Review of “The Master of Hollow Grange” by Sax Rohmer: Halloween Countdown

12) “The Master of Hollow Grange” by Sax Rohmer Plot:Jack Dillon arrives at Hollow Grange seeking rest and quiet while a storm is brewing. He’s recovering from a war wound. No one appears to greet him. He tells the taxi driver to leave his baggage at the gate and walks up the winding, confusing driveContinue reading “Review of “The Master of Hollow Grange” by Sax Rohmer: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “Man-Size in Marble” by Edith Nesbit: Halloween Countdown

11) “Man-Size in Marble” by Edith Nesbit Plot: Newlyweds Jack and Laura find a cottage in the country at a fantastic price (uh-oh) and move in. It was once part of a larger house, but with a little work and a couple of trips into town, they have the perfect place for Jack to paintContinue reading “Review of “Man-Size in Marble” by Edith Nesbit: Halloween Countdown”

Review of “His Unconquerable Enemy” by W. C. Morrow: Halloween Countdown

10) “His Unconquerable Enemy” by W. C. Morrow Plot: Our hero performs “a difficult surgical operation on one of the women of a great [unnamed] rajah’s household.” In return, the rajah invites him to stay at his palace for as long as he likes. The rajah is a man of “noble character,” but “possessed aContinue reading “Review of “His Unconquerable Enemy” by W. C. Morrow: 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”