Bibliography 2011-2015

Tartarus Press

publishers

Bibliography

1990-1995

2011-2015

Tartarus Press

Bibliography

2011-2015

2015:

200. HAUNTED BY BOOKS, by Mark Valentine, published 3rd December, 2015, 296 + xiii pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by TJ International with head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-79-0.

Contains: 'Introduction', 'Studies of Sad Beauty: Robert Aickman, Philip Steegman & Arthington Worsley', 'A Dandysme of the Soul: Michael Arlen', 'Inner Bohemia: The Mystical Fiction of Mary Butts', 'With Whisperings and Mumblings: Walter de la Mare’s ‘Seaton’s Aunt’', 'The Stranger Who Opens the Door: The Novels of Claude Houghton', 'Goodbye, Mr Fothergill: James Hilton’s Knight Without Armour', '‘A Demon in Reverse’: Cosnahan’s Magical Influences', 'Under This Strange Grey Sky: The Fantasies of Vernon Knowles', 'The Writer in the Railway Carriage: H.A. Manhood', 'And I’d Be The King of China: The Strange Life of Charles Welsh Mason', 'Masks in Flanders: Major Morris’ Lost Classic', 'Offerings to Mercury', 'Viper in the Temple: The Novels of L.H. Myers', 'Lost Radiance: The Fiction of Lewis Grassic Gibbon', 'Jerusalem in England: A Note on the Work of L. Furze Morrish', '‘I Walk Through the World’: The Writings of Geoffrey Pollett', 'Mr Shakespeare’s Gunpowder Plot', 'The MS in a Red Box', 'The Mysteries of the Pomegranate: Sax Rohmer’s The Orchard of Tears', 'Possible Masterpieces: The Novels of J.C. Snaith', 'The Ultimate Oddness: A Book of Whimsies', 'Secret Names: The Hermetic Fiction of Peter Vansittart', '‘Or Opaline Algol’: A Lost Edwardian Poet', 'A Small Place of Worship: The Last of the Johnsonians', 'What Became of Dr Ludovicus: Ernest Dowson & Arthur Moore’s Lost Shocker', 'Wraiths: Some Lost Poets of the 1890s', 'The Piccadilly Goat', 'Reviews of Unwritten Books', 'Acknowledgements'.

Reviews:

"The four collections of essays by Mark Valentine published by Tartarus Press in Yorkshire contain some of the best writing on books of the last twenty years. It is unsurprising that his name is not cited alongside Basbanes, Dirda or Gekoski, for Valentine’s chosen subject is, more often than not, the rediscovery of a neglected author or lighting a candle at the shrine of an author who had no wide audience in life." Peter Cooper, The Book Collector, Summer 2022

199. WORMWOOD, Issue 25, Edited by Mark Valentine, 27th October, 2015. 92 pages. £9.99. 400 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by TJ International.

Contains: 'Notes on the Modernist Ghost Story', by James Riley, 'Dark Dreams and Deep Desires: A Reading of Sarban’s The Doll Maker', by Rebekah Memel Brown, 'Alexei Remizov: An Opleshik in Exile', by Avalon Brantley, 'Romanticism and the Deranged Mind: The Maniac', by Robert Eldridge, 'The Many Lives of Guy Endore,' by Chris Mikul, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, 'Late Reviews' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Camera Obscura' by John Howard.

198. HORTHÓLARY: TALES FROM MONTAGASCONY, by Michael Reynier, published 26th October, 2015, 340 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by TJ International with head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-77-6.

Reviews:

'...Reynier is his own man and his creation is as original as it is vivid and entertaining.... Be sure to put Montagascony on your travel itinerary in the near future. You will not be disappointed.' Peter Tennant, Black Static (#61)

'These tales are superb examples of worldbuilding fantasy at its finest.' Publishers Weekly

'Highly Recommended.' Risingshadow

'Fearful French Fantastic Fun.' Paul St.John Mackintosh, See the Elephant

'With the quality of Reynier’s Horthólary so well established, I see no reason why he or Tartarus should not gain popularity in coming years. Indeed, both deserve it.' The Weird Fiction Review

'Hortholary, with all its rich imagery, slow storytelling and depth of (even minor) characters, would appeal more to the Gabriel Garcia Marquez fan than the fan of hard-nosed detectives, but it is the perfect meal for lovers of both.' Aurealius # 92

197. MONSIEUR DE PHOCAS, by Jean Lorrain, with an Introduction by Francis Amery, published 28th September, 2015, 300 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by TJ International in pictorial cloth, with full colour frontispiece, head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-78-3.

Review:

'Jean Lorrain's Monsieur de Phocas is one of the most intriguing, mesmerising and memorable novels I've read in a long while, because once you've read it, you won't be able to forget it. It lingers on your mind and you'll be thinking of its contents for a long time after the final page has been read. It's a perfect literary marriage of decadence and depravity, visioned by an author who himself had personal knowledge and experiences about many things described in the story.' Risingshadow

196. THE CHILDREN OF THE POOL, by Arthur Machen, with an Introduction by Mark Valentine, published 20th August, 2015, 209 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by TJ International in pictorial cloth, with head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-76-9.

195. THE LIBRARY OF THE LOST, by Roger Dobson, edited and with an Introduction by Mark Valentine, with a Foreword, 'A Remarkable Man' by Javier Marías, published 3rd July, 2015, xvi + 280 pages. £25.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in pictorial cloth, with head and tailbands. 250 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-72-1.

Review

'As soon as I had started reading, I grabbed pen and paper and started noting titles of various books and stories mentioned here that wanted to read. When I'd finished Library of the Lost, the list numbered thirty-four, of which I only owned twelve. I bought three more immediately, and then after a second read, I purchased another three. I couldn't help myself. The real stuff

194. THE STRANGERS AND OTHER WRITINGS, by Robert Aickman, 30th May 2015, xii + 293 pages. £37.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in burgundy wibalin cloth stamped in silver and gold, with head and tailbands. 450 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-75-2.

