For October 26 Plot: Mrs. Irene Barton and her friend Mrs. May Watcombe discuss the unusual appearance of the sumach (more commonly spelled sumac) tree in the garden of Irene’s new house. The leaves have turned red early in August. Irene is sad. Her husband is away in London. Only two days earlier, she lostContinue reading “Review of “The Sumach” by Ulric Daubeny: Halloween Countdown”
Tag Archives: Halloween Countdown
Review of “The Spider” by Hanns Heinz Ewers: Halloween Countdown
For October 25 Plot: Medical student Richard Bracquemont tells the police inspector he has a plan to help solve the mystery of three recent suicides. He’ll move into the room where they occurred, #7 of the Hotel Stevens, Rue Alfred Stevens (Paris 6). Against his better judgment, the inspector accepts. He has a phone installedContinue reading “Review of “The Spider” by Hanns Heinz Ewers: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Seaton’s Aunt” by Walter de la Mare: Halloween Countdown
For October 24 Plot: In exchange for a lavish treat, the narrator, Withers, agrees to spend a holiday with an unpopular boy, Arthur Seaton. Seaton appears “yellow” in color, with “slow chocolate-coloured eyes, and lean weak figure.” Because of his appearance, “most… true-blue Englishmen” treat him with condescension, hostility, or contempt. A day or twoContinue reading “Review of “Seaton’s Aunt” by Walter de la Mare: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Screaming Skull” by F. Marion Crawford: Halloween Countdown
Plot:Retired Captain Braddock has come to live in his late cousin Luke Pratt’s house. Cousin Luke was a doctor. His wife pre-deceased him. Their son was killed (in the Boer War?) in South Africa. Braddock isn’t nervous—so he keeps telling his unnamed houseguest, who is also an old sailor. He’s heard the skull scream often.Continue reading “Review of “The Screaming Skull” by F. Marion Crawford: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Schalken the Painter” by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Halloween Countdown
For October 22 Plot:The painting by the artist Godfrey Schalken is a family heirloom. A woman in a white dress, part of which forms a veil. She holds a lamp, lighting her features, an effect at which its creator excelled. It shows her “arch smile,” as if she’s pulled off some prank. Behind her, inContinue reading “Review of “Schalken the Painter” by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers: Halloween Countdown
For October 21 Plot: As envisioned from 1895, the year 1920 looks good. The tariff and labor questions have been settled. New architecture replaces old. The war with Germany, occasioned by the latter’s seizure of the Samoan Islands, has left no visible mark on the republic. And we won’t mention the ridiculous plight of GeneralContinue reading “Review of “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Open Door” by Mrs. Margaret Oliphant: Halloween Countdown
For October 20 Plot: On his return from India in 18—, Colonel Mortimer takes a house called Brentwood for his family. Edinburgh is within reach so his daughters can have the masters and lessons they need, and his boy, Roland, whose education has been neglected, can now receive the proper education for a lad hisContinue reading “Review of “The Open Door” by Mrs. Margaret Oliphant: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Mysterious Maisie” by Wirt Gerrare: Halloween Countdown
For October 19 Plot: With her father recently deceased and her mother in failing health, seventeen-year-old Laura must earn a living. She is not (her sister Maggie writes) fit to be a teacher. Even if she were, hearing what Maggie has to say about her own post as an assistant mistress of a high schoolContinue reading “Review of “Mysterious Maisie” by Wirt Gerrare: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Mark of the Beast” by Rudyard Kipling: Halloween Countdown
For October 18 Plot: It’s New Year’s Eve in India during the Raj. Strickland of the police; Fleete, newly arrived and unfamiliar with native customs; and the unnamed narrator are tying one on—especially Fleete. His family’s property is in the hinterlands, so he usually doesn’t come into town. He ends up staggering home because hisContinue reading “Review of “The Mark of the Beast” by Rudyard Kipling: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Listener” by Algernon Blackwood: Halloween Countdown
For October 17 Plot: In a series of diary entries, the unnamed narrator tells the reader how he took new rooms in a less-then-affluent part of town. The lodgings lack “modern conveniences,” presumably running water and electricity. He’s a writer with several irons in the fire, and—whaddya know—he’s poor. Not that he had to be.Continue reading “Review of “The Listener” by Algernon Blackwood: Halloween Countdown”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 