January 2017 Group Read - The Imago Sequence and Other Stories

[Jo]

This is to discuss the Imago Sequence and other Stories by Laird Barron.

[Jo]

I know nothing about this book or author whatsoever so i'm looking forward to starting 2017 with something new. I just need to buy the book.

[Ronald]

I've read some of Laird Barron's fiction where they first appeared. I think he is fantastic writer, a leader in our current renaissance of the weird tale.

I intend to participate in the discussion and hope that others like this book.

[Ronald]

"Old Virginia"
The narrator is involved in a CIA black ops and encounters something that can mean the doom of the human race. Pulpy good fun. I like the Forteana in the story too, such as reference to MK-ULTRA and to the lost Roanoke Colony. 4 stars.

[Jo]

I've got my copy now so plan to start reading tomorrow.

[Leo]

Just read the first two stories. Not too exited yet. I think I have a problem with the style of writing.

[Buck]

My library doesn't have this book. It's a little pricier that most Kindle books. It'll have to wait in line for other things I'm reading. I'll get it later this month, if the discussion shows it to be worthwhile.

[Jo]

I started reading this and realised I was under a false impression of what the stories were going to be like. I heard various comparisons with H P Lovecraft and mentions of horror so I was quite expecting a very dark book.

The first story was good fun, the second slightly odd then I read the third. It's quite like one of J.G. Ballard really crazy stories. It really is quite a mix so far I have no idea what style the 4th story will be.

[Donna Rae]

Just finished 'Procession of the Black Sloth'; really enjoyed this 'crazy' story, but I have to confess at being more confused by the ending than I was at the beginning. Could be the point of course, considering Royce's predicament, but I think I'm gonna have to re-read it - I've probably missed something vital along the way!

[Ronald]

Here is a reddit discussion, in which Laird Barron participated, about "Shiva, Open Your Eye":
https://www.reddit.com/r/Lovecraft/co...

My comments: It was Laird Barron's first professional sale. The story is largely devoid of plot, which is a-typical for Barron, for all the other stuff I've read by him is big on plot. The narrator is some sort of cosmic being though " No direct reference to Azathoth or Nyarlathotep was intended." I give it 3.5 stars.

Currently reading "The Procession of the Black Sloth". You know, there is something about apartment buildings in horror fiction. One of finest works of strange fiction I've read is _The Tenant_ by Roland Topor, where a new tenant in an apartment building descends into madness. I've have some strange experiences in apartment buildings that could fit right in such stories. My running rating for "The Procession of the Black Sloth is 4 stars.
Came across some interesting info about the story here:
http://www.theywhodwellinthecracks.co...

[Leo]

Also finished Black Sloth. Though I enjoyed parts of it, in my eyes the story was going nowhere and I got lost in it the whole time. But all I see is 4 and 5-star-ratings, so I guess it's my problem. Anyway, still reading on. There's allways the next story.

[Jo]

I'm not sure i'm up to 4 stars yet. I thought Procession of the Black Sloth was the best story so far and certainly weird fiction. I'm now reading Bulldozer which is going to have to be really well written for me to like it, as it's seeming a bit like a western, and I really hate westerns.

[Donna Rae]

Jo wrote: "I'm not sure i'm up to 4 stars yet. I thought Procession of the Black Sloth was the best story so far and certainly weird fiction. I'm now reading Bulldozer which is going to have to be really well..."

I finished that one today, Jo, and I have to admit, I felt the same at first. However, it turns into a really good one (I thought).

[Jo]

I'm not sure I enjoyed Bulldozer so much. I think if stories are going to be weird, I like them to start off weird and continue that way. I don't really like the style of writing of this one. It kind of starts off as a conventional story and then just adds something weird in it towards the end. Not a terrible story, just preferred some of the others more.

[Leo]

Hallucigenia: now this is a story I like. Glad I didn't give up.

[Jo]

Leo wrote: "Hallucigenia: now this is a story I like. Glad I didn't give up."

Just finished it and have to agree, certainly the best one so far. It's really creepy.

[Jo]

So i'm onto the last story and so far I have to say it is a fairly mixed bag. I'm coming to the conclusion the longer the story, the better and so maybe I should try to read one of his full length novels to judge him properly.

I admit, that i'm not the greatest fan of short stories and believe there are very few authors that write convincing short stories. I've been reading reviews on the internet and whilst this one is more convinced than me she generally rates the stories in the same order as I do. She also says the last story, The Imago sequence is the creepiest which is good as Hallucigenia was extremely creepy.

http://www.oddlyweirdfiction.com/2013...

[Jo]

I finished this at the weekend and I have mixed feelings about it. There were 2 stories that I particularly liked Hallucigenia and The Imago Sequence. I quite liked the Procession of the Black Sloth and the rest of the stories were OK but I wasn't overwhelmed. For me the longer stories were better as I think the ideas were developed better, there were a couple of the shorter stories that seemed a bit rushed. Based on those I liked, I think I would read a longer novel by Barron but i'm not sure i'd read another set of short stories.

