Classic Book Review: BANNERS OF VICTORY By Lilith Lorraine

From Banner Press in 1937. This is an interesting poetry collection focusing on man and his place within the stars. This is a rare find and a surprising good read. The thoughts are deep, the flow is easy and if you can find one, even a reprint, its worth the look.

Classic Book Review: POE AND CHIVERS by Landon C. Bell, 1931.

This is a classic and probably an unknown classic to most. Here is the 'inside baseball' view of the claims made by minor poet THOMAS HOLLEY CHIVERS against Edgar Allan Poe for plagiarism involving several works including THE RAVEN.

Very technical but very much worth reading.

Classic Book Review: WISEGUY: LIFE IN A MAFIA FAMILY by Nicholas Pileggi

Sure this book has been around for a while. Sure it was the basis for "Goodfellas". I am behind on my reading. What better way to celebrate a classic book review with an absolute classic. Watch the movie and read the book or do it the other way around: it will amuse you.

Classic Book Review: THE BIRDS By Frank Baker 1936

In an earlier post I explained the controversy surrounding the Hitchcock classic and the existence of this novel. Only a few hundred copies were published in 1936. Thanks to Valancourt Books the novel has been re-issued and I am happy to have read it.

It is an engaging and intriguing study of life and survival against a backdrop of apocalyptic proportions. I want to emphasize that the story presented here, as opposed to atomic bomb and zombie tropes, is the focus on the people and their story; the everyday mixed in within the threat; and the superior blending of words and imagery that makes more contemporary fare crap.

You can keep the apocalyptic literature of the last ten years --- even movies and television; for the best parts of it all combined cannot measure to Mr. Baker's quiet masterpiece. 

Classic Book Review: GRAVEYARD by Ed and Lorraine Warren

Fun read covering some classic New England landmarks by New England's legendary ghost hunters. This is a slim book that can be read in just a couple hours meant to keep you up all night.

Classic Book Review: NEW ENGLAND'S VISITORS FROM OUTER SPACE by Robert Ellis Cahill, 1985

Mmmm, sounds like a family reunion. Seriously, this slim volume is fascinating and packed with legendary tales that have followed many of us since childhood. From colonial times forward, if you enjoy a good solid 'unexplained' tale laden in innuendo this is a book for you.

Classic Book Review: PHILADELPHIA GHOST STORIES by Charles J. Adams III, Exeter House Books, 2006

Nice history of 'true' and historical hauntings. The text at times is difficult to read and this is stylistically, but a good and interesting read.

Classic Book Review: 'The Maker of Moons' by Robert W. Chambers

While this collection doesn't hit the bar as high as 'The King In Yellow', these horror and weird tales are classic blueprints every horror writer should study. Also, these are much more impactful and better written than ninety five per cent of the adolescent swearing fest crap out today.

Classic Book Review: HELL HOUSE by Richard Matheson

The psycho-sexual, and emphasis on sexual, haunted house horror tale. A classic that follows the movie, 'The Legend of Hell House', very closely except 'the naughty bits' are cut out. Of course, Matheson also wrote the screenplay. Check out both.

Classic Book Review: Elizabeth T. Corbett writing science fiction in 1879

A GLANCE INTO THE FUTURE; OR THE WORLD IN THE TWENTY-NINTH CENTURY was published in 'Godey's Lady's Book' in March 1879. Set up as a one act play, in a women's fashion magazine, this fascinating tale of robots, push button vehicles, subterranean tunnels portends much of the things to come.

The story is available on line since it is the public domain.

Here is a link from the University of Pennsylvania during their celebration of women writers:

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/corbett/godeys/glance.html

Classic Book Review: THE INTOXICATED GHOST by Arlo Bates, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1908,

Arlo Bates died in 1918 and to many his writings died with him. Thank God for used book stores. From his most famous of ghost story and his most famous volume of ghost stories you will not find a better written, more humorous, more serious work.

I dare to invite the wrath of others; here it goes----I'll take Bates any time, any day; you can keep Lovecraft who I still believe gets too much credit.

Classic Book Review: CARMILLA and THE EVIL GUEST by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu

'Carmilla' pre-dates 'Dracula'  and is the classic foundation of vampire literature in its influence to Bram Stoker's novel and works to follow. The theme of lesbianism has also held fascination for readers as well. While dated in presentation this tale is still a solid stalwart to the genre before the entire vampire trope was destroyed completely by more modern takes. Sparkle. Sparkle. If you enjoy classic vampirism and not one who would vie for a 'Rolling Stone' cover then pick this up.

'The Evil Guest' too is a classic of curses and gothic horror; the specialty of Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu.

The volume you see was published by Full Moon Press in 2008. It includes illustrations and a few extras. If you can forgive the extras and the artwork this is a winner.