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Maker Of Shadows
Jack Mann was actually E. Charles Vivian, who decided to use the Jack Man pseudonym for his supernatural novels involving Gees. This book's dedication is to Harry Stephen Keeler, Ramble house's favorite author, and we have been wanting to publish this novel for years. It's extremely hard to find.
MAKER OF SHADOWS sends Gees into the countryside where he meets a beautiful illusion named Gail. But he also runs into more illusions that are far more sinister -- and real. 226 pages
MAKER OF SHADOWS sends Gees into the countryside where he meets a beautiful illusion named Gail. But he also runs into more illusions that are far more sinister -- and real. 226 pages
- GenresHorrorOccult Detective
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1938
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 2, 2024
Cover of the 1938 Wright & Brown hardcover (288 pages), which I doubt I'll ever find for a reasonable price. Too bad the cover of the more recent Ramble House edition is....how do you say...embarrassing.
February 9, 2012
Clocking in at #6 on Karl Edward Wagner’s “The Thirteen Best Supernatural Horror Novels” list is Maker of Shadows by Jack Mann (pseudonym of Charles Carnnell). Recently republished by Ramble House ( God Bless Fender Tucker and all who sail with him!), the book is now back in print for the first time since Bookfinger reissued the other “Gees” novels by Mann in the 70′s. I’ve reproduced the cover of the new reissue and one of the magazine serializations from 1939 as well as one of the many Virgil Findlay illustrations from it (thank you, Pretty Sinister Books).
Make of Shadows easily holds it’s place on the list. If nothing else, I would say it might rank a little higher. The novel manages to create a sense of cosmic dread only found in Lovecraft writings. It marries them with the best of the British rural detective yarns. “Gees” is the nickname for gentleman detective Gregory George Gordon Green, who markets himself as a professional problem solver in the classified section of the daily newspapers. Most of the novels in the series involve Gees’ encounters with supernatural forces.
The novel opens with Gees traveling to the Scottish town of Brachmornalachan (try to say it three times without stuttering) to meet with Margaret Aylener. Ms. Aylener is the matriarch of a distinguished Scottish family on the banks of the local loch. She has heard about Gees and his abilities. And in need of his help because just down the road lives Gamel Macmorn, her sworn enemy. Macmorn is descended from foreign invaders, she claims, who settled Scotland in ancient times and enslaved the local populace. The invaders practiced human sacrifice and drew power from the shadows (souls) of their victims. His house,a stately mansion like hers, is situated at the center of a ring of monoliths. Inside his house is the original sacrificial stone use by the ancient kings. No one knows how old Macmorn really is, since he can regenerate himself by the use of evil magic at key times. As Aylener puts it, “He left one day and returned as his son”.
The only thing protecting the Aylener family from Macmorn are four tall rowan trees which surround her house. She also has loyal servants who know of Macmorn’s power. The last of the Ayleners is in the form of her neice Helen, who is engaged. But Macmorn has designs on Helen and her fiancee. He is slowly pulling them into his circle of power. And the time is drawing close to his need to regenerate.
Most of the book follows Gees and his attempt to find a way to stop Macmorn. At one point he directly confronts the genteel Macmorn in front of the latter’s mansion. When Macmorn realizes Gees is working for the other side, he suddenly turns savage and warns him to stay away. When threats don’t work, he attempts to solve the Gees problem by sending hs shadow forces against him.
Maker of Shadows builds to a cresndo as Gees and Helen’s fiance find themselves trapped in the Macmorn house. You’re never quite sure if Gees is going to be able to save the day, which makes for a gripping read. There’s enough obscure celtic mytholgoy employed in the book to send a chill up any spine. It’s easy to see why this book has endured.
And there is plenty of humor as well. The interplay between Gees and his secretary mirror much hardboiled PI fiction. There’s also an interlude where a London streetwalker is used in the battle between Gees and Macmorn to comic effect. It breaks the tension in the book and moves the plot along.
Once again, a big thank you to Ramble House for making this book available to the reading public.
Make of Shadows easily holds it’s place on the list. If nothing else, I would say it might rank a little higher. The novel manages to create a sense of cosmic dread only found in Lovecraft writings. It marries them with the best of the British rural detective yarns. “Gees” is the nickname for gentleman detective Gregory George Gordon Green, who markets himself as a professional problem solver in the classified section of the daily newspapers. Most of the novels in the series involve Gees’ encounters with supernatural forces.
