Literary Horror discussion

Someone pointed out to me a recent on-line interview with Reggie Oliver (it post-dates the publication of Flowers of the Sea ) and I thought I would pass along the link to any who might be interested. It appears here on SFSite.com.

Canavan wrote: "Someone pointed out to me a recent on-line interview with Reggie Oliver (it post-dates the publication of Flowers of the Sea) and I thought I would pass along the li..."

I just read this today and it was really well done. My respect for Reggie Oliver continues to grow everyday. It surprises me that not more people in the weird/speculative fiction field have heard of him. He really deserves to be read more widely.

Thank you for posting this here.

Randolph wrote:

I'm really surprised that both Oliver and Valentine are not more famous. They are the logical successors of the literary uncanny story going back to Le Fanu , James, Aickman. There are many lesser lights that get all the attention like Barker, etc.

I would tend to agree, Randolph. I'm inclined to suspect that part of the problem may be attributable to the fact that both authors concentrate primarily on the short story format — never as popular as the novel.

I think for all avid readers, there are authors we stumble upon early in their writing career, enabling us to somewhat smugly proclaim that we knew them before they were more generally well known. For me, Reggie Oliver is one of those guys. I still remember reading his second published story ("Beside the Shrill Sea", 2002) in an early issue of Supernatural Tales, and how, on the strength of that single story, I was one of the first in line to pre-order a copy of his first collection ( The Dreams of Cardinal Vittorini ), published the following year.

Randolph wrote:

You are correct, the novel writers seem to always be the best known but certainly often not always the best horror writers. Horror is particularly suited to the short form and that is always referred by the literati as writing for the short attention span. Although Alice Munro, a short story writer, did win the Nobel this year.

I’ve sometimes been baffled by the Academy’s choices, but I was heartened to hear of Munro's win, the more so since — as you noted — she works exclusively in the short story format. On the other hand, I was disappointed that the National Book Award didn’t go to George Saunders for Tenth of December: Stories .

And one more recent interview with Reggie Oliver (this one dating back to September of this year). Someone sent me the link quite a while ago, but I just this morning got around to looking at it. See here.

Randolph wrote (in part):

Horror is particularly suited to the short form and that is always referred by the literati as writing for the short attention span.

Agreed. The obvious rejoinder to critics of the short story form is to cite Poe's essay wherein he states that unity of effect is easier to achieve in a work that can be read in a single sitting.

I put up a review of Flowers of the Sea:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

I put up a five star review for _The Dracula Papers_. I don't think there are spoilers in the review:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9...

Here is an interesting account by Mr. Oliver Re: "Virtue In Danger" an Ex Occidente Press and Zagava Book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5gED...

I've had Flowers of the Sea for about a month now and although I'm champing at the bit, I've put off reading it, partially because there's been a pile of library stuff to get through, but mainly because it's the sort of book I just want to take my time with and savor. Soon, though. .

Randolph wrote: "Karl wrote: "Here is an interesting account by Mr. Oliver Re: "Virtue In Danger" an Ex Occidente Press and Zagava Book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5gED..."

I own this :D"

Then your Virtue is absolutely unquestionable. BTW if you watched that video, who do you think that lady in the background is ?

To make things more unsettling, when asked about her Mr. Oliver responded, "What lady?".

Ba-dump tish.

Randolph wrote: "Is it just me, but do his eyes look kind of goofy to you in the video, like which one do I look at? I don't mean this in a snotty way. He never looks at the camera either."

I am sure the man sees things that the rest of us don't.

That figure in the background. . .I just realized -

It's Mrs. Midnight.

New book by Reggie Oliver coming soon:

http://darkrenaissance.com/product/th...

Tartarus Press announcement:

25th January 2017:
New Reggie Oliver collection
We are delighted to announce that a new collection by Reggie Oliver, Holidays from Hell, will be published on January 30th. It contains fourteen stories by Oliver, and an 'Introduction' by Robert Shearman. 'No one story is like another' as poet and critic Glen Cavaliero has written of Oliver’s work. And as Pulitzer prize winning Michael Dirda of the Washington Post wrote: ‘Once you’ve read one story by Reggie Oliver you’ll want to read them all.’

http://tartaruspress.com/oliver-holid...

Ronald wrote: "Tartarus Press announcement:

25th January 2017:
New Reggie Oliver collection
We are delighted to announce that a new collection by Reggie Oliver, Holidays from Hell, will be published on January 3..."

This is wonderful news!

I started dipping into the e-book last night. A quick peek at the afterword suggests that only one story, “A Day with the Delusionists”, is original to the volume. Nothing wrong with that, of course. It does mean in my case that I’ve already read a number of these.

His new novel, The Boke of the Divill should be out this month, after being stuck in limbo for some time.

So much for that October release date? I really looked forward to reading "The Boke of the Divill" while awaiting Halloween but I suppose that it wasn't meant to be.

According to, as of right now, latest update on Dark Regions Kickstarter page, they plan to start sending out ebooks and paperbacks to backers sometimes during November. Here's hoping that they will be made available for the rest of us shortly after.

"The Boke" should be available during this week, alongside other books that were the part of same Kickstarter campaign.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

"The Boke of the Divill" is out on Kindle!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077T8CFWN

I finished his new novel and posted my thought on GR. Easy, fast read, but it is not up to his usual high standard.

So, which of Oliver's collection should I read first? I am between the masques of Satan and The Dreams of Cardinal Vittorini. Any other recommendations are welcomed.

I enjoyed Flowers of the Sea.
I prefer The Dreams of Cardinal Vittorini over Masques of Satan.

Thanks Ronald. John Howard also recommended flowers of sea so I guess I will order it.