9) “The Haunted and the Haunters” by Edward Bulwer-Lytton Plot: The unnamed narrator of this story is happy to hear of a haunted house in London that no one seems to be able to spend more than a night or two in. A friend of his recounts how he and his wife booked rooms forContinue reading “Review of “The Haunted and the Haunters” by Edward Bulwer-Lytton: Halloween Countdown”
Category Archives: Halloween Countdown
Review of “The Gateway of the Monster” by William Hope Hodgson: Halloween Countdown
8) “The Gateway of the Monster” by William Hope Hodgson Plot: Upon his return, Carnacki, the occult detective, invites Dodgson (the narrator, whose name curiously resembles the author’s), along with their friends Arkright, Jessop, and Taylor, to dinner. They expect him to regale them with another tale of his strange adventures. Once they’ve finished dinner,Continue reading “Review of “The Gateway of the Monster” by William Hope Hodgson: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “A Chapter in the History of a Tyrone Family” by J Sheridan Le Fanu: Halloween Countdwon
7) “A Chapter in the History of a Tyrone Family” by J Sheridan Le Fanu Plot: Our hero, Fanny, is a young heiress whose mother pushes her into a marriage with a middle-aged Lord Glenfallen. He is quite besotted with her and conducts his courtship properly. Fanny’s parents, though wealthy, are pretty cold to her.Continue reading “Review of “A Chapter in the History of a Tyrone Family” by J Sheridan Le Fanu: Halloween Countdwon”
Review of “Fear” by Achmed Abdullah: Halloween Countdown
6) “Fear” by Achmed Abdullah I would like to warn the reader that this story, published in 1919, sometimes uses language that would be, at best, insensitive and at worst offensive by today’s standards. It comes with white supremacist/darkest Africa undertones. However, if the two MCs are examples of the master race, we may asContinue reading “Review of “Fear” by Achmed Abdullah: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Door in the Wall” by H.G. Wells: Halloween Countdown
5) “The Door in the Wall” by H. G. Wells Plot:Redmond tells the reader he’s relating the story as Lionel Wallace told it to him. He and Wallace were in school together for a while, during which Wallace outperformed him in everything. Even now, Wallace, at 39, is a successful politician who has attained aContinue reading “Review of “The Door in the Wall” by H.G. Wells: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce: Halloween Countdown
4)“The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce Plot: The story opens with one man reading an old account book in a room with six other silent men. On the table under a sheet is a corpse; this is an inquest. They await the arrival of a single witness, William Harker, a journalist from the city, whoContinue reading “Review of “The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Color Out of Space” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown
3) “The Color Out of Space” by H. P. Lovecraft Plot:Our unnamed hero has a job surveying land west of (fictional) Arkham, Massachusetts, for a new reservoir. The locals tell him the place is evil. While making his way through the dense, overgrown forest and deserted farms, he gets spooked. Nothing prepares him for whatContinue reading “Review of “The Color Out of Space” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Circumstance” by Harriet Prescott Spofford: Halloween Countdown
Note: The story reviewed below deals with violent imagery and sublimated sexual violence as well as not so sublimated racism. 2) “Circumstance” by Harriet Prescott Spofford Plot: Walking home from visiting a sick neighbor, through a “wilderness untrod save by stealthy native of deadly panther tribes,” our heroine sees a winding sheet fluttering in theContinue reading “Review of “Circumstance” by Harriet Prescott Spofford: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Berenice” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown
It’s that time of year again. Happy Halloween. 1) “Berenice” by Edgar Allan Poe Plot: Egaeus and his cousin Berenice have grown up together and live in an old family house. They are polar opposites. Egaeus tells the reader that Berenice is “agile, graceful, and overflowing with energy.” While he stays home and reads—or whatever—BereniceContinue reading “Review of “Berenice” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Beast with Five Fingers” by William Fryer Harvey: Halloween Countdown
Plot:The narrator introduces Mr. Adrian Borlsover, who was good with his hands, able to illustrate his own scientific paper, and carve wood. At the time, the narrator was a child, and Mr. Borlsover was elderly. He’d lost his eyesight in midlife but adapted, learning Braille and maintaining his ability to write. Mr. Borlsover had noContinue reading “Review of “The Beast with Five Fingers” by William Fryer Harvey: Halloween Countdown”
