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schomj's review against another edition
2.0
Not sure if I should mark this read or did-not-finish. I did get through three of the stories in this compilation, and enjoyed the world building and the eery tone Blackwood created, but in every one I was disappointed by the ending. I think it was a reflection of the time in which it was written, but I don't want my ghost stories to end with pseudo-scientific rationalizations; if I wanted that, I'd read science fiction. Also, maybe two of the three stories involved actual ghosts, and one of those two only counts if you consider reincarnation as a type of ghost story.
So, saying goodbye to Blackwood and continuing my search for another great (spooky, not gross) Gothic horror author, preferably one with a thing for ghosts.
So, saying goodbye to Blackwood and continuing my search for another great (spooky, not gross) Gothic horror author, preferably one with a thing for ghosts.
mirificmoxie's review against another edition
4.0
I don't think I've ever read anything by Algernon Blackwood before, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection of ghost stories.
To start with, he has one of the coolest names ever, especially for a ghost story writer. I thought at first that it must be a pen name, but it was apparently his real name.
This was a collection of assorted ghost stories. In a forward written by Blackwood for a previous edition, he makes the distinction that these are ghost stories not horror stories. There are no masked psychos or chopped up bodies. Instead, these stories focus on the supernatural or at least the unexplained. One thing I really enjoyed was that the characters often go through spooky situations in a realistic way; they find themselves in an eerie situation and proceed to attempt to rationalize everything they see and hear all the while becoming increasingly frightened. None of the stories were too bizarre, and it was easy to follow along on the adventures. Many of these stories were at least partially inspired by events experienced by Blackwood during his extensive travels throughout Europe and North America. His writing style also adapted depending on the setting. The diction used in the contemporary New York setting for "Max Hensig" was distinctive from that used in the Black Forest setting of "Secret Worship."
His descriptions were amazing. Written with an effortless prose, I had no trouble picturing each scene whether it was a medieval town in France or the Canadian wilderness. Take, for instance, this quote from "The Glamour of the Snow:"
“Like a forest rose the huge peaks above the slumbering village, measuring the night and heavens. They beckoned him. And something born of the snowy desolation, born of the midnight and silent grandeur, born of the great listening hollows of the night, something that lay 'twixt terror and wonder, dropped from the vast wintry spaces down into his heart-- and called him. Very softly, unrecorded in any word or thought his brain could compass, it laid its spell upon him. Fingers of snow brushed the surface of his heart. The power and quiet majesty of the winter's night appalled him....”
There is a certain timelessness to Blackwood's work. These stories were written over a century ago, but they did not feel dated the way many older works do. I also thoroughly enjoyed his diverse vocabulary, which included words such as fecundity, dishabille, and serried. I get a similar feeling when reading most older works. I am not sure if I am simply drawn to those particular works that feature more diverse vocabulary or if the standard for writing was simply higher in those days.
I liked "The Glamour of the Snow" the best and "Ancient Sorceries" the least mainly because that piece seemed a little drawn out and the "cat-like" analogy was over-used. Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I can definitely see how much Blackwood influenced the genre.
I will end with one more quote:
"'It is, alas, chiefly the evil emotions that are able to leave their photographs upon surrounding scenes and objects,' the other added, 'and who ever heard of a place haunted by a noble deed, or of beautiful and lovely ghosts revisiting the glimpses of the moon? It is unfortunate. But the wicked passions of men's hearts alone seem strong enough to leave pictures that persist; the good are ever too lukewarm.'"
To start with, he has one of the coolest names ever, especially for a ghost story writer. I thought at first that it must be a pen name, but it was apparently his real name.
This was a collection of assorted ghost stories. In a forward written by Blackwood for a previous edition, he makes the distinction that these are ghost stories not horror stories. There are no masked psychos or chopped up bodies. Instead, these stories focus on the supernatural or at least the unexplained. One thing I really enjoyed was that the characters often go through spooky situations in a realistic way; they find themselves in an eerie situation and proceed to attempt to rationalize everything they see and hear all the while becoming increasingly frightened. None of the stories were too bizarre, and it was easy to follow along on the adventures. Many of these stories were at least partially inspired by events experienced by Blackwood during his extensive travels throughout Europe and North America. His writing style also adapted depending on the setting. The diction used in the contemporary New York setting for "Max Hensig" was distinctive from that used in the Black Forest setting of "Secret Worship."
His descriptions were amazing. Written with an effortless prose, I had no trouble picturing each scene whether it was a medieval town in France or the Canadian wilderness. Take, for instance, this quote from "The Glamour of the Snow:"
“Like a forest rose the huge peaks above the slumbering village, measuring the night and heavens. They beckoned him. And something born of the snowy desolation, born of the midnight and silent grandeur, born of the great listening hollows of the night, something that lay 'twixt terror and wonder, dropped from the vast wintry spaces down into his heart-- and called him. Very softly, unrecorded in any word or thought his brain could compass, it laid its spell upon him. Fingers of snow brushed the surface of his heart. The power and quiet majesty of the winter's night appalled him....”
There is a certain timelessness to Blackwood's work. These stories were written over a century ago, but they did not feel dated the way many older works do. I also thoroughly enjoyed his diverse vocabulary, which included words such as fecundity, dishabille, and serried. I get a similar feeling when reading most older works. I am not sure if I am simply drawn to those particular works that feature more diverse vocabulary or if the standard for writing was simply higher in those days.
