![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Nov. 29th, 2007 02:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
joysilenceThe other day I got my copy of Issue 12 of Supernatural Tales, the quarterly supernatural fiction and reviews magazine edited by David Longhorn. Sadly, Longhorn reports that financial problems are forcing him to stop publishing the Tales in the form of a small paperback book and revert to the old format of a hefty stapled pamphlet (sold at a lower price.) While the change doesn't bother me too much it's a shame to see Longhorn getting so little return on his efforts to shine a spotlight on new and obscure ghost story writers, some of whom have never had their work published before. But what of Issue 12?( My thoughts, with some small spoilers )
Overall I enjoyed the issue and I will certainly be renewing my subscription, especially as the renewal form that came with my copy is randomly illustrated with a fluffy kitten playing in a basket. Longhorn has a personal journal here for those wishing to indulge in a little light stalking.
And while I'm on the topic of periodicals, I should mention that the 3rd issue of the Irish Journal Of Gothic and Horror Studies is now online! I was a bit disappointed with it this time around, since there is relatively little by way of literary criticism, with authors centring almost exclusively on reviews of film and television. I did enjoy Jenny McDonnell's acerbic piece on Tarantino and Rodriguez' diastrous Grindhouse double bill and the horror movie culture that allows such mediocre movies to see the light. The Lost Souls section is always a pleasure, this time shedding light on the life of the little-known Gregory of Tours.
Unfortunately, most of the criticism in this issue is merely average, more reminiscent of a personal fansite than any kind of scholarly effort, and any pretensions to literary status are hampered by the inclusion of some real stinkers. John Exshaw's piece on the recent BBC series Jekyll has to take the cake for sheer, foul-mouthed Daily Mail reader lunacy. Don't let his bigoted views put you off finishing this howler of a 'review' though, else you'll miss the side-splitting finale where the frothing Exshaw rages that "state, church, and women do their best to curb, control and suppress...That which is natural to man" and that the harmless series is the tool of a nationwide conspiracy to oppress white males. He really does think that, and I quite agree with him: things have come to a pretty pass when a man can't even smoke, cheat on his wife and, erm, carve up passers-by in his spare time without those damned lesbians and Indians asking him to stop!
This stuff is beyond pastiche, and the Journal needs to get a grip on itself pronto unless it wants to blow its credibility forever. I'd much rather have a shorter journal than plough through this kind of maniacal filler. And no, none of it's 'controversial', unless controversial has just become a synonym for 'shit on a shingle'. And on that note of sweetness and light, I bid you all good evening :)
Overall I enjoyed the issue and I will certainly be renewing my subscription, especially as the renewal form that came with my copy is randomly illustrated with a fluffy kitten playing in a basket. Longhorn has a personal journal here for those wishing to indulge in a little light stalking.
And while I'm on the topic of periodicals, I should mention that the 3rd issue of the Irish Journal Of Gothic and Horror Studies is now online! I was a bit disappointed with it this time around, since there is relatively little by way of literary criticism, with authors centring almost exclusively on reviews of film and television. I did enjoy Jenny McDonnell's acerbic piece on Tarantino and Rodriguez' diastrous Grindhouse double bill and the horror movie culture that allows such mediocre movies to see the light. The Lost Souls section is always a pleasure, this time shedding light on the life of the little-known Gregory of Tours.
Unfortunately, most of the criticism in this issue is merely average, more reminiscent of a personal fansite than any kind of scholarly effort, and any pretensions to literary status are hampered by the inclusion of some real stinkers. John Exshaw's piece on the recent BBC series Jekyll has to take the cake for sheer, foul-mouthed Daily Mail reader lunacy. Don't let his bigoted views put you off finishing this howler of a 'review' though, else you'll miss the side-splitting finale where the frothing Exshaw rages that "state, church, and women do their best to curb, control and suppress...That which is natural to man" and that the harmless series is the tool of a nationwide conspiracy to oppress white males. He really does think that, and I quite agree with him: things have come to a pretty pass when a man can't even smoke, cheat on his wife and, erm, carve up passers-by in his spare time without those damned lesbians and Indians asking him to stop!
This stuff is beyond pastiche, and the Journal needs to get a grip on itself pronto unless it wants to blow its credibility forever. I'd much rather have a shorter journal than plough through this kind of maniacal filler. And no, none of it's 'controversial', unless controversial has just become a synonym for 'shit on a shingle'. And on that note of sweetness and light, I bid you all good evening :)
