Books I Read in April 2023

Three books this month.

The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers (Poisoned Pen Press, 2021)

I’ve been wanting to read The King in Yellow ever since learning about it from the first season of True Detective. I finally got around to reading it after finding an edition that I liked. I enjoyed the four King in Yellow stories a lot. They were dream-like, atmospheric, and eerie. I see why they are so well regarded, why H. P. Lovecraft was impressed with them, and why they became part of his Cthulhu Mythos. 

The collection also includes four stories about art students in Paris based on the author’s experiences studying abroad. I liked three of those stories much more than I thought I would.

Full review here: 

We Learn by Writing: The King in Yellow by Robert W. Chambers

In a Lonely Place by Karl Edward Wagner (Valancourt Books, 2023)

I’m a big fan of Karl Edward Wagner’s sword and sorcery stories about Kane the eternal wanderer and I’ve been looking forward to reading some of his horror fiction. Unfortunately except for ebook editions of Kane, his work is out of print and goes for pretty high prices. Thanks to Valancourt Books we have a new edition of his 1983 horror short story collection, In a Lonely Place. 

While I liked some stories more than others, I thought every story was excellent, which isn’t usually the case with collections and anthologies. I really like Wagner’s prose, the atmosphere of his stories, and his endings. I also like how Wagner slips in references to books, movies, pulp magazines, and bookstores. They’re fun little additions. This is a fantastic collection. Here’s hoping we get more Karl Edward Wagner in print again soon. 

Full review here: 

We Learn by Writing: In a Lonely Place by Karl Edward Wagner

Darkness Weaves by Karl Edward Wagner (Gateway Essentials, 2014)

A sorceress seeking revenge recruits Kane to command her navy against the king that disfigured her. It’s sword & sorcery Karl Edward Wagner style with naval battles, swordplay, sea monsters, and a Lovecraftian pre-human race with powerful weapons of war. There was a point where things slowed down as we followed some of the other characters around but overall, it was a wild and enjoyable read.

With this eBook I’ve read all the Kane books and most of the short stories that are available. As with his horror fiction, here's hoping that all the Kane stories get back into print soon. 

In a Lonely Place by Karl Edward Wagner

I’m a big fan of Karl Edward Wagner’s sword and sorcery stories about Kane the Eternal Wanderer and I’ve been looking forward to reading some of his horror fiction. Unfortunately, except for ebook editions of Kane, his work is out of print and goes for pretty high prices. Thanks to Valancourt Books we have a new edition of his 1983 horror short story collection, In a Lonely Place. 

This 2023 edition includes a new introduction by Ramsey Campbell and an extra story, “More Sinned Against,” which was included in the Scream Press special edition but not in the original paperback. It also includes the afterword from the Scream Press edition in which Wagner briefly talks about writing and then gives details about the origins of each story. While I liked some stories more than others, I thought every story was outstanding in its own way.

After reading each story I listened to episodes of The Dark Crusade Podcast, a podcast dedicated to the works of Wagner. They provide interesting reviews and background information about the stories. Highly recommended. 

“In the Pines”

A couple is staying at a cabin in the mountains of Tennessee when the husband finds an old painting of a woman. When he talks to the locals he learns about some tragic events connected with the cabin. The more he learns, the more he becomes fascinated with the woman in the painting. From the lonely atmosphere of the opening paragraphs to the use of lyrics from “In the Pines,” an old bluegrass song, to the final lines, this is such a haunting story.

“Where the Summer Ends”

It’s summer in Knoxville, Tennessee and Mercer is refurbishing an old house in a rundown neighborhood. He wants to buy a mantle from junk and antique dealer Gradie. The neighborhood they live in is rundown and the area is covered in kudzu vines. During a visit with Gradie, something startles Mercer’s girlfriend Linda and Gradie blasts it with his shotgun. Was it a rat or something else? 

This story features kudzu, an invasive vine native to Japan and southeast China. It was brought to the US as a tool for soil erosion but grows out of control very quickly. It’s something you see a lot of in the south where I grew up. I liked how Wagner makes kudzu seem eerie and ominous. 

“Sticks” 

Illustrator Colin Leverett is hiking in a remote area of upstate New York. After coming across strange lashed together frameworks of sticks and making sketches of them, he has a terrifying encounter but escapes. Years later he is given an assignment to provide art for a collection of horror books and he uses his old sketches as reference. Bad things start happening. A great story and a great addition to Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. 

