Comments on: Tales of Terror and Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/ Where conservatives discuss the books they read. Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:26:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Matt Gardenghi http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-357 Matt Gardenghi Sat, 01 Dec 2007 11:33:57 +0000 http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-357 hehe. OK, maybe I give myself to much credit claiming "cynical days." It might be more like cynical weeks, but whatever. As far as Poe is concerned, I have read many of his stories (but not all of his poetry). If you haven't read his "Murder In The Rue Morgue," then you should. That story is the first detective story and created the entire genre. And, it happens to be the first "locked room" mysteries. Poe's other works tend to explore death, fear and horror. One lesser known story called "The Premature Burial" explores the fear of being buried alive. Another, the well known "Pit and the Pendulum" explores fear and horror. These themes were characteristic of Poe's life. In many ways, Poe seemed to write in an attempt to explore/understand his own feelings. He was buried in a special coffin so that he could alert people if he awoke or was buried alive. (It did happen in those days; What am I saying? It happened recently that a man awoke during the autopsy....) What's recommendable? Certainly "The Tell-Tale Heart," and the "The Black Cat" repeats the theme in a more horrifying manner. As to the others, "The Gold Bug" wasn't to bad, but it has been some years since I read most of his stuff, so I am a bit fuzzy on it. I didn't read as critically back then either so my opinions could/would change on future reading. hehe. OK, maybe I give myself to much credit claiming “cynical days.” It might be more like cynical weeks, but whatever.

As far as Poe is concerned, I have read many of his stories (but not all of his poetry). If you haven’t read his “Murder In The Rue Morgue,” then you should. That story is the first detective story and created the entire genre. And, it happens to be the first “locked room” mysteries.

Poe’s other works tend to explore death, fear and horror. One lesser known story called “The Premature Burial” explores the fear of being buried alive. Another, the well known “Pit and the Pendulum” explores fear and horror.

These themes were characteristic of Poe’s life. In many ways, Poe seemed to write in an attempt to explore/understand his own feelings. He was buried in a special coffin so that he could alert people if he awoke or was buried alive. (It did happen in those days; What am I saying? It happened recently that a man awoke during the autopsy….)

What’s recommendable? Certainly “The Tell-Tale Heart,” and the “The Black Cat” repeats the theme in a more horrifying manner. As to the others, “The Gold Bug” wasn’t to bad, but it has been some years since I read most of his stuff, so I am a bit fuzzy on it. I didn’t read as critically back then either so my opinions could/would change on future reading.

]]> By: sincerelyornot http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-356 sincerelyornot Fri, 30 Nov 2007 21:28:32 +0000 http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-356 You must be a very nice person, having cynical days ;). I get a magazine that has one sugary sweet short story an issue, and its my least favorite part. All you have to do is read the opening sentance and you know how its going to end. What's the point of that? Their only redeeming value is how easy they are to write. You mention Poe in the reveiw: have you read much of him? I'm not a fan of horror but he IS a great writer. I've read a few short stories by him, all very exquisitly written. Do you know of any that are, well, redeeming? The ones I read were not really recomemdable if only for the blatant anti-Christian bias. You must be a very nice person, having cynical days ;). I get a magazine that has one sugary sweet short story an issue, and its my least favorite part. All you have to do is read the opening sentance and you know how its going to end. What’s the point of that? Their only redeeming value is how easy they are to write.

You mention Poe in the reveiw: have you read much of him? I’m not a fan of horror but he IS a great writer. I’ve read a few short stories by him, all very exquisitly written. Do you know of any that are, well, redeeming? The ones I read were not really recomemdable if only for the blatant anti-Christian bias.

]]> By: Matt Gardenghi http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-354 Matt Gardenghi Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:47:23 +0000 http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-354 Well, I like all kinds of short stories. I enjoy mysteries to some degree, but as it is quite hard to develop a decent mystery in 10-15 pages, they aren't that high on my list of short stories. Terror stories are good. (Within reason.) Sci-Fi is usually great. Just finished one that was more of a novella. I'll be posting on that in the near future. Adventure can be decent, but usually the best genre for short stories is humor. I dislike the "heart-warming feel-good" seasonal short stories and the stories contrived to play your emotions toward some feel good goal (i.e. some religious email/short stories deals). These categories are annoying at best and repulsive on my more cynical days.... :-) Well, I like all kinds of short stories. I enjoy mysteries to some degree, but as it is quite hard to develop a decent mystery in 10-15 pages, they aren’t that high on my list of short stories.

Terror stories are good. (Within reason.)

Sci-Fi is usually great. Just finished one that was more of a novella. I’ll be posting on that in the near future.

Adventure can be decent, but usually the best genre for short stories is humor.

I dislike the “heart-warming feel-good” seasonal short stories and the stories contrived to play your emotions toward some feel good goal (i.e. some religious email/short stories deals). These categories are annoying at best and repulsive on my more cynical days….
:-)

]]> By: sincerelyornot http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-353 sincerelyornot Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:32:13 +0000 http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-353 Mysteries (mostly Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, which I never get tired of), and humor (Richard Peck is a family favorite. He writes novels whose chapters can be read individually like short stories). I'm not a big horror fan; my imagination is active enough, thank you. What short stories do you like? Mysteries (mostly Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, which I never get tired of), and humor (Richard Peck is a family favorite. He writes novels whose chapters can be read individually like short stories). I’m not a big horror fan; my imagination is active enough, thank you. What short stories do you like?

]]> By: Matt Gardenghi http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-352 Matt Gardenghi Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:12:12 +0000 http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-352 This was fun. Sorry about the lack of links. You can get it from Librivox. I updated the post to reflect that as well. So what short stories do you like? This was fun. Sorry about the lack of links. You can get it from Librivox. I updated the post to reflect that as well.

So what short stories do you like?

]]> By: sincerelyornot http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-350 sincerelyornot Wed, 28 Nov 2007 22:55:36 +0000 http://conservativebooktalk.com/2007/11/26/tales-of-terror-and-mystery-by-arthur-conan-doyle/#comment-350 I really have to find this one at the Library! Short stories are the best. I really have to find this one at the Library! Short stories are the best.

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