The novel opens with Gees traveling to the Scottish town of Brachmornalachan (try to say it three times without stuttering) to meet with Margaret Aylener. Ms. Aylener is the matriarch of a distinguished Scottish family on the banks of the local loch. She has heard about Gees and his abilities. And in need of his help because just down the road lives Gamel Macmorn, her sworn enemy. Macmorn is descended from foreign invaders, she claims, who settled Scotland in ancient times and enslaved the local populace. The invaders practiced human sacrifice and drew power from the shadows (souls) of their victims. His house,a stately mansion like hers, is situated at the center of a ring of monoliths. Inside his house is the original sacrificial stone use by the ancient kings. No one knows how old Macmorn really is, since he can regenerate himself by the use of evil magic at key times. As Aylener puts it, “He left one day and returned as his son”.
The only thing protecting the Aylener family from Macmorn are four tall rowan trees which surround her house. She also has loyal servants who know of Macmorn’s power. The last of the Ayleners is in the form of her neice Helen, who is engaged. But Macmorn has designs on Helen and her fiancee. He is slowly pulling them into his circle of power. And the time is drawing close to his need to regenerate.
Most of the book follows Gees and his attempt to find a way to stop Macmorn. At one point he directly confronts the genteel Macmorn in front of the latter’s mansion. When Macmorn realizes Gees is working for the other side, he suddenly turns savage and warns him to stay away. When threats don’t work, he attempts to solve the Gees problem by sending hs shadow forces against him.
Maker of Shadows builds to a cresndo as Gees and Helen’s fiance find themselves trapped in the Macmorn house. You’re never quite sure if Gees is going to be able to save the day, which makes for a gripping read. There’s enough obscure celtic mytholgoy employed in the book to send a chill up any spine. It’s easy to see why this book has endured.
And there is plenty of humor as well. The interplay between Gees and his secretary mirror much hardboiled PI fiction. There’s also an interlude where a London streetwalker is used in the battle between Gees and Macmorn to comic effect. It breaks the tension in the book and moves the plot along.
Once again, a big thank you to Ramble House for making this book available to the reading public.
October 24, 2022
Gees è un detective privato che viene chiamato nel bel mezzo del nulla della Scozia, in una luogo dal nome impronunciabile di Brachmornalachan, in risposta alla richiesta di un'anziana nobile del posto. La nipote della donna, ignara di tutto, è minacciata da un oscuro negromante che vive sull'altro lato del loch, il quale la vuole per assorbirne la vitalità e trasformarla in un'ombra al suo servizio.
Le atmosfere del romanzo sono ottime, le nebbiose lande scozzesi, antichissime rovine, leggende che risalgono alla notte dei tempi, rituali sanguinosi, ombre in agguato nella nebbia.
Non voglio dire troppo togliendo così gusto per chi non ha ancora letto questo libro, ma se vi piace il weird, allora dovete leggerlo.
La lettura alterna fasi rocambolesche ad altre più difficili, la scrittura di Mann non è delle più semplici e molte cose sono lasciate al lettore, che deve arrivarci per conto suo. Per di più la traduzione qui credo che sia inciampata più volte. Ho trovato spesso frasi tradotte parola per parola, senza adattarle all'italiano, oltre a frasi poco comprensibili (magari erano modi di dire nel 1930, o frasi che in inglese hanno uno specifico significato?). Un vero peccato.
Ultima nota, questo libro rientra nella lista dei 13 migliori libri di horror soprannaturale stilata da Karl Edward Wagner. Fate un po' voi...
COSA MI È PIACIUTO
- Atmosfere molto cupe e nebbiose
- Personaggi caratterizzati bene
- La storia è in crescendo e con finale incerto
COSA NON MI È PIACIUTO
- Traduzione
- A volte un po' ostico nei retroscena
Le atmosfere del romanzo sono ottime, le nebbiose lande scozzesi, antichissime rovine, leggende che risalgono alla notte dei tempi, rituali sanguinosi, ombre in agguato nella nebbia.
Non voglio dire troppo togliendo così gusto per chi non ha ancora letto questo libro, ma se vi piace il weird, allora dovete leggerlo.
La lettura alterna fasi rocambolesche ad altre più difficili, la scrittura di Mann non è delle più semplici e molte cose sono lasciate al lettore, che deve arrivarci per conto suo. Per di più la traduzione qui credo che sia inciampata più volte. Ho trovato spesso frasi tradotte parola per parola, senza adattarle all'italiano, oltre a frasi poco comprensibili (magari erano modi di dire nel 1930, o frasi che in inglese hanno uno specifico significato?). Un vero peccato.
Ultima nota, questo libro rientra nella lista dei 13 migliori libri di horror soprannaturale stilata da Karl Edward Wagner. Fate un po' voi...
COSA MI È PIACIUTO
- Atmosfere molto cupe e nebbiose
- Personaggi caratterizzati bene
- La storia è in crescendo e con finale incerto
COSA NON MI È PIACIUTO
- Traduzione
- A volte un po' ostico nei retroscena
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews