Umm, very good for morale. I am on the front page of Kalkion for a few days. http://www.kalkion.com/
Anyone wanting to buy a paper version of Exit, Pursued by a Bee can go to http://geoffnelder.com/exitbee.htm
and ebook at
http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.php?ISBN=1-55404-577-0
There is also a number of articles I’ve written at Kalkion, the latest on Hiding the Truth over UFOs here
A gang of three poetesses (or is it more PC to say poets – like there are no actresses any more?) sent me their collection of stories and poems in a noir mild horror vein. I like reading the fiction of poets: they can’t help leaking literary grace into their stories. Here is my review:
Casting Shadows
A collection of dark tales and poems written by Joleen Kuyper, E.J. Tett and Jo Robertson 
Published by the authors at Lulu.com 2009
ISBN: 978-1409284154
Reviewed by Geoff Nelder
This eclectic collection, although immersed in noir, shines with brilliant prose and poetry. A dozen short stories are sandwiched between a dozen poems, four each by the three writers, so that the unease you experience from one style is twisted into you by another. It is rather like listening to a choir of three voices: they are in harmony but braided with distinct voices.
I have no experience of assessing poetry and so I refrain from expressing judgement on their literary merit. What I can say is that the words convey feelings of apprehension delivered with literary fluidity. Some of the poems lead with pleasing imagery, lulling you into a false Wordsworthian glow then pulls the rug from under you with terror or mere unease. A great example is in E J Tett’s poem Picture the Scene, in which rainbow colours and pretty ornaments take the reader’s eye off Tett’s evil intentions. Such bitter sweetness is the hallmark of this collection. More M R James than Joseph d’Lacey.
The eponymous story I’d say, is the brooding theatrical tale, Whistling in the Theatre by Joleen Kuyper. Renée auditions for a shadow part in the cast of a new play. The whistles only she hears worries her, and so the reader, until both are enlightened, so to speak, in the darkest shadow.
Roses are fragrant harmless flowers aren’t they? Not in Roses by Jo Robertson, in which the reader is treated to nausea, disturbance, yet wonderful imagery. For example, blood makes an interesting marbling effect when spilt in paint; a decorating hint discovered by the protagonist when she works at making an inherited home habitable. Her blood? Not necessarily.
One of the problems with horror stories is not so much maintaining suspense – in which all three writers succeed excellently – but in the ending. If the reader is already unsettled, how can an ending be satisfying? Resolution of the hook conflict is good but to me, not if left with nothing. Such an ending spoils, for me, the otherwise marvellous last-person-alive tale in Omen. On the other hand, the writers often employ non-linear plotlines with great effect; as in the story, The Immortal Benedict Calhoun. Ben makes a difficult decision, the development of which intertwines with his present situation on a hill watching the sun set.
Although distinct, the three writers’ voices are literary. For example the story, Eyes, is reminiscent of AL Kennedy’s writing although all the dialogue tags would need to be expunged, some passive phrases made active and someone empty the magazine of the ellipses scattering gun.
This slim volume should be in high street shops. Such a coruscating experience should be harboured by every literary horror reader and given as presents to all. In the meantime purchase yours from online bookstores such as
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Casting-Shadows-E-J-Tett/dp/1409284158
My favourite small press of utmost integrity married with entertaining literary fiction has its blog whirring away again at
http://www.bewritebooks.blogspot.com/
All power to the elbow of chief editor, Neil Marr and his staff.
Phew, for a while I’d thought the serialization of my science fiction novel – Exit, Pursued by a Bee – was lost in the many interesting articles and files of Kalkion, but here it is! http://www.kalkion.com/node/645
A vastly more update is the birth of my first granddaughter, Amy Nelder. Born to my son Robert, and more so to his fiancee, Tracey, in Robin Hood’s city of Nottingham on February 11th 2010 and weighing in at nearly 9 pounds. Keeping a watchful eye is her big sister, Liddie-Ann.
Baby Amy is born!
