Pieces for Puppets and Other Cadavers

by D.P. Watt

The author presents 6 supernatural tales, entitled 'Dr. Dapertutto's saturnalia', 'Room', 'The Hobby', 'The Comrade', 'Of Those who Follow Emile Bilonche' and 'The Condition'.

96 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

About the author

D.P. Watt is a writer living between Scotland and England in an otherworldly, misty borderland. His collection of stories, An Emporium of Automata was reprinted by Eibonvale Press in 2013, and his second collection, The Phantasmagorical Imperative and Other Fabrications, is now available in paperback. A third collection, Almost Insentient, Almost Divine, appeared with Undertow Publications in 2016 and was nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award. He won the Ghost Story Award 2015 for his story ‘Shallabalah’ published in The Ghosts and Scholars Newsletter, no 26.You can find him at The Interlude House: www.theinterludehouse.co.uk

Reviews

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice book from Inkerman Press, whom I had never heard of, I wrote to them, I ordered some of their other books. The stories within "Pieces for Puppets and Other Cadavers" are good, and certainly worth having, however these are not Mr. Watt's best.

Contents:

ACT I - PAST PUPPETS: Three Stories:

1) "Dr. Dapertutto's Saturnalia
2) "Room 89"
3) "The Hobby"

AN INTERLUDE: "Bookworms (Some Strange Experiences in Cheltenham)"

ACT II - MODERN MARIONETTES: Three Stories

1) "Glorious White Marble Lady"
2) "Of Those Who Follow Emile Bilonche"
3) "The Comrade"

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book (interestingly recommended by Amazon, on the basis of my other purchses) was my introduction to D.P. Watt, and I must admit that I would love to read more works by him. The book is divided into three parts: -

ACT I - PAST PUPPETS: This has three stories:
a) Dr. Dapertutto's Saturnalia: a chilling and exquisitely crafted story set in post-1917 Moscow, that immnediately brings Reggie Oliver's works to mind.
b) Room 89: the best story in this book, in the vein of the very best of H.R. Wakefield works.
c) The Hobby: the ending was predictable, but it was good.

AN INTERLUDE: Bookworms (Some Strange Experiences in Cheltenham)
A Mythos-novella, which may also be read as one man's descent into paranoia & insanity. Very Good.

ACT II - MODERN MARIONETTES: This has three stories again, but they marred the book for me by being too experimental:
a) Glorious White Marble Lady: a retelling of Pygmalion with sinsiter hints?
b) Of Those Who Follow Emile Bilonche: this is one 'story' (?) of whose neither head nor tail could be made by me (perhaps those more attuned towards Robert Aickman might succeed).
c) The Comrade: an exploration of death and its impact??

The Inkerman Press has done a fantastic job with this book, in terms of production values, and yet there is no preface/afterword/story-notes from the author. This was sorely missed by me, because it could have given me a glimpse into the author's intent. so far as the final three 'stories' are concerned. Nevertheless, it is superior to many other mass-produced anthologies that are swapping the market. Recommended, somewhat haltingly, I have to admit.

[John Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories may be short but are excellent in their writing as well as their pacing.
I was particularily impressed with Room 819; which recalled classic authors such as Le Fanu or Onions, but lacked the flowery prose that can sometimes leave the reader confused (or maybe just me!)
I am definately going to be seeking out other works by Mr. Watt...