October - Horror Month

[Connavar]

Something Wicked This Way Comes wasn't intended for children; it is an evocation of childhood, and the terrors and challenges connected with that time, cast in the classic mode of an almost Faustian temptation (that is, a deal-with-the-devil where one gets one's fondest wish, but loses one's soul). It is classed as a horror novel, but it can also be seen as pure dark fantasy.

Conn: You might also want to try Dandelion Wine, which is fine piece of a related kind....

Dandellion Wine sounded good to me too but it seemed more like good personal story than the dark fantasy-horror book i need for horror month.

About Something Wicked This Way Comes i must say i do like the border land stories between dark fantasy-horror. I like that weird feeling and not looking only for horror that is creepy. I like the mood better than anything in the hands of quality weird writer. Thats why this books sound most interesting to me.

 

[j d worthington]

That being the case, I'm sure you'll find it fits the bill nicely....

 

[GOLLUM]

J.D. has already neatly precised what the novel is really all about but let me add that Something Wicked This Way Comes is for me one of my favourite Bradbury novels. I might try and read it again in October...

 

[thatollie]

Hmm, I'm thinking four novels and two (or three) anthologies, all them unread. Here's a tentative list.

The Ceremonies -T.E.D Klein
The Influence - Ramsey Campbell
One of Dan Simmons' horror novels
A Stephen King novel
Prime Evil - ed. Douglas E. Winter
Great Horror Stories - H. Douglas Thompson
(The above collection was previously published as The Great Book of Thrillers)

 

[j d worthington]

Hmm, I'm thinking four novels and two (or three) anthologies, all them unread. Here's a tentative list.

The Ceremonies -T.E.D Klein
The Influence - Ramsey Campbell
One of Dan Simmons' horror novels
A Stephen King novel
Prime Evil - ed. Douglas E. Winter
Great Horror Stories - H. Douglas Thompson
(The above collection was previously published as The Great Book of Thrillers)

Sounds like a rather good list, though I'm unfamiliar with the Thompson. Care to post the TOC?

Which of the Simmons and King are you planning on reading? My own suggestion for Simmons would be my perennial favorite among his horror tales, Carrion Comfort, but that is a tad long, I suppose....

 

[Fried Egg]

Which of the Simmons and King are you planning on reading? My own suggestion for Simmons would be my perennial favorite among his horror tales, Carrion Comfort, but that is a tad long, I suppose....

Indeed, judging by the size of that volume, he won't have time to read much else if he picks that!

I would recommend "Song of Kali" if he's not read it already.

 

[thatollie]

I'm thinking either of those two or Drood. As for the King, I haven't decided on that either, might be It, might be Blaze, or maybe Carrie.

I have found a list of the Thompson.

 

[j d worthington]

I'm thinking either of those two or Drood. As for the King, I haven't decided on that either, might be It, might be Blaze, or maybe Carrie.

I have found a list of the Thompson.

That's quite a nice selection there. I would imagine "The Mysterious Mansion", by Balzac, is a variant title for "Le Grande Bretèche", which is certainly an unsettling story (that final moment is particularly nasty), but I have no idea what the Gautier is....

Anyway, thanks for that... looks quite entertaining!

 

[Nesacat]

It's my favourite month is October. I read two books every year and the rest change. The two constants are Halloween Tree and From The Dust Returned. Both by the same wonderful gentleman.

I will probably read Dan Simmons' Summer of Night and Wilum Pugmire's Tangled Muse. Not at sure what the rest will be. Will likely involve Harry Dresden too.

 

[Fried Egg]

It's my favourite month is October. I read two books every year and the rest change. The two constants are Halloween Tree and From The Dust Returned. Both by the same wonderful gentleman.

I've not heard of "From The Dust Returned". Would you recommend that then?

 

[Nesacat]

Oh yes I would indeed. A couple of chapters have appeared elsewhere as short stories. The Homecoming and The April Witch.

