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The Ghost Club: Newly Found Tales of Victorian Terror
Writers never really die; their stories live on, to be found again, to be told again, to scare again.In Victorian London, a select group of writers, led by Arthur Conan Doyle, Bram Stoker and Henry James held an informal dining club, the price of entry to which was the telling of a story by each invited guest.These are their stories, containing tales of revenant loved ones, lost cities, weird science, spectral appearances and mysteries in the fog of the old city, all told by some of the foremost writers of the day. In here you'll find Verne and Wells, Tolstoy and Checkov, Stevenson and Oliphant, Kipling, Twain, Haggard and Blavatsky alongside their hosts.Come, join us for dinner and a Robert Louis Stevenson - Wee Davie Makes a FriendRudyard Kipling - The High BungalowLeo Tolstoy - The Immortal MemoryBram Stoker - The House of the DeadMark Twain - Once a JackassHerbert George Wells - FarsideMargaret Oliphant - To the Manor BornOscar Wilde - The Angry GhostHenry Rider Haggard - The Black ZigguratHelena P Blavatsky - Born of EtherHenry James - The Scrimshaw SetAnton Checkov - At the Molenzki JunctionJules Verne - To the Moon and BeyondArthur Conan Doyle - The Curious Affair on the EmbankmentThis collection of scary short stories is proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
Interview with the So what makes this short story collection so special? I love the idea that all these famous writers knew each other, and met for a meal, a drink, a smoke and some storytelling in an old London club / bar setting. It chimes almost exactly with my own idea of a good time. It's special to me in that it's a culmination of the past half dozen or so years of writing. Before this collection there were the Carnacki stories, the Holmes stories, the Challenger stories, and the collaborations with M Wayne Miller in numerous deluxe hardcovers. THE GHOST CLUB feels like an endpiece to all of that, a last celebration of everything I love about the era and the storytellers. Plus it's the most ambitious piece of work I've undertaken in my writing so far, the cause of much worrying and fretting on my part, so seeing the lovely blurbs and comments from writers I have long admired makes it extra special to me.Why should horror fans give Victorian Terror a try? It's where we come from. The Victorian era storytelling tradition was the launching point for horror, and also for crime fiction, for science fiction, for fantasy and for much of how we see the world today. It gave us Sherlock Holmes, Dr Jeckyll, Dracula, the Invisible Man, Captain Nemo, and all manner of ghosts, spooks and spectres that still fill our entertainment of choice today. It's my way of paying homage to that tradition. This is who I am.How did you choose which authors to use in this book? Initially all I knew was that Doyle and Stoker were founder members of the club in London. Then I found out that Henry James was in London at the same time as them and it started to come together. The cut off point is the early 1890s, which I picked to get the maximum number of writers available, and alive, and able to visit London, at the same time.
Interview with the So what makes this short story collection so special? I love the idea that all these famous writers knew each other, and met for a meal, a drink, a smoke and some storytelling in an old London club / bar setting. It chimes almost exactly with my own idea of a good time. It's special to me in that it's a culmination of the past half dozen or so years of writing. Before this collection there were the Carnacki stories, the Holmes stories, the Challenger stories, and the collaborations with M Wayne Miller in numerous deluxe hardcovers. THE GHOST CLUB feels like an endpiece to all of that, a last celebration of everything I love about the era and the storytellers. Plus it's the most ambitious piece of work I've undertaken in my writing so far, the cause of much worrying and fretting on my part, so seeing the lovely blurbs and comments from writers I have long admired makes it extra special to me.Why should horror fans give Victorian Terror a try? It's where we come from. The Victorian era storytelling tradition was the launching point for horror, and also for crime fiction, for science fiction, for fantasy and for much of how we see the world today. It gave us Sherlock Holmes, Dr Jeckyll, Dracula, the Invisible Man, Captain Nemo, and all manner of ghosts, spooks and spectres that still fill our entertainment of choice today. It's my way of paying homage to that tradition. This is who I am.How did you choose which authors to use in this book? Initially all I knew was that Doyle and Stoker were founder members of the club in London. Then I found out that Henry James was in London at the same time as them and it started to come together. The cut off point is the early 1890s, which I picked to get the maximum number of writers available, and alive, and able to visit London, at the same time.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2017
79 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
William Meikle
407 books1,849 followersI'm a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with more than thirty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries.
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
My work has appeared in a number of professional anthologies and I have recent short story sales to NATURE Futures and Galaxy's Edge. When I'm not writing I play guitar, drink beer and dream of fortune and glory.
For an intro to me, my writing and my accent see my Youtube channel
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December 13, 2017
Picture the scene: Victorian London. A smoky club. A group of literary icons. The price to join this group? A story of the supernatural.
The scene is now set. Imagine the tales these writers of old would share. Stoker, Dickens, Wells, James, and Stevenson, among others. What price would you pay to sit at that table? Unfortunately, the opportunity to sit there in person is gone, but thanks to William Meikle, you CAN now be privy to these stories and anything else these authors have to say. The entrance fee for you? Quite reasonable!
The standout tales for me were:
WEE DAVIE MAKES A FRIEND (in the style of) Robert Louis Stevenson. This was the first story and my favorite of the collection. Young Davie is an unwell boy and is often bedridden. The gift of a new toy changes his life.
ONCE A JACKASS (in the style of) Mark Twain. A Mississippi steamship captain makes a terrible mistake and unfortunately, all of the passengers and crew pay the price.
THE SCRIMSHAW SET (in the style of Henry James) I adored this tale of a haunted (?) chess set. This was my second favorite tale in this collection and I've just read that the author is planning to write more about this set in the future. I can't wait!
TO THE MOON AND BEYOND (in the style of Jules Verne) A super cool story about a man, his rocket and a trip to the moon. What was found there and what did he bring back with him? You'll have to read this to find out!
BORN OF ETHER (in the style of Helena Blavatsky) A man embarks upon a supernatural journey to freedom.
I was not familiar with a few of the authors here, Helena Blavatsky included, but I think the author did a stellar job of emulating their writing styles. These tales were entertaining, well written and I loved the framework within which they were presented.
For these reasons, I highly recommend this gem of a collection!
You can get your copy here, (your price of admission, rather than a story): The Ghost Club: Newly Found Tales of Victorian Terror
*Thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing and the author for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it!*
The scene is now set. Imagine the tales these writers of old would share. Stoker, Dickens, Wells, James, and Stevenson, among others. What price would you pay to sit at that table? Unfortunately, the opportunity to sit there in person is gone, but thanks to William Meikle, you CAN now be privy to these stories and anything else these authors have to say. The entrance fee for you? Quite reasonable!
The standout tales for me were:
WEE DAVIE MAKES A FRIEND (in the style of) Robert Louis Stevenson. This was the first story and my favorite of the collection. Young Davie is an unwell boy and is often bedridden. The gift of a new toy changes his life.
ONCE A JACKASS (in the style of) Mark Twain. A Mississippi steamship captain makes a terrible mistake and unfortunately, all of the passengers and crew pay the price.
THE SCRIMSHAW SET (in the style of Henry James) I adored this tale of a haunted (?) chess set. This was my second favorite tale in this collection and I've just read that the author is planning to write more about this set in the future. I can't wait!
TO THE MOON AND BEYOND (in the style of Jules Verne) A super cool story about a man, his rocket and a trip to the moon. What was found there and what did he bring back with him? You'll have to read this to find out!
BORN OF ETHER (in the style of Helena Blavatsky) A man embarks upon a supernatural journey to freedom.
I was not familiar with a few of the authors here, Helena Blavatsky included, but I think the author did a stellar job of emulating their writing styles. These tales were entertaining, well written and I loved the framework within which they were presented.
For these reasons, I highly recommend this gem of a collection!
You can get your copy here, (your price of admission, rather than a story): The Ghost Club: Newly Found Tales of Victorian Terror
*Thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing and the author for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it!*
December 10, 2017
The Ghost Club: an informal gathering of the literary icons of the Victorian Age. The price of admission...a dark tale told by each member.
William Meikle has not only offered up 14 lost tales by this illustrious group, he has done something that raises him to a "Victorian Voice" in his own right, and surely an honorary member welcome to his place with them. No author has the talent to give voice to the dearly departed quite like Mr.Meikle. The man has a full blown author seance in his head. He even gave me pause with authors I consider myself wholly familiar with.
THE GHOST CLUB more than earns it's place next to the classics on any horror purist's book shelf, William Meikle has earned a place with the authors of those classics.
A magnificent collection of dark delights.
Highest possible recommendation.
Many thanks to the fine folks at Crystal Lake Publishing for the chance to read and review the e-arc. You've all outdone yourselves.
William Meikle has not only offered up 14 lost tales by this illustrious group, he has done something that raises him to a "Victorian Voice" in his own right, and surely an honorary member welcome to his place with them. No author has the talent to give voice to the dearly departed quite like Mr.Meikle. The man has a full blown author seance in his head. He even gave me pause with authors I consider myself wholly familiar with.
THE GHOST CLUB more than earns it's place next to the classics on any horror purist's book shelf, William Meikle has earned a place with the authors of those classics.
A magnificent collection of dark delights.
Highest possible recommendation.
Many thanks to the fine folks at Crystal Lake Publishing for the chance to read and review the e-arc. You've all outdone yourselves.
December 8, 2017
Review: THE GHOST CLUB By William Meilkle
Subtitled "Newly Found Tales of Victorian Terror," this collection will delight fans of subtle horror, aficionados of literary horror, and readers who long for the days of the exceptional storytellers of the lost Victorian Era. Authors such as H. G. Wells, Kipling, and Twain held literary audiences spellbound. Round table storytelling also excelled, in which authors read or recited their own compositions. Similar gatherings constituted collections such as William Hope Hodgson' s excellent Carnacki tales (a character Mr. Meikle has also expanded). Here are fourteen "new" tales "newly" come to light, as by fourteen well-known, revered, authors of the Victorian period. Scare yourself silly, enjoy how each story suits itself to its author personage, and acclaim the gifted William Meikle, whose talents brought us these tales.
