| Author | Message | ||
     Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.29.80 |
Hello, all, I am extremely happy to announce my next publication: Burning Effigy Press has confirmed that the next title in their stellar line of Horror chapbooks will be my novelette of supernatural terror, 'Primeval Wood.' At some 14,000 words, 'Primeval Wood' is the most substantial work of fiction I've published to date. It is a tale of loss and wonderment, of fear and of the great Mysteries that conceal themselves in dim, secluded woodlands. I am very proud of this tale and am equally proud to have it published by Burning Effigy; whose line of Horror chapbooks includes Nicholas Kaufmann's 'General Slocum's Gold,' which was a finalist for the Bram Stoker Award, and the acclaimed 'Words Written Backwards,' by my friend and brilliant author Gemma Files. 'Primeval Wood' will be available in a handsome and affordable paperback chapbook in time for the 2009 World Horror Convention. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
This sounds great, Richard - I'll certainly keep an eye out for the release and order a copy. | ||
| Simon_b (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
Congratulations, Richard! | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.29.80 |
Thanks, brother. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.29.80 |
Thank you, Simon, 'tis greatly appreciated. | ||
| Jonathan (Jonathan) Username: Jonathan Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 91.143.178.131 |
Congrats Richard! Sounds fantastic | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.178.120 |
Congratulations! I love the sound of this, and will definitely look out for it. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.11.219 |
Congrats Richard! | ||
| Simon_b (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
So there you have it- many of us will officially be getting 'Wood' because of Richard... Um... I'll get me coat. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 83.98.9.4 |
That's nearly as good as one of my jokes. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.29.80 |
My sincere thanks to Jonathan, Huw, and Allybird. And a special thanks to Simon_b, as he has officially opened the floodgate to a universe of potential double entendres!  | ||
| Simon_b (Simon_b) Username: Simon_b Registered: 10-2008 Posted From: 86.24.165.182 |
You're more than welcome.  I know you'd've done better, Weber. Still, Joel would've beaten us both at this game... | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 38.113.181.169 |
I've already started lining up for it. Could someone bring me some hot chocolate? It's pretty cold out here. | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.159.141.80 |
Just noticed this thread - huge congratulations, Richard! | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.209.220.3 |
Congratulations, Richard. This sounds great. Lovin' the title and synopsis. I'm nearly finished with Omens and I'm thoroughly enjoying every page. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.11.219 |
Joel...please come back. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.11.219 |
It would be great to get to WHC 2009 - Great for us all to get together again like WHC 2007. As that limo pulled away I thought - will I ever get to one again? There is always 2010 with Mick, Debs and all...that seems all so far away. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 38.113.181.169 |
I don't think anyone is going to WHC09 Ally... other than Conrad Williams. WHC10 seems to be where the action is. I'm contemplating it as well. Or, perhaps a WFC as I've never been to one of those. Hard to say, hard to choose. | ||
| Jamie Rosen (Jamie) Username: Jamie Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 192.26.212.72 |
I'm vaguely thinking of WHC09, but... Winnipeg? And it's a month before Wiscon, which is something of a habit for me. And then WorldCon is less than 2 hours from here... | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.157.25.29 |
Well done, Richard. des | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Thank you, all! I'm really happy to hear that you're enjoying OMENS, Steve. Re: World Horror. It's a pipe-dream at this point, but I would like to attend both the 2009 and 2010 World Horrors. If it comes down to only being able to afford one, (which, I'll be honest, is more than likely to be the case) I'd have to say that I'm more inclined to cross the pond and attend the Brighton WHC. I can feel it in me bones, that's gonna be a good 'un. Simon: I've put a 911 call in for some cocoa. There are 50 ccs of Swiss w/marshmallows being rushed to you via ambulance as I type this. And, yes: Joel, come back! Best, Richard | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.167.124.223 |
Yes congrats! And yes Joel cometh back hither! | ||
| Michael_kelly (Michael_kelly) Username: Michael_kelly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 207.188.67.27 |
Good news, Richard! Congratulations! Mr. Strantzas, I thought we were renting a van and driving to Winnipeg. No? | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 69.157.29.80 |
Thanks, Mike! And Simon: I call Shotgun for the Winnipeg van ride! Think of it, the trip could play out like Kerouac's ON THE ROAD, but with horror writers... Scary yet tempting, no? | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 38.113.181.169 |
I don't know how much of that is pillow-talk. You guys let me know and if you both are serious, I'm game. | ||
| Michael_kelly (Michael_kelly) Username: Michael_kelly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 207.188.64.120 |
Simon, Hmmm ... let me mull it. I'd really like to make the con in Brighton. So might have to count my pennies. I don't know. Anyone here planning on going to Winnipeg? | ||
