| Author | Message | ||
     Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.157.26.75 |
Orders now being taken: http://horroranthology.wordpress.com/  You will not want to miss reading this book! | ||
| Karim Ghahwagi (Karim) Username: Karim Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 193.89.189.24 |
Tony those images you created are amazing! | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
My copy of HAofHA arrived today - thanks, Des!  I must say Tony's cover looks even better in the flesh. If I can fit it in my bag, it'll be accompanying me to a Doctor Who con at the weekend to read on the train. Looks very good indeed ... | ||
| Hubert (Hubert) Username: Hubert Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 178.118.74.11 |
Come Xmas Des will launch the sequel upon an unsuspecting world: THE HO OF THE HOHOHO (just joshing, Des) | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.159.146.36 |
There's a HOHA in one of the stories in the HA of HA - i.e. The Horrors of Horror Anthology! | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.159.146.36 |
The website for HA of HA has now got a photo of the "Mindful of Phantoms" shop. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
It's no good - I couldn't wait till the weekend train journey before I started reading HAHA. I had to start on it last night. Surreal, weird and wonderful is the best way to describe it so far. I've encountered anthologies as animate objects which can fall sick, anthologies which take the protagonist back to their past, or show them things they'd rather not see, and anthologies which trap people inside them or drag them to a nasty fate. As they say at McDonalds .. I'm lovin' it! | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
I'm not going to do a Des-style real-time review of HAofHA, but I must give one story I read last night a mention - Reggie Oliver's "Flowers of the Sea". It's the most powerful, most heart-rending, and yet most terrifying story I've ever read. Quite brilliant. Read it and weep. I certainly did anyway. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.253.77 |
Reggie's stuff is often incredible, isn't it? He's a damn fine writer. Damn fine. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.35.248.2 |
God, I hope you're being genuine Caroline! Fantastic. I was feeling flat when my copies came. After all my excitement it was just a book with a story and art in it by me that had become too familiar by half. But being part of something has always felt like that for me - I'm like the Littlest Hobo in that respect. Everywhere I tread seems like a mistake I've made for people, that they'll soon see I've pulled a fast one on them.  | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.35.248.2 |
I've never read Reggie. His name always evokes that drunk off the Fast Show for me. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Of course I'm being genuine, Tony - I always am .. except when I'm joking.  But I'm not joking now. Read Reggie's story first - but only if you feel strong enough. As I said, it is heart-rending stuff - but quite, quite brilliant. Terrifying yet strangely beautiful. Oh, I don't really know how to describe it. Just read it. As for your contribution to HAofHA, Tony, I haven't read your story yet, but your artwork is superb. And there's a "hidden" one inside too! Put it this way, when it comes to nominations for the next BFS awards, you're already on my list as a likely nominee for best cover artwork. Anyway, Tony, I always enjoy your stories - you really shouldn't put yourself down so much you know.  Must read your story next I think ... (I always read anthologies/collections in a strange order) | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.35.248.2 |
Caroline I do all the time! It's my body's way of making sure I stay lazy.  Had a weird dream I met Des last night, on a vast white rocky beach. There were these kind people who kept bringing us food and drink but kept hiding. Me and Des were meant to be talking about books and things but in the end I realised we both had quite different ideas about each other and that we were sort of on the beach alone. It was very quiet but stunningly beautiful and not like anywhere else. | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 217.35.248.2 |
Good Lord. That cover I did for the book fits the first story, and the one I wrote. It could be an illustration for both/either. That is so strange. Oh, it's no longer 'just' a book btw now I've started reading it - it's pretty blooming good! | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.232.251 |