Contains: ‘Preface’, Fiction: ‘The Case of Wallingford’s Tiger’, ‘The Whistler’, ‘A Disciple of Plato’, ‘The Coffin House’, ‘The Flying Anglo-Dutchman’, ‘The Strangers’, ‘The Fully-Conducted Tour’, Non Fiction: ‘The Plays of Oscar Wilde’, ‘A Review of The Sporting Queensberrys’, ‘Are You An Anarchist Without Knowing It?’, ‘The Popular Poltergeist’, ‘Crime by Proxy’, ‘Crossfire: A Criticism’, ‘Gentleman’s Agreement’, ‘Ghost Story Anthology Introduction’, ‘Postscript to Harry Price’, ‘The Avon’, ‘Irving in The Bells’, ‘The Bells of Bealings House’, ‘Magnificence, Elegance and Charm’, ‘ “Ghoulies and Ghousties” of England’, ‘Some Notes on Delius’, ‘Review of Russell Kirk’, ‘Excerpts from Bulletin’, Poetry: ‘Pimlico’, ‘Thea’.

All copies include a free DVD, Robert Aickman: Author of Strange Tales.

Reviews

'There are books, the publication of which represents a real literary event. This is the case with The Strangers...' Mario Guslandi, Nudge

'Featuring the first original short fiction collection of Aickman in three decades, The Strangers and Other Writings is the single most important release of the year by an independent publisher.' The Pan Review

'As a "behind-the-scenes" look at the evolution of a writer and a quasi-philosopher, this volume could hardly be bettered.' The Stars at Noonday

'Tartarus Press should be commended for this volume, which sheds so much light on Aickman’s development and missteps as a writer, as well as providing us with the fine stories The Coffin House, The Flying Anglo-Dutchman, and The Fully-Conducted Tour, along with the stellar, sublime, wonderful The Strangers.' James Everington

recommended summer reading in the Washington Post

193. WORMWOOD, Issue 24, Edited by Mark Valentine, 30th April 2015. 92 pages. £9.99. 400 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by TJ International.

Contains: 'Wolfgang Borchert: A Shooting Star in the Literature of the Ruins' by Adam Daly, 'The Shadow Woman: A Re-reading of Robert Aickman’s "The Trains" ' by Jason Wilcox, 'Murder and Memory: The Forgotten Fiction of Richard Marsh' by Emily Foster, 'Jacques Yonnet’s Paris Noir: The Secret History of a City' by Colin Insole, 'Down to His Last Sleep: Zuleika Dobson in the Twenty-first Century' by Henry Wessells, 'A Surge of Daemonic Energy: John Buchan and The Dancing Floor' by James Machin, 'Not Exactly Prominent: The Supernatural Tales of Sir Andrew Caldecott' by Mike Barrett, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, 'Late Reviews' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Camera Obscura' by John Howard.

192. STRANGE TALES V, edited by Rosalie Parker, 9th April 2015. 267 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by T.J. International in blue wibalin cloth stamped in silver and copper, with head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 9781905784745.

Contains: 'The Investigation of Innocence' by Charles Wilkinson, 'Julie' by L.S. Johnson, 'The Grave House' by Steve Rasnic Tem, 'A Life in Plastic' by Andrew Hook, 'Bardo Thodol Backup File' by Jacurutu:23, 'More Than India' by John Howard, 'You-Go-Back' by Elise Forier Edie, 'Stranger Must Go' by Douglas Penick, 'Beatrice Faraway’s Christmas Tale' by Paul Bradley, 'Henge' by David Rix, 'Yes, I Knew the Venusian Commodore' by Mark Valentine, 'Mary Alice in the Mirror' by Yarrow Paisley, 'The Taxidermist’s Tale' by Tara Isabella Burton, 'The Man Who Loved Flies' by Andrew Apter, 'Purses' by Nathan Alling Long, 'Look for the Place Where the Ivy Rises' by Tom Johnstone, 'McBirdy' by David McGroarty

Reviews

'This is one of the best, and certainly best-written, story anthologies I have readin a few past years of often superb collections.' Paul St.John Mackintosh, Telereads

'17 new stories that celebrate the diversity of the fantastic spectrum and attest to Parker's exceptional taste.' Publishers Weekly

'If you love bizarre and disturbing stories, this anthology will charm you and you'll want to re-read it as soon as possible. All of these stories deserve to be read and praised by readers and critics alike, because they're of exceptionally high quality.' Risingshadow

'...top-notch contributions.' Mario Guslandi, SFBookReviews

recommended reading at KQED Arts

191. THE SECRET GLORY, by Arthur Machen, 5th March 2015. 287 pages. £40.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by T.J. International in printed cloth stamped in silver and gold, with head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-73-8.

190. ORPHEUS ON THE UNDERGROUND, by Rhys Hughes, 8th January 2015. 212 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by T.J. International in purple wibalin cloth stamped in black, silver and gold, with head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-71-4.

Reviews

'...one of the best new collections in the field that you could hope for.' Teleread

'An antic spirit animates the 16 delightful fantasies in this collection, which gives the reader the literary equivalent of a wink and a rib nudge. ... In several of these stories, Hughes references the work of Saki, a 20th-century master of satirical fantasy, and readers will find his tales their contemporary equivalent.' Publisher's Weekly

2014:

189. THE HOUSE OF SOULS, by Arthur Machen, 10th November 2014. 427+x pages. £40.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by T.J. International in grey wibalin cloth stamped in silver, gilt, grey and black, with head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-70-7.

