Reggie Oliver

[Mr. Veech]

I love the simplicity and elegance of Tartarus' book covers. Each book looks so dignified.

[vapidleopard]

Quote Originally Posted by njhorror

Bang ZOOM!!! I wonder if anyone else will be picking up BOKE?

I'm hoping either Tartarus Press or Egaeus Press will pick this one up.

[Hidden X]

Anyone else not finding this one exactly on par with man's previous collections? I guess that one positive, in comparison with the "Flowers of the Sea", is that it lacks that collections uniformly negative treatment of gay characters (one of the stories, "Perfect Author", seems like a conscious joke on Oliver's own expense in that aspect). But, I can't say that any of the stories gripped me so far, and I was also reminded why I thought that his entry in "Soliloquy for Pan" was one of the very weakest (not to mention that "Pan" of that story felt like it was a clone of a certain character from one of his earlier stories, which lessened the humor for me). Anyone else feeling the same way? I finished maybe half of the collection so far, here's hoping that there are some gems later on.

[Frater_Tsalal]

I'm glad I'm not the only person who has noted the negative depiction of homosexuality in Flowers of the Sea. From my Goodreads review of the book (in 2015):

"One thing I've noticed with this book is that the homosexual characters are almost uniformly horrible and unpleasant people, be they pedophiliac Peter Kurten-style serial killers (see "Singing Blood"), sadistic gangsters who #### other men to death (as in "Charm"), or alcoholic/nihilistic cowards ("Lightning," the penultimate story). One could point out that some of the other stories (such as "A Child's Problem" and "Lord of the Fleas") deal with equally unpleasant heterosexual antagonists, but I think this is balanced by the fact that there are at least a few narrators/main characters who we're meant to see as somewhat sympathetic: by contrast I think the only gay character who comes off well in this book is Alex in "Lightning," though he only appears on one page and even then one must make the assumption that he's gay. Ah well, not all gay people are good (obviously), and I suppose I shouldn't complain too much as the antagonistic characters noted above are still more interesting to read about than many of the (it must be said) stuffy and overly well-mannered/respectable narrators."

[Nemonymous]

I have now finished my detailed review of HOLIDAYS FROM HELL by Reggie Oliver
Holidays from Hell Reggie Oliver | The Des Lewis Gestalt Real-Time Reviews

[Michael]

Got Holidays From Hell yesterday. Reading today. Freakin. Epic.

[nihilsum]

What is ideally the best Reggie Oliver collection to start with? What are his best stories? I have his Tartarus press ebooks, and The Sea of Blood. I've read stories from them here and there.

EDIT:
I just have to quote one line from "The Complete Symphonies of Adolf Hitler" that made me laugh wholeheartedly for a solid 30 seconds.

*minor spoilers*

Quote

Good God, my wife has just been killed and I am marching up and down my sitting room to a piece of music written by Adolf Hitler. I must get out the house.

[nihilsum]

I don't have much time for reading these days - but I did manage to read a story from Oliver's newest collection Holidays from Hell, a story called "The Book and the Ring". Browsing the table of contents, that title sounded sufficiently symbolic and enigmatic to spark my imagination.

The tale itself is just to my tastes - a Faustian/Shakespearean period piece of ghosts, witchcraft and devilry. Impressive was Oliver's use of prose mimicking the diary of a 16th century composer - it feels authentic, reads beautifully, and is at times wickedly hilarious. This is one of my favorite stories by Oliver that I've read so far.

Also, it appears to set the stage perhaps for Reggie Oliver's upcoming novel "The Boke of the Divill". Great stuff!

[Michael]

Anyone got publishing news on "The Boke of the Divill" ??? Dark Renaissance's website still gives me a white page and I can't find anything anywhere on an update. Any news???

[Lord Jim]

May 2nd: Cthulhu Mythos Books Campaign - Up to Six New Titles from Dark Regions Press! - Dark Regions Press - Books of Horror, Fantasy and Science Fiction

Dark Regions Press is releasing it, available for preorder soon.