Wagner based “Sticks” on an experience artist Lee Brown Coye had. When asked why his drawings often featured sticks, Coye talked about having once come across “a stick laden farmhouse.” Coye did the illustrations for Manly Wade Wellman’s Worse Things Waiting and Hugh B. Cave’s Murgunstrum and Others. Both were originally published by Carcosa Books, which was founded by Wagner and his two partners, David Drake and Jim Groce. 

This story may have influenced the film The Blair Witch Project (1999) as that film also features strange stick figures. Season one of the series True Detective (2014) also features similar figures. 

“The Fourth Seal”

After a doctor begins working at a medical research facility he begins to suspect that not is all as it seems. It’s been years since this story about a conspiracy in the medical profession was published but it still holds up today.

“More Sinned Against” 

A young woman dreams of becoming a star in Hollywood but finds success elusive and sinks lower and lower. A dark story that involves sex, drugs, and degradation. I wasn’t sure what to think of this one as I was reading it but the ending saved it for me. 

“.220 Swift”

Folklore researcher Eric Brandon helps archeologist Morris Kenlaw who is looking for evidence of Spanish mines in the mountains of North Carolina. Brandon brings up the fact that the Cherokee have legends about a race of people who mined in the area even before the Cherokee arrived. Brandon guides Kenlaw to a remote cave and they explore. There was one revelation towards the end that pulled me out of the story a little, but it wasn’t enough to ruin it for me. It ties in with the name of the story which is a type of bullet. The other revelations and the ending more than make up for it.

I got a real Manly Wade Wellman vibe from this story. I wasn’t surprised when I read in Wagner’s afterword that he had borrowed Wellman’s research material.

“The River of Night’s Dreaming”

A prisoner survives a bus crash and swims towards distant lights, eventually finding refuge with two mysterious women. A dream-like story that goes from dark to darker. There’s a BDSM scene that took me out of the story but with further reflection it fits with what seems to be one of the themes of the story, constraint. Some of Wagner’s horror stories are much darker than his sword & sorcery stories. 

This story is inspired by The King in Yellow stories by Robert Chambers. Nerd that I am, when I got to this story I pulled my copy of The King in Yellow off the shelf and finally read the four stories (they were great) before proceeding. This story reminded me of “The Repairer of Reputations” by Chambers, and not just because Wagner uses a number of names from that story, but also because of how the story played out at the end. Something Wagner points out in his afterword surprised me, something he says most people miss. Sure enough, I didn’t catch it. Although I have mixed feelings about the story it has me wanting to revisit it.

The King in Yellow is also something that shows up in the first season of True Detective. 

“Beyond Any Measure”

An American woman in London begins suffering from nightmares. She consults a man named Dr. Magnus, a believer in reincarnation. He says he can help her through hypnosis. Every time I think I know where Wagner is going with a story, he surprises me by either going in a different direction or by adding something I wasn't expecting. The ending may be too wild for some, but I absolutely loved it. 

Final Thoughts

I really like Wagner’s prose, the atmosphere of his stories, and his endings. I also like how Wagner slips in references to books, movies, pulp magazines, and bookstores. They’re fun little additions. This is a fantastic collection. Here’s hoping we get more Karl Edward Wagner in print again soon. 

My story ratings:

In the Pines (5/5)

Where the Summer Ends (5/5)

Sticks (5/5)

The Fourth Seal (4/5)

More Sinned Against (4/5)

.220 Swift (5/5)

The River of Night’s Dreaming (4/5)

Beyond Any Measure (5/5)

Cover to the 1983 edition from Warner Books.

Books I Read in March 2023

Four books this month. Two fiction and two non-fiction.

Imaro by George Saunders (Night Shade Books, 2006) 

Imaro is a sword and sorcery adventure based on Africa and African traditions and legends. At the start, the main character Imaro is a young boy struggling to fit in with his people. He faces bullies and then a lion, evil sorcerers, and creepy monsters. He becomes a fierce warrior but he remains an outsider no matter where he goes.

I like how the chapters progress and tie into each other, something that becomes more apparent towards the end. Although the chapters were originally written as short stories, they move a larger story forward. Yes, he’s taller, stronger, and a better fighter than everyone else, but every time he finds some form of happiness, something gets in his way. 

