The Spectral Link by Thomas Ligotti

[dr. locrian]

Quote Originally Posted by xylokopos

It is quite likely that as is his habit, Ligotti revisited the story for this edition, and revised and polished it. Actually, I will say that it is certain because for the life of me, I cannot see how anyone can consider this an inferior product! The story is absolutely unique in his entire oeuvre because it contains that fragment of a letter from his kin in its middle section - a grotesque and obscenely hilarious "explanation" of why the narrator is a demoralized metaphysical mutant. I can't decide what Ligotti wanted to do with those pages, but I think he did accomplish to make the story both funnier and more horrid, both more unreal and more realistic. I don't know if this will make sense, but I think he was too bitter to not indulge in the bleakest humor in this one.

Ligotti did indeed revise the story and rewrote the ending paragraphs entirely. It really hits the spot now. Thanks for the terrific reader feedback, xylokopos! I believe this is the most potent and successful revision of a Ligotti story since "Eye of the Lynx."