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A review by tyrshand
The Conception of Terror: Tales Inspired by M. R. James - Volume 1 by Robert Bathurst, Tom Burke, Pearl Mackie, M.R. James, Jonathan Barnes, Anna Maxwell Martin, Stephen Gallagher, Jeff Rawle, A.K. Benedict, Andy Nyman, Reece Shearsmith, Mark Morris, Alice Lowe, Rosa Coduri
4.0
The stories are modernized and adapted to varying degrees of success but overall I found this a spooky listen. I probably could have done without some of what (I assume) was added soap opera style drama. And the podcast one felt a little ludicrous... Yes, it gave a reason for recordings but I can't imagine anyone listening to that boring, pompous fellow... Let alone a multitude of fans (even if it were a pretty specialized market). Good though there was a cursed abbey to make things better.
It's been a long time since I read any M.R. James so I can't recall if I'd read the original stories or not, but this does make me want to check them out again! Or maybe re-read Arthur Machen's "The Great God Pan" which I find one of the creepiest older tales ever.
Another fun aspect of this collection is recognizing the influences that James had on later horror writers. For instance, I wonder if du Maurier's "Don't Look Now" was inspired by "A View From a Hill."
It's been a long time since I read any M.R. James so I can't recall if I'd read the original stories or not, but this does make me want to check them out again! Or maybe re-read Arthur Machen's "The Great God Pan" which I find one of the creepiest older tales ever.
Another fun aspect of this collection is recognizing the influences that James had on later horror writers. For instance, I wonder if du Maurier's "Don't Look Now" was inspired by "A View From a Hill."