| Jamie Rosen (Jamie) Username: Jamie Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 192.26.212.72 |
I think Allybird is, and I'm debating it. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.11.219 |
Wish I had the money Jamie. John Travis was going to have his collection launched there but Humdrumming has gone now and that leaves John looking for a new publisher. World Fantasy next year in California would be fun but don't know the way to San Jose ...:>) | ||
| Jamie Rosen (Jamie) Username: Jamie Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 159.208.34.100 |
Ah, I misunderstood your post above. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Easily done. | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.11.219 |
Jamie :>) I was drinking wine that night hence the post. Gary - I hate you (aaaagain.) | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.92.48.120 |
A shameless, wanking bump for this thread: Burning Effigy Press has announced that the official release date for 'Primeval Wood' will be Friday, May 29th. For those who are interested, you can place orders directly through the publisher's website: http://www.burningeffigy.com/ beginning on that date. And if any of you fancy crossing the pond that weekend, Burning Effigy will be hosting an official launch party in Toronto. You're all welcome to attend. Even the notorious S.S. will likely be making an appearance! Best, Richard | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 218.168.190.163 |
I'm looking forward to reading PRIMEVAL WOOD, Richard. Sounds like just my kind of thing. | ||
| Matt_cowan (Matt_cowan) Username: Matt_cowan Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 68.79.169.219 |
Congratulations! | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 74.210.25.124 |
I hope the SS doesn't come. The last thing "Norwegian Wood" needs is a bunch of jackboots ruining things for everyone! | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.92.48.120 |
Thanks so much, Matt and Huw. I hope you both enjoy the story. Oh, come now, Simon; we both know that I prefer you to wear the jackboots for our more...ahem...*private* launches. Your customary attire of French maid uniform with heels will suffice for the public party. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
Looking forward to this one, mate. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.92.48.120 |
Cheers, Zed. I think between my last book and this one, you've published somewhere in the neighbourhood of six or seven hundred new works, so I'm trying to make up some lost ground here. | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.167.124.163 |
Congrats on the release :-) | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Thank you, Karim. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 99.225.104.255 |
 | ||
| Mark_lynch (Mark_lynch) Username: Mark_lynch Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.171.129.72 |
Looks good, Richard. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Thanks to Simon for posting the cover art, and to Mark for the kind words on it. This should be a handsome little chapbook. A mere five days and Primeval Wood will be unleashed... | ||
| Allybird (Allybird) Username: Allybird Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 79.70.7.151 |
Congrats Richard. Beautiful cover. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.166.189.17 |
Congratulations, Richard. I look forward to buying it and doing a real-time review on it. des | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
Great stuff, mate. This is certainly on my to-buy list. | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 80.163.6.13 |
Woods and mist- just came out of Von Triers Antichrist- lots of woods and mist brrr. Congrats again! | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
My thanks to all! It's still a bit a shock to me to learn that a buzz is building over something I wrote...a very pleasant shock, but a shock nonetheless. I look forward to seeing your review, Des. I hope everyone likes it. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 38.113.181.169 |
I'm sure we'll not only like but love Des's review, Richard, so no need to hope it's the case. We can't wait to read the thrashing he gives you-- Oh, wait! You mean you hope we like "Primeval Wood"! Well... here's hoping miracles can happen! | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
You know, once I posted my comment I realized that my wording was off. I thought 'Well, that line *does* make it sound as though I'm referring to Des's review rather than "Primeval Wood", but I'm sure no one will mind...' Then, lo and behold, along comes Stickler Simon, Lieutenant of the Prose Police. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.166.189.17 |
My review is lkely to cut down Richard's wood for a huge log fire. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
TIIIIIIMMMMMMBERRRR! | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 194.176.105.47 |
I'd quite like to get my hands on Richard's wood | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
No need to push and shove, folks, I've got wood enough for you all... | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 67.71.36.244 |
Hello, folks, Primeval Wood is now officially available for purchase! A copy can be yours for a mere $8.00. You can visit the Burning Effigy Press Online Store: http://www.burningeffigy.com/store.shtml I hope to see some RCMB members at the Toronto launch tomorrow night. Best, Richard | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 99.225.104.255 |
I would, but I'll be washing my hair tomorrow. | ||
| Michael_kelly (Michael_kelly) Username: Michael_kelly Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 70.31.57.48 |
Richard, I'm afraid I'm at work from 4 pm 'til 1 am Sunday. If you're at the next HWA dinner in June, I'll pick one up from you then. Hope the launch is a great success! | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Thanks, Mike. I don't know if I'll be at the HWA dinner yet or not, but we'll work something out. Simon, that works out perfectly. After all, I've moved the launch party to your bathroom. Didn't you get the memo? | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.244.146.52 |
Ordered and looking forward to it. Richard; if you can organise this, feel free to dedicated my booklet. cheers. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 67.71.36.244 |
Tom: Thank you very much, my friend. Monica, the owner of Burning Effigy Press, will be at the launch tonight. I'll check to see if your copy has been packaged up yet. If it has not, I'll be sure to inscribe it for you. All the best, Richard | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 99.225.104.255 |
Just about to leave for the Burning Effigy launch party. If I never post again, it's because Richard has done something ... unfortunate ... to me for causing a ruckus while he was pretending to be a "professional". Hee hee! | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 38.113.181.169 |
Richard managed to avoid looking at me while I danced in hot pants during his reading, so I survived. Mr Gavin read last, and as I was there for the entire night I was able to hear all the other authors. This allows me to say, without a doubt, Richard's was my favourite of the evening. Now, of course I'm biased -- I did attend only for Richard's portion of the evening -- but I didn't care for any of the other work presented (other than Gemma Files). Each had various things wrong with them, from style of prose to style of presentation, but Richard's suffered none of these. And "Primeval Wood"! Based on the read excerpt, I can't wait to dig in. It weeps with Machen, but only in tribute, not in pastiche. Richard's work never fails to inspire me to write better than I do, and that I think is as true of mark of quality as any award can muster. I wish I were able to buy two copies, but these hot pants don't pay for themselves... yet! | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Simon: Did you notice how I was straining to keep my eyes fixed on the page while I read? No small feat, let me tell you. Imagine trying to read horror when the Notorious Mr. S. is just a metre or two away, cutting a rug in hot pants. Thank you for your very kind words. I confess that the early reaction I've received for "Primeval Wood" has already surpassed my hopes. Last night was apparently the largest turnout Burning Effigy Press has ever had. Your compliments on my writing are *tremendously* appreciated. I'll reserve a second copy of the chapbook for when you manage to get enough bills in your hot pants to purchase it... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
I ordered this last week, Richard - really looking forward to it once it wings its way across the ocean. | ||
| Tom_alaerts (Tom_alaerts) Username: Tom_alaerts Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.240.13.77 |
I have Richard's 2 collections (yep, I was one of the early buyers of Charnel Wine!), and until now I prefer the story with the succubus. Curious how this will be. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 99.225.104.255 |
Just finished Primeval Wood today. Marvellous. I don't know how familiar everyone here is with Richard's work in the past, but he's been known (to me at least) as writing a style a bit more Baroque than most of his peers. A bit antiquated at times. This style is one I love reading, but I've always worried it was a bit of an acquired taste. I suspect Richard may have worried about this too as this novella represents (I think) the first sojourn into a different style, a style similar on the surface to what many people are comfortable with, yet still retaining some of the striking prose, imagery, and themes of his previous work. It's not often I get jealous of my peers while reading their work (as Gary Fry suggests, I'm too busy looking for stray semicolons) but I feel jealous reading Richard's work. If I felt his work wasn't given exposure enough before, I certainly feel double about it now. There is a Machenesque sense of mysticism in the work, but unlike the work of others (like me, for instance) the mystical world operating in Richard's work seems wholly formed and complete, even if it's only hinted at. There is a strange beauty in what he writes, in the messages he convey, that floor me. I know the feeling sometimes is that everyone here talks each other up and fluffs and pimps and none of it means any more than it does when the other small press authors do it on the other side of the ocean, but I assure you that when I do it, that's not the case. Richard's going to explode, I think, in the coming year, and this is the first sign of it. If you haven't, buy Primeval Wood and see for yourselves. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 99.225.104.255 |
Sorry, that went from review to sales pitch in a hurry. I should probably waited a bit until I was less excited before posting! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
I've already ordered this, and am looking forward to eeading it. I suspect it'll take a while to arrive...the email I received said 4 to 6 weeks! | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Thank you so much for your kind words, Simon. I'm very proud of Primeval Wood and hope that others enjoy it as much as you did. Zed: Hopefully your order will arrive much sooner than that. The folks at Burning Effigy are really on top of things...of course once the order leaves their office its fate is in the hands of the postal service, so it might well fall into an alternate dimension for a little while before reaching you. | ||
