tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77477988679336634912024-03-13T04:07:58.077-07:00M R Cosby's blogMRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-87896115764788433512019-09-07T05:36:00.001-07:002019-09-07T05:40:26.984-07:00 The Trains Don't Stop HereIt's been a long, long time since my last blog post. One of the main reasons for this – apart from life being way too busy in general – is that, in my dwindling amounts of spare time, I've been concentrating on writing. My first collection, <i>Dying Embers</i>, was published back in 2014 and I have been at serious risk of Second Album Syndrome. I wondered if my follow-up collection would ever happen. However, about a year back, I realised that the bones of something was coming together, so with some dedication I have at last completed the first draft of <i>The Trains Don't Stop Here and other strange adventures</i>.<br />
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Here are the 10 stories therein, not necessarily in order:<br />
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The Other Side of the HIll<br />
The Bells Line of Road<br />
The Trains Don't Stop Here<br />
Not So Much Pride, More Perseverance<br />
Strike Three<br />
Paradise Point<br />
Brokehaven Lighthouse<br />
Turning the Cup<br />
Dark Matter<br />
I'm Not a Timid Man<br />
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These are loosely related tales of urban strangeness. They are in the same vein as <i>Dying Embers</i>, but less overtly autobiographical. Several have been published elsewhere; The Other Side of the Hill was in CM Muller's <i>Nightscript III</i>, Strike Three was in the <i>Dark Lane Anthology</i> by Tim Jeffreys and Turning the Cup was in <i>Haunted</i>, edited by Alex Davis. Oh, and Paradise Point will be part of CM Muller's upcoming <i>Nightscript V</i>.<br />
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I'm pleased with the way these stories sit together and I feel that they move on in a satisfying way from those which comprise <i>Dying Embers</i>. I'm hopeful that the collection will become available at some stage, but I realise that it may take a while to find a suitable home. In the meantime, my intention is to resurrect this blog with some reviews and chat about strange and darksome tales in general. Watch this space!<br />
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<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-34413990986011277082018-11-06T18:29:00.000-08:002018-11-06T18:43:15.289-08:00We Were Strangers, edited by Richard V. HirstTwo things I love so much – short stories and Joy Division. What could be better?<br />
"We Were Strangers" is a very well presented collection of 10 short stories, all of which are inspired in some way by legendary Mancunian band Joy Division. Each story takes its title from one of their songs, but doesn't necessarily reflect that song in particular.<br />
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Nicholas Royle, a writer whose short fiction I have loved ever since I read "Archway" in an obscure collection many years back, kicks off proceedings with "Disorder". This is a fascinating opener, in which the only words used by the author are those which appear in the song itself (obviously, in a different order and multiples thereof!). The result is a dreamlike sequence, almost stream of consciousness, but with enough of a narrative to drive the story to a satisfyingly bleak conclusion. Subsequent stories are no less bleak yet powerful. "Day of the Lords" by Jenn Ashworth is a thoughtful tale about a returning serviceman and the family he has lost touch with, due to some kind of undiagnosed PTSD. <i>"It wasn't always like this," Rick said, as if reading his mind. He gestured towards the photographs on the wall, sun-faded now, and still in their brown, gold-embossed cardboard frames from the photographer. "I was different. I was all right. Before I went out there."</i><br />
Next up, "Candidate" by Jessie Greengrass is about a dystopian near-future in which citizens are used as pawns in a bizarre game: concisely realised and exactly the kind of world which could be created from the lyrics of the title song. "Insight", by David Gaffney, on the other hand, comes from left-field, in which the mysterious John Ireland is collecting garages in Macclesfield. But to what end? Then, in "New Dawn Fades" by Sophie Mackintosh, the downfall of the protagonist is plotted through a rogue computer which seems to be actively reinforcing her bizarre geographical obsessions.<br />
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"Transmission" by Zoe McLean is a graphic story (see above). It does well to capture the poetical strangeness of Joy Division lyrics and adds a new dimension to the book – although perhaps the artwork is a little too Radiohead-ish for my liking. The next story, "She's Lost Control", by Zoe Lambert, is perhaps the most predictable in the collection, but it is also one of the best. The young protagonist here suffers from fits and, understandably, she pushes back against her over-protective mother. It is set in the '70s or early-'80s – Dictaphones and <i>Granada Reports</i> – but the success of the tale lies where hope and compassion are found where they are least expected. <i>"That night, she lies in bed, a chill creeping under the duvet, her nose and fingers cold. She knows how it goes. She starts a job. Has a fit. Loses her job. She had one on her first day at Parker Bradburn's in front of a queue of customers. She was let go – too much of a health and safety danger and it upset the customers."</i><br />
"Shadowplay", by Toby Litt, is a concise, ice-cold tale of pure science fiction; followed aptly by "Wilderness", by Eley Williams, which concerns an ice-rink re-surfacer. <i>"I re-buff things for a living and gloss things over. I think about the weight of athletes obsessively, the pressure they put on the ice."</i> A chance meeting with a balloon seller at a zoo opens his mind to the possibility of human interaction despite the ice running through his veins. But are his feelings entirely innocent?<br />
In Louise Marr's "Interzone", the protagonist is unexpectedly successful in her quest for employment – straight from a waitressing job, she becomes a Project Manager – yet she feels out of place and unable to "play the game" in an important meeting. Her mind drifts restlessly and the city holds a fascination for her. This is a slight story, but it explores the sense of disjointedness which is reflected in many songs by Joy Division. <i>"I thought about the railway lines outside, ranging and joining behind the station, and the old viaduct with its attenuated curve, the grass ragged and undisturbed now the rails and sleepers were gone. Instead of going back on the train I could stay in the city. I thought of walking beside the river at dusk, when the birds whistle and call over the blue water... so close to the streetlights and the traffic and the windows lit all night."</i><br />
The final story in this collection is "I Remember Nothing", by Anne Billson. This comes the closest here to being an actual horror story; it is a powerfully gruesome tale of mystery, realisation and, ultimately, gore. No spoilers though!<br />
I must admit that this kind of themed anthology rings alarm bells for
me, as I tend to think that the quality of the writing sometimes loses
its focus and takes a back seat to the "concept". However, I'm pleased to
say that this is, primarily, a collection of fine short stories –
most of which would stand up on merit in any collection. Pleasingly, it's not necessary to be a fan of Joy Division in order to enjoy this book.MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-28385714634884780772018-10-15T04:26:00.003-07:002018-10-15T04:43:43.036-07:00Catching up on books I've readRecently I've been looking at some of the books I've enjoyed over the past year or so – and in the process, it's made me realise just how many I've read! My project now is to re-visit some of these books in order to review them on here. It's interesting for me to ponder how much I've forgotten during that time: and also to consider how many books I've downloaded which I have not yet read. As ever, I tend to limit myself to short story collections, although there have been a few novels which I have enjoyed too. Below are a few which stand out for various reasons, but there are many more which I will add later. Some proper reviews will follow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C.M. Muller's excellent NIGHTSCRIPT series of anthologies have become one of the highlights of the literary year. Number two contains superb stories by so many excellent writers – including Christopher Slatsky, Eric J. Guignard, Malcolm Devlin,
Gwendolyn Kiste, Ralph Robert Moore, Christopher Ropes, Steve Rasnic
Tem, Jason A. Wyckoff and Kurt Fawver. There are so many brilliantly strange tales here, which give the discerning reader a highly relevant snapshot of the very best of the genre. As ever, an absolute must-read. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nightscript-2-C-M-Muller-ebook/dp/B01LZYG9FI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1539602553&sr=1-1&keywords=nightscript+2" target="_blank">Available here</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not "strange tales" in the accepted sense, but William Trevor's THE COLLECTED STORIES showcases his singular talent for the short story. These are perfectly formed gems, encompassing everything from the humorous through the bittersweet to the macabre and the downright odd. This is a treasure trove of storytelling technique, essential for anyone interested in the noble art – and science – of writing. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002VISNE4/ref=oh_aui_d_detailpage_o08_?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Available here</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love atmospheric tales, and Jayaprakesh Satyamurthy's fascinating book WEIRD TALES OF A BANGALOREAN took me by the hand directly to the sprawling, desperate landscape of the subcontinent. His unique prose brings these tales alive, seething with a combination of cultural and supernatural undercurrents. A brilliant debut collection. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Weird-Tales-Bangalorean-Jayaprakash-Satyamurthy/dp/0692599584/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1539593864&sr=8-1&keywords=weird+tales+of+a+bangalorean" target="_blank">Available here</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ROBINSON, by Christopher Petit, is a short novel which defies genre – and which gripped me the whole way through. Robinson is the bleakly enigmatic character who gradually draws Christo from the safe and stable suburbs into his world of depravity. Robinson, entering the dark netherworld of pornographic films, is convinced he can produce a masterpiece – but is there any way out for Christo, or will he be dragged into Robinson's own personal version of hell? <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Robinson-Chris-Petit-ebook/dp/B01HMXRUS2/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1539598301&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=robinson+christopher+petit" target="_blank">Available here</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z_fcyh0SykQ/W8RJIOh9QXI/AAAAAAAABW0/pnbMnni2v4YyH7njdG3huytaUUcS7ivhwCEwYBhgL/s1600/41DSEhCvctL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="340" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z_fcyh0SykQ/W8RJIOh9QXI/AAAAAAAABW0/pnbMnni2v4YyH7njdG3huytaUUcS7ivhwCEwYBhgL/s320/41DSEhCvctL.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another winner from Tartarus Press, John Gaskin's THE LONG RETREATING DAY is a fine collection of ‘Tales of Twilight and Borderlands’, highlighting Gaskin's immaculate, scholarly writing style and his sense of the unexplained. These are stories anchored in the real world, but threatened by shadows and ghosts of the past. As good a collection of classic ghost stories as I've read for years. Highly recommended. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Long-Retreating-Day-John-Gaskin-ebook/dp/B00I48KJJW/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1539599043&sr=1-1&keywords=john+gaskin" target="_blank">Available here</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">COLD TO THE TOUCH by SImon Strantzas is a collection of character-driven, dramatic tales, which are finely wrought and ultimately successful in disorienting the reader; depositing him or her within the Arctic tundra of his own imagination. Strantzas approaches his craft from so many different angles that there is something here to satisfy most enthusiasts of the subtly strange and the horrific alike. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cold-Touch-Simon-Strantzas-ebook/dp/B0174YQQZM/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1539599763&sr=1-3&keywords=cold+to+the+touch" target="_blank">Available here</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6hVfPZDT-E/W8R0HCSFneI/AAAAAAAABXk/72dqD0TWBKoVv2tjntnJ8zjRWiLSPNfQwCLcBGAs/s1600/41gfbXjk%252BOL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b6hVfPZDT-E/W8R0HCSFneI/AAAAAAAABXk/72dqD0TWBKoVv2tjntnJ8zjRWiLSPNfQwCLcBGAs/s320/41gfbXjk%252BOL.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, for now, I have included THE HYDE HOTEL, edited by James Everington and Dan Howarth, a themed anthology from a couple of years back. I'm afraid it went under my radar at the time, but I have since re-visited it on my Kindle and I was hooked. The stories included within work especially well together, creating atmosphere effectively, each dark tale building on the previous one. The editors have done a fine job here both with their own wring for the collection, and with the consideration that must have gone into the choice of contributors, the stories themselves and their sequence, An accomplished achievement – satisfyingly strange and downbeat! <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyde-Hotel-James-Everington-ebook/dp/B01A92WG2S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1539601365&sr=1-1&keywords=hyde+hotel" target="_blank">Available here</a></td></tr>
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<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-89344224002751367722018-10-10T23:52:00.001-07:002018-10-11T02:18:28.233-07:00Hello again!<h4>
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Well it's been a long time since my last blog entry! Things have been so busy over the last 18 months or so, with family upheavals, travel, trying to keep up my running and other non-writing related projects. I just have not had the headspace to write at all. I think, writing wise, I may have let a few people down over this recent period, for which I can only apologise and hope it's understood that it was not intentional.<br />
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So, now that things have settled down a bit I can get my mind around putting finger to keyboard again, hence this post. During my hiatus, the publisher of my first collection, DYING EMBERS, has ceased trading and so for a while my book was not available at all. Finally, I have published it myself – with an updated cover – through Stranger Designs, which is a minor project set up with a friend of mine, more of which later. So... it is on Amazon and all similar platforms once more. Also, I have acquired the remaining paperbacks (see below), which are available (via Paypal in fact) on my website if anyone is interested.<br />
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One thing I have managed to do, however, is to read. The truth is that I have probably read even more than ever over the past couple of years. What I want to do now is to make sense of the many short story collections I have enjoyed – some of which have been outstandingly good. I have taken a photograph of some of the excellent books I have read recently and that I will attempt to review; this has made me realise that almost everything I read these days is on the Kindle!<br />
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Anyhow, more of that later. I am off to the track for a run, then this evening I will watch a film I have been wanting to see for some time: "It Follows". Sounds like my kind of thing. Who knows, I may even do some film reviews soon. Watch this space!<br />
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<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-42148592703402723542017-02-24T01:16:00.000-08:002017-02-24T01:16:36.060-08:00Recommended reads of 2016 (part two)Following on from my previous blog post about my favoured reads from the last year or so, which was my first blog post for some time, here is part two. I hope you find my choices interesting and that you might give some of these collections a go.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pdn5xxRQsKM/WK_XtcnRqLI/AAAAAAAABTQ/1cM9WlZxqkAFnDxga_u_rMn8ormYbmeGwCLcB/s1600/41DYmO9IiPL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pdn5xxRQsKM/WK_XtcnRqLI/AAAAAAAABTQ/1cM9WlZxqkAFnDxga_u_rMn8ormYbmeGwCLcB/s320/41DYmO9IiPL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/Unsettling-Stories-Peter-Rock/1940436303/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487927463&sr=1-1&keywords=the+unsettling+brian+evenson" target="_blank">The Unsettling</a>, Peter Rock's first collection of short stories, from 2006, is one of<br />my books of the year. It really is unsettling. Some of these tales carry an <br />emotional charge which is quite a surprise: and a sense of dread which <br />will stay with you long after you've read them. Seriously recommended.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXte2y_Yih0/WK_XuA5nx2I/AAAAAAAABTg/nxkW9HBlft4_X42t0bcPmlmShd3V0RtjgCEw/s1600/51b-wJlxTqL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MXte2y_Yih0/WK_XuA5nx2I/AAAAAAAABTg/nxkW9HBlft4_X42t0bcPmlmShd3V0RtjgCEw/s320/51b-wJlxTqL._SX322_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gorgonaeon-Jordan-Krall-x/dp/0692506578/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487927513&sr=1-1&keywords=gorgonaeon" target="_blank">Gorgonaeon</a>, by Jordan Krall (published by Dunhams Manor Press) is a fascinating<br />publication. It is a collection of fragments: brief moments of clarity, disparate at first, yet <br />upon reading they form a strange kind of whole. Surrealistic, grotesque, separate yet <br />cohesive: Gorgonaeon is unconventional yet a compelling read.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvrIXfpJWPQ/WK_XtuXV87I/AAAAAAAABTg/Px1VTSk4pagfcPGmF0AzR9zHplKp2K4kQCEw/s1600/51S-DZPR%252BaL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvrIXfpJWPQ/WK_XtuXV87I/AAAAAAAABTg/Px1VTSk4pagfcPGmF0AzR9zHplKp2K4kQCEw/s320/51S-DZPR%252BaL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Subtle gore, Kafka, science fiction (or is it?), deserted highways, a weird stuffed bear... <br />Brian Evenson's <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Collapse-Horses-Brian-Evenson/dp/1566894131/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487921829&sr=8-1&keywords=a+collapse+of+horses" target="_blank">A Collapse of Horses</a> is a tour de force in relentless dread<br />and disconnect. Be prepared for a roller coaster ride through these tight,<br />breathless tales. If you haven't read anything by Evenson before,<br />I would suggest you start now! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wdeOjum7rCg/WK_XtUfvZ-I/AAAAAAAABTg/DKxmj5AP8bkIZfXIByRI_Yxm1Lc_NqHeQCEw/s1600/51Pel%252BlFvWL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wdeOjum7rCg/WK_XtUfvZ-I/AAAAAAAABTg/DKxmj5AP8bkIZfXIByRI_Yxm1Lc_NqHeQCEw/s320/51Pel%252BlFvWL.jpg" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/American-Nocturne-Hank-Schwaeble-ebook/dp/B01MUC4PK8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487924643&sr=8-1&keywords=american+nocturne" target="_blank">American Nocturne</a>, by Hank Schwaeble, is another superb Cohesion Press publication.<br />This collection transcends Americana and is as varied and satisfying a group of dark stories <br />as you will find anywhere. Schwaeble's writing is punchy and concise. This is a <br />must read for fans of dark fiction everywhere. <br /> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YhQEqBPLaus/WK_XuAITxmI/AAAAAAAABTg/k4s3qe2KDGgQd5nUHp9rqx8wJYLgAUc_ACEw/s1600/61GhwnNpnoL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YhQEqBPLaus/WK_XuAITxmI/AAAAAAAABTg/k4s3qe2KDGgQd5nUHp9rqx8wJYLgAUc_ACEw/s320/61GhwnNpnoL._SY346_.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0692799648/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487927570&sr=8-1&keywords=secret+ventriloquism" target="_blank">Secret Ventriloquism</a>, by Jon Padgett. What can I say? This book is a journey<br />through your deepest anxieties. It's creepy. Padgett clearly has the knack to<br />get under the reader's skin and he takes advantage of that ability<br />all the way through this collection of interconnected tales of fear.This is the <br />first of his work I've read and I'll definitely be searching for more.</td></tr>
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MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-84915997660768051512017-02-13T19:34:00.000-08:002017-02-13T19:34:44.419-08:00 Recommended reads of 2016 (part one)<h4>
</h4>
Recently I've been rather too busy with writing and other projects for very much blogging. So, to make up for it, I have decided to share just a few of my favourite reads of 2016. More later I'm sure, but for now, here they are:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3uIr8ICNKc/WKGSiVFccJI/AAAAAAAABSg/HTaTNLoyHaQyj5GvLvpOKHDPGdsHefVZACLcB/s1600/gkbss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s3uIr8ICNKc/WKGSiVFccJI/AAAAAAAABSg/HTaTNLoyHaQyj5GvLvpOKHDPGdsHefVZACLcB/s320/gkbss.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Short-Stories-Garry-Kilworth-ebook/dp/B01N6BO8XX/ref=sr_1_10?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1487042511&sr=1-10&keywords=garry+kilworth" target="_blank">The Best Short Stories of Garry Kilworth</a> is an expansive, multi-genre collection of tales by a <br />
master writer. There are so many great short stories here, spanning many years, including one of the <br />
finest examples I've read: Blood Orange. If you haven't read it yet, you really should! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojf5GXlKiSI/WKGSoWKIVYI/AAAAAAAABSs/TVufGSleSxgZxLVG4GH53axUbFycuIptACEw/s1600/41N8ME5F89L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ojf5GXlKiSI/WKGSoWKIVYI/AAAAAAAABSs/TVufGSleSxgZxLVG4GH53axUbFycuIptACEw/s320/41N8ME5F89L.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason A. Wyckoff's second collection <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Back-Room-Jason-Wyckoff-ebook/dp/B01IFLCOFE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487042741&sr=8-1&keywords=The+hidden+back+room" target="_blank">The Hidden Back Room</a> is every bit as good as <br />
his first, Black Horse and Other Stories. It contains some wonderful tales,<br />
particularly the title story, which is satisfyingly strange indeed.<br />
This is yet another great collection from Tartarus Press.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPrT-fQUZCk/WKGSoVQ-VCI/AAAAAAAABSk/YGt4--0zjFE4xee9UUn9YP8g8_g4FCdgACEw/s1600/41QtCTeDvgL._SX321_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gPrT-fQUZCk/WKGSoVQ-VCI/AAAAAAAABSk/YGt4--0zjFE4xee9UUn9YP8g8_g4FCdgACEw/s320/41QtCTeDvgL._SX321_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="207" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Books/New-Uncanny-Tales-Unease-S-Byatt/1905583184/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487042781&sr=8-1&keywords=the+new+uncanny" target="_blank">The New Uncanny</a> is from a few years back, but with stories from, among others, Ramsey Campbell,<br />
Christopher Priest, Nicholas Royle, AS Byatt and Hanif Kureishi, it's well worth a read. <br />
One of the most memorable stories here is Ped-o-Matique, by Jane Rogers, which may well <br />
change permanently your view about what to do whilst waiting around for delayed flights in airports!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CgJElZvsaS4/WKGSo06B-6I/AAAAAAAABSw/jNc89otleV0QiSAR5LoYwT0EoBWW-HLoQCEw/s1600/51MR%252Bw7rvgL._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CgJElZvsaS4/WKGSo06B-6I/AAAAAAAABSw/jNc89otleV0QiSAR5LoYwT0EoBWW-HLoQCEw/s320/51MR%252Bw7rvgL._SX311_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stories-Strange-Sinister-Valancourt-Classics/dp/1943910316/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487042931&sr=8-1&keywords=stories+of+the+strange+and+sinister" target="_blank">Stories of the Strange and Sinister</a> is a fascinating collection by a much underrated writer of strange stories.<br />
In The Steam Room is one of Frank Baker's better known tales and is present here in all its mundane <br />
glory. Baker wrote in a minor key and is therefore often overlooked; but but if you're a <br />
fan of the weird I feel he's well worth a read.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCjOLNDDRMU/WKGSpCsQV_I/AAAAAAAABS4/bvV4DxwWo1Q_ALA3RUBizH7E0ibzaOb_QCEw/s1600/61hxJqfN7-L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yCjOLNDDRMU/WKGSpCsQV_I/AAAAAAAABS4/bvV4DxwWo1Q_ALA3RUBizH7E0ibzaOb_QCEw/s320/61hxJqfN7-L.jpg" width="215" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Greener-Pastures-Michael-Wehunt-ebook/dp/B01CEYVMU6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1487042969&sr=1-1&keywords=greener+pastures" target="_blank">Greener Pastures</a> is a collection of Michael Wehunt's superb, left-field stories. Are they <br />
horror, fantasy or literary? Probably a mixture of all three. They are certainly <br />
complex, emotionally charged and grounded in a strange version of reality.</td></tr>
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<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-18639095630280935492017-02-11T21:06:00.000-08:002017-02-11T21:26:24.855-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<h4>
Nightscript Vol 3 by CM Muller</h4>
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</h4>
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I'm very pleased to announce that my short story The Other Side of the Hill will be included in CM Muller's upcoming anthology, Nightscript Vol 3. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nightscript-1-Kristi-DeMeester-ebook/dp/B015BP04BI/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1486875288&sr=1-2&keywords=nightscript" target="_blank">Nightscript Vol 1</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nightscript-2-Michael-Griffin-ebook/dp/B01LZYG9FI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1486875288&sr=1-1&keywords=nightscript" target="_blank">Vol 2</a> were superb publications and still available. Details of Nightscript 3 are available from CM Muller's website <a href="https://chthonicmatter.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. Below I have reproduced the full table of contents. I'm proud to have my own story featured alongside such illustrious company:<br />
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“The Flower Unfolds” — <span style="color: #993300;">Simon Strantzas</span><br />
“Downward” — <span style="color: #993300;">Amar Benchikha</span><br />
“What Little Boys Are Made Of” — <span style="color: #993300;">Malcolm Devlin</span><br />
“Grizzly” — <span style="color: #993300;">M.K. Anderson</span><br />
“Might Be Mordiford” — <span style="color: #993300;">Charles Wilkinson</span><br />
“Palankar” — <span style="color: #993300;">Daniel Braum</span><br />
“The Gestures Remain” — <span style="color: #993300;">Christi Nogle</span><br />
“House of Abjection” — <span style="color: #993300;">David Peak</span><br />
“The Undertow, and They That Dwell Therein” — <span style="color: #993300;">Clint Smith</span><br />
“A Place With Trees” — <span style="color: #993300;">Rowley Amato</span><br />
“The Familiar” — <span style="color: #993300;">Cory Cone</span><br />
“Liquid Air” — <span style="color: #993300;">Inna Effress</span><br />
“The Beasts Are Sleep” — <span style="color: #993300;">Adam Golaski</span><br />
“The Witch House” — <span style="color: #993300;">Jessica Phelps</span><br />
“On the Edge of Utterance” — <span style="color: #993300;">Stephen J. Clark</span><br />
“Homeward Bound Now, Paulino” — <span style="color: #993300;">Armel Dagorn</span><br />
“The Affair” — <span style="color: #993300;">James Everington</span><br />
“When Dark-Eyed Ophelia Sings” — <span style="color: #993300;">Rebecca J. Allred</span><br />
“We, the Rescued” — <span style="color: #993300;">John Howard</span><br />
“Twenty Miles and Running” — <span style="color: #993300;">Christian Riley</span><br />
“Something You Leave Behind” — <span style="color: #993300;">David Surface</span><br />
“Young Bride” — <span style="color: #993300;">Julia Rust</span><br />
“The Other Side of the Hill” — <span style="color: #993300;">M.R. Cosby</span><span style="color: #993300;"></span>MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-49344512326033832862016-02-05T02:53:00.002-08:002016-02-05T02:53:50.731-08:00Celebrating Robert AickmanRecently, I was lucky enough to have been given a sneak preview of the forthcoming <i>Celebrating Robert Aickman, an Anthology of Unsettled Dust</i>, edited by Johnny Mains. My admiration for Aickman must be well known in these parts by now, so I was very excited to be given this unique opportunity.<br />
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Perhaps it's remarkable that there has not been a comprehensive publication along these lines before. Far from inhabiting the margins, as a a cult figure, Robert Aickman has become one of the few short story writers to have made the difficult transition to the literary mainstream. This has been thanks not only to his enduring influence over successful writers, such as Ramsey Campbell and Simon Strantzas, but also to media figures such as Reece Shearsmith, Jeremy Dyson and Mark Gatiss, who have helped make his legacy wider known. Aickman's shadow is indeed broad enough to cope with the increased scrutiny that this has created. This has meant that in recent years, many more people have been exposed to his remarkable 'strange stories' than would otherwise have been the case – and I'm very pleased to say that <i>Celebrating Robert Aickman, an Anthology of Unsettled Dust</i> can only take this further. It's a unique mixture of fascinating anecdotes and recollections of and about Robert Aickman, and new fiction inspired by the great man – written by some of the best authors of strange fiction around today. There are so many highlights in this package it's difficult to know where to start. Perhaps the most significant contribution is that of <i>A Choice of Weapons: Robert Aickman and Tom Rolt</i>, which is the transcript of an interview between Tom's son Tim and Sonia Rolt. Much new light is shed upon Robert Aickman's relationship with Tom Rolt. Then, there is the very touching <i>An Afternoon with Aickman</i>, by T.E.D. Klein, which reveals a melancholy side to the great man's character... <i>Robert Aickman Comes to Fantasycon</i> by David A. Riley consists of a fond memory from the second British Fantasy Society convention in 1976... John L. Probert writes about <i>Adapting Aickman</i>, commenting on various adaptations of Aickman's work for screen and radio... Richard Dalby writes of his <i>Further Recollections of Robert Aickman</i>... And there's an essay on <i>Letters To The Postman</i> by Philip Challinor. There is so much here for the Aickman enthusiast and we haven't yet delved into the new works of fiction. Among others there are stories by Simon Strantzas (<i>The Flower Unfolds</i>), Lynda E. Rucker (<i>The Vestige</i>), Reggie Oliver (<i>The Rooms Are High</i>) and Steven Volk (<i>The House That Moved Next Door</i>). This feast of the Aickmanesque is topped off by <i>In Conversation With Ramsey Campbell</i>, in which editor Johnny Mains chats to Ramsey about all things Aickman. In addition to all this and more, there are many interesting photographs, images and contemporary clippings.<br />
What more could the Aickman enthusiast want?<br />
Johnny Mains has done a great job with this publication, and was very kind to let me read it at this early stage. Although still in draft, I've seen enough to be sure that <i>Celebrating Robert Aickman</i> will be a superb publication and a worthwhile addition to the library of anyone interested in Aickman or his rich and varied legacy. <br />
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-70407820688944285252016-02-03T17:13:00.001-08:002016-02-03T17:13:11.380-08:00"At First, You Hear the Silence" by Mark Fuller DillonMark Fuller Dillon is a writer of exemplary short stories and novellas. I have previously reviewed both his collection <a href="http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/review-in-season-of-dead-weather-by.html" target="_blank">In a Season of Dead Weather</a> and his novella <a href="http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/review-all-roads-lead-to-winter-by-mark.html" target="_blank">All Roads Lead to Winter</a>. Both are supreme examples of story writing and are essential for anyone with an interest in strange stories, science fiction – or just good storytelling.<br />
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<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/605298" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/605298" border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pe1fFxQ8ZDk/VrKaM99qhrI/AAAAAAAABRA/CnxtOVw6tbY/s320/cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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His latest publication is a novella called <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/605298" target="_blank">At First, You Hear the Silence</a>. Philippe is 13 and growing up in rural Canada. He is only just becoming aware of his own mortality and of the secrets lurking deep within his family's past. Philippe endures a difficult relationship with his father – until, one day, he has the opportunity to prove his worth: he is to be left to look after the farm, while the rest of his family go away on an overnight trip. His mother prepares Philippe for this test by making a list of his duties for the morning. Nothing could have prepared him, however, for what he must endure the following day. His world is shifted on its axis by a series of occurrences which test his resolve to the extreme. He is changed forever – but how has it affected his relationship with his father? <br />
<i>At First, You Hear the Silence</i> is a fast-moving, compelling read which contains the best that horror, fantasy and science fiction have to offer. Mark Fuller Dillon's writing constantly evolves. His prose is both expertly crafted and precise, deftly creating an atmosphere of unease and, ultimately, dread. This is a great read. I would defy any lover of good fiction to not read this novella in one sitting.<br />
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-54132828807267492172015-11-04T18:05:00.000-08:002015-11-04T18:05:08.668-08:00Books of 2015Firstly, I must apologise for neglecting this blog recently. It's been an eventful six months or so, with work arrangements changing at home so that I haven't had an office in which to base myself. This has meant that I have spent more time actually writing (which I generally do while out and about; in one of my local cafés, on my laptop), which is A Very Good Thing. However, guilt has driven me to sit myself down in the lounge, while the children are (hopefully) doing their homework, and share with you some of the books I have enjoyed recently.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex Hamilton's BEAM OF MALICE, his first collection of macabre stories, was first published in 1966.<br />
It includes his most famous short story, THE ATTIC EXPRESS, which appeared in one edition of the <br />
Pan Book of Horror Stories series. This is a classic collection of tales of unease. Ramsey Campbell<br />
called Alex Hamilton "...one of the absolute masters of the sunlit nightmare." There's no way<br />
