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rachael_amber's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
kraghen21's review against another edition
2.0
I did not plan or even think about Halloween when picking this book up, but coincidentally I have completed this collection of horror stories at the most opportune time of year.
Unfortunately, I was hardly impressed by these 'strange tales' [the term the author himself preferred].
Out of the six stories in the collection, I only truly enjoyed one of them; 'Ringing the Changes', in which a newlywed couple of an older man and younger woman honeymoon at a dilapidated beachtown in East Anglia. The hotels are all empty on the day they arrive, and the churches of every town in earshot are ringing the bells without stop throughout the day. What for? To raise the dead from their graves of course, so the local inhabitants can dance with their former loved ones, as is tradition, for this one night a year.
This story wasn't particularly spooky, but it had a memorable climactic scene.
This segues into why the rest of the collection is a letdown.
Hardly any of the stories have a memorable moment in them, they all seem to fizzle out in the end, quite consistently.
This is high-brow horror, so the genre stereotypes are not exactly present, but then what is there instead? I can't quite say.
I found none of the stories truly strange, and certainly not scary. I personally prefer ominous and atmospheric horror, which is what the author went for, but the imagery and ideas are too flat to really fester in the mind of the reader.
The language is lauded by some, but for me, it did not help convey the mood of the stories. Aickman writes like an old butler speaks. Like a horror version of P.G. Wodehouse. Like if Stephen King went to Eton in the late 1800's.
His dialogue is incredibly stilted and unnatural, especially between male and female characters. The male characters all feel wooden, as Aickman probably was himself judging by the afterword by his friend Ramsay Campbell.
And yes, the classic horror problem of female characters is also present here; they are always love objects and only exist in two flavors; dangerous succubi or clueless innocent.
I would recommend reading Quentin S. Crisp instead of this, who quite possibly is somewhat inspired by Aickman, but is a much better writer, with a real talent for "the weird" and actually interesting subject matter. Go read 'Morbid Tales' and you will see what I mean.
Unfortunately, I was hardly impressed by these 'strange tales' [the term the author himself preferred].
Out of the six stories in the collection, I only truly enjoyed one of them; 'Ringing the Changes', in which a newlywed couple of an older man and younger woman honeymoon at a dilapidated beachtown in East Anglia. The hotels are all empty on the day they arrive, and the churches of every town in earshot are ringing the bells without stop throughout the day. What for? To raise the dead from their graves of course, so the local inhabitants can dance with their former loved ones, as is tradition, for this one night a year.
This story wasn't particularly spooky, but it had a memorable climactic scene.
This segues into why the rest of the collection is a letdown.
Hardly any of the stories have a memorable moment in them, they all seem to fizzle out in the end, quite consistently.
This is high-brow horror, so the genre stereotypes are not exactly present, but then what is there instead? I can't quite say.
I found none of the stories truly strange, and certainly not scary. I personally prefer ominous and atmospheric horror, which is what the author went for, but the imagery and ideas are too flat to really fester in the mind of the reader.
The language is lauded by some, but for me, it did not help convey the mood of the stories. Aickman writes like an old butler speaks. Like a horror version of P.G. Wodehouse. Like if Stephen King went to Eton in the late 1800's.
His dialogue is incredibly stilted and unnatural, especially between male and female characters. The male characters all feel wooden, as Aickman probably was himself judging by the afterword by his friend Ramsay Campbell.
And yes, the classic horror problem of female characters is also present here; they are always love objects and only exist in two flavors; dangerous succubi or clueless innocent.
I would recommend reading Quentin S. Crisp instead of this, who quite possibly is somewhat inspired by Aickman, but is a much better writer, with a real talent for "the weird" and actually interesting subject matter. Go read 'Morbid Tales' and you will see what I mean.
tristansreadingmania's review against another edition
4.0
My, what a puzzling, yet wondrous experience reading Aickman is. Now it's finally become clear to me why I've seen him so often being talked about in such hushed, reverential tones. This Brit was an absolute master craftsman of the "strange tale", as he himself defined the nature of his work.
The one thing to be appreciated the most about these tales (this collection, astonishingly his debut, consists of 6), is undoubtedly the prose. It's rather gorgeous. Timeless, in fact. See, I have a sneaking suspicion that Aickman never cared about plotting at all. Not really. Naturally there must be a plot in order for there to be a story, but in almost every case it mostly consists of a rather basic premise, with some modest twists and turns thrown in. For a riveting, fast moving plot, Aickman ain't your man.
His primary obsessions are mood, nuance, the steady unfolding of an inner psychological drama. There are no satisfying pay offs to be found at the end. His world is an oblique, unreal and insecure one, populated by neurotics and lost souls. Threat is perceived, yet very often not actualised. That is the essence of Aickman.
Faber & Faber has thus far republished 4 - thankfully, inexpensive- collections of Aickman's work. Previously, the only way to obtain Aickman other than secondhand was through the lovingly produced hardcovers of Tartarus Press, which are admittedly pricey. Fantastic publisher, but perhaps not the best route to take by way of an introduction. For those interested, I'd suggest going for these first. My utmost and highest recommendation.
The one thing to be appreciated the most about these tales (this collection, astonishingly his debut, consists of 6), is undoubtedly the prose. It's rather gorgeous. Timeless, in fact. See, I have a sneaking suspicion that Aickman never cared about plotting at all. Not really. Naturally there must be a plot in order for there to be a story, but in almost every case it mostly consists of a rather basic premise, with some modest twists and turns thrown in. For a riveting, fast moving plot, Aickman ain't your man.
His primary obsessions are mood, nuance, the steady unfolding of an inner psychological drama. There are no satisfying pay offs to be found at the end. His world is an oblique, unreal and insecure one, populated by neurotics and lost souls. Threat is perceived, yet very often not actualised. That is the essence of Aickman.
Faber & Faber has thus far republished 4 - thankfully, inexpensive- collections of Aickman's work. Previously, the only way to obtain Aickman other than secondhand was through the lovingly produced hardcovers of Tartarus Press, which are admittedly pricey. Fantastic publisher, but perhaps not the best route to take by way of an introduction. For those interested, I'd suggest going for these first. My utmost and highest recommendation.
lakserk's review against another edition
4.0
The stories:
The School Friend: An old school friend of the protagonist returns to her father’s house after his death. The house seems to have a weird effect upon her. A masterful story, a subtle journey into female oppression, a spin on speculative fiction of the created, and a hint of Greek mythology, with strong Lynchean vibes, as well as a cryptic finale; this is a tour de force of Aickman motifs.
Ringing the Changes: A couple visit a seaside village where bells seem to be constantly ringing and the border between life and (un)death is occasionally thinning. Less abrupt than the average Aickman, this is an exemplary lesson of how to craft an unsettling settlement. Strong aesthetical hints of the Carnival of Souls.
Choice of Weapons: A young man falls furiously in love at the first sight of a woman, becoming obsessed with her and ending up in a weird house crossing shoulders with even more weird characters. It takes the reader through a spectral range of expectations before abruptly ending, leaving him dazed with a quintessential Aickmanish ending.
The Waiting Room: A man spends the night alone in a haunted train station room. This short story is much smoother than its other counterparts. A traditional ghost tale which is a delight to read, creating a much appreciated wintry atmosphere.
The View: An artist ends up in the secluded manor of a woman, in an island where space seems to be malleable. The book’s largest story, this has an almost dreamlike quality and more than a hint of Odysseus’ time with Circe and Calypso as well as folktales of time spent in fairyland. Can be a bit slow-moving, but ultimately satisfying.
Bind Your Hair: A woman visits her fiance’s village and family. She meets an eccentric old lady and wanders in the countryside discovering a strange labyrinth and equally bizarre guides. A folk-horror masterpiece, slightly hinting of Machen’s The White People, also doubling over as a subtle study of the collective versus the individual (rural/urban, traditional/modern), of boundaries and their dissolving. My personal favourite of the book.
Full review here: https://industriesofinferno.github.io/books/2020/07/02/robert-aickman-dark-entries.html
The School Friend: An old school friend of the protagonist returns to her father’s house after his death. The house seems to have a weird effect upon her. A masterful story, a subtle journey into female oppression, a spin on speculative fiction of the created, and a hint of Greek mythology, with strong Lynchean vibes, as well as a cryptic finale; this is a tour de force of Aickman motifs.
Ringing the Changes: A couple visit a seaside village where bells seem to be constantly ringing and the border between life and (un)death is occasionally thinning. Less abrupt than the average Aickman, this is an exemplary lesson of how to craft an unsettling settlement. Strong aesthetical hints of the Carnival of Souls.
Choice of Weapons: A young man falls furiously in love at the first sight of a woman, becoming obsessed with her and ending up in a weird house crossing shoulders with even more weird characters. It takes the reader through a spectral range of expectations before abruptly ending, leaving him dazed with a quintessential Aickmanish ending.
The Waiting Room: A man spends the night alone in a haunted train station room. This short story is much smoother than its other counterparts. A traditional ghost tale which is a delight to read, creating a much appreciated wintry atmosphere.
The View: An artist ends up in the secluded manor of a woman, in an island where space seems to be malleable. The book’s largest story, this has an almost dreamlike quality and more than a hint of Odysseus’ time with Circe and Calypso as well as folktales of time spent in fairyland. Can be a bit slow-moving, but ultimately satisfying.
Bind Your Hair: A woman visits her fiance’s village and family. She meets an eccentric old lady and wanders in the countryside discovering a strange labyrinth and equally bizarre guides. A folk-horror masterpiece, slightly hinting of Machen’s The White People, also doubling over as a subtle study of the collective versus the individual (rural/urban, traditional/modern), of boundaries and their dissolving. My personal favourite of the book.
Full review here: https://industriesofinferno.github.io/books/2020/07/02/robert-aickman-dark-entries.html
lakserk's review against another edition
5.0
The stories:
The School Friend: An old school friend of the protagonist returns to her father’s house after his death. The house seems to have a weird effect upon her. A masterful story, a subtle journey into female oppression, a spin on speculative fiction of the created, and a hint of Greek mythology, with strong Lynchean vibes, as well as a cryptic finale; this is a tour de force of Aickman motifs.
Ringing the Changes: A couple visit a seaside village where bells seem to be constantly ringing and the border between life and (un)death is occasionally thinning. Less abrupt than the average Aickman, this is an exemplary lesson of how to craft an unsettling settlement. Strong aesthetical hints of the Carnival of Souls.
Choice of Weapons: A young man falls furiously in love at the first sight of a woman, becoming obsessed with her and ending up in a weird house crossing shoulders with even more weird characters. It takes the reader through a spectral range of expectations before abruptly ending, leaving him dazed with a quintessential Aickmanish ending.
The Waiting Room: A man spends the night alone in a haunted train station room. This short story is much smoother than its other counterparts. A traditional ghost tale which is a delight to read, creating a much appreciated wintry atmosphere.
The View: An artist ends up in the secluded manor of a woman, in an island where space seems to be malleable. The book’s largest story, this has an almost dreamlike quality and more than a hint of Odysseus’ time with Circe and Calypso as well as folktales of time spent in fairyland. Can be a bit slow-moving, but ultimately satisfying.
Bind Your Hair: A woman visits her fiance’s village and family. She meets an eccentric old lady and wanders in the countryside discovering a strange labyrinth and equally bizarre guides. A folk-horror masterpiece, slightly hinting of Machen’s The White People, also doubling over as a subtle study of the collective versus the individual (rural/urban, traditional/modern), of boundaries and their dissolving. My personal favourite of the book.
Full review here: https://industriesofinferno.github.io/books/2020/07/02/robert-aickman-dark-entries.html
The School Friend: An old school friend of the protagonist returns to her father’s house after his death. The house seems to have a weird effect upon her. A masterful story, a subtle journey into female oppression, a spin on speculative fiction of the created, and a hint of Greek mythology, with strong Lynchean vibes, as well as a cryptic finale; this is a tour de force of Aickman motifs.
Ringing the Changes: A couple visit a seaside village where bells seem to be constantly ringing and the border between life and (un)death is occasionally thinning. Less abrupt than the average Aickman, this is an exemplary lesson of how to craft an unsettling settlement. Strong aesthetical hints of the Carnival of Souls.
Choice of Weapons: A young man falls furiously in love at the first sight of a woman, becoming obsessed with her and ending up in a weird house crossing shoulders with even more weird characters. It takes the reader through a spectral range of expectations before abruptly ending, leaving him dazed with a quintessential Aickmanish ending.
The Waiting Room: A man spends the night alone in a haunted train station room. This short story is much smoother than its other counterparts. A traditional ghost tale which is a delight to read, creating a much appreciated wintry atmosphere.
The View: An artist ends up in the secluded manor of a woman, in an island where space seems to be malleable. The book’s largest story, this has an almost dreamlike quality and more than a hint of Odysseus’ time with Circe and Calypso as well as folktales of time spent in fairyland. Can be a bit slow-moving, but ultimately satisfying.
Bind Your Hair: A woman visits her fiance’s village and family. She meets an eccentric old lady and wanders in the countryside discovering a strange labyrinth and equally bizarre guides. A folk-horror masterpiece, slightly hinting of Machen’s The White People, also doubling over as a subtle study of the collective versus the individual (rural/urban, traditional/modern), of boundaries and their dissolving. My personal favourite of the book.
Full review here: https://industriesofinferno.github.io/books/2020/07/02/robert-aickman-dark-entries.html
frahhn's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Very pleasantly surprised! I went in cold with low expectations and found these stories fascinating and enthralling. I would argue that more than half of them have queer subtexts too which was a nice surprise. These reminded me of “readable” stories in the vein of HG Wells and Poe, who unfortunately have a tendency to put me to sleep.
My favorites are
“The school friend” and “bind your hair” with my lease favorite being “choose your weapons.”
My favorites are
“The school friend” and “bind your hair” with my lease favorite being “choose your weapons.”
dbaldachino's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
iztrkfliers's review against another edition
4.0
The stories I enjoyed the most in this collection were:
1. The School Friend
2. Ringing the Changes
3. Choice of Swords
4. Bind Your Hair
1. The School Friend
2. Ringing the Changes
3. Choice of Swords
4. Bind Your Hair