook groups, there is a troll I refuse to name that constantly attacks indie writers and self-published authors. While he is an asshole from time to time he does point out correctly when self-published authors release poorly edited books. The thing is instead of being helpful and supportive he is a dick. Keep in mind he asshole attacks are the only thing the dude is known for.

When he really jumped the shark as a troll was when he attacked Britain's most respected living horror writer in the group. I was surprised that a few people didn’t understand what he was doing or who he was attacking. For real guy you clearly do not know who you are messing with, but I was happy to see many people saying this is Ramsey freaking Campbell you are trolling. The author of The Face that Must Die, the Influence, The Count of Eleven, and The Doll Who Ate His Mother.
To stay he has written classic horror novels and short stories is an understatement.

In the commentary Michael Arnzen correctly points out that Campbell has a knack for titles that are both genius and simple at the same time. That said I mean he has titles like The Face that Must Die that are over the top and awesome. How can you not be interested in a book with that title?

So Campbell in the Exploring Dark Fiction series is a combo I have been waiting for. I have been on record 5 times before that I think Guignard and Arnzen are doing amazing work. These books are pretty, well designed, and overflowing with important commentary. You don’t just get the stories you get insights into the stories. Each volume is like a masterclass in storytelling and that has never been more clear than this edition. That is because each volume comes with several essays, commentaries, and an interview with the author. Of the six stories, 5 are classics chosen to highlight Campbell’s skill and an original tale.

All six stories show a command and skill for genre storytelling that many writers could stand to slow down and look carefully at. That is the power of a book like this. There are moments in each one of the stories we could drill down on. The first story “The Place of Revelation” was not my favorite although it had one of my favorite moments of beautiful prose.

“As soon as you went in the woods you had to step on shadows everywhere, and that was the only way you knew there was still a sun. And the day was so still it felt like the woods were pretending they never breathed, but the shadows kept moving whenever he wasn’t looking-he kept nearly seeing very tall ones hiding behind trees.”

For this horror author reading that prose is like taking an awesome sugary bite of a good cookie. Yum. It is a very moody and dark piece of coming-of-age horror. Like many of the stories in this collection when you finish it you’ll want to re-read because the ending always seems to provide extra weight to the stories.

The second story The Companion is set in a fairground and the neatest trick of the story is the fairgrounds themselves feel like a living breathing monster. I liked that about. The alternative is one that I feel like I read before, but I could be wrong about that. It is a kind of sleight of hand story about a man living a double life. It has some themes about choice, and how we make them. Only One Copy is a fun story that is about a haunted bookshop. This one is fun for book nerds.

My two favorite stories of the book were the new one The Bill the story and the story of Spousal loss in Recently Used. Both stories felt very haunting, each of them has a zinger ending that is clear. Sometimes I feel horror authors use too much mystery in the last moments of stories like these. Recently Used has a looping element and Campbell explores the idea that someone who has lost everything might get stuck repeating the madness of sorrow. It is a powerful story.

The Bill the last story is a moody and sad piece about a character who intends to be good and has a good heart. This story more than the others seems to have a morality and message to the ending. It also has a moment of amazing horror prose.

“As he walked home he couldn’t tell whether a stray animal kept darting ahead of him. He seemed to hear its claws on the pavement, and each time he reached one of the dark gaps between streetlamps he thought it could be there waiting for him.”

Ramsey Campbell is one of the greatest horror writers living and it is moments like these that really hammer it home. If you need a primer to his work then start here for stories and The Face That Must Die for novels. I'll be around and you can thank me later.

[Horror DNA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since arriving on the worldwide horror stage over fifty years ago, Ramsey Campbell has become a pivotal figure of the genre and his literary shadow of influence can be seen in the significant body of authors who have both followed and been inspired by him. In recent years, academic studies of his work have begun to appear and his reputation has spread beyond being known as a simple ‘genre’ writer and in this most recent example, A Primer to Ramsey Campbell, six short stories are featured and analysed. This is a very nice gentle introduction to Campbell; avid fans are unlikely to discover that much which is new, but the stories chosen by Eric Guignard are clever selections and illustrate the full range of the strangeness, subtleties, and originality in Campbell’s short fiction, rather than horror of the bloodier type. Simply put, Ramsey Campbell is an absolute master of the short story and to simply label him ‘genre fiction’ is a great injustice and Exploring Dark Short Fiction #6: A Primer to Ramsey Campbell illustrates that he is much, much more.

