| Author |
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des lewis
| | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 11:14 am: | |
It has suddenly struck me that this anthology (collection):
WE ARE FOR THE DARK containing six stories (all shown as written by Robert Aickman and Elizabeth Jane Howard ) - (my copy Mayflower Dell 1965) - is the only forerunner of 'Nemonymous' that I can think of, as the stories are not allocated in print to a particular author. We do now know that each story is written by just one of Aickman or Howard and which story is whose, but we do not know this if we only depend on the book itself:
Perfect Love
The Trains
The Insufficient Answer
Three Miles Up (a masterpiece! - des)
The View
Left Luggage |
Spencer Pate
| | Posted on Thursday, May 03, 2007 - 02:52 pm: | |
That's very interesting! I'm familiar with some of the Aickman stories but not with those of Howard. |
des lewis
| | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 01:31 am: | |
'Three Miles Up', one of the greatest stories ever written, is by Elizabeth Jane Howard.
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I am currently systematically re-reading all Robert Aickman's stories in my possession.
I have been particularly struck by 'My Poor Friend' (which amazingly I can't recall reading before) -- a very strange tale (even for Aickman!) that takes place in the British Parliament and even features Harold Wilson with his fish and chips!
It a disturbing tale. Highly recommended.
Another: 'Larger Than Life'.
This is superficially a satire on spiritualists and religionists ....with some sexy underclothes!
Extemely weird.
It even has a Lewisite!
The vision at the end is most unsettling
PS: Just read another very strange story: A CHOICE OF WEAPONS.
Includes stale confetti and the smell of bloaters. |
Spencer Pate
| | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 08:12 am: | |
I'll have to check that story out, Des. I've read "Larger than Life" and thought it was brilliant. In fact, I think Aickman is among my absolute favorite writers, period. |
des lewis
| | Posted on Friday, May 04, 2007 - 10:40 am: | |
Indeed, Aickman features in my all-time four favourite authors.
I've just started re-reading 'The Insufficient Answer' (by Aickman) from WE ARE FOR THE DARK.
It mentions an art show in a gallery entitled:
Women Who've Made As Good As Men.
I think I would have guessed the story was by Aickman not Howard (had I not already known)! |
SD Tullis
| | Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 09:50 am: | |
Des, what system are you using for your “systematic re-reading” of Aickman? It must not be chronological or else you would’ve read “The Insufficient Answer” before “My Poor Friend.” Just curious. |
des lewis
| | Posted on Monday, May 14, 2007 - 11:27 am: | |
Systematic in the sense I'm reading a series of complete books.
I started with 'Powers of Darkness' (which contains 'My Poor Friend'), then 'Dark Entries', then 'We Are For Dark (containing 'The Insufficient Answer'): currently reading alternately the stories in 'Cold Hand In Mine' and 'Tales of Love and Death', to be followed by 'Intrusions', then finally the Mandarin books: 'The Wine-Dark Sea' and 'The Unsettled Dust'.
des |
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