Ah, but no spoilers. Read it for yourself right now here. And if your hair hasn’t gone stark white after that, you can delve into the other Binscombe Tales here.
You also get to see through the eyes of the monster. And if you’re thinking that doesn’t sound too scary – well, you’re probably thinking of the movies, all of which are jolly romps compared to the flesh-crawling horror of the genuine Frankenstein article.
Steve Ditko, probably the greatest artist in the history of comics, produced some of his best work (so far) for Warren's horror mags, Creepy and Eerie, in partnership with Archie Goodwin. Now Dark Horse have collected those masterpieces of the macabre into one beautiful hardcover book. It's right here if you think your nerves can take the strain.
A rising star in the firmament of fantastic fiction is Jason Arnopp, whose novel The Last Days of Jack Sparks has justly earned him comparison with the greats of the horror genre. It's a brilliant Bloody Mary of a story mixing black comedy, postmodern zing, eye-popping terror, poignant notes of regret, all told at a pace that won't let you put the book down.
I'd say Jack Sparks was the best modern horror story out there but - sorry, Jason, that accolade must go to... oh, none other than Jason Arnopp, for A Sincere Warning About The Entity In Your Home. This personalized yarn is so effectively scary that it's probably not safe to read it when you're alone in the house. You can also send it to a friend and enjoy the twitchy, haunted look they'll carry around with them for the next few months.
Lastly, if you just want something sinister to watch, try the classic TV movie Schalcken the Painter, based on a J S Le Fanu story. That'll send you off to bed with an eye on the shadows.
Come back on Friday when we'll put the spooks aside and have a kick-ass roleplaying adventure involving supervillains: "The Enemy Of My Enemy".
Eyes and Waiting For A Bus were possibly my two favourite stories from Binscombe. Highly recommended. I did prefer the more mainstream stories over the ones with historical references. I'll perhaps ask Santa for the other books you mention.
ReplyDeleteGood picks, Andy. I also especially like Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside and Another Place. Jamie, who lives in a village not unlike Binscombe, says that he often thinks of that one as he goes out of his front door... which world am I stepping into?
DeleteI went back to the Tales to jog my memory of the stories you mention. Both excellent. I had deju vu when I originally read "Oh I Do" which I couldn't quite put my finger on. I'm still non the wiser, but plagiarism it's not! Hadn't heard of Schalcken. It's on my next binge list. You've a 100% rating with your recommends so far, so law of averages you're due a shocker!
DeleteNo pressure, then :-)
DeleteI got the complete Binscombe Tales on your recommendation for Christmas... and am not disappointed. Mr Disvan is an interesting character!
ReplyDeleteThere's a unique blend of cosy, threatening, and deeply disturbing in the Binscombe Tales, embodied particularly in Mr Disvan himself. Maybe that says a lot about the English character in general.
Delete