About Ghost Fiction - ?

On 4 Feb 2005 14:34:29 -0800, waggawagga80.TakeThisOut@yahoo.com.au (Joey Warwick)
wrote:

 >You gotta forgive me, people, ‘cause I'm going to post totally off
 >what would seem to be the main topic here (?) and ask your opinion (if
 >you have an interest in ghost fiction), what are your top ten ghost
 >stories of all time – and I'm talking short stories, with this one.
 >
 >And to finish, what do you feel is the best novel-length ghost story –
 >if there is such a beast. (most to me seem flawed)
 >
 >And why do you make these choices?
 >
 >P.S. Sorry no "BIG ISSUE" but maybe we could have a vote? Use the
 >democratic process to determine the best ghost story?


Maybe this is more information (and more dated information...) than
you're looking for, but a few years ago I did an amateur poll about
these very questions. I archived it here:

<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://pages.prodigy.net/awalter1/_wsn/page6.html" target="_blank">http://pages.prodigy.net/awalter1/_wsn/page6.html</a>

As for the novels question, today I'd go with Robert Nathan's THE
PORTRAIT OF JENNIE, Richard Adams' THE GIRL IN A SWING, and J.M.
Falkner's THE LOST STRADIVARIUS.

Adam<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

Many of those here contributed to the survey Adam Walters mentioned years
ago. You will also find several such lists in the archives.

Jim
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

Adam Walter said:

Maybe this is more information (and more dated information...) than
you're looking for, but a few years ago I did an amateur poll about
these very questions. I archived it here:

http://pages.prodigy.net/awalter1/_wsn/page6.html


As for the novels question, today I'd go with Robert Nathan's THE
PORTRAIT OF JENNIE, Richard Adams' THE GIRL IN A SWING, and J.M.
Falkner's THE LOST STRADIVARIUS.


Thank you very much for the link - although at first glance I'd stick
my neck out and say only a proportion of the list can be called "ghost
tales" the majority being weird or dark fiction, it's still very
interesting.
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

 > Thank you very much for the link - although at first glance
 > I'd stick my neck out and say only a proportion of the list
 > can be called "ghost tales" the majority being weird or dark
 > fiction, it's still very interesting.

Actually, if you'll note, the survey itself refers to fiction falling
in the dark fantasy and horror genres, so it's pretty inclusive.

I agree -- interesting results.

Yrs,

Michael<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

I think it would be a lot of work to figure out my favorite 10 ghost
stories & even selecting my favorite ghost novel is difficult, so I'll
nominate my favorite 10 ghost novels (in no particular order):

1. Fritz Leiber - OUR LADY OF DARKNESS
2. Shirley Jackson - THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE
3. Kingsley Amis - THE GREEN MAN
4. Ramsey Campbell - THE INFLUENCE
5. Jonathan Aycliffe - NAOMI'S ROOM (although the VANISHMENT should
probably be on this list as well)
6. Thomas Disch - THE BUSINESSMAN
7. Toni Morrison - BELOVED
8. J.H. Ridell - THE UNINHABITED HOUSE (or maybe THE HAUNTED RIVER)
9. J. Meade Falkner - THE LOST STRADIVARIUS
10. Tachi Yamada - STRANGERS (I mentioned this one here before in
listing my favorite books from last year, and I have to say it really
has stuck with me. I highly recommend it, although it might "clock in"
as a novella rather than a novel.)

Unfortunately (or fortunately, since it gives me something to look
forward to) I haven't read THE GIRL IN A SWING or PORTRAIT OF JENNIE or
Straub's GHOST STORY, which also gets mentioned in this context.

Max
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

The only ghost stories I have read tend to be folklore rather than pure
fiction; I am especially fond of Irish ghost stories.

However, I recently read two stories that I liked quite a bit. One was
"Cat and Mouse" by Ramsey Campbell, the other was "The Circumstances of
Ghostly Cats" by Michael Minnis. Both stories deal with ghost cats.

Kevin L. O'Brien
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

So why are you in this forum if you've only read a very small number of
folklore stories? It clearly says GHOST FICTION on the tin.

Jesus H. Christ. Only last week you were presuming to speak out on
behalf of the group. Yet not only have you just arrived; not only have
you been laughed out of every other newsgroup for habitual lying; but
now we find that you don't even read fictional ghost stories!

Consider yourself PLONKed. You're beyond a joke.

CB
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

As John Pelan observes, Barkerville is a funny place.

hauntedriver.DeleteThis@hotmail.com wrote:
 >
 > So why are you in this forum if you've only read a very small number
of
 > folklore stories?
 >

I didn't say that I "only read a very small number of folklore
stories". In fact, I am an amateur folklorist; I've read hundreds from
dozens of different cultures. My favorites include Celtic folklore,
folklore about cats, and American Black folklore. John de Conquer is a
very neglected folk hero on par with Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan.

 >
 > It clearly says GHOST FICTION on the tin.
 >

Yes, and it does not say "only open to those who have read X number of
ghost stories", nor does it say "folklore aficionados need not apply".

 >
 > Jesus H. Christ.
 >

Aaagh!!! Profanity!! My virgin ears!!

 >
 > Only last week you were presuming to speak out on
 > behalf of the group.
 >

In your delusional mind, perhaps, but not in reality. I used "we" in
an organizational sense, not in the sense of being a spokesman.

