Fancies and Goodnights (2003) - John Collier
This collection of fifty short stories, ranging from 1931-1951, begins with an introduction by Ray Bradbury. Since he knows far more about Collier than I do, I'll let Ray take over for a minute or two:
What kind of short-story writer is John Collier? His work exists in a world somewhat similar to those of P.G. Wodehouse and his Jeeves, Saki, and Thorne Smith, author of Topper.
Looking at his books this late in time you could say that Collier stands out because he is neither politically correct or politically incorrect. Between his stories and politics there is a complete disconnect.... It is a world where anything can happen and always does.
Fifteen of Collier's stories were adapted and filmed for Alfred Hitchcock Presents. One ("The Chaser") was adapted as a Twilight Zone episode. The stories I read were light, humorous, a bit twisted, clever and briefly satisfying. But I forgot them very quickly, not thinking about them again until I began writing this post.
The Verdict = Keep it for now; probably purge after reading.
The Haunted Hotel & Other Stories - Wilkie Collins
Collins (1824-1889) is best known for The Woman in White and what many consider one of the finest early detective novels, The Moonstone. I picked up this Wordsworth edition a few years back at a Half Price Books store and thought it looked good. (Wordsworth editions are printed on cheap paper, but don't cost much.) At the time they had just come out with a "Tales of Mystery & The Supernatural" line which includes collections by Poe, Stoker, M.R. James and others.
The title story is probably the selling point for this collection, but at 150 pages, I decided to skip it and read "The Devil's Spectacles," a tale that, according to the collection's introduction, Collins refused to see published in book form during his lifetime. Hmmmm.... Maybe because it's practically two stories. In the first half, the dying servant of a wealthy young man confesses that he was once a cannibal. As he dies, the old man passes on a pair of spectacles to the young man, the devil's spectacles that will allow those who wear them access to the hearts and souls of those viewed with them. The second half is much lighter and not nearly as satisfying as the story's opening. Still a fun story. When I have a longer stretch of time, I'll read the title story and make my decision.
The Verdict = Keep until I've read the title story, then decide.
Next: The Avram Davidson Treasury
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