Horror Literature Though History edited by Matt Cardin

[luciferfell]

So the official table of contents for volume one of Matt Cardin's epic encyclopedia of horror, Horror Literature Through History has been released. It looks pretty amazing. I do wonder if this is geared more towards Horror novices who have never heard of de la Mare or Grabinski, to them this would just be a revelation! It looks like most sections/essays in this book run about one to two pages, which may be a disappointment to the Horror enthusiast. Keep in mind I have not read this book, I believe its release date is towards the end of October 2017. Are people planning on buying this? What's everyone's thoughts on this? At almost $200, I do expect a lot from this book if I am going to be buying one. That all being said, I am super excited about its release and will be keeping an eye on it.

Full Introduction and Table of Contents The Teeming Brain

[gveranon]

Against my better financial judgment, I'm leaning toward buying a copy. I'm not worried about the short length of the entries. There are some great cultural reference books with pithy, acute entries. I'm mainly hoping for enjoyable browsing fodder and possibly some leads to further reading that would accord with my interests and tastes. Unlike some here, I haven't read extensively in this area, so I'll probably be easily pleased with the reference.

[miguel1984]

Does anyone know if the two volumes will be released as a single-volume edition in the future?

[matt cardin]

Quote Originally Posted by miguel1984

Does anyone know if the two volumes will be released as a single-volume edition in the future?

No, they'll remain separate. To be clear: Both volumes are being released at one time, at the end of this month, and both are included in the publisher's stated purchase price. The TOC I posted at The Teeming Brain is for both volumes.

[gveranon]

Amazon just added a Kindle ebook edition for $179.00 ($10.00 less). I'm pretty sure the ebook option for purchase wasn't there just a day or two ago. I've already ordered the hardcover set, but the ebook might be appealing for some. I would be afraid of formatting problems with the sidebars mentioned in the description, and I still balk at paying a big price for an ebook.

[miguel1984]

Quote Originally Posted by matt cardin

Quote Originally Posted by miguel1984 Does anyone know if the two volumes will be released as a single-volume edition in the future? No, they'll remain separate. To be clear: Both volumes are being released at one time, at the end of this month, and both are included in the publisher's stated purchase price. The TOC I posted at The Teeming Brain is for both volumes.

Thanks, Matt. I really do prefer single-volume editions of everything.

[gveranon]

I just received Horror Literature through History and have spent a while dipping around in it. It's such a trove of interesting stuff, I'm overwhelmed right now.

Matt Cardin's interview with Ligotti is very quotable, of course, but instead of quoting from it (sorry for the tease), I'm going to quote from the entry on Ligotti written by Michael Cisco. The following passage seems to me quite illuminating in its linking of Ligotti's dreaming characters, their sense of unreality, and the type of sardonic humor that capers through it all.

Quote

Ligotti's main characters are often dreamers. Actual dreams have an important place in Ligotti's work, but the figure of the dreamer is more than just a character who dreams a dream. A dreamer is, in a way, a reality-impaired person; someone who is less solidly connected to what is supposed to be real. The dreamer may or may not have a job, but usually that job will be a meaningless and solitary occupation. He will be isolated, either in real solitude, or so alienated from other people that he might as well be alone even in a crowd. Since the dreamer is only superficially participating in everyday life, which is all of reality for most people, the dreamer seems to be less real. The point of view of the dreamer, someone who does not see reality as real, is extensively explored in Ligotti's fiction. Sometimes the dreamer is someone who despises reality as a crude illusion, but more often Ligotti's dreamers are people who seem unable to manage to believe in reality, or in themselves. ...The point of view of the dreamer is ironic, that is, the dreamer does not fully believe in reality, but understands that the people around him do. This gives rise to sardonic humor, which means a kind of humor that is painful.... [Some passages] involve Hoffmann-like dream characters, unreal persons who are darkly sarcastic avatars of unreality, or agents of it.

[Michael]

This encyclopedia is way more than an encyclopedia; it's a labor of love. It's freakin incredible. I'm loving it