I would argue with that! This is essential reading for anyone interested in horror. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beam-Malice-Fifteen-Short-Stories-ebook/dp/B00L1H2T4Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446688692&sr=1-1&keywords=beam+of+malice" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a big surprise for me. The Fiction Desk regularly publishes anthologies, and NEW GHOST STORIES <br />
was their first one featuring supernatural fiction. These are subtle, perceptive tales of ghostly happenings<br />
in the traditional sense. There are some powerful stories here, all of them beautifully written and highly polished. <br />AT GLENN DALE by Julia Patt, CHALKLANDS by Richard Smyth and OLD GHOSTS by Ann Wahlman <br />stood out for me, but most of the 12 here are well worth a read. An excellent anthology. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghost-Stories-Fiction-Desk-Book-ebook/dp/B00H809JA2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446688725&sr=1-1&keywords=new+ghost+stories" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I loved the late Joel Lane's collection THE EARTH WIRE and DO NOT PASS GO is every bit as good, <br />
albeit brief at just five stories. However, there is as much relentlessly downbeat intrigue in those five <br />
tales as any reader could wish for. Described as "crime stories", nonetheless these are tales of fear, <br />
displacement and oblivion, all set in the Black Country. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00G0239LO/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446688448&sr=1-4&keywords=do+not+pass+go" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWzXM9tc7d0/VjqPuFECPzI/AAAAAAAABP8/A29pRm7-8oQ/s1600/81w1TSWoC%252BL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nWzXM9tc7d0/VjqPuFECPzI/AAAAAAAABP8/A29pRm7-8oQ/s320/81w1TSWoC%252BL._SL1500_.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This has been one of my finds of the year: OUTSTACK by Gary Couzens is a fascinating collecion<br />of strange stories, taking the reader to weird and uncomfortable places. These are multi-layered,<br />complex tales which deal impressively with displacement and loss. The sense of place that <br />Couzens is able to create is impressive. Review soon. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stack-Other-Places-Gary-Couzens-ebook/dp/B00VH4TJAU/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446688525&sr=1-4&keywords=out+stack" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daniel Mills has created a powerful collection of hauntingly strange tales, simultaneously harking back to the <br />past and creating something quite new. The stories which comprise THE LORD CAME AT TWILIGHT <br />are intensely unsettling and satisfying to read. They are thought-provoking and at times frightening.<br />Don't miss this elegantly written collection. Review soon. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lord-Came-at-Twilight-ebook/dp/B016X3YOGS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446688411&sr=1-1&keywords=the+lord+came+at+twilight" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great to see such a successful annual anthology out there. NIGHTSCRIPT is edited by C.M. Muller,<br />and this edition includes some really strong stories by some of the best writers around: Daniel Mills, <br />Kirsty Logan, David Surface, Jason A. Wyckoff, John Claude Smith... This book is packed with<br />compelling tales. Not to be missed. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nightscript-1-Kristi-DeMeester-ebook/dp/B015BP04BI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446688355&sr=1-1&keywords=nightscript+1" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Beaumont was most famous for his Twilight Zone scripts: THE HUNGER AND OTHER STORIES<br />shows that he did short stories very well indeed. His writing style is not perhaps for everyone, but <br />he had a useful range, taking in horror, fantasy and wry humour. There are some classic tales here:<br />THE VANISHING AMERICAN, OPEN HOUSE, THE CUSTOMERS... a wonderful collection. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hunger-Other-Stories-Charles-Beaumont-ebook/dp/B00DR2M90C/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446683428&sr=1-3&keywords=charles+Beaumont" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What can I say about the enduring appeal of SUPERNATURAL TALES? This doyen of the genre <br />goes from strength to strength and the 30th edition is no exception. David Longhorn and <br />Stephen Cashmore do a great job in their tireless production of such a valuable publication. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Supernatural-Tales-30-Autumn-2015-ebook/dp/B012PG3K6M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446688571&sr=1-1&keywords=supernatural+tales+30" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Confession time... I saw the film SECONDS many years back, but it was only recently that I realised<br />
it had been adapted from the novel by David Ely. The good news is that this book is every bit as good as <br />
the film. Ely's writing style is pleasantly formal and I'm pleased to say he does not waste a word. <br />I don't often read anything but short stories, but I'm pleased I made an exception in this case. <br />Unfortunately, the book's cover does not do it justice at all. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seconds-David-Ely-ebook/dp/B009CZI1GO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1446688624&sr=1-1&keywords=seconds+david+ely" target="_blank">Available here</a>.<br />
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MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-14971889744676329262015-04-15T19:25:00.000-07:002015-04-15T19:25:42.730-07:00Dark Lane Anthology Volume OneI'm happy to announce that my short story STRIKE THREE is included in the <i>Dark Lane Anthology Volume One</i>, edited by Tim Jeffreys and out now. You can buy it as an e-book from Amazon <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dark-Lane-Anthology-Volume-One-ebook/dp/B00VRJOQ7G/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_3" target="_blank">here</a>, but next month it will be available as a paperback too.<br />
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The wonderful cover art is by David Whitlam (check out his <a href="http://www.davidwhitlam.com/" target="_blank">website</a> – trust me, it's well worth a look). Also included as the opening story in this collection is THE MAN WHO HATED DOGS by the excellent James Everington. His tales of unease must never be missed!<br />
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Here is a brief excerpt from my own tale STRIKE THREE:<br /><i> </i><br />
<i>It was then I heard the clumsy movement from the dining room. I almost collided with the first of the four boys as they staggered through into the hallway. With their slack jaws and stares, they strained and sweated under the weight of the clock they carried between them. They had grown into stocky men, but they were less tall, far less tall, than the clock.<br /><br /> Eager not to impede their unsteady progress, I backed away, but not before I had a good look into the dining room behind them. The mess did not surprise me too much; oily rags and tools strewn around, cogs, springs and wheels littering the floor. However, that could not explain the smell, which may have been seeping through the huge cracks in the walls. I wondered also at the breeze blocks cemented into place right up to the ceiling in front of the windows, blocking out most of the light; it looked like the arrangement was meant to form some kind of shield. To keep something out, I wondered, or to keep something in? I shuddered. At that moment, I could not imagine ever entering that room again.</i><br />
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Find out what happens next by buying the <i>Dark Lane Anthology</i>!<br />
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MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-40813359582055534422015-01-11T17:37:00.001-08:002015-01-11T17:37:54.712-08:00Review: Knock Knock by S.P. MiskowskiS.P. Miskowski's novel <i>Knock Knock</i> was first published a few years back, and introduces the unsuspecting reader to Skillute, a failed logging town in Washington, where "... few events rose in significance above the routine of work, Sunday worship, and the weekend six-pack." It soon becomes apparent, however, that an undercurrent of evil exists just beneath the surface.<br />
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Miskowski is a skilled writer, and she intertwines the past and present with ease. The reader is drawn in relentlessly, ever more eager to find out how the actions of the three young girls during the 1960s can cast such a long shadow over the present-day. The local superstition of "Miss Knocks" that they unearth rings true in such a bleak setting; and, when the shocks come, they are very effective.<br />
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This is a story steeped in atmosphere, from the dark woods surrounding Skillute to the dilapidated Misty Mart local store. All the characters are well observed and darkly believable. The tension, which builds steadily throughout, is aided by the structure Miskowski uses; each chapter is told from a particular perspective, which is striking and makes the book stand out. Myriad pathways are formed, rich detail is revealed, and connections are made at different stages of the narrative. <br />
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I must admit I found it difficult to put this book down – I read <i>Knock Knock</i> in a couple of sittings, and I'm about to follow it up with <i>Delphine Dodd</i>, the next in the Skillute cycle. This kind of tale lends itself perfectly to a follow-up, and I'm pleased that Miskowsky has since added two more novellas, <i>Astoria</i> and, more recently, <i>In The Light</i>.<br />
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Lovers of intelligent, literary horror will appreciate <i>Knock Knock</i> as a worthy addition to a fine tradition, and it also manages to brings its own twist to the genre. It is lovingly-crafted and tense to the last page. Highly recommended.MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-54805493076506086632014-12-07T22:49:00.000-08:002014-12-07T23:19:58.917-08:0012 of the best reads of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been reading and (trying to) write a lot recently, but not blogging much. So, to put that to rights at least for the moment, here is a list and summary of some books I would recommend.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elizabeth Bowen is perhaps one of the best short story writers in the English language; and <br />
certainly one of the most prolific. I have been working my way through this collection of 79 of <br />
her tales for some time, and enjoying every minute. Her stories are finely-wrought and multi-layered. <br />
Everyone who reads or writes short stories should be familiar with her work. Blog post soon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbera Roden's NORTHWEST PASSAGES has been one of my finds of the year. These are beautifully <br />
written, literary tales of restrained strangeness. Their settings are varied, from polar exploration to <br />
abandoned amusement parks, Victorian households, a Vancouver hotel, a cabin in the woods... <br />
Roden's imagination runs riot, and her flair for creating atmosphere means the reader <br />
will not forget these stories in a hurry! Review soon. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Northwest-Passages-Barbara-Roden-ebook/dp/B0076B1CHG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418019927&sr=1-2&keywords=northwest+passages" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb collection by the recently deceased Joel Lane. I find his work to be relentlessly downbeat, <br />
but quite compellingly so, and full of original ideas and flair. He was adept at the creation of <br />
an alternative world, where nothing is quite as it seems. Immerse yourself in these <br />
