Reggie Oliver
 

I'm just in the process of reading The Dreams of Cardinal Vittorini, the first collection of supernatural stories by Reggie Oliver, and it is GREAT! I'm only a little more than half-through the book, but I have to talk about it now.

Some of the stories (not surprinsingly the ones I liked best) have a definitely ligottian air about them : The Evil Eye is a truly very unsettling tale of a voyeur, Tiger in the Snow is set in the world of modern art galleries and art installations, and The Black Cathedral is a truly remarkable variation on MR James' Count Magnus with a "corporate horror" setting (if you can imagine that!). The rest is as good but they are more "classic" stories.

I cannot recommand the book enough, and the last copies are available at £25, post included, through the editor www.hauntedriver.co.uk. (Chris might even still have some signed copies to offer!) A real bargain and truly a very good read!

Thanks for the recommendation. I've heard enthusiastic praise for this book coming from all quarters for quite some time now, so I just may have to check up on it.

Re: Reggie Oliver
 

Just to follow up on this earlier post, Reggie Oliver is scheduled to have a new collection of stories published by Haunted River this spring. The rather Ligottian title of the collection is The Complete Symphonies Of Adolf Hitler and it should contain fifteen completely new stories as follows:

THE SKINS
AMONG THE TOMBS
THE CONSTANT RAKE
MAGUS ZOROASTER
THE SERMONS OF Dr HODNET
PARMA VIOLETS
LAPLAND NIGHTS
THE BLUE ROOM
THE TIME OF BLOOD
DIFFICULT PEOPLE
THE GARDEN OF STRANGERS
THE BABE OF THE ABYSS
A NIGHTMARE SANG
A CHRISTMAS CARD
THE COMPLETE SYMPHONIES OF ADOLF HITLER

If it's anything like the previous volume, it'll be an essential read.

Brian

Re: Reggie Oliver
 

According to The Haunted River site, there is an extra story in the forthcoming Reggie Oliver's collection.

"An extra tale of outstanding quality has been added to Reggie Oliver’s new collection. BLOODY BILL is a very sinister tale of black magic set against the background of Eton. "

Seems more like MR James than Thomas Ligotti, but that's OK with me!

Re: Reggie Oliver
 

Got it on your recommendation eihi and was suitably impressed. cheers

Re: Reggie Oliver
 

Damo,

Glad you enjoyed it! Does a particular story stand out in your opinion? I think Evil Eye is my favourite: truly upsetting...

Re: Reggie Oliver
 

I guess I'll have to check this man's work. My newest Weird Horror discoveries have been Quentin Crisp and Mark Samuels, although Crisp I only know him by name, since I haven't been able to buy any of his available work.

Re: Reggie Oliver
 

Karnos,

There are a few stories by Quentin online (some on this very site of course), that are well worth checking out! Just make a quick search on Google, and you should be able to read some truly great things.

Re: Reggie Oliver
 

Thanks for the tip!

Re: Reggie Oliver
 

Good news for Reggie Oliver fans --

Oliver's 3rd book MASQUES OF SATAN: TWELVE STORIES & A NOVELA is due this December (2007). It appears he's switched publishers. His newest collection will be published by Ash-Tree Press instead of his usual Haunted River Press. The cover of MASKS OF SATAN has a nice "Yellow Nineties" feel. Very Aubrey Beardsley-esque. As usual, the multi-talented Oliver illustrates the collection -- a direct artistic line to the vision.

As many of you know, his previous collections have become fantasically rare and sell for astronomical sums. Make sure to get this one while you can!

http://www.ash-tree.bc.ca/atp131masquesofsatan.htm