The Occult Files of Albert Taylor: A Collection of Mysterious Cases from the World of the Supernatural
Author: Derek Muk
Reviewed by Geoff Nelder
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (October 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 144954195X
ISBN-13: 978-1449541958
This is an anthology of eleven stories of the occult ranging through ghostly apparitions, Jack the Ripper visiting the present in San Francisco, to UFO landings. They are written through the perspective of a professor of the occult, Albert Taylor – a single mature teacher with an open mind to whatever oddities his students and friends engage with him. In many ways this is a travel book – one of the best features of the stories are the interesting locations from desert towns to mountain caves. It is also a broad sweep of the major issues you’d hope and expect to find in an occult collection: Big Foot, Boogey Man, The Spanish Inquisition, séances and unsettled souls in purgatory.
The format is interesting in that although they are as narrated tales, they are also case studies from the prof’s files. As an academic I would have expected him to be less accepting of what he and others see and hear. The kindly Taylor rarely uses any scientific rigour such as multiple repeat experiments in controlled situations, checking equipment calibration, and ruthless cross-examination of witnesses. Nevertheless, I fell into liking his manner of accepting accounts of people who had been scared witless: he put them at their ease and gave them credence where I would have asked for tests for hallucinogens and illusory tricks.
Some of the stories seemed simplistic though I might have missed hidden meanings. A good one is The Exhibit, which features the fifteenth century Spanish inquisitor, Tomas de Torquemada. Some relics of his are collected for a museum exhibit in a desert town, and the torturer becomes resurrected. I would have had him use his famous torture methods on the hapless citizens (maybe not to sort Jews from Catholics as was his career mapped out by Queen Isabella) but there I go re-writing again.
Jack the Ripper aficionados will enjoy his reappearance in a San Francisco Bay version in the short story, Dear Boss though it was a scalpel too far-fetched for me.
Producers take note: most of the case studies in this collection would make a popular TV series, say – Most Haunted meets The Twilight Zone.
Collectors of stories of the occult will find something in this anthology to appeal to them.
The Amazon link is: http://www.amazon.com/Occult-Files-Albert-Taylor-Supernatural/dp/144954195X/
I decided to give non and token-paying magazines a miss this year and try damned hard to get into the biggies. So I wrote a short science fiction story for Interzone. It’s been through two critique groups, reworked and polished. I’m not saying it is perfect but I believe fellow editors would see its worthiness.
I’ve bought and noted the changes in story styles in Interzone over the decades. I said this in
my cover. However, once again Andy sends me the standard form
reject letter with no hint at why rejection but including a tip to
read Interzone along with a flyer to order it! Does he never read the
cover notes sent with submissions? I get hundreds of subs for EV too
but I always say a brief why for rejections. I don’t think I’ll be
subbing to Interzone again – though I said that last time 
Even if an acquisition editor receives hundreds of submissions IMO he or she should at least give a hint why a piece is rejected – it’s only good manners and part of the culture of helping writers. If there are too many then close subs for a while. Am I asking too much?
I read an ebook today on how to win writing contests by John Yeoman (to be found at http://www.writers-village.org/welcome.php ) He reckons we should be submitting around 20 contests per week. Pause while I work out that is 1,000 per year. Not just any contests, but those with a spread of paying prizes or prestigious publishing outcomes. It reminds me of a consistent winner of prizes I’d met at the Winchester Writers’ Conference who said she has at least 300 contests entered at any one time. So beefed up with such inspiration I sent a story off to the BSFA annual James White Award – free to members. I also sent two off to magazines I’ve been burning to be published in – Interzone and Analog. One day.
Spent yessterday being inspired by a miniature comedian. He had his one year birthday last Wednesday. My aunty Betty in Cheltenham had knitted him a great warm cardigan so I wanted a photo of him wearing it. Would Oliver keep still? Judge for yourself.
5,000 people were abjucted by pirates on the Mediterranean island of Gozo in 1551. Their souls cry for revenge but wait until one of their descendents unknowingly meets the descendent of one of the pirates. The novel, Xaghra’s Revenge, and my US agent suggests I ask famous fantasy writer, Ramsay Campbell, for his endorsement. I wouldn’t expect him to read all 103,000 words but a sample, synopsis, etc. His agent, John Jarrold, was kind enough to ask on my behalf but replied that as Ramsey is writing a new novel he is too immerssed and busy to glance at mind. Note I’d spent time reading his short story, The Hand, and gave it a positive review when it appeared in The Horror Zine anthology below this post.