monochrome tales of conflict and misunderstanding. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/EARTH-WIRE-Other-Stories-ebook/dp/B006VOMU1G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418019846&sr=1-1&keywords=joel+lane" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have recently bought several of Dennis Etchison's collections that have been made <br />
available as e-books. In THE BLOOD KISS, there is a feast of plenty. Some of the <br />
tales within made me sit back and say, "wow, I wish I could write like that!" <br />
THE SPOT, THE OLYMPIC RUNNER, HOME CALL and THE WOMAN IN BLACK<br />
are all superb, and essential reading. (Although I must admit I was at first put off by the <br />
covers used for Etchison's collections. The stories are more subtle than they look).<br />
Blog post and reviews coming up soon. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Kiss-Dennis-Etchison-ebook/dp/B00KCBR7A8/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418019985&sr=1-5&keywords=dennis+etchison" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rmn5GSiVP3k/VIU2EN3QnmI/AAAAAAAABJ8/sXrp5RvAA1U/s1600/81XBfnqKO3L._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rmn5GSiVP3k/VIU2EN3QnmI/AAAAAAAABJ8/sXrp5RvAA1U/s1600/81XBfnqKO3L._AA1500_.jpg" height="320" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My good friend Mark Fuller-Dillon suggested I read some of William Sansom's short stories, and I'm <br />
very thankful he did. This is the only easily-available collection of his I could find, and it's a little <br />
uneven. Not all of the stories are suspenseful; some seem like nothing more than snippets of post-war <br />
life in London; but no less intriguing for all that. Of course, this collection includes THE VERTICAL LADDER, <br />
which is nail-bitingly good – and worth the price of admission alone! <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stories-William-Sansom-ebook/dp/B0056MYYNQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418019664&sr=1-1&keywords=william+sansom" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndzGMrqIMAI/VIU5fZqz19I/AAAAAAAABKI/Y4Ui10XAP7A/s1600/81NqFawHFZL._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ndzGMrqIMAI/VIU5fZqz19I/AAAAAAAABKI/Y4Ui10XAP7A/s1600/81NqFawHFZL._AA1500_.jpg" height="320" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love S.P. Miskowski's writing; and this is a tightly written novella which tells a compelling story... <br />
however, I'm now reading the previous installments of the Skillute Cycle (KNOCK KNOCK, <br />
DELPHINE DODD and ASTORIA), so I will wait until I understand how they all fit <br />
together before reviewing. Great reading. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Light-Skillute-Cycle-Book-ebook/dp/B00NUHWGA2/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418019583&sr=1-1&keywords=in+the+light+s.p.+miskowski" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhtcqg6FuLQ/VIU79KmrPuI/AAAAAAAABKU/v-GRbp0XUtQ/s1600/81t3qPIMy0L._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vhtcqg6FuLQ/VIU79KmrPuI/AAAAAAAABKU/v-GRbp0XUtQ/s1600/81t3qPIMy0L._AA1500_.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HAIR SIDE, FLESH SIDE by Helen Marshall is an intriguing collection of beautifully-realised <br />
literary strangeness, consisting in a world of its own making. Helen Marshall's debut collection <br />
is tender, dark, surreal and unforgettable. Review soon. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hair-Side-Flesh-Helen-Marshall-ebook/dp/B008O8K9WY/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418017961&sr=1-1&keywords=hair+side+flesh+side" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yEhaDzZlVZc/VIU9oBHaxrI/AAAAAAAABKg/7hY-TAZcyEQ/s1600/Dark%2BEncounters%2Bbw%2B(small).jpg" height="320" width="212" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this collection. I had never previously heard of William Croft Dickinson, but having read DARK <br />
ENCOUNTERS, I can see why it has been referred to as 'Ghost Stories of a
Scottish Antiquary'. <br />
These are ghostly tales of antiquarians, historians, archæologists, and scientists, in a style similar to <br />
M.R. James. Perfect for those cold winter evenings in front of the fire! <a href="http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/eBooks.htm" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KGY6aGfRH54/VIVAh_WsfPI/AAAAAAAABKs/qSvCwGkTies/s1600/61chu2Zbd5L._AA1150_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KGY6aGfRH54/VIVAh_WsfPI/AAAAAAAABKs/qSvCwGkTies/s1600/61chu2Zbd5L._AA1150_.jpg" height="320" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a strange one. SEELING NIGHT; A PSYCHOMANTEUM is a deeply flawed book, but nonetheless <br />
a fascinating read. Yes, it needs decent formatting and editing (at least in the e-book version I have), but <br />
there was something about the linked stories which kept me hooked. The main character is well-wrought, <br />
and some of the scenes have stuck in my head. If something left-field appeals, read it with an open mind! <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seeling-Night-Psychomanteum-LEMUEL-GONZALEZ-ebook/dp/B00K65306K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418019515&sr=1-1&keywords=seeling+night" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdZrTGde-bE/VIVB3F02KMI/AAAAAAAABK0/t4nr2HpFq20/s1600/A1%2Bso3hPMdL._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdZrTGde-bE/VIVB3F02KMI/AAAAAAAABK0/t4nr2HpFq20/s1600/A1%2Bso3hPMdL._AA1500_.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BEFORE AND AFTERLIVES by Christopher Barzak is a loosely intertwined collection of weird <br />
tales set in a small American town. Eerie, thought-provoking and dark; well worth a read. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Before-Afterlives-Christopher-Barzak-ebook/dp/B00BWBEY2G/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418020104&sr=1-2&keywords=before+and+afterlives" target="_blank">Available here</a>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEhBnH8fIDo/VIVGMtwnAZI/AAAAAAAABLA/_Foj5rYtiak/s1600/819ONEWo0RL._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEhBnH8fIDo/VIVGMtwnAZI/AAAAAAAABLA/_Foj5rYtiak/s1600/819ONEWo0RL._AA1500_.jpg" height="320" width="205" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supremely weird, creepy stories from Michelle Kilmer. LAST NIGHT WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING<br />
is one of those books that makes you shake your head and wonder at the writer's imagination. <br />
Nicely illustrated, too. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Night-While-Were-Sleeping-ebook/dp/B00P0QIC86/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418020438&sr=1-1&keywords=last+night%2C+while+you+were+sleeping" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3VpHTBOfy0o/VIVHXMNyouI/AAAAAAAABLI/7DanmIUtQf8/s1600/91OscKiKixL._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3VpHTBOfy0o/VIVHXMNyouI/AAAAAAAABLI/7DanmIUtQf8/s1600/91OscKiKixL._AA1500_.jpg" height="320" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great collection of the weird by Susie Moloney. THINGS WITHERED was one of those books I had <br />
wanted to read for some time, and then thoroughly enjoyed. These are engrossing tales of the unusual behind <br />
the façade of everyday life; of the strangeness which is glimpsed from the corner of the eye. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Withered-Susie-Moloney-ebook/dp/B00CO4DGCO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418020797&sr=1-1&keywords=things+withered" target="_blank">Available here</a>.</td></tr>
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As usual, I will do my best to review as many of these books as I can.... but there is never enough time in the day. In the meantime, I'm pushing on with the writing. Happy reading to you!<br />
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<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-48909678358844153802014-10-24T02:57:00.001-07:002014-10-24T02:57:53.093-07:00Anthologies and excusesI must apologise for not creating any blog entries for some time. I've been preoccupied with writing, looking after kids and house renovations. However, there are several items of good news... the first is that the writing is going well. The second is that a short story of mine has been included in an anthology. The third is that a short story of mine has been included in an anthology!<br />
<br />
TURNING THE CUP, a ghost story concerning tasseography, is appearing in HAUNTED, published by Boo Books and available now for pre-order <a href="http://boobooks.net/bookshop/haunted-pre-order/" target="_blank">here</a>. Just in time for Hallow'een!<br />
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Also, my short story STRIKE THREE will be appearing in the Dark Lane Anthology Volume One, published in conjunction with Noodle Doodle Publications, coming up later in the year.<br />
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I'm also well ahead with a number of other short stories, one about a strange kind of photography, one about a weird workplace, one about a rip tide on a beach which is not what it seems... And more. These may or may not be destined for a 'themed' collection some time next year. <br />
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Anyway, that's it from me for now. I'll post updates about how things are progressing.<br />
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-14388852501579681892014-09-15T19:39:00.001-07:002014-09-15T19:39:48.648-07:00Review: The Brittle Birds, by Anthony CowinMathieu is haunted by a pivotal incident from his youth, in which his brother Dominic pushed him into a stream. While retrieving his catapult from the icy water beneath a bridge, he sustained some injuries which changed his life. But were those injuries caused by the legendary Hohokw bird, which supposedly lived under the arches of the bridge? <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brittle-Birds-Anthony-Cowin-ebook/dp/B00LDZXB6G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410835036&sr=1-1&keywords=anthony+cowin" target="_blank"><i>The Brittle Birds</i></a> is a short horror story by Anthony Cowin, published by Perpetual Motion Publishing. It's a story of the lasting effects of childhood trauma, and the coping mechanisms of the brothers as they grow older and realise there can be no escape from the past. <br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brittle-Birds-Anthony-Cowin-ebook/dp/B00LDZXB6G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410835036&sr=1-1&keywords=anthony+cowin" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brittle-Birds-Anthony-Cowin-ebook/dp/B00LDZXB6G/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410835036&sr=1-1&keywords=anthony+cowin" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jRHnaa5pMGY/VBeDu0pK9sI/AAAAAAAABIU/5_ZPQIsnDiU/s1600/81uWUm3vNKL._AA1400_.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></a></div>
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The brittle birds of the title gradually infiltrate Mathieu's life. He sees them everywhere, even under a microscope in a "chilly chemistry lab" when he's at school. Eventually he becomes convinced that they threaten his very existence, and that of those all around him. It seems that this obsession will be his undoing, yet the reader hopes against hope. This is a very well written short story; Cowin successfully builds tension, using the metaphor of the unearthly birds as harbingers of doom. In just the right amount of well-chosen words he conjures a tale which is both deceptively simple yet more than the sum of its parts, and its assured prose lends it atmosphere in spades. Each reader will make something different of this intriguing story, and its ambiguous, open ending will leave you deep in thought.MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-24155485996539540622014-08-18T18:46:00.001-07:002014-08-18T18:46:38.929-07:00The ghost of Crookhaven LighthouseA while back we took a couple of weeks' break, down the NSW coast at Currarong. Unfortunately, I managed to get rather ill while down there (pneumonia caught from my daughter, but that's another story...) However, as I recovered, we went on a few walks. One such foray was to Culburra Beach, a small, rather remote village. From there we walked north, towards Crookhaven Heads, past the entrance to the Shoalhaven river. In winter, this is a wild, wet and windy place. We didn't see anyone else on this walk, apart from a couple of sea fishermen way out on the rocks off the heads.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The track from Culburra Beach to Crookhaven Heads is rough and remote </td></tr>