I’m interested in languages so I liked the use of Swahili vocabulary, which I think helped create a unique setting. On the other hand, so many terms were used so often it felt a little overwhelming at first. Luckily there’s a glossary in the back. 

I read the 2006 updated edition from Night Shade Books. I’m looking forward to reading the other volumes, especially since this volume ends on a cliffhanger.

In a Lonely Place by Karl Edward Wagner (Valancourt Books, 2023)

I’m a big fan of Karl Edward Wagner’s Kane sword and sorcery stories. I’ve been interested in reading his horror fiction but most of his collections are out of print and go for ridiculously high prices. Luckily Valancourt Books put out a new edition of his 1983 collection In a Lonely Place. It includes the story “Sticks,” a Cthulhu Mythos story which is believed to have influenced the 1999 film The Blair Witch Project. I don’t care much for the film but the story is outstanding. So are the rest of the stories. Wagner was a master of atmosphere, tension, and powerful endings, and I liked how a number of these stories are set in the Southern United States. This new edition includes one extra story, “More Sinned Against.”

Non-fiction:

Supernatural Horror in Literature by H. P. Lovecraft (Dover Publications, 1973)

This is an excellent overview, analysis, and criticism of gothic literature, weird fiction, and horror, originally written in 1927. 

Quite a few authors are covered including Ambrose Bierce, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Edgar Allan Poe, who receives his own chapter. In the final chapter on “modern masters,” he discusses Algernon Blackwood, Lord Dunsany, M. R. James, and Arthur Machen.  

A must read for anyone interested in weird fiction. Just be aware that Lovecraft goes into great detail regarding the plots of many of the works he discusses.

The Road to Unfreedom by Timothy Snyder (Tim Duggan Books, 2018)

In this book historian Timothy Snyder analyzes events in Russia, Europe, and the United States from 2011 to 2016 in great detail. Some of the things he covers are Putin’s rise to power, the writings of philosopher Ivan Ilyin, leadership changes in Ukraine, the Maidan revolution, how propaganda and disinformation campaigns were used during the annexation of Crimea as well as afterwards, and the US presidential election campaign of 2016. 

Recommended reading if you are at all interested in the history of Ukraine and what’s currently happening in Ukraine and in the United States, even if you may not agree with every one of Snyder’s conclusions. 

The following quotes about Russia really stood out to me as I feel they could also be referring to current events in the US.

“If citizens doubt everything, they cannot see alternative models beyond Russia’s borders, cannot carry out sensible discussions about reform, and cannot trust one another enough to organize for political change. A plausible future requires a factual present.” 

“If citizens can be kept uncertain by the regular manufacture of crises, their emotions can be managed and directed.”

Books I Read in August 2022

 Five books this month.

Death Angel’s Shadow (1973) by Karl Edward Wagner 

This is a collection of three stories about the immortal swordsman Kane. All three were outstanding. I’ve been reading this series on Kindle, but this is the one edition I have in paperback. 

The Book of Kane (1985) by Karl Edward Wagner 

Five stories about the immortal swordsman Kane. Only two stories were new to me as three of them are from previous collections. The two new stories were excellent though. I’ve read all the Kane books now except Darkness Weaves. I’m kind of sad that I only have one Kane book left to read. 

Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader (1998) by Anne Fadiman 

I learned about this book from The Mookse and the Gripes book podcast. Not long after I found a copy in a used bookstore and snapped it up. 

This is a collection of essays about the author’s love of books and language. Topics I found the most interesting include what she calls her "odd shelf," a shelf of polar exploration books, how some people treat books, things people write in books, fountain pens, growing up in a family of readers, how to organize a collection of books, and her love of used bookstores. It was an enjoyable read.

One of the things the author writes about is how she tried to keep her books in perfect condition in her younger days, but now that she’s older it’s no longer a concern. I went through the same transition. I don’t like damage like split spines, but I no longer mind if a book is not in perfect condition. For example, the used copy of this book has scribbling on the cover, but it didn’t stop me from getting it. 

Heroes of Atlantis and Lemuria (2019) by Manly Wade Wellman, Leigh Brackett, Frederick Arnold Kummer Jr.

This is a collection of sword and sorcery stories and an adventure story about legendary Atlantis and Lemuria. Kummer Jr. is an author new to me, but Wellman and Brackett are two of my favorite authors, so I was really looking forward to this. Sure enough it was a fun read. My favorite stories are the Wellman stories, about Kardios the last survivor of Atlantis. My full review can be found here:

We Learn by Writing: Heroes of Atlantis & Lemuria by Manly Wade Wellman, Leigh Brackett, and Arnold Kummer Jr.

