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Acolyte, v. 1, issue 4, Summer 1943
Page 20
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LITTLE-KNOWN FANTASIES by Harold Wakefield -oOo- [[underline]]II. OLIVER ONIONS[[end underline]] Called by one critic "the greatest enigma among modern English writers of fiction", Oliver Onions is most noted for his collection of weird tales published under the title [[underline]]Widdershins[[end underline]], though he has written several non-fantastic novels and a number of other short fantasies. Among the latter may be mentioned, [[underline]]In Accordance with the Evidence[[end underline]], and [[underline]]Grey Youth[[end underline]]. Born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, in 1873, Onions was trained as an artist; falling into authorship accidentally, he has been writing since 1900. His wife is the formerly very popular novelist, Berta Ruck. The stories in [[underline]]Widdershins[[end underline]] fall into the type that may be classified as "tales of the borderland of the mind". Easily the most famous is that classic of horror, [[underline]]The Beckoning Fair One[[end underline]]. This story depicts with extraordinary power the slow and inexorable fastening on the body and soul of Oleron (the principal character) of the spirit of an evil but beautiful woman. Told with masterly skill, the tale unfolds from the early and idyllic life of Oleron in the new house he has taken, the first intimations of a presence in the house, its jealousy of Oleron's friend Elisie Bengough culminating in her murder, and finally the total abandonment of Oleron to his perilous succubus. The ending of the story in an atmosphere of gloom, decay, and madness as Oleron is arrested and taken away to be charged with a murder of which he is morally innocent is hardly excelled in all horror literature. In [[underline]]Phantas[[end underline]], a dying, delirious sailor on a sinking galleon is vouchsafed strange glimpses into future ages. [[underline]]Benlian[[end underline]] tells with almost naive simplicity of the projection of the sculptor Benlian's soul into the god he has modelled, and contains much of subtle horror which may be lost on the casual reader. [[underline]]The Cigarette Case[[end underline]] employs the rather hackneyed plot of the friends who visit a strange house at night and are entertained by two gracious women; only to find on visiting the spot in daylight that the house has lain for years in deserted ruins. It is the poorest of Onion's weird stories, and is not to be compared with his better works. Somewhat in the style of Arthur Machen is [[underline]]Io[[end underline]], in which pagan forces invade a young girl and the spirit of the Bacchante finally bursts through modern conventions, driving away in terror her commonplace young sweetheart. [[underline]]Hic Jacet[[end underline][], though containing some supernatural elements, deals chiefly with problems of the artistic conscience. [[underline]]The Accident[[end underline]] tells how the future was for an instant revealed to a successful painter while waiting for a disreputable old acquaintance. Perhaps the strangest story in the collection is [[underline]]Rooum[[end underline]], which tells of a man near to the ultimate mysteries of nature. Pursued by echoes and something far worse, his attempt to hunt it down high over London hurls him to a spectacular death. The weird stories of Oliver Onions are very modern in that he dispenses almost entirely with such hackneyed standbyes as vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and the like. His tales have those little nuances which are the mark of a master; and can be very horrible, especially when dealing with the borderland of insanity---these madnesses which are insanity in the courts of law, but which have the reader wondering. In such stories as [[underline]]The Beckoning Fair One[[end underline]], [[underline]]Benlian[[end underline]], and [[underline]]Rooum[[end underline]]; he treats of regions few writers would care, or dare, to approach. All in all, Onions deserves far greater renown than he has thus far received. -- 20 --
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LITTLE-KNOWN FANTASIES by Harold Wakefield -oOo- [[underline]]II. OLIVER ONIONS[[end underline]] Called by one critic "the greatest enigma among modern English writers of fiction", Oliver Onions is most noted for his collection of weird tales published under the title [[underline]]Widdershins[[end underline]], though he has written several non-fantastic novels and a number of other short fantasies. Among the latter may be mentioned, [[underline]]In Accordance with the Evidence[[end underline]], and [[underline]]Grey Youth[[end underline]]. Born in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, in 1873, Onions was trained as an artist; falling into authorship accidentally, he has been writing since 1900. His wife is the formerly very popular novelist, Berta Ruck. The stories in [[underline]]Widdershins[[end underline]] fall into the type that may be classified as "tales of the borderland of the mind". Easily the most famous is that classic of horror, [[underline]]The Beckoning Fair One[[end underline]]. This story depicts with extraordinary power the slow and inexorable fastening on the body and soul of Oleron (the principal character) of the spirit of an evil but beautiful woman. Told with masterly skill, the tale unfolds from the early and idyllic life of Oleron in the new house he has taken, the first intimations of a presence in the house, its jealousy of Oleron's friend Elisie Bengough culminating in her murder, and finally the total abandonment of Oleron to his perilous succubus. The ending of the story in an atmosphere of gloom, decay, and madness as Oleron is arrested and taken away to be charged with a murder of which he is morally innocent is hardly excelled in all horror literature. In [[underline]]Phantas[[end underline]], a dying, delirious sailor on a sinking galleon is vouchsafed strange glimpses into future ages. [[underline]]Benlian[[end underline]] tells with almost naive simplicity of the projection of the sculptor Benlian's soul into the god he has modelled, and contains much of subtle horror which may be lost on the casual reader. [[underline]]The Cigarette Case[[end underline]] employs the rather hackneyed plot of the friends who visit a strange house at night and are entertained by two gracious women; only to find on visiting the spot in daylight that the house has lain for years in deserted ruins. It is the poorest of Onion's weird stories, and is not to be compared with his better works. Somewhat in the style of Arthur Machen is [[underline]]Io[[end underline]], in which pagan forces invade a young girl and the spirit of the Bacchante finally bursts through modern conventions, driving away in terror her commonplace young sweetheart. [[underline]]Hic Jacet[[end underline][], though containing some supernatural elements, deals chiefly with problems of the artistic conscience. [[underline]]The Accident[[end underline]] tells how the future was for an instant revealed to a successful painter while waiting for a disreputable old acquaintance. Perhaps the strangest story in the collection is [[underline]]Rooum[[end underline]], which tells of a man near to the ultimate mysteries of nature. Pursued by echoes and something far worse, his attempt to hunt it down high over London hurls him to a spectacular death. The weird stories of Oliver Onions are very modern in that he dispenses almost entirely with such hackneyed standbyes as vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and the like. His tales have those little nuances which are the mark of a master; and can be very horrible, especially when dealing with the borderland of insanity---these madnesses which are insanity in the courts of law, but which have the reader wondering. In such stories as [[underline]]The Beckoning Fair One[[end underline]], [[underline]]Benlian[[end underline]], and [[underline]]Rooum[[end underline]]; he treats of regions few writers would care, or dare, to approach. All in all, Onions deserves far greater renown than he has thus far received. -- 20 --
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