I liked "The Glamour of the Snow" the best and "Ancient Sorceries" the least mainly because that piece seemed a little drawn out and the "cat-like" analogy was over-used. Overall, I really enjoyed this collection of stories. I can definitely see how much Blackwood influenced the genre.
I will end with one more quote:
"'It is, alas, chiefly the evil emotions that are able to leave their photographs upon surrounding scenes and objects,' the other added, 'and who ever heard of a place haunted by a noble deed, or of beautiful and lovely ghosts revisiting the glimpses of the moon? It is unfortunate. But the wicked passions of men's hearts alone seem strong enough to leave pictures that persist; the good are ever too lukewarm.'"
beecatbell's review against another edition
3.0
As with all short story collections, I enjoyed some more than I enjoyed others.
The Wendigo and and The Listener were my two favorite stories included.
The common themes present in Blackwood's stories seemed to be: stout, even-tempered Englishmen, eccentric foreigners, seductive women, forces of Nature, "Other" indescribable entities, and occasionally an actual ghost.
I think to call this the best "ghost stories" is a little deceptive. A better title might have been "best horror stories".
The Wendigo and and The Listener were my two favorite stories included.
The common themes present in Blackwood's stories seemed to be: stout, even-tempered Englishmen, eccentric foreigners, seductive women, forces of Nature, "Other" indescribable entities, and occasionally an actual ghost.
I think to call this the best "ghost stories" is a little deceptive. A better title might have been "best horror stories".
otterno11's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Drawn in by that trippy cover, I recently returned to this collection of eerie weird fiction for the first time in more than a decade. Overall, I felt like I liked it a little less in this rereading, with some stories having stuck in my mind more than others. While this collection may, as per the title, represent the best of turn of the twentieth century English writer Algernon Blackwood’s work, though consisting of far more than what could simply be described as “ghost stories,” I found the tales became a little repetitive by the end. With works spanning 1906-1917 of Blackwood’s career, these stories highlight Blackwood’s talents in building strong atmospheres and mood through his languid pace and well drawn feelings and emotions of his characters. His building of compelling relationships and feelings for his characters, refreshing for a writer of weird tales, is perhaps due to the strong autobiographical elements that appear throughout the collection.
Including a few works featuring his “psychic doctor” character, John Silence (who, it seems, often merely listens to a story one of his clients have already experienced), these tales explore a variety of settings and ideas, from Satan-worshippers in France and Germany, watchful ghosts in the English countryside, and a serial killer stalking New York City. At the same time, there is a focus on certain recurring themes that Blackwood returns to often, particularly the idea of the explicable yet enticing threat of nature. Throughout these stories, Blackwood returns to the idea of the natural world being beautiful and enchanting but imitable to human life, Blackwood writes deliberately with these tales being very slow paced, even ponderous, which in some cases helps to build the atmosphere but in others just drags. As for subject matter, I feel that, while Blackwood was expressing some innovative, modernist takes on supernatural horror, they are, in general, quite traditionalist in subject, and his period’s attitudes towards race and culture can be distracting.
My favorite was definitely “The Willows,” which, I feel, exemplifies and best expresses these motifs, making some of the other works included, like “The Glamour of the Snow,” “Ancient Lights,” or even his famous tale “The Wendigo” feel a little superfluous. Still, for those who enjoyed the stories mentioned above, the John Silence pieces “Secret Worship” and “Ancient Sorceries,” may be of interest and for those who enjoy creepy and personal ghost stories, “The Other Wing” and “The Listener” are gripping and eerie reads. His crime stories, “Max Hensig” in particular, suffured most from a sluggish pace and had the least to offer for me, at least.
As a whole, this is a fairly exemplative exhibition of Algernon Blackwood’s career in general and is representative of his ideas and moods, consisting of perhaps his most essential works.
Including a few works featuring his “psychic doctor” character, John Silence (who, it seems, often merely listens to a story one of his clients have already experienced), these tales explore a variety of settings and ideas, from Satan-worshippers in France and Germany, watchful ghosts in the English countryside, and a serial killer stalking New York City. At the same time, there is a focus on certain recurring themes that Blackwood returns to often, particularly the idea of the explicable yet enticing threat of nature. Throughout these stories, Blackwood returns to the idea of the natural world being beautiful and enchanting but imitable to human life, Blackwood writes deliberately with these tales being very slow paced, even ponderous, which in some cases helps to build the atmosphere but in others just drags. As for subject matter, I feel that, while Blackwood was expressing some innovative, modernist takes on supernatural horror, they are, in general, quite traditionalist in subject, and his period’s attitudes towards race and culture can be distracting.
My favorite was definitely “The Willows,” which, I feel, exemplifies and best expresses these motifs, making some of the other works included, like “The Glamour of the Snow,” “Ancient Lights,” or even his famous tale “The Wendigo” feel a little superfluous. Still, for those who enjoyed the stories mentioned above, the John Silence pieces “Secret Worship” and “Ancient Sorceries,” may be of interest and for those who enjoy creepy and personal ghost stories, “The Other Wing” and “The Listener” are gripping and eerie reads. His crime stories, “Max Hensig” in particular, suffured most from a sluggish pace and had the least to offer for me, at least.
As a whole, this is a fairly exemplative exhibition of Algernon Blackwood’s career in general and is representative of his ideas and moods, consisting of perhaps his most essential works.
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