Morbid Tales

[ElHI]

The Tattooist is available as a pdf file on Tartarus Press website here :

--Documents

A real treat for all of you who don't already own this collection!

[Viva June]

I read Morbid Tales last week. Funnily enough, it does not seem that morbid: Crisp's brand of introspective horror—introspection tinged with wonder tinged with loss—is almost the antithesis of morbidity. There is an elegiac tone to Crisp's stories that I have not encountered elsewhere in the genre, mediated by his very lucid prose style.

"Far-Off Things" and "Cousin X" are my favourites. The fairytale feel and mournful innocence of the former reminds me of the Norwegian arch-sentimentalist Sigbjørn Obstfelder, whom I revere, and also of John Bauer, the Swedish illustrator, whose style would have fit this story perfectly. Naivety should never be underestimated. The ending of "Cousin X" could be considered overly romantic—in all three senses of the word—but it works for me, even if the adult Cousin X is almost too eloquent.

"A Lake" is a bit problematic, I think, because it occupies a grey area between Crisp's approach to horror and a more traditional style: a curious outsider chances upon a location associated with a strange cult, decides to investigate and gets drawn in, literally—very Lovecraft or "The Last Feast of the Harlequin", a story that can only go one way. "A Lake" ends on the same note as "Autumn Colours", viz. with the possibility of one suicide claiming the next, but I think the more ambiguous ending of the latter story is preferable. Crisp is much better when unravelling obscure strands of tangled relationships, like Andy and Adrienne's in "Autumn Colours", than when pursuing some ordinary horror set-up. Still, "A Lake" is by no means a bad story, and the climax is an exemplary instance of cosmic horror.

Finally, much as I like "The Tattooist", gothyness in horror fiction is really starting to grate on me. Maybe I just overdosed on this when reading certain other authors, but why can fey characters not simply be fey without all these trappings of subculture?

[Brendan Moody]

I recently paid dearly for an as new copy of Morbid Tales, and have reviewed it on my blog. For various reasons I don't often make the claim that a small press author deserves mainstream literary success, but: for his visionary imagery, finely-rendered psychology, and formal yet evocative prose, Quentin S. Crisp absolutely does. Buy this book, or steal it (from someone other than me, I hasten to add).

[Derek]

Like the proverbial London bus I waited for ages to get hold of a copy of 'Morbid Tales' only to find at least four up for auction in the last month!

Unfortunately, I didn't win any of them.

Maybe Tartarus might consider a paperback reissue similar to 'The White Hands'?

[tartarusrussell]

Quote Originally Posted by Derek John

Maybe Tartarus might consider a paperback reissue similar to 'The White Hands'?

We hope to publish a paperback reprint later this year
All the best
Ray

[Freyasfire]

That is excellent news about the paperback reprint. Morbid Tales is one of the finest volumes of strange fiction that I have ever read, and I would highly recommend it to any fans of horror/weird/strange and even literary fiction. I was lucky enough to snag what I think was one of the last regularly priced copies of the hardcover edition just over a year ago, before the price skyrocketed. Although even if I had paid more than I did, I am sure the book would still have been worth every penny I paid for it and then some.

[qcrisp]

Celtic Frost - Morbid Tales (Unofficial Music Video Homage) - YouTube

Etc.

[tartarusrussell]

I'm pleased to report that Morbid Tales is now available as a paperback reprint, and as an ebook:

http://tartaruspress.com/morbidtales.htm

All the best

Ray

[Derek]

The paperback arrived today - and looks very nice (similar to the Collected Connoisseur pb). Many thanks to Tartarus for making this available to those of us who missed it first time round.
There is something about Crisp's combination of laconic prose style and mournful romanticism which gives his work an uncommon depth and poignancy. "All God's Angels Beware!" was a revelation to me and I am looking forward very much to reading 'Morbid Tales'.

[Mr Loligo]

My copy has also recently arrived. Speedy delivery and in perfect condition as always. Its arrival has made my day. Very pleased that Tartarus has made this work available. Looking forward to losing myself in these stories!