Archive for the "Hell" Category

Carnacki The Ghost Finder Wiliam Hope Hogdson The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult

Introduction by Wheatley outlining the short life and tragic ending of Hodgson. He did his bit in WW1 and was killed going back for more, despite being badly wounded and having a good excuse for passing the baton. Wheatley doesn’t mention that, like R E Howard, Hodgson was a bodybuilder. Wheatley does draw attention to […]

Phantasmagoria issue #17 2020/21

Speaking as something of a hermit who knows very little about the world beyond my immediate bubble I was somewhat stunned by Phantasmagoria. I’ll dive right in. A well balanced and empathetic editorial from Trever Kennedy presages a cornucopia of stuff. So much stuff I have to bunch the original artwork into one comment – […]

Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy presented by David A. Riley. Illustrated by Jim Pitts

A good buffet has something for everyone. Similarly, a good anthology treads the delicate balance of achieving a consistent feel while rewarding the reader with a mix of tales. “Swords & Sorceries: Tales of Heroic Fantasy” achieves this balance as one would expect from a veteran editor. David Riley has previously expressed his fondness for […]

Childe Rolande by Samantha Lee

I can only find one review for Samantha Lee’s Science Fiction novel ‘Childe Rolande’, which is surprising as it is astonishingly good on many levels. The accomplished Ursula K. Le Guin first broached the theme of androgyny in 1969 in The Left Hand of Darkness, a fascinating effort, instrumental in popularizing feminist fiction. The fact […]

Christmas in the Workhouse

Delighted to have received this recommendation from Parallel Universe Publications. Craig Herbertson’s Christmas in the Workhouse & Other Gruesome Tales is: “An ideal present for Christmas for anyone who loves well-written, dark, sardonically macabre stories, complete with several spot illustrations by Chrissie Demant and one illustration by Craig himself.  Published in hardcover with an illustrated […]

Politics, Contemporary News, Scotsmen Abroad, Brexit and all that Jazz

I maintain a discrete silence on politics, contemporary issues and all things modern – largely because my opinions are unclear, uninformed and unintelligible. Fortunately, a good pal has filled this breech with his enjoyable and erudite perspective on the world outside. Well worth a read:   https://lairdofdeutschland.com/2017/04/12/regiment/  

TERROR TALES OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS

Nominated for awards, crammed full of award winning authors, the Terror Tales series, edited by Paul Finch and published by Gray Friar Press, is now on its eighth volume: TERROR TALES OF THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS. Happily I’m in it along with several other Scottish authors whose work I enjoy and admire.  The “Terror Tales”  series […]

Twenty five Published Short Stories, Two Novels and One Collection

Well, that’s it so far. I’m not sure how to proceed. I’ve been delighted with the small success I’ve had in getting things published, not least the latest two – ‘The Other House, the Other Voice’ in ‘Terror Tales of the Scottish Highlands’  edited by Paul Finch and ‘Envelopes’ in Kitchen Sink Gothic’ edited by […]

The Heaven Maker and other Gruesome Tales

A very pleasing review by Stewart Horn of the BFS. http://matthewscottbaker.com/blog/2015/05/book-review-the-heaven-maker-and-other-gruesome-tales-by-craig-herbertson/ ‘The title story is probably the highlight: a grand epic told in a few short chapters about a man trying to rescue his wife from Hell. Reminiscent of Machen’s ‘Great God Pan’ in tone.’ ‘Overall, a satisfying read. A well written mix of the […]

Best British Horror 2015 Editor Johnny Mains

After previous success fans of horror shorts will be delighted to hear of a new work streaming in the Mains Laboratory. A lot of people has been visiting this website recently thanks to this important source. Stories by among others jane jakeman, rosalie parker, conrad williams my pet favourite john llewellyn probert, sara pascoe and […]