Subtitled "Newly Found Tales of Victorian Terror," this collection will delight fans of subtle horror, aficionados of literary horror, and readers who long for the days of the exceptional storytellers of the lost Victorian Era. Authors such as H. G. Wells, Kipling, and Twain held literary audiences spellbound. Round table storytelling also excelled, in which authors read or recited their own compositions. Similar gatherings constituted collections such as William Hope Hodgson' s excellent Carnacki tales (a character Mr. Meikle has also expanded). Here are fourteen "new" tales "newly" come to light, as by fourteen well-known, revered, authors of the Victorian period. Scare yourself silly, enjoy how each story suits itself to its author personage, and acclaim the gifted William Meikle, whose talents brought us these tales.
December 11, 2017
Once thing that needs to be made clear before I delve into my thoughts on the stories - the only authors represented in this collection which I've read are Mark Twain, Jules Verne and Robert Louis Stevenson, and those when I was still in grade school. So I won't be looking at this collection as a comparison to the styles of the authors. :) I can hear some of you reacting incredulously - put it this way: I went from Enid Blyton and Franklin W Dixon to Stephen King; that should explain it. ;)
The premise of this collection is simple and yet so damned cool - a long-forgotten trove of literary treasures is found, featuring tales of a supernatural nature from many of literature's greatest lights.
First up, Robert Louis Stevenson's Wee Davie Makes a Friend:
The tale is sparsely told, almost as if it was written with a holding back of emotions -suitable to the time, I suppose; I haven't read enough to be able to have a proper opinion- but this kind of telling makes the story have an even stronger emotional impact. It is melancholic and yet some events shine with exuberance and joy, while spiced with just enough strangeness to leave the reader wondering if the events related really occurred... It's an excellent tale and a suitably engaging story to open the anthology with.
The High Bungalow by Rudyard Kipling is a chilly, creepy tale which would have sent me packing from the location it takes place in. It's also an oddly captivating look at obsession, and the kinds of things we leave behind when ensnared. I loved how the story begins layering aspects of dread and fear with the descriptions of myriad sounds, and how that creepiness builds.
The Immortal Memory by Leo Tolstoy has an almost tragically comic edge to it (the kind of edge which cuts without pain, but is only noticed much later) as the main character struggles to do what has been asked of him, and becomes an endearing ghost story which also manages to paint a vivid picture of its location (guess) and supporting characters. The end is where the cut is felt - not really a twist, but a revelation of sorts which is further affected by the sadness connected to it.
In the House of the Dead by Bram Stoker was an excellent character- and grief-study, while also giving the reader a glimpse of a place (and choice) which many of us would choose to visit and make. We are all the main character, simply trying to help a friend and being drawn in despite our misgivings. It's serves as both a lesson and an exploration of where grief can take someone.
Once a Jackass by Mark Twain reads like it would make an awesome movie if directed by Guy Richie. It has flavours of humour and brutality and pulls the reader along into an unavoidable spiral - really good stuff!
Farside by H.G. Wells was damned entertaining - I've never encountered the equipment one of the characters uses to reach out to places beyond the real, and the tale managed to balance the technical details of this equipment with what it could do as well as giving us characters to embody the reactions and fears we would probably have. Really interesting and captivating tale.
To the Manor Born by Margaret Oliphant is an achingly sad tale of exploration and loss, one which also shows that loss and grief can be soothed even if the circumstances are beyond what people would call normal. It maintains a captivating balance between exposition and plot, and the characters are wonderfully real.
The Angry Ghost by Oscar Wilde is the only tale of the lot I struggle to identify with - the building of the mystery was expertly handled but I found myself a bit let down by the resolution, and the characters didn't 'speak' to me as much as I would have liked. Granted, I've never read Wilde, so that might be why the tale didn't hit all my spots.
The Black Ziggurat by Henry Rider Haggard was a tale which echoed with weary determination and wonder; the journey into the mystery was atmospheric and intriguing, led by Henry, which gave the story a personal, emotional touch, and I really felt that I was witness to the passing of something wonderful and beautiful. Great tale!
Born of Ether by Helena B. Blavatsky is, for me, the most hard-hitting tale - it explores the pursuit of knowledge and self, and leads the main character down an unexpected path. This tale will stay with me for years.
The Scrimshaw Set by Henry James is a stand-out tale because it focuses on one of the coolest haunted objects I've ever read about - the description of the object, the effect is has on both places and people, and the origin of the haunting are utterly original and captivating. Seriously good tale!
At the Molenzki Junction by Anton Chekov was another tale that, while well-written and offering a glimpse at a beautiful, hidden world, didn't connect with me as much as I'd hoped it would. The tale plays out in the depths of a Russian winter and shows what happens to a vodka-lover when he braves the snow; he meets with wolves, and the beautiful mystery hidden by the snow. As I said, well told, but I couldn't connect.
To the Moon and Beyond by Jules Verne was absolutely kickass - the perfect melding of SF and Horror, with a cool touch of the metaphysical. Since I've read Verne, I can say that this felt as if it had been written by him; the tale also showcased a great exploration of the tech of the time and also explored a bit of the role the media would have in an event such as what takes place in the story. Really memorable and exciting tale. :)
The Curious Affair on the Embankment by Arthur Conan Doyle seems like the perfect tale which Hammer Films never got to make - it's old-school, takes the reader on an interesting investigation (as one would expect from Doyle) led by a character who hardly ever gets the spotlight (and who turns out to be a really great lead), and shows a side of the world these characters inhabit which is entertaining as the world of strange, clever crimes they usually find themselves in.
William Meikle has outdone many authors who have tried their hand at doing something similar - the tales have the feel and texture of their time, including speech mannerisms, equipment, architecture, and much more. There's a sense of immersion in these tales which makes it feel as if the stories occur in the same world, almost side by side, instead of being told by the writer while sitting at a table with his or her peers.
The cover art and design are perfectly suited to the stories, so kudos to Ben Baldwin once again. :)
All in all, a massively entertaining and memorable collection by William - and another winner from Crystal Lake Publishing!
The premise of this collection is simple and yet so damned cool - a long-forgotten trove of literary treasures is found, featuring tales of a supernatural nature from many of literature's greatest lights.
First up, Robert Louis Stevenson's Wee Davie Makes a Friend:
The tale is sparsely told, almost as if it was written with a holding back of emotions -suitable to the time, I suppose; I haven't read enough to be able to have a proper opinion- but this kind of telling makes the story have an even stronger emotional impact. It is melancholic and yet some events shine with exuberance and joy, while spiced with just enough strangeness to leave the reader wondering if the events related really occurred... It's an excellent tale and a suitably engaging story to open the anthology with.
The High Bungalow by Rudyard Kipling is a chilly, creepy tale which would have sent me packing from the location it takes place in. It's also an oddly captivating look at obsession, and the kinds of things we leave behind when ensnared. I loved how the story begins layering aspects of dread and fear with the descriptions of myriad sounds, and how that creepiness builds.
The Immortal Memory by Leo Tolstoy has an almost tragically comic edge to it (the kind of edge which cuts without pain, but is only noticed much later) as the main character struggles to do what has been asked of him, and becomes an endearing ghost story which also manages to paint a vivid picture of its location (guess) and supporting characters. The end is where the cut is felt - not really a twist, but a revelation of sorts which is further affected by the sadness connected to it.
In the House of the Dead by Bram Stoker was an excellent character- and grief-study, while also giving the reader a glimpse of a place (and choice) which many of us would choose to visit and make. We are all the main character, simply trying to help a friend and being drawn in despite our misgivings. It's serves as both a lesson and an exploration of where grief can take someone.
Once a Jackass by Mark Twain reads like it would make an awesome movie if directed by Guy Richie. It has flavours of humour and brutality and pulls the reader along into an unavoidable spiral - really good stuff!
Farside by H.G. Wells was damned entertaining - I've never encountered the equipment one of the characters uses to reach out to places beyond the real, and the tale managed to balance the technical details of this equipment with what it could do as well as giving us characters to embody the reactions and fears we would probably have. Really interesting and captivating tale.
To the Manor Born by Margaret Oliphant is an achingly sad tale of exploration and loss, one which also shows that loss and grief can be soothed even if the circumstances are beyond what people would call normal. It maintains a captivating balance between exposition and plot, and the characters are wonderfully real.
The Angry Ghost by Oscar Wilde is the only tale of the lot I struggle to identify with - the building of the mystery was expertly handled but I found myself a bit let down by the resolution, and the characters didn't 'speak' to me as much as I would have liked. Granted, I've never read Wilde, so that might be why the tale didn't hit all my spots.
The Black Ziggurat by Henry Rider Haggard was a tale which echoed with weary determination and wonder; the journey into the mystery was atmospheric and intriguing, led by Henry, which gave the story a personal, emotional touch, and I really felt that I was witness to the passing of something wonderful and beautiful. Great tale!
Born of Ether by Helena B. Blavatsky is, for me, the most hard-hitting tale - it explores the pursuit of knowledge and self, and leads the main character down an unexpected path. This tale will stay with me for years.
The Scrimshaw Set by Henry James is a stand-out tale because it focuses on one of the coolest haunted objects I've ever read about - the description of the object, the effect is has on both places and people, and the origin of the haunting are utterly original and captivating. Seriously good tale!
At the Molenzki Junction by Anton Chekov was another tale that, while well-written and offering a glimpse at a beautiful, hidden world, didn't connect with me as much as I'd hoped it would. The tale plays out in the depths of a Russian winter and shows what happens to a vodka-lover when he braves the snow; he meets with wolves, and the beautiful mystery hidden by the snow. As I said, well told, but I couldn't connect.