188. WORMWOOD, Issue 23, Edited by Mark Valentine, 20th October 2014. 92 pages. £9.99. 400 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by TJ International.

Contains: 'The Way to the City: The Final Novels of Charles Williams' by John Howard, 'Bookman’s Holiday' by Michael Dirda, 'Thomas Tessier: Walking the Night Side' by Mike Barrett, 'Dulcie Deamer: Spiritual Awakenings' by James Doig, 'Fire-Flies in Atlantis, or, The Country of Fear' by Henry Wessells, 'Was the Novelist Phyllis Paul also an Illustrator?' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, 'Late Review's by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Camera Obscura' by John Howard.

187. THE LONEY, by Andrew Michael Hurley, 1st October 2014. 278 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by T.J. International in green wibalin cloth stamped in silver, with head and tailbands. 350 copies signed by the author. ISBN 978-1-905784-69-1.

Winner of the Costa First Novel Award

Winner of the British Book Industry Debut Novel

Winner of the British Book Industry Book of the Year

Reviews:

'Not only does Hurley write beautifully, he has the Aickmanesque talent of never exactly telling you what’s going on . . . Modern classics in this genre are rare, and instant ones even rarer; The Loney, however, looks as though it may be both.' Tim Martin, Sunday Telegraph

'His sensitive portrayal of Tonto and Hanny's relationship and his insights into religious belief and faith give this eerie tale depth and gravity.' "Starred" review at Publishers Weekly

'Hurley delivers a haunting and powerful weird tale about religious faith and how it is used to control and make sense of forces that constantly resist it.' Stefan Dziemianowicz, Locus, January 2015

'What I loved about The Loney is that it struck me as the kind of book Robert Aickman might have written if his strange stories had expanded into strange novels. Yes, it’s more narratively linear and “filled out” than Aickman’s work, and possibly Hurley’s portrayal of the novel’s human characters as distinct from the landscape is less contemptuous and alien than some of Aickman’s.' No Time is Passing

'Hurley is a terrific writer... That he has honed his talents in short stories shows here, the rhythm of the story is perfect, and the build-up of tension is so well done that your palms will be clammy at just the thought of some of the set pieces.' Bookmunch

'The Lonely, a powerfully written tale of faith, reality and what rises from the gulf between the two ... a novel with rich, intense characters and places you'll not soon forget.' Rick Kleffel at The Agony Column

'Hurley has written a dark, disturbing and completely convincing piece of modern Gothic that delivers on all kinds of levels.' Paul StJohn Mackintosh at Teleread

'The Loney is a British horror novel that fits into the tradition of the ghost story while not being entirely bounded by it. I found it an absorbing read, with credible characterisation and an intelligent, satisfying plot that evokes the sense of mystery that abounds in the shadier, wilder parts of our little islands...' Supernatural Tales Blog

'The Loney is a lovely book, both in its prose and its plotting and its primary characters and even its darkness, which is dished out slowly and carefully.' Goodreads

186. THE BITTERWOOD BIBLE, by Angela Slatter, Introduction by Stephen Jones, Afterword by Lisa L. Hannett, Illustrated by Kathleen Jennings, 1st September, 2014. 277 + viii pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in black wibalin cloth stamped in copper, silver and gilt, with head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-65-3

Contains: 'Author’s Note', 'Introduction' by Stephen Jones, 'The Coffin-Maker’s Daughter', 'The Maiden in the Ice', 'The Badger Bride', 'The Burnt Moon', 'By My Voice I Shall Be Known', 'The Undone and the Divine', 'The Night Stair', 'Now, All Pirates are Gone', 'St Dymphna’s School for Poison Girls', 'The Bitterwood Bible', 'Terrible as an Army with Banners', 'By the Weeping Gate', 'Spells for Coming Forth by Daylight', 'Afterword' by Lisa L. Hannett, 'Acknowledgements'.

Reviews:

'[Angela Slatter] has carved a niche as one of the best writers of short stories of dark fantasy. . . . Each story is infused with different elements of myth, fairytale and folklore to create something fresh and original. The tales are creepy and supernatural, but also contain wry humour. They often come with a sharp point, sometimes by way of a morality tale or small cruelties. Slatter combines darkness, passion and beauty to leave the reader at turns amused, confronted and horrified. . . . Slatter writes with an exquisite touch, and her words are enhanced by delightful sketches by Australian artist Kathleen Jennings.' The Australian

'Starred' review at Publishers Weekly: '13 expertly wrought stories in this short-fiction collection feature characters driven by the all-too-human motives of revenge and frustration with the miserable circumstances of their lives.'

'Slatter’s prose is often magnificent, and she’s able to craft characters as great as the powers they wield. Here you find beauty and terror.' Rick Kleffel, KQED

'Highly recommended.' Mario Guslandi, Thirteen O'Clock

'Slatter’s work is excellent, and eminently readable. The world that her creations live within is excellently depicted, and the characters easy to relate to. It’s easy to see how she’s managed to make such an impact on the genre and garnered a British Fantasy Award and numerous other nominations.' British Fantasy Society

'...a short story collection of exceptional beauty, grace and style. It should be part of everybody's speculative fiction collection.' Risingshadow

'..a compendium of bittersweet tales to be devoured with relish.' The Newtown Review of Books

'...now time for me to gush. This is a collection of stories in which each individual work is a perfectly crafted gem, and the whole is considerably greater than the sum of its parts. ... As intricately plotted as Martin’s magnum opus, and with similar outbursts of bloody violence. ... As of today’s date, I rate The Bitterwood Bible and Other Recountings the best book I have read so far this year.' Peter Tennant, Black Static

185. WRITTEN WITH MY LEFT HAND, by Nugent Barker, 4th July 2014. 236 + xi pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by T.J. International in red wibalin cloth stamped in gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-872621-67-8.

