Notes on the Writing of Horror: A Story

[Nemonymous]

NOTES ON THE WRITING OF HORROR: A STORY

"...as awkward and stupid as a rosy-cheeked farm lad in a den of reeking degenerates. (Amend this, possibly, to rosy-cheeked degenerate ... reeking farm lads.)"

Now, you need to transcend the irony of this amusing style-experimental story about itself as well as other styles like gothic and realistic. (I had written the previous review above about story styles before re-reading this story, one that I consciously recalled nothing about until finishing it just a few minutes ago).

Yes, you need to transcend the irony of this wrapped-around tale of a young man called Nathan wooing a young lady called Laura, his trousers putrefying his legs... and other themes and variations upon that original scenario and upon those character names. In fact the imputed author of this story in the form of an essay also has various names like H. J. Wicker and Dr. Riggers (please see my earlier thoughts on the word 'ligotti' being a synonym for 'knots' HERE). So, why do you need to transcend the irony of this story, a story that itself contains such chatty questions to the reader as this chatty question I am currently asking YOU? Because it's a cover for this concocted narrator grooming you the reader towards some later cause, softly, softly, catch the monkey ("In brief, Nathan should never have been born..."), just as the leasehold narrator of many of these stories so far has groomed others, even abused them.

It has to be said, meanwhile, that this is all done very entertainingly, and I have no hesitation in recommending this work to your attention for that reason, as long as you keep your guard against it. No irony on my part intended.

"Go away, Dr. Dream."


(An extract from my on-going review of the new Penguin Classics collection.)

[ToALonelyPeace]

I remember being struck by the last line and become so impressed with the story I read it again.

"I had never tried this before.

But when the time came, I found it all so easy."

[Nemonymous]

Quote Originally Posted by Nemonymous

NOTES ON THE WRITING OF HORROR: A STORY "...as awkward and stupid as a rosy-cheeked farm lad in a den of reeking degenerates. (Amend this, possibly, to rosy-cheeked degenerate ... reeking farm lads.)" Now, you need to transcend the irony of this amusing style-experimental story about itself as well as other styles like gothic and realistic. (I had written the previous review above about story styles before re-reading this story, one that I consciously recalled nothing about until finishing it just a few minutes ago). Yes, you need to transcend the irony of this wrapped-around tale of a young man called Nathan wooing a young lady called Laura, his trousers putrefying his legs... and other themes and variations upon that original scenario and upon those character names. In fact the imputed author of this story in the form of an essay also has various names like H. J. Wicker and Dr. Riggers (please see my earlier thoughts on the word 'ligotti' being a synonym for 'knots' HERE). So, why do you need to transcend the irony of this story, a story that itself contains such chatty questions to the reader as this chatty question I am currently asking YOU? Because it's a cover for this concocted narrator grooming you the reader towards some later cause, softly, softly, catch the monkey ("In brief, Nathan should never have been born..."), just as the leasehold narrator of many of these stories so far has groomed others, even abused them. It has to be said, meanwhile, that this is all done very entertainingly, and I have no hesitation in recommending this work to your attention for that reason, as long as you keep your guard against it. No irony on my part intended. "Go away, Dr. Dream." (An extract from my on-going review of the new Penguin Classics collection.)

Rationale: http://www.ligotti.net/showthread.ph...007#post123007