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We followed the track into the headland, across increasingly rough ground. Eventually we climbed between trees, and we were intrigued to spot a sign telling us there was a lighthouse further along. It could be said we were in the middle of nowhere by then (or perhaps I should say "the back of beyond?") so we were fascinated to encounter a clearing, in the middle of which stood the Crookhaven Lighthouse.</div>
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Or perhaps I should say, the ghost of what once was the Crookhaven Lighthouse. I've since found out that it was first built as a wooden structure in 1882, then demolished in 1904 when the current building was commissioned. It is now in a dilapidated state, severely vandalised. It's a shame, as in Australia lighthouses are generally restored and looked after well; however, due to its remote location, Crookhaven Lighthouse has always been vulnerable. It was fully renovated in the 1990s, apparently, but you'd never guess. Without an on-going plan for upkeep, it quickly deteriorated once more. All the glass and the reflectors have been broken or removed. Inside, there is access to the miniscule living quarters, but not to the spiral stairs which still wind up the tower.</div>
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We noticed an oppressive atmosphere about the place, no doubt partly due to it being such a dreary and overcast afternoon. In the past, the headland was cleared regularly, allowing the light to shine out across the sea; but in recent years the scrub has been allowed to grow unrestrained, surrounding the lighthouse from all sides. In the 1990s, a clearing was established around the building itself, but nonetheless the impression the visitor gets today is that of isolation and decay. Strangely, the sea, so nearby and so loud on that occasion, could not be heard from around the lighthouse at all.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9vxDIZP4FY/U_Kf0VpgxsI/AAAAAAAABHY/fINaapmYewY/s1600/IMG_3372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9vxDIZP4FY/U_Kf0VpgxsI/AAAAAAAABHY/fINaapmYewY/s1600/IMG_3372.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TWj8sPEKu6k/U_Kf9BVxGcI/AAAAAAAABHg/wr4jDt9G_oM/s1600/IMG_3375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TWj8sPEKu6k/U_Kf9BVxGcI/AAAAAAAABHg/wr4jDt9G_oM/s1600/IMG_3375.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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We left the lighthouse and followed the track further along, into the trees and down the other side of the promontory. There was a lookout there, from which we enjoyed a spectacular view. It was clear why a lighthouse was needed in that area. We could see basalt ridges spreading out threateningly just below the surface of the water, for a very long way – who knows what hazards are hidden from the seafarer's view? Once we'd made our way back up to the lighthouse, it had started to rain, so we barely said goodbye to the sad old building as we hurried back towards Culburra. Perhaps one day soon Crookhaven Lighthouse will be restored and looked after properly. I'm sure it could become a tourist attraction and bring some benefit to the area. Right now, however, it's just a ghost of its former self.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's an expansive view of the treacherous coastline from the lookout</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qocP4CnOw20/U_KlzSxcPuI/AAAAAAAABH8/bRW5ILbZT4M/s1600/crookhaven1908sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qocP4CnOw20/U_KlzSxcPuI/AAAAAAAABH8/bRW5ILbZT4M/s1600/crookhaven1908sm.jpg" height="373" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lighthouse in its original state, 1908</td></tr>
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MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-5677528470829336772014-08-15T22:27:00.000-07:002014-08-15T22:27:20.961-07:00Review; The House of Three, by Lily Childs32 Cherry Street has come up for sale, deceased estate; and Sarah is happy to be able to purchase what once was her childhood home. However, is she prepared for the memories it will bring back, or the spirits that may be released? <i>The House of Three</i> is a stand-alone short story from Lily Childs. It is a ghost story in the traditional sense, yet in a modern, suburban setting.<br />
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Sarah and her brother Johnny go to view the Victorian terraced property, which they had not seen for twenty years. As they explore the dilapidated house, they realise that absolutely nothing has changed in all that time; and the familiar smell of roses forces their minds back all those years. Once the house belongs to her, she persuades Johnny to return, and they explore it together... and that's when the voices start. "They seemed to want to sooth her, as they did for the year before she was forced from her childhood home – a ten-year-old, an orphan."<br />
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Once they discover from the local paper how the house's most recent occupant died, their doubts begin, both about the house, and also about their own childhood memories. Their differing fortunes since adoption force them to reassess their lives. Once they have made a grim discovery, in a bedroom which was strictly off-limits to them as children, they understand that nothing will ever be quite the same again. Are their fears imaginary, or are they forming something more tangible – something with the power to threaten their very existence?<br />
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Childs has created an intriguing scenario here, with authentically flawed characters who are unable to escape the power of their shared past. <i>The House of Three</i> is a short but satisfying read with a powerful ending. Perfect late night reading for lovers of a good ghost story!<br />
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-80581874343671732822014-08-15T19:17:00.001-07:002014-08-15T19:30:45.862-07:00Review; Drive, by Mark WestI didn't mean to sit up late in order to finish <i>Drive</i>, the new novella from Mark West, published by Pendragon Press. I really didn't. However, once I started to read, I found it difficult to stop. It's not often I get caught up in the moment with a book; usually I get drawn in slowly, soaking up the atmosphere. Yet here I was, quite unable to put the thing down, compelled to find out what happens next.<br />
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West's writing style, which I am familiar with from several excellent short stories (<i>The Bureau of Lost Children</i> springs to mind, from <i>Ill At Ease 2</i> which I reviewed <a href="http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/review-ill-at-ease-2.html" target="_blank">here</a>) is perfect for this style of breathless adventure. David finds himself in the nondescript urban sprawl of Gaffney, attending a course for his work. He offers Natasha a lift back to her flat, and becomes haplessly embroiled in a night of pursuit, escalating violence and terror. Although <i>Drive</i> is not a supernatural tale, the setting of a deserted town in the early hours of a weeknight works well enough to suggest dark stories of the past, such as <i>Don't Get Lost</i> by Tanith Lee. The protagonists become drawn deeper into a furious chase through the sodium-lit streets, trying to escape from a mysterious and threatening Audi.<br />
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"The Audi pulled up alongside and David glanced over. The driver was looking straight ahead, his hood pulled up so that all could be seen was the tip of his nose and his pursed lips. There was a person in the back, also wearing his hood, slumped low and almost out of sight".<br />
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A sense of impending confrontation pushes things along at breakneck pace, and by the time the satisfying conclusion arrived, I had to read something a little more relaxing before going to sleep... <i>Drive</i> is a great tale, atmospheric and exciting. Perhaps this could be the first of a series? Recommended for all lovers of a high-octane read!<br />
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-46234690684833498692014-07-27T01:28:00.001-07:002014-07-27T01:28:25.108-07:00Review: The Gate Theory, by Kaaron WarrenKaaron Warren is an award-winning Australian author, and <i>The Gate Theory</i> collects five of her short stories, all of which have been previously published. It was first released in late 2013, and was the first publication from Cohesion Press, an Australian publisher of dark fiction.<br />
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All of these tales are darkly disturbing, and in the very best of ways. <i>Purity</i> kicks off proceedings, and is a great introduction to Warren's labyrinthine powers of creativity. Therese is the unfortunate daughter of a slovenly mother; she does not doubt she is loved, but she lives in a "mud-slapped, filthy, stinking home – with its stacks of newspapers going back as far as she was born, spoons bent and burnt, food grown hard and crusty..." What's more, her elder brother lives in the basement; rarely emerging and pale from a lack of sunlight. When Therese manages a temporary escape from her situation by working in a supermarket, she meets a young man called Daniel and his grandfather Calum. Their fragrant cleanliness absorbs her. Eventually, she accepts their invitation to go to a party; but is she able to find a more permanent escape, and what's more, can she ever be truly cleansed?<br />
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Warren is clearly influenced deeply by her surroundings, and <i>That Girl</i> is set in Bali, where she lived for some time; its authenticity cuts like a knife. This story works on so many levels. On the surface, it tells about the origins of a local legend, brought to the protagonist's attention by the inmate of a mental hospital. Beneath lies that individual's own tale of terror; then, the reader is confronted with abuse and cover-up, blurred by both cultural practices and the casual discrimination against women. <i>That Girl</i> is a complex and perfectly-formed piece.<br />
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<i>Dead Sea Fruit</i> is concerned with anorexia and all its horrors. The protagonist is a dentist who often treats anorexic girls in a hospital ward. She finds out she can kiss her clients to experience their very essence. "Then I kissed a murderer; he tasted like vegetable waste. Like the crisper in my fridge smells when I've been too busy to empty it." She hears the girls on the ward speaking in hushed tones of the Ash Mouth Man, and of what happens if he is kissed. But has she met the Ash Mouth Man himself? There is a strong supernatural element to this tale, and the ending is beautifully incisive...<br />
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<i>The History Thief</i> adds a touch of humour to the mix, in what is the most conventionally supernatural tale here. Alvin realises he must be dead when he gazes at his own body "on the floor of his dusty lounge room". As what might be called a ghost, he finds he has no real substance; but that he can find the density he needs through contact with living beings. However, this means he has to steal their memories. Can he be trusted with the lives of others? This is an effective tale of alienation, with a satisfying twist at the end.<br />