Understandable to get into the heads of your characters and keep with an intricate plot. I can understand that. It is why I am grateful to write much of the time undisturbed – apart from being mad of mind. The irony is that Ramsey is appearing in my home town of Chester on a money-making gig to speak to the Society of Authors in April. Not worth the £22 entry fee though cos if I sat in the audience I’d be holding up placards with excerpts of my Xaghra’s Revenge – haha.
Seriously, good luck with your new novel, Ramsay. I get it wrong – spend too much time critiquing other folk’s writing instead of getting on with my new novel and short stories.
And Now the Nightmare Begins: The Horror Zine
Volume One – to purchase click away here for US readers and here for UK.
An anthology of horror stories edited by Jeani Rector
Reviewed by Geoff Nelder
Paperback: 260 pages
Publisher: Bearmanor Fiction (Dec 2009)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1593933568
ISBN-13: 978-1593933562
Jeani Rector edits and started a monthly online zine of horror featuring fiction, articles, images and poetry many years ago and the current website is at http://www.thehorrorzine.com Twenty of the finest stories and twenty-one poems have been collated into an anthology published in December 2009. I leave a review of poetry to those who understand the good and the bad of it.
This collection is a patchwork quilt of horror, with a mix of writing styles and plots to please all aficionados of the genre. For me, some are merely very good while a handful are outstanding.
Folks Don’t Always Come Out of Ratwitch Cave The Same by Lawrence Barker
Maybe it was the sadist in me but as a geography teacher I loved to take groups of teenagers into an abandoned slate mine near the Welsh town of Blaunau Ffestiniog and creep them out. I needed to do no more than walk them in a mile, divert them into a side adit then get them to turn their lights out. Some screamed, others laughed. The laughers probably turned into readers of horror. This story by Lawrence Barker took me back to that cave, added more rats, a witch and, writing with stylish sensual Show, threw in a hellish emotion roaring through the protagonist, Hargus, as he fought his demons with murderous results. I like long titles but this one lacked the subtlety of the narrative and was too much of a spoiler in my opinion.
I’m Coming To Get You by Jason D. Brawn
Simon watches a 60s film on TV, The Devil’s Shadow, but the ending isn’t as he expected resulting in him experiencing the horror of his family being hacked. Or does it? There is a way out, but will he accept it? The premise of pacts with the devil isn’t new but the treatment is unique. The writing could be tighter with the occasional dangling participles, but the mood of the piece is cleverly scary.
The Dead Wall by David Byron
The early mention of unprotected sex betrayed the likely consequence. However, the ghastly nature and revelation of that consequence unsettled me all the way to a compelling finale.
The Hands by Ramsay Campbell
I always relish reading the master of fantasy, and pleasurably recall hearing his FantasyCon readings in the UK. It is the archetypal corridor horror where the reader feels ill following the protagonist through the realistic grim interior of a dilapidated building, initially following someone in, then desperately seeking a way out. One of the reasons Campbell is a multiple-award winning writer is the way he masters description. For example he doesn’t Tell us it’s raining he Shows us with a signpost dripping like a nose. Every time I read The Hands I find nooks I’d missed earlier, yet I am surprised at the lack of the use of smell and taste. However, Campbell says he uses each story to try new things and plenty of full sensory Show is used in his stories in the quarter of a century since The Hands was first published.
The Real-Time Boogey Man by Chris Castle
I wasn’t surprised to learn that Chris Castle is also a poet: this story has that kind of fluidity. Listen – ‘There was a moment when his smile was lit too brightly and she had to close her eyes and when she opened them again, he had faded from view.’ This, when Martha finds a ghostly friend who is to Halloween her evil father to hell. She is remarkably composed yet with an eerie air, obliging the reader to read on.