Contains: ‘Foreword’ by Douglas Anderson, ‘Bibliographical Notes’, ‘Curious Adventure of Mr Bond’, ‘Stanley Hutchinson’, ‘The Six’, ‘I and My Wife Isobel’, ‘Whessoe’, ‘Interlude’, ‘The Spurs’, ‘Death’s Door’, ‘Gertie Macnamara’, ‘The Invalid’, ‘Out of Leading-Strings’, ‘Mrs Sayce’s Guy’, ‘Expectation of Life’, ‘A Passage in the Life of Dr Wilks’, ‘The Strange Disappearance of Monsieur Charbo’, ‘The Thorn’, ‘One, Two, Buckle My Shoe’, ‘Aimless Afternoon’, ‘The Announcement’, ‘Crescendo’, ‘Life and Death of the Princess Gertrude’.

184. THE RIVER RUNS UPHILL, by Robert Aickman, with an Introduction by Rosalie Parker. 17th July 2014. 290 + xiv pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in red wibalin cloth stamped in silver and gilt, with head and tailbands. 350 copies. 978-1-905784-68-4.

183. SECRET EUROPE, by John Howard and Mark Valentine, 16th May 2014. 236 + viii pages. £35. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in red wibalin cloth stamped in silver and gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-64-6.

Contains: 'Introduction', John Howard and Mark Valentine, 'Baltersan's Third Edition', Mark Valentine, 'Secret Byzantium', Mark Valentine, 'The Silver Eagles', John Howard, 'Silence and Fire', Mark Valentine, 'The Other Salt', Mark Valentine, 'The White City', John Howard, 'The Baltic Circles', John Howard, 'The Girl with the Violin', Mark Valentine, 'The Goat-Eyed', Mark Valentine, 'The Lion of Chaldea', Mark Valentine, 'Westenstrand', John Howard, 'The Unrest at Aachen', Mark Valentine, 'Prince Aziz', Mark Valentine, 'The Hunting Castle', John Howard, 'The Atelier at Iasi', Mark Valentine, 'A Minor Official', Mark Valentine, 'The Way of the Sun', John Howard, 'Wandering Paths', John Howard, 'A Lantern for Carpathia', Mark Valentine, 'The High Places', John Howard, 'The Fall of Ashes', Mark Valentine, 'Cabaret Zoltaire', Mark Valentine, 'The Waltz of Masks', John Howard, 'The Second Percussionist', Mark Valentine, 'A Gift for the Emperor', John Howard, 'An Officer of the Reserve', Mark Valentine.

Reviews

'...Inner Europe, a companion to Secret Europe. Both these handsome volumes ... are suffused with that air of mystery, transgression and foreboding one associates with continental literature and film during the 1920s and ’30s.' Michael Dirda, The Washington Post

'... an astonishing work of fiction that effortlessly displaces the world we know with the world created on the pages we read. By virtue of strong, character-based storytelling, subtle prose and genuinely inventive strangeness, Valentine and Howard create a version of Europe that is not ours, but partakes of that which we know in such a manner as to be more powerful than what is real.' Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

'...this outstanding collection, tales that have been stored away in places waiting for a sensitive ear to give voice to their hidden secrets.' Glen Cole Russell

182. WORMWOOD, Issue 22, Edited by Mark Valentine, 6th May 2014. 92 pages. £9.99. 400 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by TJ International.

Contains: 'In Memoriam: Four Friends of Wormwood' by Mark Valentine, 'Bittersweet Mysteries: The Supernatural Tales of A.C. Benson' by Tim Foley, 'Henry C. Mercer' by Peter Bell, 'M.R. James and the Antiquarian Origins of "Canon Alberic's Scrapbook" ' by Emily Foster, 'George Gissing: Classicist Manque, Harlot Lover, Visionary Pauper' by Adam Daly, 'Beauty and Tragedy: On the Poetry of James Elroy Flecker' by Phillip A. Ellis, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, 'Late Reviews' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Camera Obscura' by John Howard

181. MERCY, by Rebecca Lloyd, 31st March 2014. 220 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in yellow wibalin cloth stamped in blue, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-61-5.

Contains: 'Mercy', 'The Careless Hour', 'The Stone', 'Salsa', 'The Meat Freezer', 'Dust', 'What Comes?', 'Momentum', 'Lucky Cat', 'The Bath', 'The Gathering', 'Gone to the Deep', 'Maynard's Mountain', 'The Lover', 'All That Follows', 'The Reunion'.

Reviews:

'The stories collected in 'Mercy' are excitingly, invitingly, engagingly human. With each tale, Lloyd offers us the premise that our hearts are a mystery.' Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

'Lloyd is a new writer to me, but one I am delighted to have made the acquaintance of, and in publishing this collection Tartarus provide yet further proof that the strange tale is in a robust state of health.' Peter Tennant, Black Static

'Rebecca Lloyd is a name to look out for.' British Fantasy Society

'Her control of the form is obvious, and it’s a joy to read the work of such a talented short story writer. Or maybe joy is the wrong word, since it seems to be Lloyd’s mission to craft tales loaded with creepy and uncanny details that will stick with you long after the close of any single story.' Neon: A Literary Magazine

'These are wonderfully written tales, dealing with life, love, relationships and the loss thereof in a thoroughly believable way, and with a depth not present in many works of short fiction. The way Lloyd interweaves the past with the present is hugely impressive, and adds an extra dimension to her impressive body of work. This has been one of my books of the year so far.' M.R. Cosby

'At times I found it hard to differentiate between this collection and Angela Carter's...' A Universe in Words

'I consider this collection to be an outstanding achievement in contemporary strange fiction' Risingshadow

180. RUPETTA, by N.A. Sulway. 20th March 2014. 352 pages. £14.96. Paperback reprint printed and bound by Antony Rowe. ISBN 978-1-905784-66-0.

Rupetta is the winner of the 2013 James Tiptree, Jr. Award

The judges write: 'A deft blend of fantasy, science fiction, romance, and even gothic horror, this beautifully written story challenges the reader’s expectations about gender and of a gendering society.'

Rupetta is the winner of the 2014 Norma K. Hemming Award

The judges write: 'In Rupetta, N. A. Sulway tells a passionate story about history, truth, power, sexuality and love. From its opening pages, the novel is a joy to read – written with remarkable craft and authority. It is likely to become a classic of Australian speculative fiction, and it confirms that Sulway is a major talent.'

Rupetta was shortlisted for the 2014 Aurealis Awards

Rupetta was runner-up (shortlisted) in the 2014 Crawford Memorial Award, presented annually by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts for an outstanding first fantasy book.

Reviews

'Sulway’s Rupetta is a terrific, unnerving book about an immortal automaton who becomes the subject of a religious cult and law.' Alyssa Rosenberg, The Washington Post

'...what impressed me the most about this book was Sulway’s exquisite writing, giving us a text in which every single word appears to have been chosen with care, so that their combination renders what the author wishes to convey with both precision and beauty. There’s a rare pleasure to be had from watching the sentences unfurl on the page, luxuriating in the sensations they evoke in the mind, sights and sounds, smells and feelings. ... "I regard Rupetta as one of the best books I read in 2013.' Peter Tennant, Case Notes, Black Static

'A stunning masterpiece of modern fiction, Rupetta pulls the reader into Sulway’s world, and emotionally engages them in her life and struggles.' Matthew Johns, British Fantasy Society

'Rupetta is a rich, complex work wrapped in an engaging style. It is not a book that can be pigeonholed. It has elements of fantasy, romance and even gothic horror in the mould of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. At the same time, it contains lengthy discussions on questions such as the meaning of knowledge. It is unlike any other book that you will read this year. If nothing else, it deserves a wide readership for the author's bold ambition and striking feat of imagination.' The Australian

'Sulway uses rich and evocative prose to pull the reader irresistibly into her tale's vividly rendered alternate Europe and its centuries of human power struggles. Her profound reflections on human frailty and the price for everlasting life seem as much a bonus as an integral part of its telling.' http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-905784-50-9

'The real treat here is the seamless flow of prose that makes the reading experience utterly unique.' Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

'...And there are wondrous, moving passages full of lyricism, elegy, wonder and suggestive speculation. Cherish them as you puzzle out Rupetta’s world and its underlying culture and history. This is a strangely enchanting, wholly convincing novel.' Jildy Sauce

'The book is high-concept but beautifully written, with florid, fluid language and just enough of a connection to reality to make it seem believable' . . . 'If you’re into speculative fiction, fantasy or books with LBGTI+ content, this is definitely one you shouldn’t miss.' Aurealis magazine (issue 118)

179. THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE, by John Gaskin, 3rd March 2014. 198+vi pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in red wibalin cloth stamped in gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 360 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-62-2.

Contains: 'Foreword', ‘The Memento Mori’, ‘Wolvershiel’, ‘Addendum to a Confession’, ‘Wings’, ‘The Pit’, ‘Empty Places’, ‘Party Talk’, ‘The Double Crossing’, ‘Night Music’, ‘The Master of the House’, ‘The New Inn Hall Inheritance’, ‘Where Shadows Lead’ .

Reviews

'A splendid collection of stories to be savoured slowly but deeply, just like a glass of vintage wine.' Mario Guslandi, SFRevu

'Here crouch 12 superb tales of the unknown and the numinous, each one as finely crafted as could be wished, ready to pounce upon the unsuspecting reader's imagination.' M.R. Cosby's Blog

'...a mastery of the classic English ghost story that all lovers of the genre will relish.' Ghosts and Scholars

'Touched with irony and graveyard humor, his stories will appeal to fans of classic ghostly fiction.' Publishers Weekly

'I suspect this book will remind many of us why we first fell in love with the genre.' Supernatural Tales Blog

178. FLOWERS OF THE SEA, by Reggie Oliver, 17th February 2014. 388 + x pages. £14.95. Paperback reprint, printed and bound by Antony Rowe. ISBN 978-1-905784-63-9. Contains:‘Introduction’ by Michael Dirda, ‘A Child’s Problem’, ‘Striding Edge’, ‘Hand to Mouth’, ‘Singing Blood’, ‘Flowers of the Sea’, ‘Lord of the Fleas’, ‘Didman’s Corner’, ‘The Posthumous Messiah’, ‘Charm’, ‘Between Four Yews’, ‘The Spooks of Shellborough’, ‘Süssmayr’s Requiem’, ‘Come Into My Parlour’, ‘Lightning’, ‘Waving to the Boats’, ‘Author’s Note’.

Reviews

'Oliver's skill at wringing horror from both likely and unlikely materials makes this a book bursting with well-wrought surprises.' Starred review at Publishers Weekly

'When reviewing one of his collections, I'm often running out of adjectives to properly describe how excellent are most of the tales included therein. The current volume, assembling thirteen stories and two novellas, is no exception.' Mario Guslandi, SF Site

"Oliver's latest includes all the treats you want; novellas, illustrations by the author, short stories, the strange, characters that are impeccably created, great book production values; this is what reading is all about. If you've ever wondered why I seem so enthusiastic about Tartarus and Oliver, this collection can act as the perfect example." Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

"Reggie Oliver’s stories all share a striking narrative graciousness. Open any of his collections—Mrs Midnight, Madder Mysteries, Masques of Satan, The Complete Symphonies of Adolf Hitler, The Dreams of Cardinal Vittorini—and read the first paragraph or two of one of his ‘strange stories’. Almost immediately the spell is cast." Michael Dirda, from the Introduction to Flowers of the Sea

"Reggie Oliver, quite possibly our finest modern writer of spectral tales." Ramsey Campbell

177. STRANGE TALES VOLUME IV, edited by Rosalie Parker, 20th January 2014. 252 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in black wibalin cloth stamped in silver, blue and red, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-60-8.