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Lastly is my favourite piece, <i>The Gaze Dogs of Nine Waterfall</i>. I often feel that a great title begets a great tale, and that's clearly the case here. The reader is taken on a bizarre journey with Rosie, who is paid to supply examples of rare dog breeds to clients. On this occasion, she is after four vampire dogs; she has to travel to the jungle on a remote island in Fiji to capture them, which is a risky process. Her journey is arduous, and compellingly told – Rosie herself is a very strong character, and she drives the story powerfully. <i>The Gaze Dogs of Nine Waterfall </i>is very much a horror story, concluding with a supremely nihilistic message.<br />
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Kaaron Warren is without doubt one of the world's leading writers of dark fiction, and <i>The Gate Theory</i> showcases her talent perfectly. (If you need any more convincing, check out her other superb collection, <i>Through Splintered Walls</i>.) Her prose is powerful, her sense of place is evocative and her imagination knows no bounds. This is the kind of book that you will remember long after you finish reading the last story. <br />
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-39897218891127679362014-07-26T00:28:00.003-07:002014-07-26T00:28:57.167-07:00More recommended reads of 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've read so many great short story collections this year that I feel the time has come to list some more. Certainly, it's been a bumper year so far; and there are many more collections and anthologies in the pipeline too.<br />
So, here are some of the books I've been enjoying recently.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Errantry</i> by Elizabeth Hand is a fascinating, literary collection. It contains <br />among others <i>The Maiden Flight of McCauley's Bellerophon</i> and <i>Near Zennor</i>; <br />two cracking stories you really should not miss. Review soon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ioZUIhLodM/U9NKpU1wcjI/AAAAAAAABD0/It4WR-quDOI/s1600/71XyUj7OPKL._AA1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2ioZUIhLodM/U9NKpU1wcjI/AAAAAAAABD0/It4WR-quDOI/s1600/71XyUj7OPKL._AA1000_.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Worse Than Myself</i> by Adam Golaski was brought to my attention by <br />James Everington, and his taste is of course excellent. This is a superb <br />collection of weird tales which will take you out of your comfort zone. It kicks <br />off with <i>The Animator's House</i>... and doesn't let up. Review soon</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Tartarus edition of Nugent Barker's classic collection, <i><br />Written With My Left Hand</i>. Contains the much-anthologised and <br />influential <i>Whessoe</i> among many other wonderful tales.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I recently reviewed Rebecca Lloyd's excellent <i>Mercy and Other Stories</i> <a href="http://strangerdesigns.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/review-mercy-and-other-stories-by.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <br />and so it was no surprise to me to find out that <i>The View From Endless Street</i> <br />is just as wonderful. Full of incisive, intriguing tales, it is a must read. Review soon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Haunted Grove</i> is a tightly written novella from Tim Jeffreys. <br />It's pretty compelling; I read it in one sitting. You might do too</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UC7ea2Y-VeQ/U9NKqK0W61I/AAAAAAAABD8/OlyqUy3Lv90/s1600/815ExlFg1dL._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UC7ea2Y-VeQ/U9NKqK0W61I/AAAAAAAABD8/OlyqUy3Lv90/s1600/815ExlFg1dL._AA1500_.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Perspectives</i> is an intriguing project; each story <br />in this collection is inspired by a piece of photography, and the two writers <br />(Darcia Helle and Maria Savva) take turns to provide their tales. <br />Some are dark, some less so; all are compelling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DdxIAwpr2I/U9NU6eispMI/AAAAAAAABEs/1EitS1BNpp4/s1600/A1bdGfVn3iL._AA1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--DdxIAwpr2I/U9NU6eispMI/AAAAAAAABEs/1EitS1BNpp4/s1600/A1bdGfVn3iL._AA1500_.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Of course, <i>Supernatural Tales</i> are always essential reading; and now <br />they are available on Amazon (back issues included) it's <br />even easier to enjoy them. Number 26 is as good as the modern <br />ghost story collection gets!</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1399951714"></span><span id="goog_1399951715"></span>I would love to review all of these books, but there are only so many hours in the day. However, do keep an eye out for the ones I manage... and in the meantime, I hope you enjoy some of my recommendations as much as I did.<br />
<span id="goog_1399951714"></span><span id="goog_1399951715"></span><br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-57284545456423253882014-07-24T02:10:00.000-07:002014-07-24T02:10:11.195-07:00Review: All Roads Lead to Winter, by Mark Fuller-DillonEarlier this year, I reviewed Mark Fuller-Dillon's short story collection <i>In a Season of Dead Weather</i>, which is still one of my reads of the year; so I couldn't resist following it up with this intriguing "science fiction" novella, <i>All Roads Lead to Winter</i>. It's not often that I finish reading a book and say to myself, "Wow! That was quite something," but I did with this one.<br />
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This is a supremely incisive tale, almost an allegory for the modern condition. Thomas Bridge is a political prisoner, alone in a remote Canadian prison camp. When he visits his wife's grave, he is visited by Avdryana, a feline female; she is one of the Dwellers of the Night, inhabitants of a parallel Earth who are trying to save humanity from self-destruction. Their liaison lasts the night, and is beautifully described. Here, <i>All Roads Lead to Winter</i> becomes almost a love story; but it is so much more than that. Fuller-Dillon creates remarkable prose, and this simple tale blossoms into a touchingly well-observed account of how alien species may interact.<br />
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'Avdryana turned away from the screen and gave him a tilt of her cougar-like head. "When our kind travels, we love to feel the wind on our faces, the cold and the heat on our fur. We are Dwellers of the Night, and we live to feel the rigours of the world. To us, your vehicles are filled with dead textures and dead air; they feel like coffins."'<br />
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This novella is driven by punchy dialogue, expertly handled, which is a refreshing change from many contemporary writers who shy away from such complex interaction. I was enchanted by the story of Thomas and Avdryana, and I could not stop reading until Thomas's fate was revealed – his choice made. <i>All Roads Lead to Winter</i> is a wonderful tale, expertly told and perfectly formed. It feels like it must have been a very personal journey for the author. Go and download a copy now; Mark Fuller-Dillon is a rare talent who deserves to be much more widely read.<br />
MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-49458012161886416372014-07-22T02:44:00.003-07:002014-07-22T02:44:26.376-07:00Review: Autumn in the Abyss by John Claude SmithFollowing on from this author's excellent collection <i>The Dark is Light Enough For Me</i>, <i>Autumn in the Abyss</i> provides the lucky reader with five more darkly perceptive tales, including the substantial title story.<br />
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First up is <i>Autumn in the Abyss</i> itself, and it sets the scene perfectly. Obscure poet Henry Coronado disappeared mysteriously in 1959, along with the truth about his poem, Autumn in the Abyss; and our agoraphobic protagonist has become obsessed with finding out the truth. However, the more he discovers, the further he strays from his comfort zone, and the closer he gets to his own oblivion. "Coronado not only confronted these monsters, his demons, he brought them into play with his words. I thought they weren't <i>real</i>. Coronado proved I was wrong." The idea that words themselves can change the world is taken to its literal conclusion in this memorable opening story.<br />
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<i>Broken Teacup</i> is next, and it came as a bit of a shock. It's a rough ride, but among the wreckage, Smith manages to keep enough focus on the mental side of the situation to keep the tension well and truly up. We also get to meet the enigmatic Mr. Liu, to whom there seems to be more than meets the eye. In fact, Mr. Liu makes an appearance through most of the stories here, providing a neat link to tie them together. In <i>La Mia Immortalità</i>, Mr. Liu commissions a sculpture from Samuel, an artist who is obsessed with his work to the exclusion of all else – and his influence ensures the work of art is not quite what Samuel envisaged.<br />
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<i>Becoming Human</i> takes the reader on a crazy, dark ride with Detective Roberto "Bobby" Vera, who is confronted with an impossible dilemma; a copycat serial killer who is more than he seems. It's bitter, twisted, compelling, and strangely up-beat; a real accomplishment. My favourite story here must be the final one, <i>Where the Light Won't Find You</i>. A slighter tale, perhaps, but set so atmospherically in a down-at-heel multiplex theatre, it instantly struck a chord. Derek Jenner manages to steal into a bizarre showing of a strange film, Where the Light Won't Find You. While the film runs, he notices there is only one other patron, who has a surprise in store for him... and the strange Mr Liu has an alternative for Derek. Whether he can keep his side of the bargain, though, is yet to be seen. This tale reminded me of Mark Fuller-Dillon's superb <i>Lamia Dance</i>.<br />
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These are deep, visceral tales, sometimes of a challenging nature, yet Smith's skill is in the juxtaposition of the humane and the horrific; the reader is persuaded they exist so close together that they are almost one and the same thing. In summary, these are powerful, original stories, written with vivid prose that jumps off the page. John Claude Smith has given us one of the best collection of dark fiction I've read this year, and I look forward to his next journey into the shadows!MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-59088606963661950612014-07-10T04:40:00.003-07:002014-07-10T04:40:55.801-07:00Review: Mercy and Other Stories, by Rebecca LloydRebecca Lloyd is a writer of exquisitely dark tales who I've discovered courtesy of those remarkable people at Tartarus Press. <i>Mercy and Other Stories</i> includes new material from her as well as stories published elsewhere between 2002 and 2014.<br />
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The opening piece is <i>Mercy</i> itself, which explores with subtlety and tenderness the transience of beauty, but not necessarily of love. "We all want to hold on to cherished things, for life is quickly gone." <i>Mercy</i> is short, sharp and sweet, and showcases perfectly Lloyd's remarkable gift for the short story. <i>The Careless Hour</i> is next, a more complex tale with a fascinating premise. The noises from an adjoining house take on sinister significance as the protagonist fears for the sanity of her neighbour, Michael. When he invites a girl, Catherine, for a meal, she hears enough through the thin walls to be concerned; but not enough to understand. <i>The Careless Hour</i> is a tale of half-truths and subtle deceptions, and grips the reader to the end. <i> </i><br />