Dickinson: Poems (1993) by Emily Dickinson 

This is a collection of Emily Dickinson poems published by Everyman’s Library. A number of the poems went right over my head, but I really like her word usage. 

Books I Read in July 2022

 Six books this month.

Black Wings Has My Angel (1953) by Elliot Chaze

An escaped convict who served in WWII teams up with a woman on the run for the ultimate heist. The characters are flawed but fascinating. The prose is clear and elegant, the dialogue is sharp, and the story is haunting. One of the best crime noir novels I’ve ever read. 

The Runestaff (1969) by Michael Moorcock

An exciting conclusion to the History of the Runestaff. As with the previous volumes the story is very fast paced. The book is divided into three parts and everything is set up for the final confrontation by the end of part two. 

If I have a criticism, it’s that so many things happen and get wrapped up really, and I mean really quickly, in the last few chapters. On the other hand, it was a heck of a wild ride. I’m looking forward to reading more of Moorcock’s work. 

Far Away and Never (1996) by Ramsey Campbell 

This is a collection of sword and sorcery and fantasy stories by Ramsey Campbell, an author more well known for his horror stories.

One of the stories, “The Ways of Chaos,” is actually Campbell’s chapter of a round-robin novel based on a Robert E. Howard fragment. It didn’t do anything for me, probably because it’s part of a longer work. Three of the other stories are fantasy stories in the vein of Clark Ashton Smith. I found them to be a little wordy and obscure. 

My favorite stories are the first four sword and sorcery stories featuring a wandering swordsman named Ryre. In each story Ryre has to use his wits to deal with something monstrous. These stories first appeared in the Swords Against Darkness paperback anthology series in the 70s. They were creepy and creative. 

Night Winds (1978) by Karl Edward Wagner

This is a collection of stories about Kane, a wandering swordsman cursed with immortality. One of the things I really like about these stories is that they are all different. The first story kept me guessing until the very end, the second story begins with an interesting conversation which leads to all out adventure, the next two have different elements of gothic horror, the story after that is epic, and the last is a great example of travelers telling stories at an isolated inn. Another thing I liked is that all the stories have layers and interesting themes that become apparent once you get to the end. It’s all very well done. Every story is a standout.

My full review can be found here:

We Learn by Writing: Night Winds by Karl Edward Wagner

Bloodstone (1975) by Karl Edward Wagner

Kane the immortal swordsman comes across a mysterious ring. He learns that it’s part of a giant gemstone called Bloodstone, which controls a lost city from the stars. The city is now overrun by the Rillyti, devolved lizard men descendants of the original builders. Kane plays two sides against each other in an attempt to take control of the city. This was a wild mix of fantasy and science fiction with some great characters. I loved it. 

Dark Crusade (1976) by Karl Edward Wagner 

Kane deals with a deadly cult that has come to power and is storming the land. As in Bloodstone, Kane is manipulating various groups in order to come out on top. The book is well titled. Wagner was doing Games of Thrones-like grimdark stories in the 70s, folks. I learned from the Dark Crusade podcast that Wagner spent six months researching pre-firearm cavalry battles and it shows. The battles were thrilling. I enjoyed it but Night Winds is my favorite.

Night Winds by Karl Edward Wagner

“Who won the war Kane?”
“I did.”
“You didn’t win a thing, Kane. You only survived.”
“It means the same thing.”
— From “Lynortis Reprise” by Karl Edward Wagner

                                                        

This is a collection of stories about Kane, a wandering swordsman cursed with immortality. While they can be described as sword and sorcery stories (I’ve read that Wagner preferred the terms epic fantasy, dark fantasy, or gothic fantasy) they also have elements of gothic horror. Kane is far from your typical heroic adventurer. At times Kane is a sorcerer, a crime lord, a leader of bandits, and a leader of armies. At all times Kane looks out for Kane. Not really an anti-hero, sometimes a villain, but just sympathetic enough to keep me interested in the outcome of each story.