Contains: Frontispiece by Stephen J. Clark, 'By Leaf and Thorn' by Christopher Harman, 'The Secret Passage' by Rhys Hughes, 'Gone to the Deep' by Rebecca Lloyd, 'You Promised You Would Walk' by John Howard, 'Forth' by A.J. McIntosh, 'Preservation' by V.H. Leslie, 'The Man Who Wore His Father’s Clothes' by Andrew Apter, 'The Badger Bride' by Angela Slatter, 'The Amber Komboloi' by Matt Leyshon, 'For a Last Spark of the Divine' by Mark Francis, 'The Recovery' by H.V. Chao, 'Drowning in Air' by Andrew Hook, 'The Homunculus in the Curio' by Jason A. Wyckoff, 'Time' by Richard Hill, 'The Memento Mori' by John Gaskin. Cover illustration and boards decoration by Stephen J. Clark.

Reviews

'Tartarus Press has always displayed impressive production values but Strange Tales IV raises them to a new height ... With its colour frontispiece by Stephen J. Clark and colour foil-stamped boards bearing another Clark design, this is a book whose physical package is commensurate with the literary quality of its contents.' Locus

'The stories selected for this volume attest to the diversity and imaginative possibilities inherent in the strange tale.' Starred review at Publishers Weekly

'...the contents of this anthology more than justify the editor’s claim that 'the strange tale is alive and well.' Peter Tennant, Black Static

2013:

176. THE ATTEMPTED RESCUE, by Robert Aickman, with an Introduction by Jeremy Dyson, 5th December 2013. 245 + viiipages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in red wibalin cloth stamped in silver and gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-59-2.

175. WORMWOOD, Issue 21, Edited by Mark Valentine, 25th November 2013. 92 pages. £9.99. 400 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by Antony Rowe.

Contains: 'David Lindsay’s The Violet Apple' by Murray Ewing. 'Barbey D’Aurevilly: Re-evaluating the Place of Diabolism in Les Diaboliques' by Tara Isabella Burton, 'Grant Morrison’s Arkham Asylum, and the Literary Tradition of the Haunted House' by Brian J. Showers, 'Mrs Gaskell, Mr Dickens and "‘The Old Nurse’s Story" ’ by Tim Foley, 'Encountering the Unknown: The Supernatural Stories of William Croft Dickinson' by Mike Barrett, 'An Outsider Confined: The Stifled Voice of John Evelyn Barlas' by Mark Andresen, 'Black Ice on the Vltava: The Tragic Spirit of Paul Leppin' by Daniel Corrick, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, 'Late Reviews' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Camera Obscura' by John Howard.

174. FLOWERS OF THE SEA, by Reggie Oliver, 5th November 2013. 388 + x pages. £37.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in blue wibalin cloth stamped in silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 400 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-57-8.

Contains: ‘Introduction’ by Michael Dirda, ‘A Child’s Problem’, ‘Striding Edge’, ‘Hand to Mouth’, ‘Singing Blood’, ‘Flowers of the Sea’, ‘Lord of the Fleas’, ‘Didman’s Corner’, ‘The Posthumous Messiah’, ‘Charm’, ‘Between Four Yews’, ‘The Spooks of Shellborough’, ‘Süssmayr’s Requiem’, ‘Come Into My Parlour’, ‘Lightning’, ‘Waving to the Boats’, ‘Author’s Note’.

Reviews

'Oliver's skill at wringing horror from both likely and unlikely materials makes this a book bursting with well-wrought surprises.' Starred review at Publishers Weekly

"Reggie Oliver, quite possibly our finest modern writer of spectral tales." Ramsey Campbell

173. DARKSCAPES, by Ann-Sylvie Salzman, translated by William Charlton, 29th July 2013. 193 pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in black wibalin cloth stamped in white, yellow and red, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-57-8.

Contains: Lost Girls: ‘Child of Evil Stars’, ‘Fox into Lady’, ‘The Old Towpath’, ‘The Opening’, ‘Meannanaich’. Crucifixions: ‘Passing Forms’, ‘Under the Lighthouse’, ‘Pan’s Children’, ‘Brunel’s Invention’, ‘Shioge’. The Story of Margaret: ‘What the Eye Remembers’, ‘The Hand that Sees’. Wildlife: ‘Hilda’, ‘Lamont’, ‘Feral’. Bibliography. Acknowledgements.

Reviews

'...a collection whose worth far outweighs the occasional note of vagueness ... hopefully Salzman’s reputation as a unique voice will be solidly established on the weird fiction map as a result.' Peter Tennant, "Case Notes", Black Static

'An outstanding collection and an essential book for all serious readers of dark and fantastic fiction. Not to be missed under any circumstances!' Rick Kleffel at The Agony Column

'Salzman displays a vivid imagination, a knack for the weird and the fantastic, and a very elegant prose.' Mario Guslandi, British Fantasy Society

'Salzman shows skill at exposing the troubled psyches of her characters as they grapple with their weird realities, notably in "The Old Towpath" and "Feral", whose heroines are drawn to forbidden locales that provoke dark imaginings. Though explanations are not always forthcoming for these tales’ bizarre moments, their mix of strange people and strange incidents will interest readers with a taste for uncanny fiction.' Publishers Weekly

'Salzman’s subjects are sinister rather than brutal, and often push dark psychology into the territory of fantasy or surrealism . . . .they are highly effective, albeit occasionally vague, and a really attractive addition to contemporary dark and fantastic literature.' Paul St John Mackintosh, Telereads

"Darkscapes lives up to its name. Gothic, horrific, bordering on the twilight realm between nightmare and reality, the writing shares some style with classic writers like Edgar Allan Poe. . . . Salzman has terrifyingly beautiful prose. . . ." Aurealis #133

The author is interviewed by Telereads here.

172. THE LIFE OF ARTHUR MACHEN, by John Gawsworth, 21st June 2013. 398 pages. £19.95. Paperback reprint. ISBN 9781905784554

Reviews:

'Excellently edited by Roger Dobson who displays an impressive knowledge of Machen . . . is an extraordinary achievement.' Phil Baker, Times Literary Supplement

'Sumptuous' Simon Rogers, Book and Magazine Collector

171. NIGHT VOICES, by Robert Aickman. 29th May 2013. 316 + vii pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in burgundy wibalin cloth stamped in gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-56-1.

Contents: ‘Foreword’ by Barry Humphries, 'The Stains', 'Just a Song at Twilight', 'Laura', 'Rosamund’s Bower', 'Mark Ingestre: The Customer’s Tale', 'The Model', 'An Essay', 'Introductions to The Fontana Book of Great Ghost Stories', 'Robert Remembered’ by Ramsey Campbell.

170. WORMWOOD, Issue 20, Edited by Mark Valentine, 19th April 2013. 92 pages. £9.99. 400 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by Antony Rowe.

Contents: ‘Forever Always Ends: Robert Aickman’s Visions of Afterlife’ (part one) by Joel Lane, ‘The Baroque of the Void: A Fantastic Fiction of the Austrian Idea’ by John Howard, ‘John Cowper Powys: Celtic Colossus and Eminence Grise’ by Adam Daly, ‘A Sombre and Unique Beauty: The Stories of Helen Simpson’ by James Doig, ‘Fate as a Character: H. Rider Haggard’s Secret Currents' by Thos. Kent Miller, ‘Under Review’ by Reggie Oliver, ‘Late Reviews’ by Douglas A. Anderson, ‘Camera Obscura’ by John Howard, 'Notes on Contributors'.

169. HERALD OF THE HIDDEN, by Mark Valentine. 2nd April 2013. 230 + vii pages. £35. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in blue wibalin cloth stamped in gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 400 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-54-7.

Contents: ‘Introduction’. Ralph Tyler Stories: ‘St Michael & All Angels’, ‘The Folly’, ‘Madberry Hill’, ‘The Ash Track’, ‘The Grave of Anir’, ‘William Sorrell Requests’, ‘The Hermit’s House’, ‘Herald of the Hidden’, ‘Heritage of Fire’, ‘The Almanac’. Other Early Stories: ‘The Guardians of the Guest Room’, ‘Go to the West’, ‘Tree Worship’, ‘Twilight at Little Brydon Cricket Club’, ‘Woken by Candlelight’, ‘Their Special Glee’. ‘Acknowledgements.’

'Among the current weird and supernatural fiction authors, Mark Valentine has established a position as one of the most original and interesting. He rarely if ever sets out to horrify, but rather to awe and mystify, even to inspire; an aim he usually succeeds in achieving.... Herald of the Hidden and Other Stories is a typically classy Tartarus hardback: at £35 it's not cheap, but worth every penny, in my opinion.' Rosemary Pardoe, Ghosts and Scholars, 24

'Valentine never puts a foot wrong...' Mark Andresen, The Pan Review

'All these stories were collected at the suggestion of the legendary editor Richard Dalby, who selected many of them for his famous collections. It was a good idea.' David Longhorn, Supernatural Tales

'...for those who appreciate a traditional ghost story well-told, this volume can sit proudly on your bookshelf beside the greats.' Stewart Horn, British Fantasy Society

'Readers who enjoy the new brand of "urban fantasy" will find here the top-notch, classy, but down-and-dirty detective noir version.' Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

168. STAR KITES, by Mark Valentine. 2nd April 2013. 64 pages. £27.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in orange blue cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-52-3.

Review

'I am impressed by Star Kites: the collection as a whole haunts me after reading them, and going back to individual poems as I write this review leaves me yearning to read the whole again.' Phillip Ellis

'...another glimpse into the worlds of this most captivating of authors.' Wyrd Britain

167. RUPETTA, by N.A. Sulway. 9th February 2013. 352 pages. £35. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in orange wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-50-9.

Rupetta is the winner of the 2013 James Tiptree, Jr. Award

Rupetta is the winner of the 2014 Norma K. Hemming Award

Rupetta was shortlisted for the 2014 Aurealis Awards

Rupetta was runner-up (shortlisted) in the 2014 Crawford Memorial Award, presented annually by the International Association for the Fantastic in the Arts for an outstanding first fantasy book.

Reviews

'Sulway’s Rupetta is a terrific, unnerving book about an immortal automaton who becomes the subject of a religious cult and law.' Alyssa Rosenberg, The Washington Post

'A stunning masterpiece of modern fiction, Rupetta pulls the reader into Sulway’s world, and emotionally engages them in her life and struggles.' Matthew Johns, British Fantasy Society

'The real treat here is the seamless flow of prose that makes the reading experience utterly unique.' Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

166. THE COMPLETE SYMPHONIES OF ADOLF HITLER, by Reggie Oliver. 4th February 2013. 338+ ix pages. £14.95. Paperback printed and bound by Antony Rowe. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-51-6.

Contains: “Introduction” by Glen Cavaliero, “The Complete Symphonies of Adolf Hitler”, “Lapland Nights”, “The Garden of Strangers”, “Among the Tombs”, “The Skins”, “The Sermons of Dr Hodnet”, “Magus Zoroaster”, “The Time of Blood”, “Parma Violets”, “Difficult People”, “The Constant Rake”, “The Blue Room”, “A Nightmare Sang”, “The Babe of the Abyss”, “Bloody Bill” and “A Christmas Card”.

