Robert Aickman

[Nemonymous]

If you let me know roughly where the three items are in the story (ie two thirds through, or half way etc) I'll check in my edition of We Are For The dark.

B.F. is (or was in my Fifties school playground!) a common shortening in UK for 'Bloody Fool'.
des

[max_renn]

The "hallucinatory" sentence appears a couple of paragraphs after Cust hears the loud noise outside his room and Felicity disappears (after he has met her for the first time). The other sentence appears a couple pages after. I'd say they both appear halfway through the story. Thanks to you both for clearing up "B.F."

-Adam

[Nemonymous]

The wording is the same for both passages in my Mayflower-Dell paperback reprint of WE ARE FOR THE DARK (1965) which was presumably a direct reprint of the Jonathan Cape first edition it cites.

However, I'd make a case for the wordings being correct:

"Still badly lacking sleep, he was in a state to believe any other evil hallucinatory."

"Evil" as a noun.

"despite everything a little sorry for Miss Franklin."

The 'being' after 'everything' taken as read.

des

[max_renn]

Thanks for the info. Every time I read the often enigmatic Aickman I can't seem to help being overly conscientious. I want to make sure I'm not missing something!

-Adam

[Evans]

Hello everyone

Another Aickman collection looms on the horizon so I thought I might post this here.

What follows are the few scraps of information I've come upon about Go Back At Once:

1) The document exists as a typescript but with numerous textual corrections and additions in Aickman's hand.

2) Apparently it is not a very long novel

3) Part of the plot revolves around two women and their travels in Italy. It also deals with elements of theatrical life, and is the most 'realistic' of all Aickman's novels with virtually no weird or uncanny elements.

4) In the 'seventies Aickman's agent offered it to Victor Gollancz and several smaller London Publishers

If I had more energy, free time and money I'd have a shot at obtaining photo-statics.

[starrysothoth]

Quote Originally Posted by Evans

Hello everyone Another Aickman collection looms on the horizon so I thought I might post this here. What follows are the few scraps of information I've come upon about Go Back At Once: 1) The document exists as a typescript but with numerous textual corrections and additions in Aickman's hand. 2) Apparently it is not a very long novel 3) Part of the plot revolves around two women and their travels in Italy. It also deals with elements of theatrical life, and is the most 'realistic' of all Aickman's novels with virtually no weird or uncanny elements. 4) In the 'seventies Aickman's agent offered it to Victor Gollancz and several smaller London Publishers If I had more energy, free time and money I'd have a shot at obtaining photo-statics.

Thanks. I'm not up on the history of this mysterious work. Is it safe to assume it was offered and rejected by all publishers?

[Dark Deceiver]

Well I've heard that its not too good either but to be fair some people have said the same about the Aickman 'Night Voices' episodes too and although I've only got 'The Hospice' episode to speak of, I actually rather enjoyed it. What I'm trying to say is that ultimately any unreleased Aickman material should where practicable be released and the general public at large should decide whether its good or not. And as for the lack of weird/supernatural content I don't necessarily think thats a problem; a gifted writer is still a gifted writer, no matter what genre he/she chooses to write in.

[starrysothoth]

Quote Originally Posted by Dark Deceiver

Well I've heard that its not too good either but to be fair some people have said the same about the Aickman 'Night Voices' episodes too and although I've only got 'The Hospice' episode to speak of, I actually rather enjoyed it. What I'm trying to say is that ultimately any unreleased Aickman material should where practicable be released and the general public at large should decide whether its good or not. And as for the lack of weird/supernatural content I don't necessarily think thats a problem; a gifted writer is still a gifted writer, no matter what genre he/she chooses to write in.

I fully agree. Aickman has a concrete following, albeit small, and it would probably attract just enough buyers for a small press to make a small profit (or at least break even). Lovecraft comes to mind as another writer who started with a similarly tiny readership, Yet, today, almost everything Lovecraft ever wrote and preserved is well on its way to publication. We have dozens of letters, essays, and other pieces that say nothing about the horrific or supernatural, but a slim cross section of HPL fanatics are eager for anything new. by their icon.

[Dark Deceiver]

By the way, does anyone happen to know when 'Dark Entries' is due to be released by Tartarus Press at all? I know that its next month sometime but I was wondering if someone reading this could be more specific?

[Brendan Moody]

I received a copy of the new Tartarus edition of Sub Rosa for Christmas, and read it over the next few days. I've posted some random ruminations on the stories, and on Aickman in general, at my blog. You can click here to read it.