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Unquiet Grove
UNQUIET GROVE is Egaeus Press's latest collection of strange, dark and uncategorisable stories dedicated to the theme of tree-lore, woods and forests. What ageless mysteries they nurture within their menacing simulacra, their restless shadows. At its very heart.
The book comprises a hefty 288 pages, with 12 previously unpublished stories by some of the today's finest authors of the dark and grotesque, with an introduction by Nina Antonia.
The full table of contents is as follows:
Trespassers Forsaken: An Introduction by Nina Antonia
Roots by Die Booth
The Secret Plantings At Bostock St Leonards by Colin Insole
Burnt Orchard by Charles Wilkinson
The Fell by Alys Hobbs
At The Roots by Stephen J Clark
Rock Hopping by Adam L G Nevill
Overgrowth by John Howard
The Clearing by Sue Harper
Hyldemoer by R Ostermeier
The Dark Ballet Of The Trees by Jonathan Wood
In The White May by Mat Joiner
Uhripuu by Tracy Fahey
Edited by Mark Beech
The book is a lithographically printed, 288 page hardback with colour endpapers; limited to just 330 copies.
The book comprises a hefty 288 pages, with 12 previously unpublished stories by some of the today's finest authors of the dark and grotesque, with an introduction by Nina Antonia.
The full table of contents is as follows:
Trespassers Forsaken: An Introduction by Nina Antonia
Roots by Die Booth
The Secret Plantings At Bostock St Leonards by Colin Insole
Burnt Orchard by Charles Wilkinson
The Fell by Alys Hobbs
At The Roots by Stephen J Clark
Rock Hopping by Adam L G Nevill
Overgrowth by John Howard
The Clearing by Sue Harper
Hyldemoer by R Ostermeier
The Dark Ballet Of The Trees by Jonathan Wood
In The White May by Mat Joiner
Uhripuu by Tracy Fahey
Edited by Mark Beech
The book is a lithographically printed, 288 page hardback with colour endpapers; limited to just 330 copies.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2023
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About the author
Mark Beech
19 books12 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 13, 2023
Various (Editor: Beech, Mark) - Unquiet Grove
Dark events set in the greenwood, well deep in the forests, far away from any footpath, let alone roadway. A world thronged with aged trees, whose perceptions of humans range from indifference to apprehension to hostility.
While out inspecting his estates, Mr Hopking died unexpectedly at age 47. He had been a talented, if eccentric, horticulturist. 150 years after his death, swathes of his grounds flourish still, resisting developers. In “The Secret Plantings Of Bostick St. Leonard” a descendant unwisely attempts to unravel bygone mysteries.
The city family relocates to the less hectic countryside. The new home, bought for a song, is in disrepair. Meantime, none of the locals will say why it is called “Burnt Orchard”. While wife and son succumb to the drowsy spell of the area, husband Nat resists and observes in growing anxiety.
A chance encounter with a doddering, semi-retired colleague, launches Dr. Suffling along a trail to modern paganism. “At The Roots” finds him drawn into a strange world of transmutation.
“The Dark Ballet Of The Trees” proves to be one of the bleakest works in this collection. An asylum for the mentally or emotionally damaged, run by a theatre impresario. Times are harsh, however, in what appears to be wartime Britain. Everything is impacted by the Blitz. Restrictions and money woes push several players into a corner, where anger and resentment inflames into rage.
A fateful encounter between one of the Fair and a young girl with a streak of witchery. ”In The White May”, both pocket something of an agenda. While neither outright lies – both withhold. A haunting tale that lingers long after the pages close.
“Uhripuu” journeys to the remote forest. Finland, buried under snow, where wilderness is being ravaged by a devastating fungus. Science, unable to reach a solution, invites a folklorist to listen to old tales, perhaps find a remedy in arcane legends. Another story of untrustworthy characters, hidden motives, with, perhaps, parallels to modern plagues – or ongoing pandemics.
Dark events set in the greenwood, well deep in the forests, far away from any footpath, let alone roadway. A world thronged with aged trees, whose perceptions of humans range from indifference to apprehension to hostility.
While out inspecting his estates, Mr Hopking died unexpectedly at age 47. He had been a talented, if eccentric, horticulturist. 150 years after his death, swathes of his grounds flourish still, resisting developers. In “The Secret Plantings Of Bostick St. Leonard” a descendant unwisely attempts to unravel bygone mysteries.
The city family relocates to the less hectic countryside. The new home, bought for a song, is in disrepair. Meantime, none of the locals will say why it is called “Burnt Orchard”. While wife and son succumb to the drowsy spell of the area, husband Nat resists and observes in growing anxiety.
A chance encounter with a doddering, semi-retired colleague, launches Dr. Suffling along a trail to modern paganism. “At The Roots” finds him drawn into a strange world of transmutation.
“The Dark Ballet Of The Trees” proves to be one of the bleakest works in this collection. An asylum for the mentally or emotionally damaged, run by a theatre impresario. Times are harsh, however, in what appears to be wartime Britain. Everything is impacted by the Blitz. Restrictions and money woes push several players into a corner, where anger and resentment inflames into rage.
A fateful encounter between one of the Fair and a young girl with a streak of witchery. ”In The White May”, both pocket something of an agenda. While neither outright lies – both withhold. A haunting tale that lingers long after the pages close.
“Uhripuu” journeys to the remote forest. Finland, buried under snow, where wilderness is being ravaged by a devastating fungus. Science, unable to reach a solution, invites a folklorist to listen to old tales, perhaps find a remedy in arcane legends. Another story of untrustworthy characters, hidden motives, with, perhaps, parallels to modern plagues – or ongoing pandemics.
October 9, 2023
I have been hesitant buying Egaeus Press publications, as the content has been surreal to the point of nonsense. Many of the collected stories have read like a sophomore finished La Fleurs Du Mal and decided to try his hand at dark literature.
However, Unquiet Grove may be my favorite collection of the year. As usual for Egaeus Press, the book itself is a work of art, a sensory pleasure. The collection of stories by Mark Beech (nope, unironically, a book of dark tree stories edited by a man named Beech) is spot-on, not a loser in the batch. The last two stories are top-notch, wonderfully dark, but somehow warm and comfortable, as if I am walking through our woods in autumn. I highly recommend this collection to any reader.
However, Unquiet Grove may be my favorite collection of the year. As usual for Egaeus Press, the book itself is a work of art, a sensory pleasure. The collection of stories by Mark Beech (nope, unironically, a book of dark tree stories edited by a man named Beech) is spot-on, not a loser in the batch. The last two stories are top-notch, wonderfully dark, but somehow warm and comfortable, as if I am walking through our woods in autumn. I highly recommend this collection to any reader.
October 7, 2023
When you enjoy a nice daytime stroll through the woods it's not the same experience as walking through those same woods at night. The trees react to people differently at night.
An entire anthology about the woods and the trees that they're made of.
All the stories are fantastic and I did have my favorites, but I won't single them out.
This edition is beautiful looking too.
An entire anthology about the woods and the trees that they're made of.
All the stories are fantastic and I did have my favorites, but I won't single them out.
This edition is beautiful looking too.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews