“Dermod’s Bane”
The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard
Del Rey
Paper $20.00
Ebook $7.99
This is a minor story, apparently written early in Howard’s career, but not published in his lifetime. It was first published in Magazine of Horror, Fall 1967.
As usual, there will be spoilers. In this case, it will be hard to avoid them, the story is so short. Continue reading
“Rattle of Bones”
The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard
Del Rey
Paper $20.00
Ebook $7.99
This post could just have easily been one of the Solomon Kane posts since Kane is the central character. It’s not regarded as a major work in either the Solomon Kane series or among Howard’s horror fiction. Be that as it may, I still like it. It’s short, creepy, and has a couple of twists, even if you can see the final one coming a mile off.
Spoilers to follow below the “fold”. Continue reading
Today (September 24) there are several birthdays of note (waves at John Kessel), but I want to focus on two of them. The first is a little-known British writer, Charles Birkin (1907-1985). The other, and this is an exception to my unwritten rule of focusing on dead writers in these birthday posts, is David Drake (b. 1945). Continue reading
“Ringard and Dendra”
The Throne of Bones
Brian McNaughton
Print $16.95
Ebook $2.99
Brian McNaughton was born on this date, September 23, in 1935. He passed away in 2004. McNaughton was never prolific, and based on the story I read for today’s post, that’s a shame. The Throne of Bones won a World Fantasy Award. From reading this story, I can see why.
I had read one of his stories years ago and liked it quite a bit. Turns out it was this one, reprinted in Black Gate. I had intended to read more of his work. I had a copy of this collection. But things happened, and I never got around to it. You know how these situations tend to go at times, don’t you? Of course you do.
I will not make that mistake this time. Continue reading
At the Friends of the Library Book Sale. Why? What did you think I meant?
Some of you people need to get your minds out of the gutter.
Here’s what I picked up (click to enlarge). Paperbacks were fifty cents (when did keyboards stop containing the cents symbol?) and hardcovers a dollar.
Some of these are duplicates, such has the REH titles, the Frazetta, The Saberhagen Dracula books, the SF Hall of Fame, some of the Bova and Drake. In some cases I wasn’t sure which ones I had and in others I was upgrading. The Hecate’s Cauldron was a steal for $0.50; the last time I checked, it was selling for around $20 on ABE.
My main objective was to fill in gaps in Bova’s Grand Tour series, and I managed to pick up a couple I didn’t already have. Most of them, though, are upgrades or reading copies of titles I have that are signed. Everything else was gravy.
Not bad for $23.50 total.
Strindberg’s Ghost Sonata and Other Uncollected Tales
Tanith Lee
Immanion Press
Paper $18.99
Ebook $4.99
Tanith Lee was born on this date, September 19, in 1947. She passed away in 2015. Lee wrote in a variety of genres, including fantasy, horror, and science fiction. She was highly prolific, and many of her short stories haven’t never been collected.
Until now. Immanion Press is collecting all of her work that hasn’t appeared in any of her collections. In observance of her birthday, I read two stories from the collection Strindberg’s Ghost Sonata and Other Uncollected Tales. Continue reading
Charles L. Grant
No, I said Grant and Foster, not Foster Grant. As in Charles L. Grant and Alan Dean Foster.
Today, September 12, marks the birth of Charles L. Grant (1942-2006). Grant was one of the major practitioners of what is known as quiet horror. In addition to writing horror, Grant also wrote fantasy and bit of science fiction. Much of this work was published under other names, the most common being Lionel Fenn.
Much of his fiction is set in the city of Oxrun Station. These stories and novels are among Grant’s best.
In My Time of Dying
David J. West
Lost Realms Press
Print $15.99
Ebook $4.99 (on sale for $0.99 as of this writing)
David J. West (no relation) is a prolific writer of fantasy in a variety of subgenres. His work ranges from horror to sword and sorcery to weird western and everything in between. He publishes multiple books each year. The man is making the rest of us look bad setting an example to the rest of us by showing us what pulp speed looks like.
Speaking of speed, In My time of Dying is a fast-paced weird western with steampunk elements that rushes along at a breakneck pace. Continue reading
Today (September 1) is the birthday of two literary giants, Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875-1950) and Harold Lamb (1892-1962). Continue reading