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<i>The Meat Freezer</i> is a different prospect. Gary has an unsavoury past, and has been allocated a house on the rough Ackroyd estate in which to return to the community. His strange observations of a trespassing youth whom he thinks of as 'Icarus' forms the backbone of this hard-hitting story; but is it reality, or his past coming back to haunt him? The truth might just be too painful to know. <i>What Comes</i> is almost a haunted house story, but is so much more than that. Cath and Martin are moving into an old cottage, and confronting issues between Cath and Martin's mother, Patricia. She does not approve of the relationship nor the property. However, for a while things are fine, and Martin, an artist, finds inspiration. However, a damp stain over the kitchen door is spreading. As they tackle this problem, something is disturbed within the fabric of the house that reveals darkly powerful local folklore.<br />
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<i>The Bath</i> is one of Lloyd's better known stories, dealing with the desperation and pressures in a poor neighborhood. Gavin Bauble lives alone, as it would seem his wife has deserted him; "She wouldn't join in, that's all. No one's better than anyone else in Cotton Street". His home has become a shrine to the past, and is cluttered to the ceiling; but does it house something more precious, something that will have to be released?<br />
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Perhaps the most straightforward tale here, <i>Maynard's Mountain</i> is nonetheless compelling, and gently humorous. A poor family is initially torn apart by the careless loss of a winning lottery ticket; so Daddy decides to burrow into the side of the local dump, where the rubbish bag containing the item would have been taken. Eventually this project involves all the members of the family, each with their own tunnel; but if it <i>is</i> found, would this threaten their newly-found closeness? In <i>The Reunion</i>, a dream-like tale of a visit to a stately home (Shuttered House) to visit eccentric parents, I am reminded a little of Aickman's <i>The Unsettled Dust</i>; and this collection is brought elegantly to a close.<br />
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These are wonderfully written tales, dealing with life, love, relationships and the loss thereof in a thoroughly believable way, and with a depth not present in many works of short fiction. The way Lloyd interweaves the past with the present is hugely impressive, and adds an extra dimension to her impressive body of work. This has been one of my books of the year so far. <br />
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-50169765887700575772014-07-04T19:33:00.000-07:002014-07-04T19:33:37.961-07:00Dying Embers official launchLast Saturday, June 28th, saw the official launch of my debut collection of short stories, <i>Dying Embers</i>. It was held at Gleebooks, in Glebe, Sydney, and was part of a <a href="http://satalyte.com.au/" target="_blank">Satalyte Publishing</a> "double-header" whereby Andrew J. Mckiernan's collection of short stories, <i>Last Year, When We Were Young</i>, was launched too. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaaron Warren, M.R. Cosby, Andrew J. Mckiernan, Alan Baxter</td></tr>
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It was a great experience for me. To say I was nervous would have been an understatement, especially as I did a reading too, something which I had never really envisaged myself doing. However, I owe a huge debt of thanks to the wonderful Kaaron Warren, who introduced both our books so beautifully. She made such well-observed and complimentary comments about <i>Dying Embers</i> that by the time it came for me to speak, my nerves had (almost) disappeared! I am forever grateful.<br />
Many thanks are also due in a big way to the estimable Alan Baxter, who was good enough to be the master of ceremonies for the event, which he did with great panache. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me reading an excerpt from <i>In Transit</i>, <br />a short story from <i>Dying Embers</i></td></tr>
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It was great to meet Kaaron, and to catch up with Alan after meeting him at Supanova a couple of weeks back. It's amazing that there is such a helpful, supportive community of writers "out there", and I am humbled. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxrrdGC-Kd8/U7dZ4DyXcnI/AAAAAAAABBw/9HUnOaeDBOw/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IxrrdGC-Kd8/U7dZ4DyXcnI/AAAAAAAABBw/9HUnOaeDBOw/s1600/IMG_0338.JPG" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me signing one of many copies of <i>Dying Embers</i> at <br />the launch... admirably helped by my daughter Imogen!</td></tr>
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Of course thanks must also go to all at Satalyte Publishing for giving me the opportunity to have a book launch at all! It was such a shame that Stephen and Marieke could not make it to the event, I'm sure they would have enjoyed it very much.<br />
Lastly I'd like to thank James Everington for providing the excellent foreword for <i>Dying Embers</i>. The small matter of geography meant he could not be present, but if it were not for those 6,ooo miles I reckon he would have had a good time too!<br />
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Here is <a href="http://www.andrewmckiernan.com/" target="_blank">Andrew J. Mckiernan</a>'s collection, <i>Last Year, When We Were Young</i>; if you like the idea of my collection, <i>Dying Embers</i>, you should try his too; darkly atmospheric tales. Click on the image for link to buy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Year-When-Were-Young-ebook/dp/B00LDTZCA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404525636&sr=1-1&keywords=last+year%2C+when+we+were+young" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Year-When-Were-Young-ebook/dp/B00LDTZCA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404525636&sr=1-1&keywords=last+year%2C+when+we+were+young" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cbHSaM_XgC0/U7db_MRQWSI/AAAAAAAABB4/zOCuKIETd1c/s1600/lastyear_draftsmall.jpg" height="200" width="132" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://kaaronwarren.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Kaaron Warren</a>'s fiction needs no introduction from me; she is an award winning author. If you have not read her work, you should do so without delay. Her collections, <i>The Gate Theory</i> and <i>Through Splintered Walls</i> are two of the best books I've read in a very long time. Click on images for link to buy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com.au/Through-Splintered-Walls-Twelve-Planets-ebook/dp/B00A9EZ4IU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404526011&sr=1-1&keywords=through+splintered+walls" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com.au/Through-Splintered-Walls-Twelve-Planets-ebook/dp/B00A9EZ4IU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404526011&sr=1-1&keywords=through+splintered+walls" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uueMgD4ILmg/U7de3mFcM4I/AAAAAAAABCU/ekEjhzI3Few/s1600/512kEb3KAgL.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com.au/The-Gate-Theory-Kaaron-Warren-ebook/dp/B00EWO13ZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404525979&sr=1-1&keywords=the+gate+theory" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com.au/The-Gate-Theory-Kaaron-Warren-ebook/dp/B00EWO13ZQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404525979&sr=1-1&keywords=the+gate+theory" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ti37RbWtVmY/U7deeYhSTRI/AAAAAAAABCM/0XOk1trMSFA/s1600/815Dr5nOycL._AA1500_.jpg" height="200" width="125" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.alanbaxteronline.com/" target="_blank">Alan Baxter</a>'s latest novel, <i>Bound</i>, is Alex Caine book 1, and is a powerful dark adventure. Its launch is coming up soon, so be one of the first to check it out! Click on the image to buy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com.au/Bound-Alex-Caine-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00IR1C480/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404526470&sr=1-5&keywords=bound" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com.au/Bound-Alex-Caine-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00IR1C480/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404526470&sr=1-5&keywords=bound" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TKSRdooHvlE/U7dgt9vi3SI/AAAAAAAABCg/aeLwrIYATao/s1600/91LD3SZ4vTL._AA1500_.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://jameseverington.blogspot.com.au/" target="_blank">James Everington</a> writes great dark fiction, and you should definitely read his latest collection of short stories, <i>Falling Over</i>. It was one of my books of the year last year. Click on the image to buy.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Over-James-Everington-ebook/dp/B00DV2QNG4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404526929&sr=1-1&keywords=falling+over" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Falling-Over-James-Everington-ebook/dp/B00DV2QNG4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1404526929&sr=1-1&keywords=falling+over" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oTE0MuFfpEs/U7dh7seeBTI/AAAAAAAABCo/7eK_etkqqV8/s1600/91Bn97nbt5L._AA1500_.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a></div>
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7747798867933663491.post-12653631358624224772014-06-17T03:21:00.000-07:002014-06-17T03:21:10.127-07:00Dying Embers at Supanova!Last weekend involved a lot of 'firsts' for me.<br />
It was the first convention I'd attended; the first time I had met any of the friends made through writing and on social media during the past couple of years; the first time I'd signed a copy of <a href="http://www.martincosby.com/" target="_blank"><i>Dying Embers</i></a> in person: and the first time I'd met R2D2.<br />
I arrived early on the Saturday morning. I was immediately welcomed into the fold of <a href="http://satalyte.com.au/" target="_blank">Satalyte Publishing</a> by the great Stephen Ormsby, who had previously only existed to me either as a disembodied voice, a Facebook comment, or as the request for an edit. It came as quite a shock to see he was actually a living, breathing person! We made our way to the Satalyte booth, where I met Andrew McKiernan, a fellow Satalyte author promoting his own collection of short stories, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Last-Year-When-Were-Young/dp/0992509521/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1403000371&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=last+year%2C+when+we+were+young" target="_blank"><i>Last Year, When We Were Young</i></a>. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrew McKiernan, Stephen Ormsby and Martin Cosby on the Satalyte booth</td></tr>
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The crowds grew, and we watched any number of superheroes wandering by. Stephen polished his sales technique, showing me the ropes, and I began to learn the basics about what it really means to sell books. It's hard work! By the end of the Sunday, we were all exhausted, yet Stephen still had to drive all the way back to Melbourne. His enthusiasm and energy is both admirable and infectious.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signing a copy of <i>Dying Embers</i></td></tr>
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Overall the weekend was a great success for Satalyte, and I certainly gained a lot of invaluable experience. I also met some key people, including Alan Baxter, who will be at the official launch of <i>Dying Embers</i> at Gleebooks on Saturday June 28. More details <a href="http://www.gleebooks.com.au/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=168615" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the more unusual visitors to the Satalyte booth...</td></tr>
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I must admit to being a little nervous about the launch, as that will be another and even bigger 'first' for me; but, once more, it will add to my experience, and at the same time I feel both privileged and excited. See you there if you can make it!<br />
<br />MRCosbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04232540833444153416noreply@blogger.com2