You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is an excellent introduction to Ramsey Campbell writings of the supernatural, the weird, the dark and more. Campbell is an amazing author (at least I think so). He has won many awards. The book includes a biography of him and includes a bibliography of his works. There’s an author interview which I found to be quite interesting. There are six short stories with commentary after then. There is an article written about why Campbell’s works matter. Illustrations are perfect for the book. I truly enjoyed the stories and learning more about Campbell. It’s a book that should not be missed!

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Jeremiah Dylan Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visit http://www.jeremiahdylancook.com/a-pr... for my full review.

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review coming soon. But go ahead and pick this one up. You’ll love it!

[D.K. Hundt · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION #6: A PRIMER TO RAMSEY CAMPBELL Created by Eric J. Guignard

Commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD

Interior illustrations by Michelle Prebich – LOVE!

ABOUT RAMSEY CAMPBELL - AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL ACCOUNT

To this, I can relate:

‘As not much more than a toddler I epitomised a horror fan—the kind who, having been terrified almost beyond bearing by a tale they’ve read, repeat the experience or seek out a similar one as soon as they’ve begun to recover.’

I have yet but dipped a toe in the Ramsey Campbell Catalogue, present-day works though I am intrigued to delve deeper into the darkness that lies within the pages of his older works and Collections.

The following is a collaboration of shorts; upon completion of each is a well-thought-out in-depth commentary provided by Michael Arnzen, PhD.

My personal favorites are:

‘THE PLACE OF REVELATION’ – One aspect of Campbell’s writing is how he describes a particular scene. In this short, a young boy is retelling his Uncles story—I love how Campbell writes it! Here’s a snippet:

‘“All he could see was more hedge at the sides of a bendy path. So he followed it round and round, and it felt like going inside a shell. Then he got dizzy with running to find the middle, because it seemed to take hours and the bends never got any smaller. But just when he was thinking he’d stop and turn back if the spiky hedges let him, he came to where the path led all round a pond that was covered with ice. Only the pond oughtn’t to have been so big, all the path he’d run round should have squeezed it little. So he was walking round the pond to see if he could find the trick when the sun showed him the flat white faces everywhere under the ice.”’

‘THE ALTERNATIVE’

‘It was by no means the only faded red door he’d seen since leaving the dual carriageway, nor the only door on which a number was askew; but the sight of the 9 dangling upside-down as if the final 3 had been subtracted from it seemed disconcertingly familiar.’

I love this description of the inverted house number, a foretelling, if you will, of the main characters' upside-down alternate reality and the rationale that follows.

‘ONE COPY ONLY’ – I Love This One! – As the reader, you will enter Books Forever, a hole-in-the-wall book store wherein rare books surround you—every Bibliophile's dream come true.

‘RECENTLY USED’ – Wow! A heartbreakingly good story about loss and grief.

‘THE BILL’ – Guilt plays havoc on the mind, or is it real? You will have to read this Collection and find out. ;)

At the end of the book, you will find an essay written by Michael Arnzen, PhD, titled WHY RAMSEY CAMPBELL MATTERS, followed by an interview–IN CONVERSATION WITH RAMSEY CAMPBELL, by ERIC J. GUIGNARD, and concluding with MY ROOTS EXHUMED: AN ESSAY BY RAMSEY CAMPBELL.

Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Dark Moon Books, for providing me with an eBook of EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION #6: A PRIMER TO RAMSEY CAMPBELL, at the request of an honest review.