To the Moon and Beyond by Jules Verne was absolutely kickass - the perfect melding of SF and Horror, with a cool touch of the metaphysical. Since I've read Verne, I can say that this felt as if it had been written by him; the tale also showcased a great exploration of the tech of the time and also explored a bit of the role the media would have in an event such as what takes place in the story. Really memorable and exciting tale. :)
The Curious Affair on the Embankment by Arthur Conan Doyle seems like the perfect tale which Hammer Films never got to make - it's old-school, takes the reader on an interesting investigation (as one would expect from Doyle) led by a character who hardly ever gets the spotlight (and who turns out to be a really great lead), and shows a side of the world these characters inhabit which is entertaining as the world of strange, clever crimes they usually find themselves in.
William Meikle has outdone many authors who have tried their hand at doing something similar - the tales have the feel and texture of their time, including speech mannerisms, equipment, architecture, and much more. There's a sense of immersion in these tales which makes it feel as if the stories occur in the same world, almost side by side, instead of being told by the writer while sitting at a table with his or her peers.
The cover art and design are perfectly suited to the stories, so kudos to Ben Baldwin once again. :)
All in all, a massively entertaining and memorable collection by William - and another winner from Crystal Lake Publishing!
November 29, 2017
The ghost club: newly found tales of Victorian terror
William Meikle
The ghost club is about a group of authors having an informal dinner party but in order to be admitted they have to submit a story.
Containing the following tales
Robert Louis Stevenson - Wee Davie Makes a Friend
Rudyard Kipling - The High Bungalow
Leo Tolstoy - The Immortal Memory
Bram Stoker - The House of the Dead
Mark Twain - Once a Jackass
Herbert George Wells - Farside
Margaret Oliphant - To the Manor Born
Oscar Wilde - The Angry Ghost
Henry Rider Haggard - The Black Ziggurat
Helena P Blavatsky - Born of Ether
Henry James - The Scrimshaw Set
Anton Checkov - At the Molenzki Junction
Jules Verne - To the Moon and Beyond
Arthur Conan Doyle - The Curious Affair on the Embankment
This is a highly enjoyable anthology and William Meikle has done a fantastic job of writing these tales in the style of the original authors. All are good but the real gems to me were Wee Davis makes a friend, to the manor born and to the moon and back.
I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
William Meikle
The ghost club is about a group of authors having an informal dinner party but in order to be admitted they have to submit a story.
Containing the following tales
Robert Louis Stevenson - Wee Davie Makes a Friend
Rudyard Kipling - The High Bungalow
Leo Tolstoy - The Immortal Memory
Bram Stoker - The House of the Dead
Mark Twain - Once a Jackass
Herbert George Wells - Farside
Margaret Oliphant - To the Manor Born
Oscar Wilde - The Angry Ghost
Henry Rider Haggard - The Black Ziggurat
Helena P Blavatsky - Born of Ether
Henry James - The Scrimshaw Set
Anton Checkov - At the Molenzki Junction
Jules Verne - To the Moon and Beyond
Arthur Conan Doyle - The Curious Affair on the Embankment
This is a highly enjoyable anthology and William Meikle has done a fantastic job of writing these tales in the style of the original authors. All are good but the real gems to me were Wee Davis makes a friend, to the manor born and to the moon and back.
I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2017
If you enjoy the older ghost stories,the ones that started our love of things that go bump in the night, read this collection.
Perfect for these long winter nights, these stories refresh our memories and add a modern twist.
Great book
Perfect for these long winter nights, these stories refresh our memories and add a modern twist.
Great book
December 11, 2017
To take on the persona of one classic horror writer is daring enough, but to take on fourteen of the best known -and loved - names in Victorian fiction is an unparalleled feat. I approached this collection of stories with more than a little trepidation. I know Meikle is an accomplished author himself but to be able to successfully pull this one off is a pretty tall order for anyone.
As I turned the pages, I became absorbed into Meikle's authentic Victorian world. This Ghost Club should have existed. Henry James, Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle shóuld have been at the heart of it. The whole collection is so credible. If the film world can have 'found footage', then surely The Ghost Club counts as 'found literature'. One of my favourites was the Oscar Wilde contribution - The Angry Ghost. It put me in mind of the great man's Cantervillle Ghost, without any attempt at plagiarism. It was the light touch, the pithy dialogue and the witty ending. Superb.
This is a book to curl up with on a winter's evening, in front of a roaring fire, with the crackling of logs and the steady deep tick...tock of a grandfather clock complementing the warm amber glow of oil lamps, while outside a storm rages, the wind howls and rain rattles the windows.
A triumph.
As I turned the pages, I became absorbed into Meikle's authentic Victorian world. This Ghost Club should have existed. Henry James, Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle shóuld have been at the heart of it. The whole collection is so credible. If the film world can have 'found footage', then surely The Ghost Club counts as 'found literature'. One of my favourites was the Oscar Wilde contribution - The Angry Ghost. It put me in mind of the great man's Cantervillle Ghost, without any attempt at plagiarism. It was the light touch, the pithy dialogue and the witty ending. Superb.
This is a book to curl up with on a winter's evening, in front of a roaring fire, with the crackling of logs and the steady deep tick...tock of a grandfather clock complementing the warm amber glow of oil lamps, while outside a storm rages, the wind howls and rain rattles the windows.
A triumph.
December 2, 2017
Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In The Ghost Club, William Meikle does something quite audacious. He presents a collection of ghostly short stories attributed to several Victorian authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Anton Chekhov, Helena P. Blavatsky, and Henry James. Some of the hauntings in this collection are subtle, while others have high body counts.
"The High Bungalow by Rudyard Kipling" makes allusions to Freemasonry just like the real life Rudyard Kipling did in his stories. "The Immortal Memory by Leo Tolstoy" takes place in Russia as you'd expect and even features Catherine the Great as a character.
"In the House of the Dead by Bram Stoker" is written in the form of journal entries and letters much like Dracula was. I liked some of the old fashioned turns of phrase such as "twelve to the dozen" and "sure as eggs are eggs." In fact, the language throughout this collection feels authentically Victorian.
"Once a Jackass by Mark Twain" is the funniest story in this collection featuring some great lines such as "I shook his hand - and that is rather too grand a word for the limp, cold thing I felt in my palm". Also, we are told a passenger on the steamboat "farted as much as he spoke with much the same result at each end". These are lines that quite plausibly could come from Twain. "The Angry Ghost by Oscar Wilde" is another funny story in which our ten-year-old protagonist is more annoyed by the ghost than frightened by it.
I quite liked "Farside by Herbert George Wells" in which an inventor creates a device that can view people's auras. In "To the Manor Born by Margaret Oliphant", reaching out to touch a ghost feels like plunging your fingers into ice, and your hand remains cold long afterward. I also liked that tears turn to ice when you're in the presence of a ghost. There's some great images in this story.
"The Black Ziggurat by Henry Rider Haggard" is about a man encountering an ancient civilization in Africa. I particularly liked this line: "I felt that my place in the greater scheme of things might just amount to more than a mere speck of dust at the mercy of the wind."
In "To the Moon and Beyond by Jules Verne" an inventor is about to launch a rocket when we get this delightfully Victorian turn of phrase: "The lady moon looked down on the park, as if wondering what manner of assault was being considered on her virtue." Although this story did contain one line that brought me out of the Victorian time period as it reminded me of Beatles lyrics: "I am her and she is me and we are together."
The collection ends with a story "by" Arthur Conan Doyle, who also writes a brief introduction to each of the other stories in the collection. In "The Curious Affair on the Embankment", Inspector Lestrade solves a case without the help of Sherlock Holmes for once and, in keeping with the theme of this collection, the case turns out to be supernatural.
I didn't care for every story in this collection, but overall, the stories were fantastic and did feel like authentic Victorian ghost stories. I'm not enough of an expert in Victorian literature to say if Meikle successfully impersonated all of the individual writers or not, but there are certainly a lot of great authentic-sounding lines throughout.
In The Ghost Club, William Meikle does something quite audacious. He presents a collection of ghostly short stories attributed to several Victorian authors such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Anton Chekhov, Helena P. Blavatsky, and Henry James. Some of the hauntings in this collection are subtle, while others have high body counts.
"The High Bungalow by Rudyard Kipling" makes allusions to Freemasonry just like the real life Rudyard Kipling did in his stories. "The Immortal Memory by Leo Tolstoy" takes place in Russia as you'd expect and even features Catherine the Great as a character.
"In the House of the Dead by Bram Stoker" is written in the form of journal entries and letters much like Dracula was. I liked some of the old fashioned turns of phrase such as "twelve to the dozen" and "sure as eggs are eggs." In fact, the language throughout this collection feels authentically Victorian.
"Once a Jackass by Mark Twain" is the funniest story in this collection featuring some great lines such as "I shook his hand - and that is rather too grand a word for the limp, cold thing I felt in my palm". Also, we are told a passenger on the steamboat "farted as much as he spoke with much the same result at each end". These are lines that quite plausibly could come from Twain. "The Angry Ghost by Oscar Wilde" is another funny story in which our ten-year-old protagonist is more annoyed by the ghost than frightened by it.
I quite liked "Farside by Herbert George Wells" in which an inventor creates a device that can view people's auras. In "To the Manor Born by Margaret Oliphant", reaching out to touch a ghost feels like plunging your fingers into ice, and your hand remains cold long afterward. I also liked that tears turn to ice when you're in the presence of a ghost. There's some great images in this story.
"The Black Ziggurat by Henry Rider Haggard" is about a man encountering an ancient civilization in Africa. I particularly liked this line: "I felt that my place in the greater scheme of things might just amount to more than a mere speck of dust at the mercy of the wind."
In "To the Moon and Beyond by Jules Verne" an inventor is about to launch a rocket when we get this delightfully Victorian turn of phrase: "The lady moon looked down on the park, as if wondering what manner of assault was being considered on her virtue." Although this story did contain one line that brought me out of the Victorian time period as it reminded me of Beatles lyrics: "I am her and she is me and we are together."
