Arthur Machen

[Robin Davies]

Quote Originally Posted by Druidic

Didn't M. John Harrison write his own Great God Pan?

Yes. It's included in his collection Things That Never Happen and was also part of his magnificent novel The Course of the Heart.
Those are two of the best books I've ever read.
He said about the short story "Apart from its title this "Great God Pan" has nothing much in common with Arthur Machen's. And although at one level it's clearly a tribute to him, I think it actually owes more to that other genius of British metaphysical fiction, Charles Williams; and to the ideas of the Golden Dawn which confused and exalted them both."

BBC Radio 3 - The Verb, Stewart Lee on Arthur Machen

[Gnosticangel]

This new volume features a large quantity of Machen’s best fiction, early and late. Also included are some of Machen’s provocative introductions to his books, along with bibliographical information on all the works included.

Arthur Machen Library of Weird Fiction

[Ibrahim]

Quote Originally Posted by Gnosticangel

This new volume features a large quantity of Machen’s best fiction, early and late. Also included are some of Machen’s provocative introductions to his books, along with bibliographical information on all the works included. Arthur Machen Library of Weird Fiction

Instead of claims of 'massive' & 'gorgeous' & such, a table of contents would be welcome...

[Gnosticangel]

Jerad at Centipede kindly sent over the TOC:

Contents
Introduction 7
The Great God Pan 11
The Inmost Light 73
The Shining Pyramid 105

The Three Impostors
Prologue 131
Adventure of the Gold Tiberius 135
The Encounter of the Pavement 143
Novel of the Dark Valley 147
Adventure of the Missing Brother 166
Novel of the Black Seal 175
Incident of the Private Bar 219
The Decorative Imagination 231
Novel of the Iron Maid 233
The Recluse of Bayswater 239
Novel of the White Powder 244
Strange Occurrence in Clerkenwell 265
History of the Young Man with Spectacles 271
Adventure of the Deserted Residence 286

The Red Hand 291

Ornaments in Jade
The Rose Garden 323
The Turanians 325
The Idealist 329
Witchcraft 333
The Ceremony 336
Psychology 339
Torture 342
Midsummer 346
Nature 349
The Holy Things 352

The White People 357
A Fragment of Life 401
The Bowmen 487
The Soldiers’ Rest 491
The Monstrance 497
The Dazzling Light 503
The Great Return 507
The Terror 545
Johnny Double 647
The Bright Boy 655

Appendix
Folklore and Legends of the North 689
Introduction to The Angels of Mons 697
Introduction to The Three Impostors 706
Bibliography 715

I understand they probably didn't have the space for The Hill of Dreams and The Secret Glory, but it's a shame about the lack of N. It's one of the essentials of his fiction from after the start of WW1, I reckon.

[Gnosticangel]

"but it's a shame about the lack of N."

I know, it seems that N is often overlooked for some reason, don't know why.

[Gnosticangel]

This article just went up on the Weird Fiction Review blog:

From Machen to VanderMeer: The Weird Landscape as the Avatar of Evil | Weird Fiction Review

[Ibrahim]

Quote Originally Posted by Gnosticangel

This article just went up on the Weird Fiction Review blog: From Machen to VanderMeer: The Weird Landscape as the Avatar of Evil | Weird Fiction Review

Interesting how the introduction seems to constitute an attempt to wrench the concept of Evil from Machen's orthodox worldview ( including the attendant mistrust of & even disdain for Paganism professed by Machen ) to fit some vague modern permissiveness towards paganism.

Now literature is not the same as propaganda & authors often cast the net of their meaning far wider than they themselves intend to, but some readings i feel should go with the caveat of their being somewhat speculative or imaginative, so to speak.

The illustrations are nice though. Always good to see Kupka again.
And nice to be reminded i still need to read some more C.L. Moore.

Found this essay on the treatment of epiphany in Arthur Machen's fiction:

Arthur Machen: Ecstasy and Epiphany (PDF Download Available)