Bri Fidelity’s Reviews > Ghost Stories > Status Update

'It is the messenger simply of death. And its taking the shape of a cat — the coldest, and they say, the most vindictive of brutes — is indicative of the spirit of its visit.'

'It was impossible to look at him without feeling sick. He was so transparent that the whole world seemed to be his moving, streaming guts; and all bright eyes, smiling lips and flowing hair made ulcers in his liver and lungs.'

I have to read a little slower and make my imagination work a little harder (and, for kindness' sake, ignore all that clunky dialogue in the opening scenes) but Fritz Leiber's 'Smoke Ghost' is still every bit as unnerving as it was when I was a tween.

The amorphous black shape on the rooftops - a sack full of coal dust? - getting a little closer to the train window every night = fucking five-star creepy shit, man.

In other news, I still love 'The Canterville Ghost'.

'He remarked lightly, and half apologetically, "I think somebody is walking over my grave."

'"No," said the weird old man, "there is no one there."

'Mr. Goodchild looked at Idle, but Idle lay with his head enwreathed in smoke.

'"No one there?" said Goodchild.

'"There is no one at your grave, I assure you," said the old man.'