The collection ends with a story "by" Arthur Conan Doyle, who also writes a brief introduction to each of the other stories in the collection. In "The Curious Affair on the Embankment", Inspector Lestrade solves a case without the help of Sherlock Holmes for once and, in keeping with the theme of this collection, the case turns out to be supernatural.
I didn't care for every story in this collection, but overall, the stories were fantastic and did feel like authentic Victorian ghost stories. I'm not enough of an expert in Victorian literature to say if Meikle successfully impersonated all of the individual writers or not, but there are certainly a lot of great authentic-sounding lines throughout.
April 7, 2018
MY INTERVIEW WITH WILLIAM MEIKLE HERE!
A virtuosic and audacious literary experiment. Meikle writes in the style of various Victorian authors—he takes on Tolstoy!—through a collection of faux-found tales.
Very much a love letter to the authors included. It's as if Meikle asks the reader to imagine and pay respect to the ghosts of all those readers back then, indulging in fantastical afternoons imagining all kinds of delights and horrors.
The concept itself also raises questions about appropriation, authorship and the very purpose of literature across time, much like Borges' story, "Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote" , wherein a 20-th century author "recreates" Cervantes' novel, Don Quixote.
What do we look for when we read literature now compared to a hundred-plus years ago? Can these stories be brought back to life? What is it literature does now that it didn't then and what do we want from it in general? How did authors in the past succeed or fail and to what extent did those successes or failures have to do with the time period in which they were written? When does influence become appropriation? To what extent are these Meikle stories? How are we, to date, more or less sophisticated than Victorian readers?
Oscar Wilde and HG Wells are my favourite authors recreated, their authorial archness and intellectual whimsy pitch perfect. Some stories I muddled through because I tend to muddle through the author mimicked—and in that respect the collection gets 5* for authenticity!
There is joy in the idea that classic tales still provide thrills and yet something haunting about that timelessness. For this reason I felt a sense of meta-dread reading this overall collection.
Anyway, this is the kind of one-off pyrotechnic literary display that only a master storyteller could pull off. So do check it out!
A virtuosic and audacious literary experiment. Meikle writes in the style of various Victorian authors—he takes on Tolstoy!—through a collection of faux-found tales.
Very much a love letter to the authors included. It's as if Meikle asks the reader to imagine and pay respect to the ghosts of all those readers back then, indulging in fantastical afternoons imagining all kinds of delights and horrors.
The concept itself also raises questions about appropriation, authorship and the very purpose of literature across time, much like Borges' story, "Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote" , wherein a 20-th century author "recreates" Cervantes' novel, Don Quixote.
What do we look for when we read literature now compared to a hundred-plus years ago? Can these stories be brought back to life? What is it literature does now that it didn't then and what do we want from it in general? How did authors in the past succeed or fail and to what extent did those successes or failures have to do with the time period in which they were written? When does influence become appropriation? To what extent are these Meikle stories? How are we, to date, more or less sophisticated than Victorian readers?
Oscar Wilde and HG Wells are my favourite authors recreated, their authorial archness and intellectual whimsy pitch perfect. Some stories I muddled through because I tend to muddle through the author mimicked—and in that respect the collection gets 5* for authenticity!
There is joy in the idea that classic tales still provide thrills and yet something haunting about that timelessness. For this reason I felt a sense of meta-dread reading this overall collection.
Anyway, this is the kind of one-off pyrotechnic literary display that only a master storyteller could pull off. So do check it out!
January 10, 2018
Review Copy
I love everything about this wonderful collection from Willie Meikle. Take the concept of Willie's Carnacki collections and replace the dinner guests with literary greats of the Victorian era, each sharing a ghost story, and you have the premise for this new work from William Meikle.
Don't get confused, these are not newly discovered works by these authors. All fourteen stories are written by Meikle writing as these legendary authors.
Wee Davie Makes a Friend by Robert Lewis Stevenson - A wonderfully entertaining story to start the collection. Tragic in many ways, but great none the less.
The High Bungalow by Rudyard Kipling - Another cool tale. This one about a haunted Masonic lodge.
The Immortal Memory by Leo Tolstoy - When Empress Yekaterina Alexeyevna calls Captain John Marsh to an audience at court and commands him to find a Scotsman who is able to recite the works of the Scottish poet Robert Burns in Russian and present him at a party that very night. The events that follow are decidedly unexpected.
In the House of the Dead by Bram Stoker - Reminiscent of one of Meikle's Carnacki stories. If you lost the love of your life, to what lengths would you go to be with her again.
Once a Jackass by Mark Twain - I've long been a fan of Mark Twain and here Meikle has really captured the essence of a Mark Twain tale. Set upon the majestic Mississippi River, this is one of my favorite stories in the collection.
Farside by Herbert George Wells - This entry could have easily been in one of the author's Carnacki collections. The story of a man named Hoskin's who has invited a number of friends to dinner to display his latest invention which has a curious side effect.
To the Manor Born by Margaret Oliphant - It was hard to grow up in a small town in Scotland and not hear at least one, if not a handful, of tales of kin who came back, of lost loves pining in the afterlife, of fishermen coming home for one last kiss. Her childhood had been full of such tales, most of them more capable of frightening her than this sad, disembodied, song.
The Angry Ghost by Oscar Wilde - An absolutely delightful story with a cute kicker.
The Black Ziggurat by Henry Rider Haggard - Another impressive and imaginable tale. This one set in Kenya.
Born of Ether by Helena P. Blavatsky - An odd yet enjoyable ghostly tale from Meikle's telling of a story in the style of an author I am totally unfamiliar with.
The Scrimshaw Set by Henry James - So cool. An exquisitely told tale of a haunted chess set. One of my favorite stories in a book full of such work.
At the Molenzki Junction by Anton Checkov - A Winter quest for vodka encounters both wolves and a ghostly presence.
To the Moon and Beyond by Jules Verne - A wonderful opening line..."To the Moon and Beyond Jules Verne Ever since man first looked up at the night sky, he has wondered about the moon, that great white lady who circles us constantly, like a predator circling its prey, merely waiting for a weakness so that it may pounce." Once again Meikle manages to capture the style and feel of the author he writes as in this standout tale.
The Curious Affair On the Embankment by Arthur Conan Doyle - Surprisingly this is NOT a Sherlock Holmes story, although it takes place in that same world. Here Scotland Yard's Detective Lestrade solves a mystery involving the disappearance of a number of successful young women.
There are a number of solid reasons to add The Ghost Club to your reading list. For example, you love a good ghost story, or maybe you've read and enjoyed Meikle's Carnacki tales, or perhaps you're a fan of Victorian terror, or maybe you just enjoy a good read. Whatever your reason, happy reading.
The Ghost Club: Newly Found Tales of Victorian Terror is currently available in both Kindle and paperback formats from Crystal Lake Publishing. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Willie Meikle is a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with over twenty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries. Willie currently lives in Newfoundland with whales, bald eagles, and icebergs for company and when he's not writing he drinks beer, plays guitar and dreams of fortune and glory.
I love everything about this wonderful collection from Willie Meikle. Take the concept of Willie's Carnacki collections and replace the dinner guests with literary greats of the Victorian era, each sharing a ghost story, and you have the premise for this new work from William Meikle.
Don't get confused, these are not newly discovered works by these authors. All fourteen stories are written by Meikle writing as these legendary authors.
Wee Davie Makes a Friend by Robert Lewis Stevenson - A wonderfully entertaining story to start the collection. Tragic in many ways, but great none the less.
The High Bungalow by Rudyard Kipling - Another cool tale. This one about a haunted Masonic lodge.
The Immortal Memory by Leo Tolstoy - When Empress Yekaterina Alexeyevna calls Captain John Marsh to an audience at court and commands him to find a Scotsman who is able to recite the works of the Scottish poet Robert Burns in Russian and present him at a party that very night. The events that follow are decidedly unexpected.
In the House of the Dead by Bram Stoker - Reminiscent of one of Meikle's Carnacki stories. If you lost the love of your life, to what lengths would you go to be with her again.
Once a Jackass by Mark Twain - I've long been a fan of Mark Twain and here Meikle has really captured the essence of a Mark Twain tale. Set upon the majestic Mississippi River, this is one of my favorite stories in the collection.
Farside by Herbert George Wells - This entry could have easily been in one of the author's Carnacki collections. The story of a man named Hoskin's who has invited a number of friends to dinner to display his latest invention which has a curious side effect.
To the Manor Born by Margaret Oliphant - It was hard to grow up in a small town in Scotland and not hear at least one, if not a handful, of tales of kin who came back, of lost loves pining in the afterlife, of fishermen coming home for one last kiss. Her childhood had been full of such tales, most of them more capable of frightening her than this sad, disembodied, song.
The Angry Ghost by Oscar Wilde - An absolutely delightful story with a cute kicker.
The Black Ziggurat by Henry Rider Haggard - Another impressive and imaginable tale. This one set in Kenya.
Born of Ether by Helena P. Blavatsky - An odd yet enjoyable ghostly tale from Meikle's telling of a story in the style of an author I am totally unfamiliar with.
The Scrimshaw Set by Henry James - So cool. An exquisitely told tale of a haunted chess set. One of my favorite stories in a book full of such work.
At the Molenzki Junction by Anton Checkov - A Winter quest for vodka encounters both wolves and a ghostly presence.
To the Moon and Beyond by Jules Verne - A wonderful opening line..."To the Moon and Beyond Jules Verne Ever since man first looked up at the night sky, he has wondered about the moon, that great white lady who circles us constantly, like a predator circling its prey, merely waiting for a weakness so that it may pounce." Once again Meikle manages to capture the style and feel of the author he writes as in this standout tale.
The Curious Affair On the Embankment by Arthur Conan Doyle - Surprisingly this is NOT a Sherlock Holmes story, although it takes place in that same world. Here Scotland Yard's Detective Lestrade solves a mystery involving the disappearance of a number of successful young women.
There are a number of solid reasons to add The Ghost Club to your reading list. For example, you love a good ghost story, or maybe you've read and enjoyed Meikle's Carnacki tales, or perhaps you're a fan of Victorian terror, or maybe you just enjoy a good read. Whatever your reason, happy reading.
The Ghost Club: Newly Found Tales of Victorian Terror is currently available in both Kindle and paperback formats from Crystal Lake Publishing. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Willie Meikle is a Scottish writer, now living in Canada, with over twenty novels published in the genre press and over 300 short story credits in thirteen countries. Willie currently lives in Newfoundland with whales, bald eagles, and icebergs for company and when he's not writing he drinks beer, plays guitar and dreams of fortune and glory.
December 3, 2017
First, thanks again to Joe Mynhardt and Crystal Lake Publishing for the opportunity to receive this ARC in exchange for an honest review. It’s always a great opportunity and I look forward to receiving more in the future.
Let me start off this review by saying how much I love the premise, and the presentation. The Ghost Club is a collection of short stories - the premise being that there is an informal dinner party at which a group of Victorian authors can only attend if they supply a short story. William Meikle does such a great job at writing in the style of each author that more than once I felt as if I was actually reading a lost Twain or Stoker. Beyond the writing, I really liked how each story had an introduction by the “host” - like the Cryptkeeper from Tales from the Crypt. That added an extra bit of “authenticity” to the collection.
Inside are the following stories:
Robert Louis Stevenson - Wee Davie Makes a Friend
Rudyard Kipling - The High Bungalow
Leo Tolstoy - The Immortal Memory
Bram Stoker - The House of the Dead
Mark Twain - Once a Jackass
Herbert George Wells - Farside
Margaret Oliphant - To the Manor Born
Oscar Wilde - The Angry Ghost
Henry Rider Haggard - The Black Ziggurat
Helena P Blavatsky - Born of Ether
Henry James - The Scrimshaw Set
Anton Checkov - At the Molenzki Junction
Jules Verne - To the Moon and Beyond
Arthur Conan Doyle - The Curious Affair on the Embankment
While I usually give a synopsis of each story when reviewing an anthology like this, I’m going to forego doing that since this review would then become as long as the actual book. I will highlight some of my favorites and point out my less than favorite.
Mark Twain’s story was my favorite of the lot. It was cautionary, and dark - but was spot on with Twain’s brand of humor. I almost stopped reading to research if Twain didn’t actually write this. Stoker, Kipling, Tolstoy, James, Verne, and Doyle were more than worth the read.
The rest of the stories were enjoyable, but not as memorable. My least favorite in the lot was “The Black Ziggurat” - it didn’t hold my interest, and I found it rather dull. But, as with any collection of stories, there’s bound to be one or two that doesn’t appeal to the reader - who knows, you might think that “Once a Jackass” was horrible. But different strokes for different folks.
If you’re a fan of gothic or Victorian horror, this is the closest you’re going to come to new stuff by the masters... short of raising them from the dead to write new stories. Meikle did a phenomenal job channeling the spirit of each author.
Let me start off this review by saying how much I love the premise, and the presentation. The Ghost Club is a collection of short stories - the premise being that there is an informal dinner party at which a group of Victorian authors can only attend if they supply a short story. William Meikle does such a great job at writing in the style of each author that more than once I felt as if I was actually reading a lost Twain or Stoker. Beyond the writing, I really liked how each story had an introduction by the “host” - like the Cryptkeeper from Tales from the Crypt. That added an extra bit of “authenticity” to the collection.
Inside are the following stories:
Robert Louis Stevenson - Wee Davie Makes a Friend
Rudyard Kipling - The High Bungalow
Leo Tolstoy - The Immortal Memory
Bram Stoker - The House of the Dead
Mark Twain - Once a Jackass
Herbert George Wells - Farside
Margaret Oliphant - To the Manor Born
Oscar Wilde - The Angry Ghost
Henry Rider Haggard - The Black Ziggurat
Helena P Blavatsky - Born of Ether
Henry James - The Scrimshaw Set
Anton Checkov - At the Molenzki Junction
Jules Verne - To the Moon and Beyond
Arthur Conan Doyle - The Curious Affair on the Embankment
While I usually give a synopsis of each story when reviewing an anthology like this, I’m going to forego doing that since this review would then become as long as the actual book. I will highlight some of my favorites and point out my less than favorite.
Mark Twain’s story was my favorite of the lot. It was cautionary, and dark - but was spot on with Twain’s brand of humor. I almost stopped reading to research if Twain didn’t actually write this. Stoker, Kipling, Tolstoy, James, Verne, and Doyle were more than worth the read.
The rest of the stories were enjoyable, but not as memorable. My least favorite in the lot was “The Black Ziggurat” - it didn’t hold my interest, and I found it rather dull. But, as with any collection of stories, there’s bound to be one or two that doesn’t appeal to the reader - who knows, you might think that “Once a Jackass” was horrible. But different strokes for different folks.
If you’re a fan of gothic or Victorian horror, this is the closest you’re going to come to new stuff by the masters... short of raising them from the dead to write new stories. Meikle did a phenomenal job channeling the spirit of each author.
December 10, 2017
I love classic horror. Sometimes it can give me the creepy crawlies much more than a modern book will. I think it's partly the restraint of them. Not restraint in the amount of words they used (some of them can be a bit...wordy) but in their topics and what they were and were not allowed to say. Modern authors can be as graphic as they please and it can take away a bit from the terror at times.
So you can imagine how quick to grab this book and run. I may not have been so eager if I hadn't known the author was William Meikle. As anyone who has read his "Carnacki" books can attest, Mr. Meikle is very comfortable with writing in period language. From the very intro I was sucked in and, for the most part, I can say he does a fantastic job of recreating several different author's voices. The only ones that I'm not 100% sure on were the authors whose works I am not very familiar with such as Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and Rudyard Kipling. I always had trouble getting into his stories. I have liked a few but they just don't grab me and say, "Read me!"
I also loved the forewords to the book and the stories themselves. The foreword at the beginning has a cleverly worded paragraph about the dubious authenticity of the "find" that I thought was amusing. The forewords to the stories were great. They evoked each writer very clearly and were a nice way to shift the 'mood' between stories so the style changes were less jarring.
That being said, let's check out the stories, shall we?
Wee Davie Makes a Friend - Robert Louis Stevenson
I very much liked it. It was a bit sad but you could kind of tell where it was going to go. I also loved how William Meikle worked in Louis' own childhood experiences in 'The Land of Counterpane'.
The High Bungalow - 'Rudyard Kipling'
An enjoyable tale that centers around an interrupted rendezvous and an unexpected encounter with something rather unusual beneath a bungalow. It also ends, dare I say it? A bit clearer than some of Kipling's own tales did.
The Immortal Memory - 'Leo Tolstoy'
The Empress has summoned Captain Marsh for one reason...and one reason only. He must find her a Scotsman to repeat the works of Robert Burns into perfectly translated Russian. Should be a snap...I'm not familiar with Tolstoy's works so I'm not sure how faithfully the story is to his writing style but the story itself is a good one. It is true that an author can have immortality like no other
In the House of the Dead - 'Bram Stoker'
Bram Stokers shorter works have always been either/or with me. I loved 'The Judge's House'. This story evokes his writing style very well, including the epistolary style that Dracula is well-famed for. The story itself is quite beautiful. A story of love, loss, hope and, perhaps, reuniting.
Once a Jackass - 'Mark Twain'
It certainly has the dry wit and terseness of any story I've read of Twain's. He always seemed to me to write merely for the fun of a ghost story, not really trying to get down to the emotional depths that others plumbed. The concluding lines are funny in their own way and also, in their own way, could be applied to anyone at anytime.
Farside - 'Herbert George Wells'
I have never read much by H.G. Wells (no, not even War of the Worlds) so I'm not sure on how close the style is. A machine in which your aura is shown seems to be the crux of this tale and I won't say anymore as the ending is great. As is the rest of the story. Is it ghostly vengeance? Or something more?
To the Manor Born - 'Margaret Oliphant'
I thought this story was excellent and could have come from the pen of Ms. Oliphant herself. The more I read on the more I am impressed. Mr. Meikle is not just talented at pastiching writers, he can create stories in their voices. It might seem like mere imitation to be able to do that but I assure you, it is not. It takes a talent all its own and the ability to not just imitate another writer but to get within their mindset as well. I loved this story and although it's sad it kept me captivated until the end.
The Angry Ghost - 'Oscar Wilde'
I did think Oscar Wilde a bit of an odd choice. As far as I am aware the only supernatural writing he had ever done was 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' (if I'm wrong please point some out to me, new stories are always welcome!). Which, I have to admit, the first time I read it I didn't get past the first couple of chapters. I may give it a go again one of these days. The Angry Ghost is darkly funny and a brisk, to the point tale.
The Black Ziggurat - 'Henry Rider Haggard'
I have to be honest. I wasn't that enthused with this tale. I've never been one for adventure stories and I've read one or two of Haggard's work. Enough to know they're just not for me. Someone else might like this story a lot more because from the admittedly limited exposure I've had to his stories they do imitate his style quite well.
Born of Ether - Helena P. Blavatsky
A very good story taking a more unusual subject and blending it with a good ghost story. As far as I can tell the style seems somewhat consistent with what I've read of her Theosophy writings.
The Scrimshaw Set - 'Henry James'
What is it about chess sets? You wouldn't think something so prosaic and commonplace (and, some people might add, boring) would be able to summon up dread or horror but yet there are quite a few tales of chess sets - haunted, cursed or otherwise disagreeable. Meikle, with a superb rendition of James' sometimes prolix writing conjures up a tale of a haunted chess set with a most unusual apparition. Definitely not to miss.
At the Molenzki Junction - Anton Checkov
I'm not really sure if I have ever read anything by Anton Checkov so I can't speak to style but if this story is representative of his real stories I am certainly going to be looking him up.
To the Moon and Beyond - 'Jules Verne'
This story was a bit more of a mix of fantasy and sci-fi (to me at least) and although it was interesting I did catch myself skimming certain parts. Not high on my list of favorites from the book but someone else may like it much better than I.
The Curious Affair on the Embankment - 'Arthur Conan Doyle'
The book winds up its tales with a story from Arthur Conan Doyle, the same writer who has been providing the introductions to the tales. With Lestrade at its center (we all know Mr. Holmes would sneer at the thought of magic) it's a very good Holmesian tale of magic. And it's nice to see Lestrade not presented as the bumbling ijit so many modern Holmes writers portray him as.
To wrap it up, these are some very fine stories and William Meikle does a very good job of trying to create the voices of each author. As I said, no small feat. I do have to question the inclusion of Blavatsky and Wilde as there were many other lady Victorian writers who I think would have been great to see represented here. In fact, it would be interesting to see what Mr. Meikle could do sticking strictly to writers such as Mary Wilkins Freeman, Edith Nesbit and so on. Maybe we'll get lucky and get another Ghost Club anthology.
Received from Crystal Lake Publishing for an honest review
So you can imagine how quick to grab this book and run. I may not have been so eager if I hadn't known the author was William Meikle. As anyone who has read his "Carnacki" books can attest, Mr. Meikle is very comfortable with writing in period language. From the very intro I was sucked in and, for the most part, I can say he does a fantastic job of recreating several different author's voices. The only ones that I'm not 100% sure on were the authors whose works I am not very familiar with such as Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and Rudyard Kipling. I always had trouble getting into his stories. I have liked a few but they just don't grab me and say, "Read me!"
I also loved the forewords to the book and the stories themselves. The foreword at the beginning has a cleverly worded paragraph about the dubious authenticity of the "find" that I thought was amusing. The forewords to the stories were great. They evoked each writer very clearly and were a nice way to shift the 'mood' between stories so the style changes were less jarring.
That being said, let's check out the stories, shall we?
Wee Davie Makes a Friend - Robert Louis Stevenson
I very much liked it. It was a bit sad but you could kind of tell where it was going to go. I also loved how William Meikle worked in Louis' own childhood experiences in 'The Land of Counterpane'.
The High Bungalow - 'Rudyard Kipling'
An enjoyable tale that centers around an interrupted rendezvous and an unexpected encounter with something rather unusual beneath a bungalow. It also ends, dare I say it? A bit clearer than some of Kipling's own tales did.
The Immortal Memory - 'Leo Tolstoy'
The Empress has summoned Captain Marsh for one reason...and one reason only. He must find her a Scotsman to repeat the works of Robert Burns into perfectly translated Russian. Should be a snap...I'm not familiar with Tolstoy's works so I'm not sure how faithfully the story is to his writing style but the story itself is a good one. It is true that an author can have immortality like no other
In the House of the Dead - 'Bram Stoker'
Bram Stokers shorter works have always been either/or with me. I loved 'The Judge's House'. This story evokes his writing style very well, including the epistolary style that Dracula is well-famed for. The story itself is quite beautiful. A story of love, loss, hope and, perhaps, reuniting.
Once a Jackass - 'Mark Twain'
It certainly has the dry wit and terseness of any story I've read of Twain's. He always seemed to me to write merely for the fun of a ghost story, not really trying to get down to the emotional depths that others plumbed. The concluding lines are funny in their own way and also, in their own way, could be applied to anyone at anytime.
Farside - 'Herbert George Wells'
I have never read much by H.G. Wells (no, not even War of the Worlds) so I'm not sure on how close the style is. A machine in which your aura is shown seems to be the crux of this tale and I won't say anymore as the ending is great. As is the rest of the story. Is it ghostly vengeance? Or something more?
To the Manor Born - 'Margaret Oliphant'
I thought this story was excellent and could have come from the pen of Ms. Oliphant herself. The more I read on the more I am impressed. Mr. Meikle is not just talented at pastiching writers, he can create stories in their voices. It might seem like mere imitation to be able to do that but I assure you, it is not. It takes a talent all its own and the ability to not just imitate another writer but to get within their mindset as well. I loved this story and although it's sad it kept me captivated until the end.
The Angry Ghost - 'Oscar Wilde'
I did think Oscar Wilde a bit of an odd choice. As far as I am aware the only supernatural writing he had ever done was 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' (if I'm wrong please point some out to me, new stories are always welcome!). Which, I have to admit, the first time I read it I didn't get past the first couple of chapters. I may give it a go again one of these days. The Angry Ghost is darkly funny and a brisk, to the point tale.
The Black Ziggurat - 'Henry Rider Haggard'
I have to be honest. I wasn't that enthused with this tale. I've never been one for adventure stories and I've read one or two of Haggard's work. Enough to know they're just not for me. Someone else might like this story a lot more because from the admittedly limited exposure I've had to his stories they do imitate his style quite well.
Born of Ether - Helena P. Blavatsky
A very good story taking a more unusual subject and blending it with a good ghost story. As far as I can tell the style seems somewhat consistent with what I've read of her Theosophy writings.
The Scrimshaw Set - 'Henry James'
What is it about chess sets? You wouldn't think something so prosaic and commonplace (and, some people might add, boring) would be able to summon up dread or horror but yet there are quite a few tales of chess sets - haunted, cursed or otherwise disagreeable. Meikle, with a superb rendition of James' sometimes prolix writing conjures up a tale of a haunted chess set with a most unusual apparition. Definitely not to miss.
At the Molenzki Junction - Anton Checkov
I'm not really sure if I have ever read anything by Anton Checkov so I can't speak to style but if this story is representative of his real stories I am certainly going to be looking him up.
To the Moon and Beyond - 'Jules Verne'
This story was a bit more of a mix of fantasy and sci-fi (to me at least) and although it was interesting I did catch myself skimming certain parts. Not high on my list of favorites from the book but someone else may like it much better than I.
The Curious Affair on the Embankment - 'Arthur Conan Doyle'
The book winds up its tales with a story from Arthur Conan Doyle, the same writer who has been providing the introductions to the tales. With Lestrade at its center (we all know Mr. Holmes would sneer at the thought of magic) it's a very good Holmesian tale of magic. And it's nice to see Lestrade not presented as the bumbling ijit so many modern Holmes writers portray him as.
To wrap it up, these are some very fine stories and William Meikle does a very good job of trying to create the voices of each author. As I said, no small feat. I do have to question the inclusion of Blavatsky and Wilde as there were many other lady Victorian writers who I think would have been great to see represented here. In fact, it would be interesting to see what Mr. Meikle could do sticking strictly to writers such as Mary Wilkins Freeman, Edith Nesbit and so on. Maybe we'll get lucky and get another Ghost Club anthology.
Received from Crystal Lake Publishing for an honest review
April 15, 2019
Cracking collection of short horror/ghost stories in the style of several Victorian writers. Stoker, Wilde, Conan Doyle, James and so on. A hell of a lot of fun.
April 13, 2019
Maybe closer to 3.5 stars.
The idea behind this short story collection is good: suppose that the greatest story writers of the Victorian era had belonged to a secret club that convened, every now and then, so that they could tell ghost stories to each other....and then suppose that Arthur Conan Doyle had served as secretary for this gas-lamp Chowder Society, transcribing these stories...and then suppose once again that these stories were recently unearthed and published for the 21st century reader.
Meikle hit on a great formula for stimulating the writer’s imagination and the stories are, for the most part, interesting. The deducted stars are all about voice: what is the point of writing a story in the style of Henry James if it reads exactly like the story you wrote in the style of Mark Twain or the one you wrote in the style of Anton Chekhov? It’s a little puzzling.
The idea behind this short story collection is good: suppose that the greatest story writers of the Victorian era had belonged to a secret club that convened, every now and then, so that they could tell ghost stories to each other....and then suppose that Arthur Conan Doyle had served as secretary for this gas-lamp Chowder Society, transcribing these stories...and then suppose once again that these stories were recently unearthed and published for the 21st century reader.
Meikle hit on a great formula for stimulating the writer’s imagination and the stories are, for the most part, interesting. The deducted stars are all about voice: what is the point of writing a story in the style of Henry James if it reads exactly like the story you wrote in the style of Mark Twain or the one you wrote in the style of Anton Chekhov? It’s a little puzzling.
December 10, 2017
I really loved the premise of this book in which an old manuscript of ghost stories is found in the abandoned London Criterion Club once popular with the glitterati of the stage and literary world as well as prominent members of parliament.
The manuscript contains ghost stories from many well know writers from the illustrious Victorian Age. It was here where Henry James formed his exclusive ghost club. Membership could be bought by telling a ghost story.
This book contains these very stories expertly retold by William Meikle;
Wee Davie Makes a Friend - Robert Louis Stevenson
The High Bungalow - Rudyard Kipling
The Immortal Memory- Leo Tolstoy
The House of the Dead - Bram Stoker
Once a Jackass - Mark Twain
Farside - Herbert George Wells
To the Manor Born - Margaret Oliphant
The Angry Ghost - Oscar Wilde
The Black Ziggurat - Henry Rider Haggard
Born of Ether - Helena P Blavatsky
The Scrimshaw Set - Henry James
At the Molenzki Junction - Anton Checkov
To the Moon and Beyond - Jules Verne
The Curious Affair on the Embankment - Arthur Conan Doyle
I was really impressed with just how many different styles Miekle writes in, he really does imitate all these literary legends with brilliant accuracy. I have enough enough trouble trying to find my own style to write in but Meikle has loads to choose from! I particularly enjoyed the little details in these tales. A lot of research and care has been put into this highly ambitious project, and it has really paid off.
I really enjoyed all these tales but my absolute favourites in this wonderful collection include;
Wee Davie Makes a Friend by Robert Louis Stevenson
This is the tale of a lonely sick boy who is sent away from his home by his stern father in order to gain better health. Whilst recuperating at his Uncle's house by the sea he makes a friend but this is no ordinary friend. However despite their differences they form a very strong bond one that will never die.
The House of The Dead by Bram Stoker.
As a huge Dracula fan I loved this tale. There was a great tension building up through the story and the ending was very bittersweet and macabre. Told through letters and journal entries a young man details his longstanding best friend's grief from losing his beloved wife Lizabet and their unborn child to consumption. But things take a turn for the worst when his friend refuses to accept that his wife and child are dead.
The Angry Ghost by Oscar Wilde
A young boy is determined to believe in ghosts after his stern Aunt forbids it. However the boy persists to find the ghost in his old Aunt's house that he was sure he'd seen. This tale had a comic side to the classic Victorian gothic tale.
The manuscript contains ghost stories from many well know writers from the illustrious Victorian Age. It was here where Henry James formed his exclusive ghost club. Membership could be bought by telling a ghost story.
This book contains these very stories expertly retold by William Meikle;
Wee Davie Makes a Friend - Robert Louis Stevenson
The High Bungalow - Rudyard Kipling
The Immortal Memory- Leo Tolstoy
The House of the Dead - Bram Stoker
Once a Jackass - Mark Twain
Farside - Herbert George Wells
To the Manor Born - Margaret Oliphant
The Angry Ghost - Oscar Wilde
The Black Ziggurat - Henry Rider Haggard
Born of Ether - Helena P Blavatsky
The Scrimshaw Set - Henry James
At the Molenzki Junction - Anton Checkov
To the Moon and Beyond - Jules Verne
The Curious Affair on the Embankment - Arthur Conan Doyle
I was really impressed with just how many different styles Miekle writes in, he really does imitate all these literary legends with brilliant accuracy. I have enough enough trouble trying to find my own style to write in but Meikle has loads to choose from! I particularly enjoyed the little details in these tales. A lot of research and care has been put into this highly ambitious project, and it has really paid off.
I really enjoyed all these tales but my absolute favourites in this wonderful collection include;
Wee Davie Makes a Friend by Robert Louis Stevenson
This is the tale of a lonely sick boy who is sent away from his home by his stern father in order to gain better health. Whilst recuperating at his Uncle's house by the sea he makes a friend but this is no ordinary friend. However despite their differences they form a very strong bond one that will never die.
The House of The Dead by Bram Stoker.
As a huge Dracula fan I loved this tale. There was a great tension building up through the story and the ending was very bittersweet and macabre. Told through letters and journal entries a young man details his longstanding best friend's grief from losing his beloved wife Lizabet and their unborn child to consumption. But things take a turn for the worst when his friend refuses to accept that his wife and child are dead.
The Angry Ghost by Oscar Wilde
A young boy is determined to believe in ghosts after his stern Aunt forbids it. However the boy persists to find the ghost in his old Aunt's house that he was sure he'd seen. This tale had a comic side to the classic Victorian gothic tale.
January 4, 2018
Wow what a setting, a room full of the most talented authors and being witness to such tales. I can imagine this club meeting weekly and even the excitement of the members as a new story-teller joined to entertain the group, as payment for entry into this elite club within a club. As I read these stories I still wondered what the others listening thought and what response each one received when the tale came to an end. In my own imagination the only thing I could hear was the voice, be it male or female, telling their story in a silent room with the exception of a ticking clock, each listener fascinated by these Victorian Ghost stories that would be thought of as quite shocking for that time.
As these stories are as different as the people who tell them, some are to shock while others are a tale of caution, one thing that they all had in common was that to entertain. This era is remembered for parlours used for séance meetings to contact the dead. Many Victorians truly believed that loved ones could be contacted this way. So the stories told at the club would be very real and frightening to a lot of people of that time.
These are like camp fire stories told with hot chocolate and marshmallows, rather than a meal and port or sherry. I really enjoyed these tales which I savoured as the era they were created in. You have to take the whole package and literally get into the spirit of the moment.
There are fourteen tales from different club members, the three which were my favourites were,
Once a Jackass, Mark Twain
To the Manor Born, Margaret Oliphant
To the Moon and Beyond, Jules Verne
As these stories are as different as the people who tell them, some are to shock while others are a tale of caution, one thing that they all had in common was that to entertain. This era is remembered for parlours used for séance meetings to contact the dead. Many Victorians truly believed that loved ones could be contacted this way. So the stories told at the club would be very real and frightening to a lot of people of that time.
These are like camp fire stories told with hot chocolate and marshmallows, rather than a meal and port or sherry. I really enjoyed these tales which I savoured as the era they were created in. You have to take the whole package and literally get into the spirit of the moment.
There are fourteen tales from different club members, the three which were my favourites were,
Once a Jackass, Mark Twain
To the Manor Born, Margaret Oliphant
To the Moon and Beyond, Jules Verne
February 20, 2018
Review Pending.
June 23, 2018
Overall a solid anthology .
March 10, 2018
An excellent collection of Victorian horror stories, each written by William Meikle in the voice of a different author from the era: Robert Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and others. Most of the tales are in the classic ghost story tradition, and they range from mildly unsettling to genuinely horrifying, but all of them are well-written and engaging. If you like ghost stories, you'll love The Ghost Club.
December 14, 2017
A well written compendium of stories written by the best authors of the Victorian Era, maybe. Stories found after decades of being hidden in a writer's club. Fascinating!
December 8, 2017
For those of you who appreciate the Victorian tales of yesteryear, you are in for a treat! you can read my full review here... https://horrornovelreviews.com/2017/1...
February 1, 2024
This book is ostensibly a collection of typewritten transcripts of ghost stories recounted by famous members of 'The Ghost Club'.
Following a brief introductory piece, we have fourteen short stories. These have been recounted in styles reminiscent of the famous authors whose voices these tales purportedly convey.
I liked the following tales~
1. Robert Louis Stevenson's "Wee Davie Makes a Friend";
2. Mark Twain's "Once a Jackass";
3. Henry Rider Haggard's "The Black Ziggurat";
4. Jules Verne's "To the Moon and Beyond";
5. Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Curious Affair on the Embankment".
Overall, this is a nice collection to pass a wet evening, or night.
Following a brief introductory piece, we have fourteen short stories. These have been recounted in styles reminiscent of the famous authors whose voices these tales purportedly convey.
I liked the following tales~
1. Robert Louis Stevenson's "Wee Davie Makes a Friend";
2. Mark Twain's "Once a Jackass";
3. Henry Rider Haggard's "The Black Ziggurat";
4. Jules Verne's "To the Moon and Beyond";
5. Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Curious Affair on the Embankment".
Overall, this is a nice collection to pass a wet evening, or night.
March 1, 2018
My initial reaction to William Meikle’s “The Ghost Club” was not a particularly favourable one, however, once I figured out exactly what was really going on I quickly warmed to it, enjoying it tremendously. At first glance it looks like, yet another, collection of old ghost written in the Victorian era which are cobbled together by a hammy narrator interconnecting the stories. I have a feeling this was exactly what William Meikle wanted the reader to think.
When I looked down the impressive list of contributors many all-time greats were featured, including: Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, Leo Tolstoy, Bram Stoker, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle and others bringing the total of fourteen. After an initial browse I then presumed most of the stories would be copyright free and easy to obtain on Kindle and that this anthology would just be a waste of my hard-earned cash. How wrong I was.
Over the years I’ve read a fair bit of Robert Louis Stevenson and really enjoyed some of his shorter fiction, such as supernatural classics ‘The Bottle Imp’ and so started with his contribution ‘Wee Davie Makes a Friend’ which I had, rather surprisingly, never heard of and could find no trace of on Google. That’s the fun of it, you’ll find no trace of any of the fourteen of the featured tales on any search engine as they are all creations of William Meikle written in the style of the fourteen legendary authors. A pretty neat idea which is executed superbly.
I’m not an expert on all of authors Meikle has fun toying with, but have read enough Victorian era ghost stories to appreciate the difficulty in such authentic recreations. The diversity of styles is particularly impressive, for instance the 100% accurate reimagining of Bram Stoker could not be easily confused with his version of Mark Twain should you be familiar with them both. On a few occasions I found myself recalling and comparing authentic works by the authors and William Meikle’s versions hold up very well against them. It came very close to reading the real thing and mimicry aside this is a high-quality collection of ghost stories and the supernatural.
If you aren’t familiar with Tolstoy, Henry Rider Haggard and the other then you are unlikely to enjoy the book as much as those readers who have some knowledge of the originals. Younger readers, gore hounds, those who prefer a faster pace, or those who enjoy modern horror may think this type of stuff is a bit old hat. It’s not, and it really grows on you if you give it a chance. The Victorian era was a pivotal period in the development of horror fiction and William Meikle gives it the respect it deserves. If you’re a student of horror and its origins, you should do the same.
The narrator links the stories together with the concept that all the real authors hung out and met over drinks to scare each other with ghost stories in a club founded by Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle, a pastime which was very popular in this period, giving birth to countless classic stories. Meikle says in a brief interview on Amazon UK: “I love the idea that all these famous writers knew each other, and met for a meal, a drink, a smoke and some storytelling in an old London club / bar setting. It chimes almost exactly with my own idea of a good time.” I’m not sure if they all did know each other, but some of them certainly did. Readers will also enjoy the banter between the authors, even those who couldn’t make it (Tolstoy) because of a detour in Siberia.
