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The Ghost Sequences
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November 2021 monthly read (2 of 2): A.C. Wise's The Ghost Sequences
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I just got this book in the post and see what you mean about the cover! It's beautiful.
I have read the first two stories and I am already a fan of the writing and storytelling style of this author!Also is it really wrong that I want to have that Ghost hunter app ! :)
"The Stories We Tell About Ghosts" appeared in Looming Low Vol. 1, which we read as a buddy read a few years ago. My reaction is about the same the second time around. Love the concept, not a fan of the execution. I just finished "The Secret of Flight", and I feel pretty much the same about most of the stories so far. "...Flight" in particular had quite a few components that I'm very interested in: flocking birds, weird disappearances, odd epistolary narratives, hints of a queer love affair... but they don't seem to come together for me.
Bill wrote: ""The Stories We Tell About Ghosts" appeared in Looming Low Vol. 1, which we read as a buddy read a few years ago. My reaction is about the same the second time around. Love the concept, not a fan o..."Funny, I loved "The Stories We Tell About Ghosts." I had read it in Looming Low Vil. 1, and not only it was one of my favorites in that collection, but it was also the reason that led me to read The Ghost Sequences.
I first read A. C. Wise's "The Stories We Tell About Ghosts" in Looming Low, Vol. 1. I loved it so much that I preordered this collection as soon as I've heard about it, and I dove into it with very high expectations. I found the first story, "How the Trick is Done," to be very well written, but I didn't really connect with it, so I shook off my initial disappointment and moved on to a second read of "The Stories We Tell About Ghosts," which I loved just as much as the first time I read it. "The Last Sailing of the Henry Charles Morgan in Six Pieces of Scrimshaw (1841)" was an interesting concept that, sadly, fell flat to me. "Harvest Song, Gathering Song," on the other hand, checked all the boxes for me! I can definitely see why Ellen Datlow selected it for her Best Horror of the Year anthology. "The Secret of Flight" is told through a series of play scripts, letters, newspaper clippings, and such. I enjoyed reading a story in this format, and I thought it all came together nicely in the end. I'll update as I read more.
Netanella wrote: "how's this:"
This cover is gorgeous, isn't it?
Adriane wrote: "I first read A. C. Wise's "The Stories We Tell About Ghosts" in Looming Low, Vol. 1. I loved it so much that I preordered this collection as soon as I've heard about it, and I dove into it with ver..."I have only read as far as The Secret of Flight and have to agree with a lot of what you have said. So far I love Wise's storytelling style - its quite episodic - almost like short movies? It was very suitable to the epistolary format of the secret of flight.
I really must hurry up a finish reading this collection. Ruth Ozeki and Sara Waters have diverted my attention from it somewhat :)
This is an excellent collection. I had the privilege of reading an eARC of this earlier this year and am excited to see it out in the world. I fell in love with the work of A.C. Wise when I first heard “Final Girl Theory” over on PseudoPod (https://pseudopod.org/2012/06/22/pseu...) This collection delivers everything I love about her work - a little bit of cosmic horror and a whole lot of hauntings.
I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts when y'all get to Exhalation and Nag Bride.
I know I sound like a broken record, but I liked the concept of "Exhalation #10", but not the writing. I prefer a tighter treatment, with less getting in and out of cars, trampling around the countryside etc. In addition, I'm very interested in dark fiction with queer characters, but I'm not a fan of the elaboration of cliched queer obsession/relationship tropes here.Similar reaction to "I Dress My Love in Yellow". I assume yellow is a reference to Carcosa? Nice concept, but I don't think the different pieces came together for me.
Bill wrote: "I know I sound like a broken record, but I liked the concept of "Exhalation #10", but not the writing. I prefer a tighter treatment, with less getting in and out of cars, trampling around the count..."Bill, how did you like "Crossing"? I finished it last night. I didn't expect to like it as much as I did!
Last call to vote on our December monthly read:https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
If you vote on a book and it wins, you're committing to participate in the discussions.
And the winner of our December poll: Adam Nevill's Cunning Folk!https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I got a late start on this one. Across all of the stories, the best thing about the collection is the characterization. The author fits in a lot of character details for short stories. "The Stories We Tell About Ghosts," "Harvest Song, Gathering Song," and "The Ghost Sequences" are three stories that I think really stand out for their characterization.I ended up liking "How to Host a Haunted House Murder Mystery Party," but I didn't care for the first half that much. Even though I've seen scrimshaw before, I could not picture anything in "The Last Sailing of the 'Henry Charles Morgan' in Six Pieces of Scrimshaw (1841)." "In the End, It Always Turns Out the Same" had some good ideas, but I think it tried to do too much having all the members of the alternate universe Scooby Gang narrate.
I liked how "Exhalation #10" made the reader complicit with the snuff film. There was a certain uncomfortable closeness in that story.Also, apologies for the shameless plug of an audio version of "The Last Sailing of the 'Henry Charles Morgan' in Six Pieces of Scrimshaw (1841)." https://pseudopod.org/2019/01/18/pp-6...
Literary Horror
Books mentioned in this topic
Cunning Folk (other topics)The Ghost Sequences (other topics)
Monthly book #2 will be A.C. Wise's collection The Ghost Sequences. I love the cover; but it needs to be bigger than a thumbnail to be appreciated.
A couple reviews:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-...
https://www.britishfantasysociety.org...
The Ghost Sequences is available on paper and as an e-book. Let's start close to next weekend.