“Did you ever wonder at the loneliness of immortality? Have you ever wondered what must be the thoughts of a man cursed to wander through the centuries? A man doomed to a desolate, unending existence — feared and hated wherever men speak his name. A man who can never know peace, whose shadow leaves ruin wherever he passes. A man who has learned that every triumph is fleeting, that every joy is transient. All that he seeks to possess is stolen away from him by the years. His empires will fall, his songs will be forgotten, his loves will turn to dust. Only the emptiness of eternity will remain with him, a laughing skeleton cloaked in memories to haunt his days and nights.”
— From “Undertow” by Karl Edward Wagner

One of the things I really like about this collection is that all stories are so different. They also have layers to them and strong themes that become apparent once you get to the end. Every story is a standout.

In “Undertow,” a mysterious woman seeks help from a sea captain. We don’t meet Kane right away; we just hear people talking about him. Some describe him with fear and wonder while another character mocks him. We’re not sure how the characters are connected to each other until the end. The story is built up really well and has a chilling ending.

In “Two Suns Setting,” Kane meets a giant and winds up helping him search for a lost crown. When they first meet, they sit by a fire and debate the progress of civilization versus living closer to the natural environment. I loved this conversation. It reminded me of the themes of barbarism versus civilization that come up in many of Robert E. Howard’s stories. The action that follows is well done and it flows so well from the previous campfire discussion.

In “The Dark Muse,” Kane helps the mad poet Opyros summon Klinure, the dark muse of the title. Dark and lyrical, parts of the story reminded me of Clark Ashton Smith.

In “Raven’s Eyrie,” Kane and his bandit group are being hunted by mercenaries. They seek refuge at a mountain inn. Besides the mercenaries that are hunting them and someone at the inn from Kane’s past, they also have to contend with a supernatural threat. This story and the previous one both have elements of gothic horror.

At the beginning of “Lynortis Reprise,” Kane rescues a woman being hunted by mercenaries. It turns out they are looking for a hidden treasure underneath the ruins of a city destroyed after a great war years ago. The setting is a dangerous wasteland in which scavengers search for loot among leftover weapons and crippled survivors. In this story we get legends of a devastating siege, legends of a treasure, and a statement on the savagery and brutality of war. This story and “Undertow” are tied as my favorite.

In “Sing a Last Song of Valdese” travelers at an isolated inn discuss some legends. Short and sweet with another chilling ending.

I read two of the Kane novels, Bloodstone and Dark Crusade, after finishing Night Winds. I liked them both a lot, especially Bloodstone, but so far Night Winds is my favorite.

My story ratings:

"Undertow" (5/5)
"Two Suns Setting" (5/5)
"The Dark Muse" (4/5)
"Raven’s Eyrie" (4/5)
"Lynortis Reprise" (5/5)
"Sing a Last Song of Valdese" (5/5)

Night Winds and the other Kane books are available on Kindle minus the cool Frazetta cover art. The paperbacks and hardcovers are out of print and pretty expensive now. I was lucky enough to come across one of the books, Death Angel's Shadow, in a local used bookstore for a reasonable price a while ago. 

It's great to have them available on Kindle even with the cheesy covers and the weird numbering (Amazon lists it as a five-book series, there are actually six books, Darkness Weaves is listed as book 7, and Night Winds is listed as book 468...) but they really deserve to be re-released as affordable and in print hardcovers and paperbacks. It was announced in February of 2022 that the movie rights to the Kane books have been optioned so here's hoping that leads to something. 

Using the information I found online I made the following list of the six Kane books on Kindle to try and make sense of them.

Night Winds (1978)
(Book 1&3 - six stories - numbering taken from Goodreads)
First two stories take place before book 2, remaining stories take place after book 2.
“Undertow”
“Two Suns Setting”
“The Dark Muse”
“Raven’s Eyrie”
“Lynortis Reprise”
“Sing a Last Song of Valdese”

Bloodstone (1975)
(Book 2 - novel)

The Book of Kane (1985)
(Book 4 - five stories)
“Reflections for the Winter of My Soul” from Death Angel’s Shadow
“Sing a Last Song of Valdese” from Night Winds
“Raven’s Eyrie” from Night Winds
“Misericorde”
“The Other One”

Dark Crusade (1976)
(Book 5 - novel)

Death Angel’s Shadow (1973)

(Book 6 - three stories)
“Reflections for the Winter of my Soul” (Takes place right after the events of Dark Crusade)
“Cold Light”
“Mirage”

Darkness Weaves (1978) 
(Book 7 - novel)