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Some Things Weird And Wicked: 12 Stories to Chill Your Bones
Stories of scarifying suspense, haunting uncertainty, and disquieting terror from the fanciful imaginations of nineteenthand twentieth-century English and American writers
- GenresHorror
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 12, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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December 19, 2021PLACEHOLDER REVIEW
"Playmates" by A.M. Burrage - Stephen Everton, lifelong bachelor, historical scholar and not really amenable to the idea of children, inexplicably finds himself adopting an 8 year old girl, an orphan left in that state by the death of a casual friend. And Everton has the conviction that he will raise the girl, Monica, without the social and cultural influence of modern schools and fellow children. This seems to fit all right with the quiet, and somewhat introverted girl, who learns on her own from his vast library, receiving only some basic schooling from his housemaid. But when, as Monica becomes a 12-year-old, the household decamps to a home in Sussex for Everton's health, she suddenly seems more sprightly and playful, and begins to talk of her never -seen fellow playmates, seven girls who teach her games and aged slang. Everton, who believes in telepathy, has the slightest awareness of these playmates as well, and chalks it up to receiving the impression from the imaginative young girl. But later, the local vicar introduces some historic details to the puzzle... This is an odd story, it must be said. When I read it years ago I noted it as "excellent" and on re-reading it, I have no problem with that assessment. And yet, while it IS a classic British ghost story in a sense, it is not one in the M.R. James mold, as it is never trying to be scary (one might say that, at most, it is somewhat "eerie" at times - a very fragile mood to pull off). And yet, it's not really a "sentimental ghost story" or, perhaps it is but just a superior example of that form, never resorting to mawkishness or being soppy. In fact, I can honestly say that the ending of the tale is by turns touching, moving and even somewhat beautiful as the reality of the supernatural, indistinct as it is, changes a number of lives. Quite charming.
"Playmates" by A.M. Burrage - Stephen Everton, lifelong bachelor, historical scholar and not really amenable to the idea of children, inexplicably finds himself adopting an 8 year old girl, an orphan left in that state by the death of a casual friend. And Everton has the conviction that he will raise the girl, Monica, without the social and cultural influence of modern schools and fellow children. This seems to fit all right with the quiet, and somewhat introverted girl, who learns on her own from his vast library, receiving only some basic schooling from his housemaid. But when, as Monica becomes a 12-year-old, the household decamps to a home in Sussex for Everton's health, she suddenly seems more sprightly and playful, and begins to talk of her never -seen fellow playmates, seven girls who teach her games and aged slang. Everton, who believes in telepathy, has the slightest awareness of these playmates as well, and chalks it up to receiving the impression from the imaginative young girl. But later, the local vicar introduces some historic details to the puzzle... This is an odd story, it must be said. When I read it years ago I noted it as "excellent" and on re-reading it, I have no problem with that assessment. And yet, while it IS a classic British ghost story in a sense, it is not one in the M.R. James mold, as it is never trying to be scary (one might say that, at most, it is somewhat "eerie" at times - a very fragile mood to pull off). And yet, it's not really a "sentimental ghost story" or, perhaps it is but just a superior example of that form, never resorting to mawkishness or being soppy. In fact, I can honestly say that the ending of the tale is by turns touching, moving and even somewhat beautiful as the reality of the supernatural, indistinct as it is, changes a number of lives. Quite charming.
October 10, 2012
done reading! my personal faves are:
The Wind in the Rose-Bush by Mary E. Wilkins
My Friend Paton by Julian Hawthorne
Playmates by A.M. Burrage
It's a Good Life by Jerome Bixby
the Transferred Ghost by Frank Stockton
liking the read so far. glad i bought it. got my copy at a book sale. HARDCOVER with a diff cover art and in very good condition... like this one - http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I... copyright 1976
The Wind in the Rose-Bush by Mary E. Wilkins
My Friend Paton by Julian Hawthorne
Playmates by A.M. Burrage
It's a Good Life by Jerome Bixby
the Transferred Ghost by Frank Stockton
liking the read so far. glad i bought it. got my copy at a book sale. HARDCOVER with a diff cover art and in very good condition... like this one - http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I... copyright 1976
January 22, 2020
A strange mixed bag of stories. I was pretty surprised to see Jerome Bixby’s “It’s a Good Life” (yes, THAT Twilight Zone ep) again here!
March 5, 2009
A good short story collection that contains To Build a Fire by Jack London, The Wind in the Rose Bush by Mary Wilkins, and It's a Good Life by Jerome Bixby. It's a Good Life is that story about the kid with special powers, and the cornfield where he puts the things that have gone wrong. I read this story during my formative years, and it's haunted me ever since.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews