Brian Evenson

[nihilsum]

Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Veech

I haven't read anything by him. A Collapse of Horses is a beautiful title, though.

I've read half a dozen or so stories from A Collapse of Horses and I find that he can write some quite impressive stories.

When you read about Evenson's work you will hear many mentions about his prose - which is a far cry from the often laboriously bloated and unwieldy prose of many weird fiction authors. Rich yet very succinct.

His horror is a type wrapped in neuroticism, paranoia, and surrealism. Highly recommended. "Click" should have an especial interest in Ligotti readers, I think.

[T.E. Grau]

I'm so glad this thread has resurfaced, as Brian deserves every bit of the acclaim he has received, and much more attention in dark fiction circles, IMO. He is probably a bigger deal in the general "lit" world than amongst our own, which is a shame. Or at least he has been in the past. That seems to be changing a bit, if I'm reading the speculative fiction scene correctly.

I reviewed A Collapse of Horses and interviewed him last July, which might be of interest.

Also, he assigned several of my stories to the class he teaches at CalArts, and invited me to speak to his students, which will absolutely remain a highlight of whatever career I carve out as an author.

[Lord Jim]

He seems to be all over the place...Utah, Rhode Island, California...
Just saw him listed in the ToC for Dim Shores' Looming Low, which is exciting!

[T.E. Grau]

He certainly seems to be more visibly involved in the horror/Weird fiction scene the last few years. Or maybe I'm just paying closer attention.

He moved from Rhode Island to California two years ago, and we now proudly claim him as one of our own.

[nihilsum]

I'm slowly working my way through "A Collapse of Horses" still.

BearheartTM is such a sad and unsettling story. The premise is not overtly weird, and is very realistic. But the tale is so poignant and some of the imagery becomes more disturbing in my mind the more I think of them. Definitely one of my favorites.

[Mr. Veech]

Quote Originally Posted by nihilsum

I'm slowly working my way through "A Collapse of Horses" still. BearheartTM is such a sad and unsettling story. The premise is not overtly weird, and is very realistic. But the tale is so poignant and some of the imagery becomes more disturbing in my mind the more I think of them. Definitely one of my favorites.

I'm enjoying A Collapse of Horses as well, though I'm not really sure what happened in "Black Bark."

[nihilsum]

Quote Originally Posted by Mr. Veech

Quote Originally Posted by nihilsum I'm slowly working my way through "A Collapse of Horses" still. BearheartTM is such a sad and unsettling story. The premise is not overtly weird, and is very realistic. But the tale is so poignant and some of the imagery becomes more disturbing in my mind the more I think of them. Definitely one of my favorites. I'm enjoying A Collapse of Horses as well, though I'm not really sure what happened in "Black Bark."

Black Bark is like if Aickman wrote a Western. Not really sure what happened towards the end either. I guess that's the point, I liked the atmosphere, imagery and prose very much still. With those types of stories I'm typically on the fence of enjoying being bewildered and being disappointed that something more climactic and coherent didn't happen. I felt the same about "Seaside Town", another one that could compared to Aickman.

[Robin Davies]

Quote Originally Posted by nihilsum

With those types of stories I'm typically on the fence of enjoying being bewildered and being disappointed that something more climactic and coherent didn't happen. I felt the same about "Seaside Town", another one that could compared to Aickman.

That story was the highlight of the Aickman's Heirs collection for me. I haven't read any of Evenson's other work though. Is that story typical of his work?

[T.E. Grau]

"Seaside Town" unsettled me in that subtle, hard-to-pin-down way that only a few writers outside of Ligotti have done.

[nihilsum]

Quote Originally Posted by Robin Davies

Quote Originally Posted by nihilsum With those types of stories I'm typically on the fence of enjoying being bewildered and being disappointed that something more climactic and coherent didn't happen. I felt the same about "Seaside Town", another one that could compared to Aickman. That story was the highlight of the Aickman's Heirs collection for me. I haven't read any of Evenson's other work though. Is that story typical of his work?

Yes, I think so. Though that story is obviously channeling the spirit of Robert Aickman, the weirdlord of endings that make no sense, thus its inclusion in Aickman's Heirs, along with other stories like Black Bark and Click that are in "A Collapse of Horses". But Evenson also excels at writing more linear weird/psychological horror fiction that I guess it can be compared to Poe or Kafka in some ways but these are only simple name-drops.