To call ‘The Ghost Club’ a pastiche of Victorian supernatural fiction really does not do it justice. Meikle playfully manipulates multiple styles, has sly references to real stories and has created a work which comes across as genuinely authentic. Hopefully it will entice readers back to a key period in the development of the horror story of which Meikle is obviously both very knowledgeable and a fan
When I looked down the impressive list of contributors many all-time greats were featured, including: Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, Leo Tolstoy, Bram Stoker, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle and others bringing the total of fourteen. After an initial browse I then presumed most of the stories would be copyright free and easy to obtain on Kindle and that this anthology would just be a waste of my hard-earned cash. How wrong I was.
Over the years I’ve read a fair bit of Robert Louis Stevenson and really enjoyed some of his shorter fiction, such as supernatural classics ‘The Bottle Imp’ and so started with his contribution ‘Wee Davie Makes a Friend’ which I had, rather surprisingly, never heard of and could find no trace of on Google. That’s the fun of it, you’ll find no trace of any of the fourteen of the featured tales on any search engine as they are all creations of William Meikle written in the style of the fourteen legendary authors. A pretty neat idea which is executed superbly.
I’m not an expert on all of authors Meikle has fun toying with, but have read enough Victorian era ghost stories to appreciate the difficulty in such authentic recreations. The diversity of styles is particularly impressive, for instance the 100% accurate reimagining of Bram Stoker could not be easily confused with his version of Mark Twain should you be familiar with them both. On a few occasions I found myself recalling and comparing authentic works by the authors and William Meikle’s versions hold up very well against them. It came very close to reading the real thing and mimicry aside this is a high-quality collection of ghost stories and the supernatural.
If you aren’t familiar with Tolstoy, Henry Rider Haggard and the other then you are unlikely to enjoy the book as much as those readers who have some knowledge of the originals. Younger readers, gore hounds, those who prefer a faster pace, or those who enjoy modern horror may think this type of stuff is a bit old hat. It’s not, and it really grows on you if you give it a chance. The Victorian era was a pivotal period in the development of horror fiction and William Meikle gives it the respect it deserves. If you’re a student of horror and its origins, you should do the same.
The narrator links the stories together with the concept that all the real authors hung out and met over drinks to scare each other with ghost stories in a club founded by Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle, a pastime which was very popular in this period, giving birth to countless classic stories. Meikle says in a brief interview on Amazon UK: “I love the idea that all these famous writers knew each other, and met for a meal, a drink, a smoke and some storytelling in an old London club / bar setting. It chimes almost exactly with my own idea of a good time.” I’m not sure if they all did know each other, but some of them certainly did. Readers will also enjoy the banter between the authors, even those who couldn’t make it (Tolstoy) because of a detour in Siberia.
To call ‘The Ghost Club’ a pastiche of Victorian supernatural fiction really does not do it justice. Meikle playfully manipulates multiple styles, has sly references to real stories and has created a work which comes across as genuinely authentic. Hopefully it will entice readers back to a key period in the development of the horror story of which Meikle is obviously both very knowledgeable and a fan
May 20, 2019
My initial reaction to William Meikle’s The Ghost Club: Newly Found Tales of Victorian Terror was not a particularly favourable one, however, once I figured out exactly what was really going on, I quickly lapped it up. At first glance it looks like a collection of old ghost stories written in the Victorian era, of which there are many, and is cobbled together by a hammy narrator interconnecting the stories. I have a feeling this was exactly what William Meikle wanted the unsuspecting reader to think.
When I looked down the impressive list of contributors, many all-time greats are featured, including Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, Leo Tolstoy, Bram Stoker, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle and others, bringing the total to fourteen. After an initial browse, I then presumed most of the stories would be copyright free and easy to obtain on Kindle and that this anthology would just be a waste of my hard-earned cash. How wrong I was.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
When I looked down the impressive list of contributors, many all-time greats are featured, including Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling, Leo Tolstoy, Bram Stoker, Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle and others, bringing the total to fourteen. After an initial browse, I then presumed most of the stories would be copyright free and easy to obtain on Kindle and that this anthology would just be a waste of my hard-earned cash. How wrong I was.
You can read Tony's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
April 4, 2021
Welcome to the Ghost Club - where Arthur Conan Doyle, along with Bram Stoker, Henry James and their guests, invite you to a feast of Victorian tales of the uncanny and macabre.
Each story purports to be written by a prominent Victorian writer. All fourteen stories are seriously weird, always creepy, and, at times downright terrifying. Each one is a great read, but, of course, I have my favourites.
"The High Bungalow" (Rudyard Kipling) - a terrifying tale of ghosts and Freemasonry in the hills of the Punjab.
"The Immortal Memory" (Leo Tolstoy) - death and poetry at the court of Catherine the Great.
"The House of the Dead" (Bram Stoker) - this tale of death and spirits seriously made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
"Farside" (Herbert George Wells) - a tale of spirits and technology that left me more than a little unsettled.
"The Angry Ghost" (Oscar Wilde) - not a particularly frightening tale, bt notable because William Meikle caught the flavour of Wilde's style perfectly. It put me in mind of Wilde's classic story "The Canterville Ghost".
"The Scrimshaw Set" (Henry James) - this tale of the sea and death is chilling a macabre in equal measures.
"The Curious Affair on the Embankment" (Arthur Conan Doyle) - Inspector Lestrade deals with a missing persons case with a horrifying twist.
I cannot recommend this volume of stories highly enough. If you enjoy classic ghost stories you will love this book.
Each story purports to be written by a prominent Victorian writer. All fourteen stories are seriously weird, always creepy, and, at times downright terrifying. Each one is a great read, but, of course, I have my favourites.
"The High Bungalow" (Rudyard Kipling) - a terrifying tale of ghosts and Freemasonry in the hills of the Punjab.
"The Immortal Memory" (Leo Tolstoy) - death and poetry at the court of Catherine the Great.
"The House of the Dead" (Bram Stoker) - this tale of death and spirits seriously made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
"Farside" (Herbert George Wells) - a tale of spirits and technology that left me more than a little unsettled.
"The Angry Ghost" (Oscar Wilde) - not a particularly frightening tale, bt notable because William Meikle caught the flavour of Wilde's style perfectly. It put me in mind of Wilde's classic story "The Canterville Ghost".
"The Scrimshaw Set" (Henry James) - this tale of the sea and death is chilling a macabre in equal measures.
"The Curious Affair on the Embankment" (Arthur Conan Doyle) - Inspector Lestrade deals with a missing persons case with a horrifying twist.
I cannot recommend this volume of stories highly enough. If you enjoy classic ghost stories you will love this book.
January 4, 2018
None of the stories scared me, but I'm starting to think it's me and not the horror books I read. Which makes me wonder about myself. Be that as it may, the concept behind The Ghost Club is interesting. The author, William Meikle, wrote each story as if a different Victorian writer authored it. The best part, to me, is that he introduced me to a female Victorian author I'd not heard of, Margaret Oliphant. She wrote in several genres, including ghost stories. I shall find some books of hers, read them, and see if they scare me or if I'm hopeless.
Like I said, none of the stories gave me the shivers, but I did enjoy the atmosphere of the Victorian world and Meikle was good at imitating each of his writers.
Unlike other books written recently, this one does not use the word smirk, not even once. So on my smirkometer, The Ghost Club gets flashing stars and ringing bells.
Like I said, none of the stories gave me the shivers, but I did enjoy the atmosphere of the Victorian world and Meikle was good at imitating each of his writers.
Unlike other books written recently, this one does not use the word smirk, not even once. So on my smirkometer, The Ghost Club gets flashing stars and ringing bells.
March 11, 2019
William Meikle set himself the challenge of writing ghost stories in the style of some of the great writers of yesteryear, such as Rudyard Kipling, Arthur Conan Doyle, Leo Tolstoy, H.P. Blavatsky, Oscar Wilde, etc., etc...
Was he successful? Largely, I think so. The tales wouldn't fool an expert, but they all have a whiff of the style and obsessions of the target.
But all of that is by the by, very interesting and so forth, but not the most important thing, which is as follows...
This is, without exception, the best damn collection of ghost stories I have ever read in my life. Don't do yourself the disservice of missing it.
Was he successful? Largely, I think so. The tales wouldn't fool an expert, but they all have a whiff of the style and obsessions of the target.
But all of that is by the by, very interesting and so forth, but not the most important thing, which is as follows...
This is, without exception, the best damn collection of ghost stories I have ever read in my life. Don't do yourself the disservice of missing it.
April 7, 2019
Wonderful Book with Unique Points of View
This was a fantastic book with a unique premise, a Ghost Club in the Victorian era, comprising the top authors of the day. Each must furnish a paranormal tale to gain entrance. The author of the book presents his takes in the manner of the specific classic author - Bram Stoker, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle and so forth. If you enjoy classic horror, without the vote that relies on the mind and imagination, you will enjoy these tales. Some were quite creepy, all entertaining and my only complaint is that there is no audiobook version. I greatly enjoyed this book and will look for more from this author.
This was a fantastic book with a unique premise, a Ghost Club in the Victorian era, comprising the top authors of the day. Each must furnish a paranormal tale to gain entrance. The author of the book presents his takes in the manner of the specific classic author - Bram Stoker, Jules Verne, Arthur Conan Doyle and so forth. If you enjoy classic horror, without the vote that relies on the mind and imagination, you will enjoy these tales. Some were quite creepy, all entertaining and my only complaint is that there is no audiobook version. I greatly enjoyed this book and will look for more from this author.
February 7, 2018
I've read several of William Meikle's Sherlock and Carnacki collections so I know how good he is at writing in the style of other authors. This time he presents a collection of stories from the likes of Doyle, Stoker, Verne and Kipling to name but a few. The stories themselves are very good and vary in style from dark to comical while keeping a horror feel about them. I loved it.
September 11, 2018
I like stories with a Victorian setting, as well as ghost stories and club stories. This collection of short stories combines all three, but with the twist that each story is presented as being told by a different period author which makes for a diverse and interesting mix of styles and subject matters. An ambitious and successful effort.
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