The William Hope Hodgson thread

[Gnosticangel]

Nemonymous wrote, "The Avalon Brantley is brilliant and compulsory reading for any Hodgson fan."

I've just started this work and am already deeply immersed in a wonderful writing style. Can't wait to see where this goes!

[Nemonymous]

Quote Originally Posted by Nemonymous

Avalon Brantley's 'The House of Silence' - I am past halfway in this novel. I already believe that this is the perfect form of THE HOUSE ON THE BORDERLAND ethos. Superbly so. The House of Silence Avalon Brantley | GESTALT REAL-TIME REVIEWS: Dreamcatcher of Fiction Books

Just finished reading and reviewing this.
Wow!

Been eyeing it for a while. Looks like something I might enjoy.

The House of Silence has haunted my mind since I first encountered its mention in The Night Land.

[Hidden X]

So, erm... looks like Wright felt like doing some Ligotti-bashing.
An Error as Old as Epicurus s Journal

[Mr. Veech]

Quote Originally Posted by Hidden X

So, erm... looks like Wright felt like doing some Ligotti-bashing. An Error as Old as Epicurus s Journal

As if the pain and misery experienced by the human heart can be alleviated by acknowledging a simple logical proposition. In other words, the argument is impotent. The man is a Christian, which I respect. But any Christian worth their salt will not conjure superficial explanations accompanied by elementary logic regarding why their son or daughter is dying of cancer, or why evil is triumphant.

I'm sure the author has insightful things to say about a wide variety of topics, but this kind of shallow scholasticism is to be avoided, and it hardly refutes the basic worldview espoused by Ligotti.

EDIT: Not only that, Ligotti made it quite clear that even the act of writing fatalistic, pessimistic literature is an act of affirmation. If we hold that against him, then we must accuse Christians of contradicting themselves whenever they sin. Of course, both contradict themselves. But these are contradictions pertaining to existence, not contradictions happening in the mind.

The blog post itself was inspired by a comment made by someone there who openly as well as humbly admits that they have not read CATHR in toto.

	CATHR The Conspiracy Against the Human Race

[Shadenuat]

Just rename this into "John C. Wright thread", will ya... I made one throwaway comment about him myself, but some of you appear to care just a bit too much about him and his blog. I mean, just take a look at the last few pages of this thread.

[Gnosticangel]

I've just finished reading a book long deferred, James Stoddard's "The Night Land, A Story Retold."

I've long admired Stoddard's high fantasy trilogy of the High House (Evenmere Chronicles) which is beautifully if simply written. But as someone who loves Hodgson's "Night Land," including its generally-unpopular language, something felt vaguely blasphemous about reading Stoddard's "rewrite for modern audiences." But I also felt that I owed it to myself and finally picked it up.

The book was a quick read, and those familiar with Hodgson's work may find it interesting to see another's take on the various forces and denizens of the same Night Land. It was also clear that the author has great respect for WHH and his work.

But in the end, it left me flat since I already appreciate the original. I also did not enjoy what seemed to be weakening of the epic and awe-inspiring quality of the first version. The many glowing reviews on Amazon seem to mainly from people who were unable to make it very far in Hodgson's work. Recommended only for those who cannot read Hodgson for whatever reason.

The Night Land, A Story Retold: James Stoddard, William Hope Hodgson: 9780615508818: Amazon.com: Books

 

The Night Land, A Story Retold: James Stoddard, William Hope Hodgson: 9780615508818: Amazon.com: Books

[Gnosticangel]

Shadenaut wrote, "Just rename this into "John C. Wright thread", will ya... I made one throwaway comment about him myself, but some of you appear to care just a bit too much about him and his blog. I mean, just take a look at the last few pages of this thread."

I dunno, Shadenaut. I liked "Awake" myself as an excellent piece on the Night Land, but must admit that I've not really been following the comments here about Wright's blog, as I'm not too interested in his politics, so maybe I just missed what you noticed?

I have noticed a number of posts on Avalon Brantley's final work, "The House of Silence," and highly recommend Des Lewis' review of it, as well as the book itself.

I agree that it would be great to maintain the integrity and focus on this thread on WHH. I'd like to see more thoughts on some of the Outer Forces present in his work, and also his stories of the sea. I'm also taking another look at Brett Davidson's "Anima," which is another series of short stories set in the Night Land.

Thanks for reminding us to stay within the thread!

https://www.amazon.com/Anima-Brett-Davidson/dp/0955478359/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496335242&sr=1-3

 

https://www.amazon.com/Anima-Brett-Davidson/dp/0955478359/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496335242&sr=1-3

[Robert Adam Gilmour]

Appreciate the review of the Stoddard remake. Such a tempting book to remake but who's ever going to be able to do it justice and keep all the things I loved?

Quote Originally Posted by Hidden X

So, erm... looks like Wright felt like doing some Ligotti-bashing. An Error as Old as Epicurus s Journal

I'm not sure I agree with all of Ligotti's conclusions, but every refutation I have read, even from people I admire, has appeared to be intellectually lazy and glib compared to how meticulously crafted Ligotti's argument is. I don't have any issue with John C. Wright or Laird Barron, but they don't do themselves any favours by trying to appear smarter than Ligotti. This goes for every criticism of Ligotti's belief system I have read.