| Laird Barron (Laird) Username: Laird Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 71.212.56.70 |
"...none of it means any more than it does when the other small press authors do it on the other side of the ocean..." ??? | ||
| Laird Barron (Laird) Username: Laird Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 71.212.56.70 |
And yes, PW is quite brilliant. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 99.225.104.255 |
"...none of it means any more than it does when the other small press authors do it on the other side of the ocean..." It's a reference to another messageboard, Laird. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.92.54.171 |
Laird wrote: "And yes, PW is quite brilliant." Cheers, Laird! Greatly appreciated. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
Richard - the chapbook arrived today, and what a lovely thing it is! I shall devour it this evening. Then I'll spit it out, dry the bits off on the radiator, piece them together and read it. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Cheers, Zed. I recommend eating it with a dollop of Wasabi; it gives the paper that little extra kick. I'm glad the book arrived safely and swiftly. Here's hoping you dig the story! | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
I've just read "Primeval Wood". For what it's worth, here are my thoughts: It's easily the best thing of yours I've read and I devoured it in one sitting. The imagery was lovely; the descriptions often beautiful as well as creepy. The only weakness, IMHO, was a personal taste thing, I guess: I knew exactly where the ending was going. As I read the piece, I really hoped it wouldn't go that way, but it did. The final coda, though, saved the day, and the last lines were both powerful and strangely exhilerating (if that makes any sense). Overall, though, I certainly enjoyed it. You get better with each new tale I read, and your prose style here is wonderfully clean and succinct whilst still retaining the poetic quality of your earlier work. In short: very good stuff, very much recommended. | ||
| Laird Barron (Laird) Username: Laird Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 71.212.74.18 |
Zed: I concur about divining the ending and personal taste. I think there's a virtue in satisfying expectations rather than trying to force an off the wall ending if it just isn't there. For me, it's the journey -- I can't say many endings have surprised me except for the particulars of Blood Meridian. I note many readers love to learn their assumptions are correct. | ||
| Simon Strantzas (Nomis) Username: Nomis Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 38.113.181.169 |
I think often (and this may or may not be the case here specifically) people read books and say "I saw the ending coming" but what they really mean is "that ending was inevitable". I think there's a big difference, and that difference is at what point in the process the reader feels the ending was obvious. I submit that in good fiction the reader rarely knows until they last line, when his or her mind can work backwards and retroactively fill in the gaps. "Of course the bulter did it," he says. "I knew it on page 10." Perhaps. But also perhaps you had an inkling, but also had the same inkling about three other characters and only when the pieces fell into place was that ending inevitable. An inevitable ending shouldn't be changed for the sake of being surprising. And a good writer knows how to make his endings inevitable. The real trick is to hide that inevitability for as long as possible. | ||
| Laird Barron (Laird) Username: Laird Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 71.212.74.18 |
Agreed. I've used exactly that term many a time. The "surprise ending" is a rare beast. If an ending is earned, I'm happy, whether I figured it out on paragraph one or the last sentence. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Thanks, Gary and Laird. Gary: Your honesty's appreciated. I certainly see where you're coming from with guessing how PW would unfold, but in a strange way I *wanted* to telegraph the outcome. It was my hope that readers would enjoy the journey, as Laird said. I'm glad you both did. I'll try and circumlocute here so that I don't drop spoilers, but it was my intention to put the reader in Neil's shoes: You have a strange encounter on your holiday. You suspect something unearthly and awful has happened and *is* happening. Worse, everywhere you turn for answers *seems* to be confirming your worst suspicisions. Can nature do this? Is this illness, metaphor, coincidence? If you take that final leap of faith, will you truly be down that rabbit hole? Does one shut off such avenues of meditation or do they follow them to see where they lead? Neil followed, and...well... It's a story about faith and reality; my way of saying, "Yeah, these monstrous things you imagine could be real when you see them out of the corner of your eye? Well, they are." I'm not sure if this trick worked or not. I think your critiques are completely valid, Zed, and I'm glad that the prose redeemed the ending a bit for you. I think you'll find that the batch of stories I've got on the horizon have endings that will pull the rug out from under you in some pretty major ways. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
My post crossed with Simon's and Laird's: Agreed on your points, gents. Twist endings can be delightful, but they can just as easily be cheap. Not that I'm saying you were seeking cheap kicks, Gary! (Not with this, at least!) Best, Richard | ||
