Re: Less Familiar Weird Literature
Posted by:
Dexterward (IP Logged)
Date: 26 January, 2013 02:45AM
Just out of curiosity, has anyone started reading S.T. Joshi's new book, "Unutterable Horror"? I only received my copy last week, but from what I've seen so far, I'd have to say that it was a good buy. It deals with any number of "lesser known" authors, and has given me a long list of people to look up. (I fear it will not be good for my meager savings account, however!)
Off the top of my head, here are a few modern authors whom I'd never heard of, that were favorably reviewed by Joshi: David Case (I just purchased "Third Grave" and one other that looked interesting), Michael Mcdowell ("Katie", "The Amulet", "The Blackwater Series", "Elementals"), Norman Partridge ("Slippin' Into Darkness"), David Schow (Probably not quite my type, though I think I'll read a book or two), Evangeline Walton ("Witch House"), William Sloane ("Fengriffin", "Beside Running Water", "To Walk the Night"), Nicholas Royle ("Counterparts") and countless others.
Of course, "Unutterable Horror" has a fair amount of plot summaries and "spoilers", though that's not a criticism of the book per se. But if you like to be surprised when you read a suspense or mystery novel, I would suggest skimming "Unutterable Horror" first for authors and book titles, and then come back to the former once you've already read the suggested works.
Needless to say, "Unutterable Horror" is full of Joshi's usual scathing critiques of people he doesn't like, so if that rubs you the wrong way, then you probably won't like the book. I rather enjoy it, but I do find his contempt for anyone who isn't a thorough-going materialist, to be a little off-putting. That qualm aside, however, I'd say it's a first-rate work, highly recommended, and well worth the 130 bucks.
Any thoughts on the names I've listed above? I was hesitating over Mcdowell's "Blackwater" series - a little too campy, perhaps? - but the two by him that I've already purchased("Fengriffen" and "Beside Running Water") look so promising that I think I'll give it a chance. Joshi doesn't mention "Blackwater" in particular, only Sloane's "Beside Running Water" and one or two others. But from Joshi's positive reviews of Sloane the author, and from the encouraging Amazon reviews of "Blackwater", it sounds like it might be fun. Kind of like "Dark Shadows" the novel!
Oh, and as far as I can tell, Joshi doesn't even mention Stefan Grabinski. Which is an unfortunate oversight - especially considering that Stephanie Meyer's "Twilight Series" got a page and a half!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 26 Jan 13 | 03:11AM by Dexterward.