[Jonathan Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continuing the “Exploring Dark Short Fiction” series is a treat. A study of both fiction and of the author’s life and inspirations, a great survey of noteworthy authors. This volume is for the luminary Ramsey Campbell, a global treasure. 5 of his previously printed short stories plus 1 heart-wrenching new story! Overall excellent introduction to Ramsey Campbell’s work if you’re not familiar with him, and a wonderful reacquaintance, if you are.

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was tempted to remove one star because of the commentary section, but felt it would have been unfair as the stories themselves are not three star material.

If you’re at all interested in horror/supernatural tales/ghost stories, you’re probably already familiar with Ramsey Campbell. I have to admit that while I love some of his short fiction, I’m not all that enamoured of his various stylistical tics, and I’ve yet to find a novel of his that I truly like. This collection of tales was a nice reminder of what is great about Campbell – his Jamesian (Monty, not Henry) imagination and sensibilities, his very particular view of the world, his special brand of dark. I liked the first couple of stories best, especially the first two; to me, the weakest of the bunch was “The Alternative” with its bleak, heavy-handed social commentary (also nothing new for Campbell), but of course that’s simply a question of personal taste.
So the stories are fine. There’s a bit of biographical material, interviews, essays and such, which are actually great and very fun to read – highly recommended. There’s some drawings, which I personally didn’t think were all that necessary, but hey.
And then there’s the commentary.
I have no idea who “Michael Arnzen, PhD” is (yes, that’s how he signs his name, every single time), but I found his interpretations of the respective stories over-earnest and self-importantly Literary to the point of parody. I mean, here comes Mr Campbell with one of his elegant, light-footed batty little tales, and Mr Arnzen, PhD comes down on it like a ton of bricks in what I guess is supposed to be Scholarly Expertise but reads like kitchen sink psychology of the most unimaginative kind and sucks the life right out of the story. Why would you even need these?! I mean, these are contemporary ghost stories, for crying out loud; if you live in this world and partake in everyday activities you should be able to catch what they are about. It’s not Beowulf. It’s not Kafka. Read them; you’ll be fine. Even without a PhD (hey, I’m only a lowly MA).
Personally, I would advise to skip the inane commentary section (I did, after the first two or three made me angry and howl with laughter at the same time, which turns out not to be the most pleasant experience) and just stick to the stories and the About the Author bits. Which, incidentally, include more ghostly tales, this time of the real life variety. Fun!
Unless you’re invited to spend the night in the Campbells’ guest room. Then, well. Good luck to you.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[GD · Rating 4 out of 5]

The commentary on these stories is a little shallow but overall this is a great book. I haven't read any Ramsey Campbell short fiction for probably over 20 years except for the occasional appearance in a Best Of the Year anthology every once in awhile, and I thought this would be a good way to get back. I'd only read one of these stories before, "The Companion," and reading it again now I think I can see where Thomas Ligotti came from. The newest story here, written for this book in 2019 or 202o, "The Bill," was excellent, and convinced me that the septuagenarian has still got it. Nice essays, an interview, and a useful bibliography at the end.

[Jay Rothermel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Primer to Ramsey Campbell is a celebration of what the author does best. For sixty years, he has written the finest short horror fiction. Time has not staled his skill, curiosity, or  wit. 

Below are my thoughts on the five stories published in A Primer to Ramsey Campbell. I have also quoted salient critical remarks from A Primer's Michael Arnzen, PhD, and from the brief author memoir also included.

Full: http://jayrothermel.blogspot.com/2022...

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's a great introduction to one of our greatest contemporary horror writer.
Six short story, a biography, comments about the story.
An excellent primer and a good introduction to this excellent writer.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Sarah Budd · Rating 5 out of 5]

After devouring Exploring Dark Fiction #7 A Primer to Gemma Files I immediately dived in to this one featuring an author who needs no introduction in the horror community - Ramsey Campbell!
This series is such a fantastic way to get to know an author. It features six short stories from Ramsey Campbell including a new tale written especially for the series. There's also a bibliography as well as an author interview!
Ramsey Campbell's tales have a habit of getting under your skin and not letting you go even after you finish writing. I really enjoyed all the tales featured within!