Plot: The successful defense of John Turk, a client of the great Arthur Wilbraham, KC, brings the barrister no joy. His private secretary, Johnson, is glad to be rid of the case. Despite the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity, he agrees with the general sentiment that few men were more deserving ofContinue reading “Review of “The Kit-Bag” by Algernon Blackwood: Halloween Countdown”
Tag Archives: horror
Review of “Fishhead” by Irvin S. Cobb: Halloween Countdown
Plot: “Fishhead” is the unkind name given to the mixed-race main character who lived by swampy Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee. The lake was created by an 1811 series of earthquakes, which caused an area of land to subside and the Mississippi to flood in. Fishhead’s “half-breed Indian” mother—so the story goes—was frightened by one ofContinue reading “Review of “Fishhead” by Irvin S. Cobb: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Familiar” by J. Sheridan Le Fanu: Halloween Countdown
Plot: This is a case found among the papers of the (fictional) “metaphysical physician” Dr. Martin Hesselius and described by his anonymous assistant. Sir James Barton has served in the British Navy with distinction for some twenty years, particularly in the American War (American Revolution). In his early 40s now, he returns to Dublin withContinue reading “Review of “The Familiar” by J. Sheridan Le Fanu: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Dreams in the Witch House” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown
Walter Gilman, a student at (fictional) Miskatonic University in (fictional) Arkham, Massachusetts, deliberately rented the tower room in the old house where accused witch Keziah Mason disappeared in 1692. His fields of study include “non-Euclidean calculus and quantum physics.” He also has an interest in folklore, all of which leads him to trace multidimensional space.Continue reading “Review of “The Dreams in the Witch House” by H. P. Lovecraft: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Dead Woman” by David H. Keller: Halloween Countdown
Plot:The authorities find Mr. Thompson, a bookkeeper, “slightly confused, a trifle bewildered, but otherwise apparently normal.” He makes no effort to conceal his conduct, the knife in his hand, or “the pieces in the trunk.” Rather than taking him directly to the slammer, the police bring him to a psychiatrist. Mr. Thompson tells the psychiatristContinue reading “Review of “The Dead Woman” by David H. Keller: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Count Magnus” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown
Plot:The story’s narrator says he has come into possession of some papers belonging to Mr. Wraxall, a traveler and writer of travel guides. In the early summer of 1863, Mr. Wraxall sets off to explore Sweden. At the time, most Britons considered Scandinavia to be a backwater. Snobs. He spends time conducting research at aContinue reading “Review of “Count Magnus” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown
Plot:Montresor tells the reader that he had borne the injuries from his friend Fortunato as best he could, but when Fortunato insulted him, he vowed revenge. He kept up the pretense of friendship until he could exact his revenge—and he would do so with impunity. Fortunato’s weak point was his belief in his connoisseurship ofContinue reading “Review of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Whistling Room” by William Hope Hodgson: Halloween Countdown
Plot: Carnacki recounts his adventures at (fictional) Iastrae Castle, some twenty miles northeast of Galway, Ireland. Mr. Sid K. Tassoc, the new owner, requested his help after finding the castle haunted. He bought the castle, intending to renovate it before marrying and bringing his bride to live there. He’s frustrated because sounds—whistling and sometimes screaming—comeContinue reading “Review of “The Whistling Room” by William Hope Hodgson: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Fog” (1980)
For our Saturday night pizza and bad movie selection, we chose a flick that started with a ghost story around a campfire. Plot: As midnight nears before the centennial of the founding of the northern California seaside town of Antonia Bay, old Mr. Machen (John Houseman) sits with a group of kids around a campfire.Continue reading “Review of “The Fog” (1980)”
Review of “Sssssss” (1973)
This Saturday night pizza and bad movie lived up to its name. I have to be honest and say that I couldn’t finish watching it. The schlock didn’t get to me—though there was plenty of that. Plot: The viewer first sees two men make a deal for an unseen exotic creature to be exhibited inContinue reading “Review of “Sssssss” (1973)”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 