[Leo]

Same here. Hallucigenia and Imago Sequence are the only stories I really liked in the book. I think those were the stories written in a more sober and to the point style compared to the other, indeed shorter stories. What I liked better. I also think I would really appreciate a longer novel.

[Ed]

I started this one late, so I'm benefiting from you guy's comments to focus on the more popular stories and skip the others!

I enjoyed 'Proboscis' and 'Hallucigenia', though they, especially 'Hallucigenia', were confusing. I'm not sure I fully understood either one. I read 'The Royal Zoo is Closed' and did not understand it at all. Would love to hear an explanation of that one.

I plan to read 'The Imago Sequence' story itself, but haven't got around to it yet. Something about this book is hard for me to read. I started Old Man's War last night and read through half of it in much less time than it took me to get through 3 stories in 'Imago'! The prose there just flows along much faster.

These stories remind me of Lovecraft in one way: they create a creepy atmosphere and hint at horrifying creatures but don't directly describe them much. The sense of horror comes largely from your own imagination, as you are left to imagine most of the details. That is a good technique, but it gets old for me fast. After a few such stories I learn to expect that there will be little payoff or conclusion. It is one of the main reasons I find Lovecraft, and most works inspired by him, uninteresting. (One exception, I loved Lovecraft Country, but the stories in that don't follow that formula.)

The prose here is very 'masculine'. I don't know exactly what I mean by that. It isn't the short, direct sentences of Hemmingway. But still there is something about it that feels like you are talking to tough guys, men's men, cops, etc., even when the prose is not direct.

[Donna Rae]

The impression I got was that all the stories are linked by the same malevolent entity - just different episodes within different eras. In many of these occurrences, the same territory/ place forms the focal point of a cosmic force, much like Jeff VanderMeer's 'Southern Reach Trilogy' (Annihilation, etc) and very much like Lovecraft's Arkham and his invention of Cthulu-ism (not a word, but it should be). Indeed, Lovecraft is the main man all these recent 'New Weird' writers cite as their main influence, under the banner of cosmic horror.

For my own part, I love it.

[Leo]

Ed wrote: "I started Old Man's War last night and read through half of it in much less time than it took me to get through 3 stories in 'Imago'! The prose there just flows along much faster."
That's good news, maybe I'll manage to finish both books this month after all! Indeed the styles are incomparable. For me too the Imago Sequence felt like hard work and, due to not being native english speaking, sometimes difficult to follow. Had to reread a lot of parts to understand wat was said. But I'm glad to have read it. It's nice to have a variation in style and stories.
Btw, when you check out the reviews here on goodreads, you'll find some explaining the stories.

[Leo]

Ronald wrote: "Came across some interesting info about the story here:
http://www.theywhodwellinthecracks.co... "
And indeed here's a lot being explained. I like the "Barronisms"!

[Leo]

Donna Rae wrote: "Indeed, Lovecraft is the main man all these recent 'New Weird' writers cite as their main influence, under the banner of cosmic horror."
I would like to read a HP Lovecraft title after this one, to compare it with. Any suggestions?

[Donna Rae]

Leo wrote: "Donna Rae wrote: "Indeed, Lovecraft is the main man all these recent 'New Weird' writers cite as their main influence, under the banner of cosmic horror."
I would like to read a HP Lovecraft title ..."

Hi Leo,

Most of his work is now in anthology form, collecting all his stories together in one tome. There are lots of them out there, but as a suggestion, how about this one: H.P. Lovecraft Complete Fiction? The kindle edition is only £2.20 on Amazon.co.uk, or £11.96 in paperback, if that helps. Don't know about Amazon in other countries, but you're bound to find a complete anthology of his works wherever you are. Good luck, and enjoy!

[Leo]

Thanks, didn't know there existed this massive collection. I'll take a look, chance is it keeps me busy for the rest of the year...

[Donna Rae]

Leo wrote: "Thanks, didn't know there existed this massive collection. I'll take a look, chance is it keeps me busy for the rest of the year..."

My pleasure. My own particular favourites (although I haven't read everything yet) are 'The Shadow Over Innsmouth' and 'The Haunter of the Dark'.

[Ronald]

I'm glad that people liked the story "Hallucigenia". I read the story when it first appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, and I thought, here's a writer to keep an eye on.

I've seen two people recently (elsewhere on the internet) express the view that an artist should be judged by their best work. It also seems to be an implicitly held view--for example, when people think of Kafka they think of _The Metamorphosis_ and _The Trial_, not the story "Blumfeld, an Elderly Bachelor". That view seems sensible to me.

There hasn't been much discussion on the other group read _Old Man's War_. I'm not into the science fiction sub-genre of future war so its unlikely I'll be reading it. I recognize that is a matter of taste.

[Ed]

I decided not to finish this book. I enjoyed a few of the stories, but decided to move on to other things.

Ronald, I also don't care for books of "future war" but I enjoyed Old Man's War anyway. Yes the main character is a soldier in a war, but it feels more like a light adventure story.

[Suki]

I'm late finishing this one. I really enjoyed all the stories for different reasons- I agree with the previous comments about the stories being a good mix. Sometimes story collections obsess on a single theme, but I thought there was a nice variety throughout this one.