| Laird Barron (Laird) Username: Laird Registered: 05-2008 Posted From: 71.212.74.18 |
I telegraph endings all the time and with relish. On the more extreme occasions, it's sort of analogous to realizing you're going to trip, so you attempt a Jerry Lewis pratfall to keep from landing on your face. | ||
| Weber_gregston (Weber_gregston) Username: Weber_gregston Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 195.8.175.44 |
The best endings are the one's which ARE telegraphed but you still don't see them. Best example I can think of for that is Fight Club. second time round, that's an entirely different story and you wonder how you didn't see it. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
Good points, Laird and Weber. One other point (a pretty obvious one, I know) is that endings are generally two-fold: you have the apparent ending, which is conveyed through the actions and dialogue, and then you have the subtextual ending; that chewy centre of the story where the reader can ask his or herself what they *think* happened in the story and what it means to them. I think it was Lord Dunsany who once said that the only proper reaction to the end of a story is "Ah, of course!" Sometimes it's a shocker, but other times it's a relentless culmination of mood rather than events that can no other way without it being a cheap U-turn for the sake of novelty. Take, for instance, Steinbeck's THE GRAPES OF WRATH, or Eugene O'Neill's A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT; we know both stories are bleak from the beginnigngoing to get bad and bleak, but we follow the characters anyway. It may be a glimmer of hope that we cling to, but ultimately we know we're headed for a face-plant, like Laird said. And now that my head is filled with images of Jerry Lewis... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
Yep, I enjoyed the story a lot Richard. I didn't think the ending was telegraphed, or even inevitable, I just suspected that was where it was going. Without giving away any spoilers, I was hoping the climax would be slightly different. Like I say, though, it's just my personal taste. It certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of a top notch tale... | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.241.143 |
A good recent example of what I mean is Conrad Williams' "Rain". I thought that was going down a similar route to your novella, but it went another way completely and the whole became stronger for that. Am I making sense? probably not. Oh, I know what I mean. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.92.55.240 |
Zed wrote: "Without giving away any spoilers, I was hoping the climax would be slightly different. Like I say, though, it's just my personal taste. It certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of a top notch tale." Thanks, brother, 'tis appreciated. Your opinions are 100% valid (and yes, you are making sense) and I'm glad you were honest about the ending. Overall you thought the tale was a real good 'un, which sits just peachy with me. Best, Richard | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 213.219.8.243 |
Oh, yes. Yes indeedy, it's a good 'un. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.163.171.146 |
Just received the copy I bought. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.163.171.146 |
A DFL real-time review in one sitting, upon the 40th anniversary of Neil's visit to the Moon. Primeval Wood by Richard Gavin (Burning Effigy Press 2009) Having real-timed reviewed Richard Gavin's collection OMENS HERE, I couldn't wait till I entered that 'often parish' again ... so the arrival of this novelette in my bungalow-house today was timely in order to expunge such cravings. As well as being a fan of Gavinostic fiction, I am a lover of Proustian works, too... and here we have a concept of Proustian weekends, whereby the protagonist, Neil, spent self-indulgent decadent periods insulated within his bed bloating, tripping and reading... No wonder that another point-of-view (his girl freind Kate) left him for yet another point-of-view (Darren) - and Neil goes to the holiday cottage alone instead of with Kate. Let's cut a long story sort, Neil, upon his voyage of discovery to a wooden consciousness (as tutored by a believable (!) discussion forum on the internet) to become ... to become what? A spoiler in himself for other points-of-view to suffer? A muse that is the author himself rather than an external force? An Aickmenesque 'fetish' of textured Nature? He is these and more. Leaviing the reader himself literally growing out of Primeval Wood or even, perhaps, being sodomised by the wooden soul within its pages' paper? [Kate left Neil a note early on saying 'We're Done' on the medicine chest mirror. NightSun on the internet forum may also notice that the holiday cottage had a note faded out into: WE___ME.] | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.163.171.146 |
I've slightly revised the review published above and put it here: http://weirdmonger.blog-city.com/primeval_wood__by_richard_gavin.htm | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.92.53.244 |
Thanks, Des! I'm glad you enjoyed Primeval Wood...at least, I *think* you enjoyed it based on this write up. Regardless, I was happy to learn that my novelette made an impression. I appreciate the review. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 06-2008 Posted From: 86.163.171.146 |
I really enjoyed it, Richard. There is stuff in it even I couldn't find. You can quote me on that. | ||
| Richard_gavin (Richard_gavin) Username: Richard_gavin Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 65.110.174.71 |
I think I shall have to, Des! And how could I not be flattered when my story was labelled "Aickmanesque"? |