Here is what Amazon has to say about From The Dust Returned:
The Family have lived for centuries in a house of legend and mystery in upper Illinois -- and they are not like other midwesterners.

Rarely encountered in daylight hours, their children are curious and wild; their old ones have survived since before the Sphinx first sank its paws deep in Egyptian sands. And some sleep in beds with lids.

Now the house is being readied in anticipation of the gala homecoming that will gather together the farflung branches of this odd and remarkable family.

In the past-midnight stillness can be detected the soft fluttering of Uncle Einars wings. From her realm of sleep, Cecy, the fairest and most special daughter, can feel the approach of many a welcome being -- shapeshifter, telepath, somnambulist, vampire -- as she flies high in the consciousness of bird and bat.

But in the midst of eager anticipation, a sense of doom pervades. For the world is changing. And death, no stranger, will always shadow this most singular family: Father, arisen from the Earth; Mother, who never sleeps but dreams; A Thousand Times Great Grandmere; Grandfather, who keeps the wildness of youth between his ears.

And the boy who, more than anyone, carries the burden of time on his shoulders: Timothy, the sad and different foundling son who must share it all, remember, and tell...and who, alone out of all of them, must one day age and wither and die.


.... and yes I cry every single time

 

[j d worthington]

Yes, From the Dust Returned is a "fix-up" novel (how I hate that term) which, in part, includes several stories Bradbury wrote over the years, though at times they have been considerably revised in this context; but the basic premise is the following of the Elliott family's experiences. I wouldn't call it his best, myself, but I do think it has some stunning aspects to it, and can be a very moving and evocative work. I would also say that, as a Halloween selection, it is a very good choice....

 

[Fried Egg]

Ah yes, I have read "The Homecoming" in the "October Country" collection.

Another book to add to the list...

 

[dlsevern]

I'm thinking either of those two or Drood. As for the King, I haven't decided on that either, might be It, might be Blaze, or maybe Carrie.

I have found a list of the Thompson.

Blaze isn't horror at all, try Full Dark, No Stars

 

[dlsevern]

I'm going to start off October with Michael Slade's Headhunter, then I'll move on to Simmon's Carrion Comfort, and if I still have time after that I'll finish off the month with Robert Bloch's Pleasant Dreams.

 

[Connavar]

I will read:

The Machineries of Joy by Ray Bradbury(Wicked novel was gone from the library)
The Wine-Dark Sea by Robert Aickman

Thats it for me, im reading two lit classes at once. I read mostly only books about literary theories by lit scholars,philosophers,linguist scholars than actual fictional lit.

I spend time in the world of Roland Barthez, Gèrard Genette and co.

 

[Extollager]

once. I read mostly only books about literary theories by lit scholars,philosophers,linguist scholars than actual fictional lit.

I spend time in the world of Roland Barthez, Gèrard Genette and co.

Oh mercy.

I artfully dodge away down my alley whenever I see Theory coming towards me.

 

[thatollie]

That's quite a nice selection there. I would imagine "The Mysterious Mansion", by Balzac, is a variant title for "Le Grande Bretèche", which is certainly an unsettling story (that final moment is particularly nasty), but I have no idea what the Gautier is....

Anyway, thanks for that... looks quite entertaining!

It could be La Morte Amoureuse, I'll tell you once I've read it.

 

[j d worthington]

It could be La Morte Amoureuse, I'll tell you once I've read it.

Given the nature of that story, I rather doubt it, as such a title as "The Dreamland Bride" would be completely misleading. "Spirite", perhaps, might fit... but that's a short novel; though this could, of course, be a self-contained excerpt from it.

 

[Connavar]

Oh mercy.

I artfully dodge away down my alley whenever I see Theory coming towards me.

I like Genette theories, the way he writes make sense but Barthez, other french theorist write so cute, fancy style to give me a headache.

I look forward to reading actual novels again