Robert Aickman

[Druidic]

More than any other writer, even Ligotti, James' characters remind me of puppets in the hands of a malign Fate. A real Punch and Judy show. If you're sensitive to it (many aren't, it's a matter of taste as well), even the studied urbanity can't quite dissipate the chill atmosphere of inescapable Doom. Count Magnus is one of the best examples.

[Frater_Tsalal]

It's funny, despite the fact I have a very good memory, and also despite the fact that it's been less than 5 years since I last read anything by Aickman, last night, inspired by this thread, I looked over the contents of Sub Rosa and was somewhat distressed when, upon gazing at the table of contents, was unable to remember a single thing about any of the stories. Even flipping through a few random pages couldn't jog any memories at all. Now, you could say, well, I've only read all those stories once, so that explains why they aren't ingrained in my memory very well. Then again, I only ever read Stephen King's Misery once, when I was probably 9 or 10, like 25 years ago or whatever, and I can still remember almost everything of that book in vivid detail (then again, I suppose when you're ten years old and you read about a man's head being run over by a lawnmower, that'll stick with you). This isn't to say that I find Aickman a forgettable writer (as most of the stories in Cold Hand in Mine I can still recall fairly well). It's just that his stories don't leave me with a lot I can grasp onto. I think my biggest issue with his work is that I find his style somewhat dry... when it comes to weird fiction I prefer the more evocative and poetic prose of writers such as a Ligotti or Clark Ashton Smith.

Having said that, the man certainly knew how to name his collections: Sub Rosa, Powers of Darkness and Dark Entries are all incredibly awesome book titles (and I wonder if the latter inspired the Bauhaus song of the same name)? In some ways, I think that Aickman's book titles might even be my favorite aspect of his work. I find them more mentally suggestive than the actual content, in a way.

[Michael]

Quote Originally Posted by Frater_Tsalal

It's funny, despite the fact I have a very good memory, and also despite the fact that it's been less than 5 years since I last read anything by Aickman, last night, inspired by this thread, I looked over the contents of Sub Rosa and was somewhat distressed when, upon gazing at the table of contents, was unable to remember a single thing about any of the stories. Even flipping through a few random pages couldn't jog any memories at all. Now, you could say, well, I've only read all those stories once, so that explains why they aren't ingrained in my memory very well. Then again, I only ever read Stephen King's Misery once, when I was probably 9 or 10, like 25 years ago or whatever, and I can still remember almost everything of that book in vivid detail (then again, I suppose when you're ten years old and you read about a man's head being run over by a lawnmower, that'll stick with you). This isn't to say that I find Aickman a forgettable writer (as most of the stories in Cold Hand in Mine I can still recall fairly well). It's just that his stories don't leave me with a lot I can grasp onto. I think my biggest issue with his work is that I find his style somewhat dry... when it comes to weird fiction I prefer the more evocative and poetic prose of writers such as a Ligotti or Clark Ashton Smith. Having said that, the man certainly knew how to name his collections: Sub Rosa, Powers of Darkness and Dark Entries are all incredibly awesome book titles (and I wonder if the latter inspired the Bauhaus song of the same name)? In some ways, I think that Aickman's book titles might even be my favorite aspect of his work. I find them more mentally suggestive than the actual content, in a way.

I have this incredibly weird experience when I go back through my Aickman books and recollect the stories and the experience of reading those stories. I noticed it with Sub Rosa first. It's like I'm remembering a dream. And I'm not sure if it was a good dream or a bad dream. There always seem to be details out of reach as I try to recollect the stories, like details seem to be out of reach when I try to remember dreams. Maybe that's just me but I noticed that it's only with Aickman stories. It doesn't happen with any other writer. It's simultaneously frustrating and soothing.

[Nemonymous]

Pleased to report that 'The Strangers' as a separate story within the new Tartarus Press book of the same name is a genuine major 'strange story' classic by Robert Aickman. Fifty-eight pages of it.

[Michael]

Quote Originally Posted by Nemonymous

Pleased to report that 'The Strangers' as a separate story within the new Tartarus Press book of the same name is a genuine major 'strange story' classic by Robert Aickman. Fifty-eight pages of it.

Awesome to hear. Don't know if you can answer this but have copies started shipping out? Didn't know if you had an advanced proof or you had the finished product. And if you can't answer no worries. Good to hear this story is just as polished as the rest of the jewels.

[Nemonymous]

Quote Originally Posted by Michael

Quote Originally Posted by Nemonymous Pleased to report that 'The Strangers' as a separate story within the new Tartarus Press book of the same name is a genuine major 'strange story' classic by Robert Aickman. Fifty-eight pages of it. Awesome to hear. Don't know if you can answer this but have copies started shipping out? Didn't know if you had an advanced proof or you had the finished product. And if you can't answer no worries. Good to hear this story is just as polished as the rest of the jewels.

I bought the book as a normal customer from the publisher. Judging by Facebook, lots of others received it the same day as I did. I'm just waiting for someone to disagree with my contention above about the eponymous story!

[Frater_Tsalal]

Quote Originally Posted by James Sucellus

I like Clark Ashton Smith's style more than I do his plots, and I like MR James' plots more than I do his style. Aickman mastered both.

James, this is actually how I feel about Smith and Lovecraft (in that I prefer Smith's prose style, but feel that Lovecraft is better at plotting and story).

[Robin Davies]

Quote Originally Posted by Michael

Awesome to hear. Don't know if you can answer this but have copies started shipping out? Didn't know if you had an advanced proof or you had the finished product.

Mine arrived on Wednesday. Haven't read many of the stories yet but the documentary is a gem.

[Dark Deceiver]

Same here too. I've not read the book yet (Clive Barker's Scarlet Gospels is currently holding my attentions) but the documentary I have indulged in and it is indeed a gem as Robin says. The interviews with friends as well as other authors are great value and through the generous smattering of rare photos and clips too you do get a little closer to the great man himself. In so many ways, there persists a veil of sadness whenever you see him throughout the documentary, as though he deliberately kept himself apart from others, time and time again. One envies the writers side of him I think without ever coming close to envying him his everyday life; a constant contradiction that seems to inform many of the very best authors out there.

[Biely Králik]

Quote Originally Posted by Dark Deceiver

Same here too. I've not read the book yet (Clive Barker's Scarlet Gospels is currently holding my attentions) but the documentary I have indulged in and it is indeed a gem as Robin says. The interviews with friends as well as other authors are great value and through the generous smattering of rare photos and clips too you do get a little closer to the great man himself. In so many ways, there persists a veil of sadness whenever you see him throughout the documentary, as though he deliberately kept himself apart from others, time and time again. One envies the writers side of him I think without ever coming close to envying him his everyday life; a constant contradiction that seems to inform many of the very best authors out there.

Scarlet Gospels - Is it any good?