 >
 > Yet not only have you just arrived; not only have
 > you been laughed out of every other newsgroup for habitual lying . .
..
 >

The only other newsgroup I currently belong to is alt.horror.cthulhu
(though I have also posted to rec.collecting.books), and I am still
very much a member. In fact, except for a handfull of spiteful
net.kooks like you, my presence has been welcomed by numerous people in
any Internet discussion I've been a member of.

 >
 > . . . but now we . . .
 >

Now look who presumes to speak for the group! "Ohh, what a hypotwit!"
(Tweety Bird)

 >
 > . . . find that you don't even read fictional ghost stories!
 >

No, I did not say I do not read ghost fiction; what I said was I have
not read ghost fiction. Note the past tense. I am currently starting
to read ghost fiction, as evidenced by the two stories I referenced,
both of which are ghost fiction. You may want to brush up on your
reading comprehension. If someone says, "I have not read ghost
fiction," then says, "but I recently read two good ghost stories," he
means he did not read ghost fiction in the past but he is reading it
now.

 >
 > Consider yourself PLONKed. You're beyond a joke.
 >

You made that claim before, but hopefully this time you'll honor it.
We could all do with some peace around here.

By the way, if you have nothing on-topic to post about, consider not
posting at all.

Kevin L. O'Brien<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

I should also point out that I said the stories I read in the past
TENDED to be folklore rather than fiction. That means that most of
them were folklore tales, but a few were regular fiction as well.

Barker really needs to practice his reading comprehension.

Kevin L. O'Brien
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

kevin....DeleteThis@clare.ltd.new.net Feb 5, 12:10 pm wrote:
"The only ghost stories I have read tend to be folklore rather than
pure
fiction; I am especially fond of Irish ghost stories." (snip) -

Yes, I have a fondness for Irish ghost stories myself - for example
the work of Lady Wilde - one of which "THE BLACK LAMB" is reproduced
here:

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/yeats/fip/fip39.htm#page_134
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

From: "Max" <jmaxgilb....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> -

I think it would be a lot of work to figure out my favorite 10 ghost
stories & even selecting my favorite ghost novel is difficult, so I'll
nominate my favorite 10 ghost novels (in no particular order):

1. Fritz Leiber - OUR LADY OF DARKNESS
2. Shirley Jackson - THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE
3. Kingsley Amis - THE GREEN MAN
4. Ramsey Campbell - THE INFLUENCE
5. Jonathan Aycliffe - NAOMI'S ROOM (although the VANISHMENT should
probably be on this list as well)
6. Thomas Disch - THE BUSINESSMAN
7. Toni Morrison - BELOVED
8. J.H. Ridell - THE UNINHABITED HOUSE (or maybe THE HAUNTED RIVER)
9. J. Meade Falkner - THE LOST STRADIVARIUS
10. Tachi Yamada - STRANGERS (I mentioned this one here before in
listing my favorite books from last year, and I have to say it really
has stuck with me. I highly recommend it, although it might "clock in"

as a novella rather than a novel.)


Unfortunately (or fortunately, since it gives me something to look
forward to) I haven't read THE GIRL IN A SWING or PORTRAIT OF JENNIE or

Straub's GHOST STORY, which also gets mentioned in this context.


Max

I have not encountered "STRANGERS" but will try to get hold of a copy
now. Thnaks for that. I did enjoy Straub's "GHOST STORY" very much -
but it's not about a ghost in actual fact!

I also enjoyed "THE GREEN MAN" and feel it a good choice as are the
others.

Thanks
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

Joey Warwick wrote:
 > You gotta forgive me, people, 'cause I'm going to post totally off
 > what would seem to be the main topic here (?) and ask your opinion
(if
 > you have an interest in ghost fiction), what are your top ten ghost
 > stories of all time - and I'm talking short stories, with this one.
 >
 > And to finish, what do you feel is the best novel-length ghost story
-
 > if there is such a beast. (most to me seem flawed)
 >
 > And why do you make these choices?
 >
 > P.S. Sorry no "BIG ISSUE" but maybe we could have a vote? Use the
 > democratic process to determine the best ghost story?

Hi Folks,

I don't know about top 10 of all time, but my top 10 that come to mind
today & keeping it as "ghostly" as I can (the numbers are not rankings,
just an aid to counting):

1)Oliver Onions: Beckoning Fair One
2)J Sheridan Le Fanu: Squire Toby's Will
3)Robert Aickman: ravissante
4)Vernon Lee: Amore Dure (my fav is Marsyas in Flanders, but I'm not
sure if you'd consider itghostly)
5)Marjorie Bowen: Kecksies
6)LP Hartley: 3 or 4 For Dinner (today, tomorrow it'd be A Change of
Ownership)
7) Eliz Jane Howard: 3 Miles Up
Robert Hichens: How Love Came to prof. Guildea
9)DK Broster: Couching at the Door
10) AM Burrage: Smee (or the Aquital)

I've discounted Machen, most of Sarban & my fav Blackwood "Wendigo" as
perhaps not ghostly.

Novel ? I'm pretty under-read here, but :

Oliver Onions: A Painted face
Sarban :Ringstones
JS Le Fanu : The Haunted Baronette

These are all fairly short novels.

Cheers - Chris<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ? 

Adam,

I found your survey in the archives about 3 years back when I started
lurking here & found it very helpful in tracking down interesting
works. I very much enjoy reading peoples answers to surveys & it must
be a good few years since it was performed: any chance of a rerun? Or
would the old-timers object to this ?

- Chris W
 >> Stay informed about: About Ghost Fiction - ?