Algernon Blackwood

[Druidic]

A fine reading.

[-Inspired Horror Audiobook] Smith (by Algernon Blackwood) - YouTube

[Druidic]

I've always felt "The Doll" and "The Decoy" are two of Blackwood's most underrated stories. I love "The Egyptian Hornet" as well.

I really don't greatly care for the John Silence stories with the exceptions of "Ancient Sorceries" and "Secret Worship." I don't see how the other stories are superior to Jules de Grandin. Perhaps even inferior.


Sadly, I suspect most younger readers of this forum don't even read Blackwood.

[luciferfell]

What Blackwood stories would you recommend to someone wanting to read his horror-centric work?

[Nemonymous]

Quote Originally Posted by luciferfell

What Blackwood stories would you recommend to someone wanting to read his horror-centric work?

The Insanity of Jones

https://dflewisreviews.wordpress.com...non-blackwood/

[Nemonymous]

JIMBO was once in my top ten novels. Also THE FRUIT STONERS. Still very fine works.

[Knygathin]

Alongside The Centaur I think "Sand" has affected me most strongly, so far. "Sand" was better than the Egyptian tale in Incredible Adventures. It may be that the pleasant and undisturbed conditions under which I read it, did something to enhance my impression. I was completely immersed.

"The Wendigo" can't really be compared to the works above, because it is of a very different character. Horror tale masterpiece, beautifully written. I might perhaps say it is my favorite ...?

I wanted "The Man Whom the Trees Loved" to be my favorite, because of the subject matter. But I don't think it is quite up there among the others. Slightly disappointing, after my high expectations.

To a beginner I would recommend Ancient Sorceries and Other Weird Stories. All the stories in that collection are great, and it has several of his best. Also includes "The Insanity of Jones".

Recommending the best of Blackwood for a friend. Here's what I came up with: 'The Willows', 'The Wendigo', 'Sand', 'Ancient Sorceries', 'The Listener', 'May Day Eve', 'The Occupant of the Room', 'The Man Whom the Trees Loved', 'Ancient Lights', 'Glamour of the Snow', Incredible Adventures and The Centaur.

Still haven't 'finished' Blackwood, so I'm no doubt missing some obscure gems. Would appreciate recommendations.

[Patrick G.P]

Very nice selection James. I too need to read more of Blackwood, but my recommendation would be The Insanity of Jones, which I absolutely loved, a beautiful, haunting study of a man who has no need for reality as he has found his own world of beauty and morality. It reminds me a bit of Machen's work, blurring the lines between dream and reality for those who dare peek behind the veil. In the penguin collection, along with The Man Whom the Trees Loved, it came off as one of the tales where Blackwood's Anti-materialism came of strongest.

I like 'The Insanity of Jones' well enough. Was also thinking of including 'The Kit-Bag' as a traditional horror selection.

[marioneta]

There is a wonderful tome, William Hope. Hodgson: Voices From The Borderland, full with seven decades of criticism on this master of cosmic horror. Why is there no similar book for Algernon Blackwood? Maybe I missed it? Either way Blackwood is due for a revival and needs all the attention of a society of friends, a la Machen, and a literary journal, a la Vasterien. His oeuvre is monumental and his pantheistic philosophy is most relevant in our climate change times.