Karim Ghahwagi has started a real-time review of the HA of HA: http://karimghahwagi.com/my-book-reviews/ | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.183.79.202 |
Des - just emailed you about a signed copy. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.153.232.251 |
Another review: http://matthewfryer.com/2011/07/16/the-horror-anthology-of-horror-anthologies/ | ||
| Mick Curtis (Mick) Username: Mick Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 86.181.214.210 |
Got mine today - thanks Des. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 81.153.251.119 |
Karim finished his real-time review yesterday: http://karimghahwagi.com/my-book-reviews/  | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 81.153.251.119 |
ra ra ra. Who hasn't read this book yet? It's probably not as good as you are entitled to expect but hopefully better than you hope. http://anthony-watson.blogspot.com/2011/07/horror-anthology-of-horror-anthologie s.html | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.137.168.78 |
The Horror Anthology of Horror Anthologies. Another review: http://noondaystars.blogspot.com/2011/08/horror-anthology-of-horror-anthologies. html By the way, are there any here yet who have decided this book lives up to its title (or not)? | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
I haven't read it all yet, Des, so too early to say for me. I have a strange way of reading collections and anthologies - I keep dipping in and out of different ones at different points in each book. I rarely read one from cover to cover before starting on the next. So I'm not even reading the reviews yet as it might give me too many spoilers. But from what I've read of HAHA so far, I'd say "yes" in answer to your question. Reggie Oliver's story in particular should win some awards as far as I'm concerned. | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.253.77 |
Doesn't everyone read anthologies that way? I know I do, because I always have about 20 on the go any any given time. I'm still reading anthologies from twenty-odd years ago... | ||
| Huw (Huw) Username: Huw Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 61.216.47.109 |
I'm the same way with anthologies. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Oh great, you two have made me feel "normal"! I thought most people finished one anthology/collection before moving on to the next. Glad I'm not odd then ...  | ||
| Zed (Gary_mc) Username: Gary_mc Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.96.253.77 |
I do that if I pick up an antho that strikes me as immediately brilliant - otherwise, it's the dip method. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.137.168.78 |
http://www.blackabyss.co.uk/2011/08/the-horror-anthology-of-horror-anthologies-e dited-by-d-f-lewis/ Another review of the HA of HA. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.137.168.78 |
I thought some may be interested that I've just started an Editor's Story-by-Story Commentary of the HA of HA: http://horroranthology.wordpress.com/editors-story-by-story-commentary/ This exercise is a hybrid of the Real-Time Review that I've been writing since 2008 about various books. I did a similar commentary for 'CERN ZOO' and 'NULL IMMORTALIS'. [As an aside, I only realised in the last few days that 'immortalis' is an anagram of 'immoralist']. des | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.159.146.177 |
Just renovated the Horror Anthology of Horror Anthologies website. Currently a generous offer on Amazon.co.uk for this sizeable anthology. http://horroranthology.wordpress.com/ | ||
| Protodroid (Protodroid) Username: Protodroid Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 89.19.81.238 |
Des, sit down. You're spilling your pint all over the place. | ||
| Steve Bacon (Stevebacon) Username: Stevebacon Registered: 09-2008 Posted From: 90.204.111.205 |
I'm just over halfway through this book, and so far it's been excellent. Very enjoyable. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.143.98.239 |
A real time review by Ginger Nuts of Horror: http://thegingernutcase.blogspot.com/2011/09/starting-this-week.html | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.143.98.239 |
The first instalment is now live http://thegingernutcase.blogspot.com/2011/09/horror-anthology-of-horror-antholog ies.html | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.143.98.239 |
I have customer-tested both Amazon UK and Amazon USA and the paper they use for their own printing is first-class. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.143.98.239 |
This is Nick Jackson's very detailed review for ISMs Press of the whole HA of HA: http://ismspress.wordpress.com/2011/09/22/the-horror-anthology-of-horror-antholo gies/ | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.143.98.239 |
