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Chanticleer, v. 1, issue 3, December 1945

Page 23

city, we leave Savaran, monarch of all he surveys, with fabulous riches and a kingdom of females to "revitalize". Now to dream again--it's such a waste of time to be awake!

GHOST STORIES by H. Russell Wakefield, p. Jonothan Cape.

A selection of 21 stories, each verging on the occult, and not one of them formula or hack ghost story as the modest title might imply. Nor are they unrestrained horror stories so often shot at one under the guise of ghostly visitations. In fact, on the strength of this volume alone, I should say that Wakefield deserves the reputation as a master of this genre of literature; and this isn't his only volume! Some of the stories contain spectral wraiths, but most depend on sensibility of feeling. One tale is particularly horrible--the visit of a sensitive and his ghost-hunting friend to a "killer" of a haunted house; wherein the medium opens the door with his key, explains the layout and story to the person following only to find when he turns that it is not his friend. Whilst on the doorstep the sceptic friend gets impatient at the door not being opened, tries to find out what is the matter only in his turn to recoil from the figure he thought was his medium guide exclaiming "who the devil are you?" On the other hand there is the tale of the ancient house, whose occupant lived in and loved the structure, which collapses from old age as prophesied, only in the process to fling out its beloved owner, showering sticks and stone around him, without harming a hair on his head. The writing is good; quiet and restrained, with a good choice of descriptive epithets; and its very mildness is the finest offset to the psychic queerness with which it deals; and the author does not, I am pleased to say, fall into the pitfalls of trying to "explain" his phenomena. A special palm for the adequate characterization, which makes all the main figures quite believable. Heartily recommended.

THE COOL OF THE EVENING by Horace Horsnell, p. Harnish Hamilton, 1942.

Have you ever wondered what life was like to the dispossesed Adam and Eve in the twilight of their days? Well, that is the theme of this pleasant unsophisticated little work. "Adam was an old man now and full of dreams" say the first few words of the book, and glancing back through the past we learn how all the well known incidents of the Garden of Eden and its aftermath appeared to the principal actor. Eve survives too, the very embodiment of the busy managing housewife even yet and besides the past, Adam looks forward to the future as well in the person, presence and visions of his little grandson Raphael. Even yet the drama between the powers of light and darkness continues. Satan and his imps endeavor to mislead Raphael, whilst the lads heavenly namesake keeps a watchful eye on the youths behaviour. And an echo from the sad past comes when Cain comes back to the place where he was brought up, drawn by that nostalgia for the places we have known, which is so potent a force in human relationships. It isn't deeply serious, it's hardly devout enough to please the potently religious, yet it doesn't fall into the alternative of scoffing at the simple Biblical narrative; but one might accurately describe it as a pleasing tale which doesn't blow any trumpets.

GO HOME UNICORN & MEN ARE LIKE ANIMALS by Donald MacPherson, p. Faber & Faber.

Two fine stories which are really one in continuation. The story of a quartet of people in Montreal-a young physics professor,a journalist, & two up-to-date intelligent women. But the grand part is the only way the author develops the theme of scientific investigation of extra-sensory perception. Ectoplasm and mindforce create the plot of "Go Home Unicorn" whilst a marvellous mind-affecting machine does the same office for its sequel. Heartily recommend.

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city, we leave Savaran, monarch of all he surveys, with fabulous riches and a kingdom of females to "revitalize". Now to dream again--it's such a waste of time to be awake! GHOST STORIES by H. Russell Wakefield, p. Jonothan Cape. A selection of 21 stories, each verging on the occult, and not one of them formula or hack ghost story as the modest title might imply. Nor are they unrestrained horror stories so often shot at one under the guise of ghostly visitations. In fact, on the strength of this volume alone, I should say that Wakefield deserves the reputation as a master of this genre of literature; and this isn't his only volume! Some of the stories contain spectral wraiths, but most depend on sensibility of feeling. One tale is particularly horrible--the visit of a sensitive and his ghost-hunting friend to a "killer" of a haunted house; wherein the medium opens the door with his key, explains the layout and story to the person following only to find when he turns that it is not his friend. Whilst on the doorstep the sceptic friend gets impatient at the door not being opened, tries to find out what is the matter only in his turn to recoil from the figure he thought was his medium guide exclaiming "who the devil are you?" On the other hand there is the tale of the ancient house, whose occupant lived in and loved the structure, which collapses from old age as prophesied, only in the process to fling out its beloved owner, showering sticks and stone around him, without harming a hair on his head. The writing is good; quiet and restrained, with a good choice of descriptive epithets; and its very mildness is the finest offset to the psychic queerness with which it deals; and the author does not, I am pleased to say, fall into the pitfalls of trying to "explain" his phenomena. A special palm for the adequate characterization, which makes all the main figures quite believable. Heartily recommended. THE COOL OF THE EVENING by Horace Horsnell, p. Harnish Hamilton, 1942. Have you ever wondered what life was like to the dispossesed Adam and Eve in the twilight of their days? Well, that is the theme of this pleasant unsophisticated little work. "Adam was an old man now and full of dreams" say the first few words of the book, and glancing back through the past we learn how all the well known incidents of the Garden of Eden and its aftermath appeared to the principal actor. Eve survives too, the very embodiment of the busy managing housewife even yet and besides the past, Adam looks forward to the future as well in the person, presence and visions of his little grandson Raphael. Even yet the drama between the powers of light and darkness continues. Satan and his imps endeavor to mislead Raphael, whilst the lads heavenly namesake keeps a watchful eye on the youths behaviour. And an echo from the sad past comes when Cain comes back to the place where he was brought up, drawn by that nostalgia for the places we have known, which is so potent a force in human relationships. It isn't deeply serious, it's hardly devout enough to please the potently religious, yet it doesn't fall into the alternative of scoffing at the simple Biblical narrative; but one might accurately describe it as a pleasing tale which doesn't blow any trumpets. GO HOME UNICORN & MEN ARE LIKE ANIMALS by Donald MacPherson, p. Faber & Faber. Two fine stories which are really one in continuation. The story of a quartet of people in Montreal-a young physics professor,a journalist, & two up-to-date intelligent women. But the grand part is the only way the author develops the theme of scientific investigation of extra-sensory perception. Ectoplasm and mindforce create the plot of "Go Home Unicorn" whilst a marvellous mind-affecting machine does the same office for its sequel. Heartily recommend.