The Pass by Simon Clark
This must be a good story because I squirmed in my desire for the wrong ending. The hogs, or were they, coming to kill the community, felt real and dangerous, but then the alternative threw up pathos equally stomach churning.
Venus by Connor de Bruler
I suppose a young writer is allowed to let exuberance for the art trample the mature niceties of point of view adherence, dangling participles, and such. The many sections doesn’t allow readers to engage as much as they should. Nevertheless, in spite of the predictable outcome, the story has colour and setting descriptions that took me there. I look forward to reading more of Connor de Bruler’s work.
The Silent Hours by Trevor Denyer
A cunning ghost story from the point of view of a young lad thrown into the care of his grandparents (one of whom is not alive) while his parents recover from a car crash. My only criticism is that it finishes too soon.
The Rattling Man by Alan Draven
There are many Halloween stories, and this has too much Tell in my opinion. However, it is different, one for collectors, maintaining its tension and challenging the reader with the identity of the villain until the last sentence.
What The Dead Are For by Terry Grimwood
I collect in limbo stories and though this starts oh so religious, I was caught out and enraptured. I have the feeling Terry didn’t know how to end it but the story is worth the read anyway.
The Man With The Crocodile Eyes by Kyle Hemmings
Written with the eye of a poet though in my opinion it could have ended three paragraphs earlier. Marvellous wordcraft - example: a reason Carly says no to a joint is how could she explain the ‘never ending dance of giggles’ to her parents?
My Mother’s Knives by Christina Hoag
Mary Grace is disillusioned turning her from a latent sociopath to bloody butchery. Not to be read if you live in an apartment, hotel, block of flats, a shared house, anywhere except an isolated cottage. Even then… Yes, scary – rather obvious – but well written.
The Dream Catcher by David W. Landrum
Victims speaking from their grave giving away their murderer always makes for an interesting and macabre plot, especially when elaborated with Native American lore. Too much Tell spoilt it a little for me, but the moodiness is captured well.
The Demon Smiles by Rick McQuiston
I would have engaged more with this night-exploring-an-empty-factory tale if it didn’t head hop so much. Having said that it is spooky with an unpredictable ending.
Outside Her Bedroom Window by Brian Medof
I feel for Linda, trying to slip into escapist sleep yet disturbed and perturbed by unnatural sounds. Conflict, resolution – or is it? A worthy read.
On One Condition by B. A. Sans
An inheritance to dream of, but the dream turns to a nightmare but with a fiendishly unusual endgame. Well-written – a keeper.
For Rachel (With special thanks to Ed Gorman) by Brian J. Smith
In my top three in this collection. Great use of all the senses and one of the few employing colour. Action combined with sustained tension, and it isn’t quite finished. Well done.
Halloween Lights by Anna Taborska
The plot isn’t new but the writing of it is unique and intriguing. Written as if Anna wore a camera on her shoulder, the reader is there all the way. Exquisite.
Delete Contact? by E. J. Tett
Clever pacing and avoiding the obvious ending added to the pleasure of reading this gem. Poignant for me with my inability to delete my departed father from my contacts.
Ghost of Roses by Debra Young
When Kyle’s soul mate lover died his mind plays tricks making him unapproachable to concerned friends. But this is no soppy story, it is superbly written, evidenced by clever sensual Show especially in the use of sense of smell and in colour. Thank you, Debra! Also in the metaphors: guilt, an iceberg in his soul, vast, slow, and deeply buried…
In my top three in this anthology.
The Bus Station by Jeani Rector
A humdinger of a ghost-or-is-it tale. A young man kills, but nothing is simple as people, or their bodies, come and go. By the end it becomes clear –mostly. The narrative is engaging along with an expert employment of pace. A terrific read.
Cockroaches by Jeani Rector
It seemed to me that cockroaches deserved my respect for being able to outlive humans, and all mammals, in the event of a global catastrophe such as nuclear war. Luckily, I don’t live in a number 17 as do the unfortunate characters in this story. Capturing the exuberance of youth, Jeani Rector masterfully crafts this story so that it is more than just a horror tale,
