Seeing the art on the covers for Simon Whitechapel's chapbooks
(see art inspired by CAS section), I thought we should see more
comments/reviews on stories et.al. posted at ELDRITCH DARK by
"members" such as the seemingly prolific authors like
Whitechapel, not to mention, all the other talented writers
who have taken the time to submit their work here.

Maybe, someone could review Whitechapel's chapbooks here. I
believe the various writers would love the feedback, as well
as, help more readers become aware of the more "modern"
updates on Smithian influenced type writers/poets. These tales
are really worthwhile, on the whole, to encounter!

Sounds like a good idea to me. Where, and on whom, should we start?

Good question...perhaps, someone (or more)
could "review" Whitechapel's chapbooks,
whose covers appear on this sight?

Frederick J. Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Good question...perhaps, someone (or more)
> could "review" Whitechapel's chapbooks,
> whose covers appear on this sight?

Nigel M. Goldbaum, author of Neuclid on the Block: Transdimensionality as Modernistic Metaphor in the Works of H. P. Lovecraft, has reviewed two of the chapbooks:

Pearls & Pyramids / Temples & Torments

He believed in toleration, too, within limits; that is to say, in the toleration of those with whom he agreed.

I have chosen some "short short stories" by Dennis Siluk and Simon Whitechapel
to first briefly "review" mainly because they seem to be the most prolific
writers posted at ELDRITCH DARK. I do not intend to compare their actual
writing styles just because they are in the same said fruit bowl, as that
would be the old apples and oranges thing. I believe the best way to decide to
"read"/judge the value of something is to do it yourself, however, over the
last 20 odd years as a "professional" reviewer I have finally come to terms
with such persons/things having a non-parasitic place within the literary
environs :)

The first story I selected was Siluk's OUT OF THE NOXIOUS ABYSS (THE ICA WITCH)
simply because I am drawn to settings that are in a locality I have lived, in
this case Peru (and while there I spent several occasions in the Ica area).
Thus, I was looking forward to something akin to August Derleth's "The Gorge
Beyond Salapuncho", especially since the story by Siluk was done in the tried
and proven "Some say I'm insane, others not, I must write down my experience(s)
and let the reader judge for themselves" format, not to mention, this certain
story's phrasing of title.

Most of the time I resided in Peru, with my Peruvian travel companion and
translator Sara, was being part of a dig, as well as, researching various
pre-Inca myths/folklore...neither of us ever encountered the belief "Ica, a
location in Southern Peru, known for its past witches." Perhaps, I'm being
too picky about the term/it is just said to help create the plot's setting.
Sadly, there is no real sense of the author creating a "feeling" or atmosphere
of the situation, at one point, happening within Peru (i.e. I could too
easily put it in Korea and call it "The Isu Witch" or Nigeria and label it
"The Ibo Witch"). Plus, the main character lacks any, even required minimumly,
substance or "character" development. Granted, there is a sickly attempt, but,
again, nothing to attract the reader to take solid note of the protagonist.
This is the major flaw in this piece, it is just too vague to be anything more
than a sparingly done outline for a potential interesting plot growth executed
in an otherwise well used scenario.

Would I recommend this story to introduce someone to the talents of the author
Siluk? No. Try another of his works. I was personally quite disappointed with
this "material".

I selected Whitechapel's THE RETURN OF THE CRYOMANCER because it's
the latest of his submitted "short short stories" that have been,
at the time I place my comments here, posted at Eldritch Dark's
Tributes to CAS Short Story Section (not to mention, it's about
the same length as the Siluk work I reviewed earlier).
The Whitechapel piece is an excently executed narrative in the
traditional Weird Tale format of "An experience that takes place
long, long ago in a doomed far off exotic land." The advantage of
such format usuage is the targeted audience is already well versed
in the used scenario, thus freeing up the writer for more ability
to create atmosphere details/a bit more room for "twist" in coming
to an already known expected conclusion. However, on the downside
or dangerous aspect to writing within such a presentation, the
knowledgeable audience members know the storyplot & "ending" to
the point that the writer will be dealing with a much more
expecting, demanding and critical group encountering the story
offering.

Whitechapel's colorful work here nicely meets the above mentioned
challenge as it has a sense of Smithian material done in said
style, especially by his just right use of dictionary-needed
words, so deftly selected/applied as if placed like a hot and
sharpely pointed acupuncture needle. This tale in question of
so-called revenage and "ice-magic" even has a seemingly touch of
CAS "humor" at work in it - I particularly loved Whitechapel's use
of the wolves in the narrative!

Would I recommend this "short short story" to anyone who is not
acquainted with author Whitechapel's posted work here? Yes. I
personally truly enjoyed the piece.