http://wwwbillblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/kind-of-face-you-slash-day-6-dust-that.h tml This review just came out of the blue. Blimey! | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.143.98.239 |
Just in: http://horrorworld.org/hw/2011/10/the-horror-anthology-of-horror-anthologies/ | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.143.98.239 |
Ginger Nuts continues their real-time review of the HA of HA: http://thegingernutcase.blogspot.com/2011/09/horror-anthology-of-horror-antholog ies.html Congrats to Christopher (Morris) re the review of his story. Not seen him here for a while. Anyone hear from him? | ||
| Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 12.165.240.116 |
I'm here, Des -- just haven't posted much lately. (Busy month.) Many thanks to Ginger Nuts for the kind review, and thanks to you, Des, for linking it here. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.143.98.239 |
Hi, Chris. It's strange - without our interchange here on RCMB after the deadline for submissions, your story would never have been published in the HA of HA at all. I'm glad I gave it reading which I was originally inclined not to do as I thought the book was already complete. I now know it was only complete when your story turned up! | ||
| Chris_morris (Chris_morris) Username: Chris_morris Registered: 04-2008 Posted From: 71.228.39.43 |
Well, you're very kind to say so, Des. I feel very fortunate that things worked out the way they did, and to be in the company of such fine writers. Thanks again for going against your original inclinations (better judgment?) and including my story. | ||
| Gary Fry (Gary_fry) Username: Gary_fry Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 82.26.114.108 |
Cheat, cheat, cheat! Good review, guys. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 81.131.175.228 |
Another HA of HA review. http://adamscantwell.blogspot.com/2011/10/review-horror-anthology-of-horror.html | ||
| Tony (Tony) Username: Tony Registered: 03-2008 Posted From: 81.157.19.141 |
And a nice one for me! Have been well and truly chuffed by this. (Hey - where are the 'like' buttons on this thing?) | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.159.145.243 |
Zencore author TIM NICKELS: Now, could The Horror Anthology of Horror Anthologies be the most remarkable of your many editorships, dear des? Stand out stories by Colin Insole, Joel Lane, Tony Lovell, David Matthew, Reggie Oliver, Rosanne Rabinowitz, Mark Valentine and D.P. Watt. Is it truly possible to find a favourite? Odious even to single out any among the fine, fierce flowers growing in the wild place beyond the HA-HA. And I think "Flowers of the Sea" has perhaps the slightest of edges on all the others: rarely has a story torn itself out of the page and taken on a something-elseness, a state beyond writing and reading. I was seriously wondering (correction: I continue to wonder) whether Reggie was employing some sort of hypno-word rhythm to lure the reader's mind into another place. But what of the bleak, careful beauty of "The Follower"? And the warmth and final joy of "The Pearl and the Boil"? The quiet *effectiveness* of "All His Worldly Goods"? Thank you - I loved it. | ||
| Carolinec (Carolinec) Username: Carolinec Registered: 06-2009 Posted From: 92.232.199.129 |
Ah, another person who was so hypnotised by Reggie's story in the Ha of Ha! I consider it to be one of the best short stories I've read in years. In fact, possibly THE best. | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.159.145.243 |
Thanks, Caroline. And has any editor worked so hard for a book's stories?! Here you can link to each story's reviews grouped together (well, some of each): http://nullimmortalis.wordpress.com/2012/01/20/the-ha-of-ha-contents-and-reviews / | ||
| Des (Des) Username: Des Registered: 09-2010 Posted From: 86.158.58.16 |
Great review of the HA of HA ending: http://reviews.futurefire.net/2012/01/lewis-ed-horror-anthology-of-horror.html ending: Although I have attempted to categorise the stories in this volume for the purposes of this review, but I should reiterate the the editor has done no such thing, rather through the effectively random sequence and lack of introduction letter each story speak for itself. To take this as a lack of editorial oversight would be an error, however, since this is a carefully crafted anthology as memorable as any of the fictional anthologies in the stories within, and the influence of the inimitable D.F. Lewis is clearly recognizable. I would not be at all surprised if several stories in this volume were nominated or honorably mentioned in the year’s awards and anthologies. |