Reviews:

"The broad sweep of English social history alone, displayed here, should galvanise those new to this author into seeking out his other collections." - The Pan Review

"For any lover of ghost stories, this is a great read, at an almost ludicrously low price considering its quality." - Paul St John Mackintosh,TeleRead

165. DARK WORLD, edited by Timothy Parker Russell. 4th February 2013. 188 pages. £14.95. Paperback printed and bound by Antony Rowe. 300 numbered copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-53-0.

Contains: ‘Introduction’ by Timothy Parker Russell, ‘Come Into My Parlour’ by Reggie Oliver, ‘Mistake at the Monsoon Palace’ by Christopher Fowler, ‘The Swinger’ by Rhys Hughes, ‘An Incomplete Apocalypse’ by Mark Valentine, ‘First Night’ by Anna Taborska, ‘Wolvershiel’ by John Gaskin, ‘The Arndale Pass’ by Corinna Underwood, ‘Oracle’ by Rosalie Parker, ‘The House on North Congress Street’, by Jason A. Wyckoff, ‘Nothing but the Waves’ by Mark J. Saxton, ‘The Old Brick House’ by Jayaprakash Satyamurthy, ‘The Paschal Candlestick’ by R.B. Russell, ‘Ninth Rotation’ by Stephen Holman, ‘Wheatfield with Crows’ by Steve Rasnic Tem, ‘Notes on Contributors’.

Reprinted March 2013.

Dark World has been featured by both The Independent and The Guardian.

Reviews

'Whether they provide their ghosts with a rationale for appearing, or present them as frightening because they are inexplicable, all the authors exercise restraint in their storytelling that encourages readers to fit their own worst fears to the story's supernatural events. This anthology, whose proceeds will benefit the Amala Children's Home of India, is Russell's first, but it shows a seasoned editor's understanding of effective weird tale telling.' Publishers Weekly

'... you will find some splendid tales apt to satisfy your desire for entertaining, accomplished dark fiction.' Nudgemenow

'...a satisfying anthology ... if you are an aficionado of the strange and uncanny short story...' M.R.Cosby's blog

'This quality collection,' Rosemary Pardoe, Ghosts and Scholars, 23

'A thoroughly enjoyable compilation that will entertain, give some chills and also raises money for a good cause.' British Fantasy Society

2012:

164. THE HOUSE OF ORACLES, by Thomas Owen, translated by Iain White. 11th December 2012. 219+ viii pages. £35. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in burgundy red cloth stamped in gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-49-3.

Contains: ‘Introduction’, ‘Two of a Kind’, ‘Modelled in Pure Wax’, ‘The Sparrowhawk’, ‘15. 12. 38’, ‘The Blue Coat’, ‘A Dead Butterfly’s Wing’, ‘The Desolate Presence’, ‘My Cousin’, ‘The Castellan’, ‘The Blue Snake’, ‘The Girl in the Rain’, ‘The Hunter’ ‘The Passenger’, ‘The Lady from Saint Petersburg’, ‘The Temptation of Saint Anthony’, ‘The Sow’, ‘The Black Ball’, ‘A Real Chinese Puzzle’, ‘The Death of Alexis Balakine’, ‘The Conquered Beauty and the Troubadour’, ‘Her Dear Departed Husband’, ‘The Passing of Doctor Babylon’, ‘A Night in the Château’, ‘Portrait of an Unknown Man’, ‘The Gate’, ‘The Park’, ‘The Equivocal Informant’, ‘The Pavilion of the Naturalist’, ‘The House of the Dead Girl’, ‘The House of Oracles’, ‘The House of Dead Love’, ‘Sources’.

Reviews

"Owen's stories have a crystal clarity that makes the weird and macabre events they describe all the more pertinent and realistic." - Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

'...should appeal to any reader who prefers a touch of decadent opulence with their weirdness... Recommended.' Teleread

'...excellent stories...' Matthew Johns, British Fantasy Society

163. INTRUSIONS, by Robert Aickman, with an Introduction by Reggie Oliver. 12th November 2012. 278+ xi pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in burgundy wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-48-6.

Contains: 'Introduction' by Reggie Oliver, ‘Hand in Glove’, ‘No Time Is Passing’, ‘The Fetch’, ‘The Breakthrough’, ‘The Next Glade’, ‘Letters to the Postman’.

Reviews

'...the best stories to capture the ineffable nature of human existence and indeed, spirituality, in the broadest, and in Aickman's hands, the most disturbing sense of the word.' Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

'This seventh collection - released in Aickman's sixty-sixth year - rivals his best work.' Mark Andresen, The Pan Review

'...a highly recommended book.' Mario Gauslandi, The Short Review

162. WORMWOOD, Issue 19, Edited by Mark Valentine, 12th November 2012. 92 pages. £8.99. 500 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by Antony Rowe.

Contents: ' Standing in the Shadows of ‘Lud’: A Selective Discussion of Interesting Fantastical Novels of the Immediate Aftermath of the First World War', by Henry Wessells, 'He Wrote of Dark Forces: The Weird World of Dennis Wheatley', by Roger Dobson, 'Bram Stoker and Another Dracula', by Brian J. Showers, 'The Man in the Yellow Mask', by Lucien Verval, 'The Autobiographical Nature of Fr. Rolfe’s The Weird of the Wanderer', by Jason Rolfe, 'The Woman in the Gentleman’s Club', by Mark Andresen, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, ' Late Reviews' by Douglas A. Anderson, ' Camera Obscura', 'Notes on Contributors'.

161. THE DREAMS OF CARDINAL VITTORINI, by Reggie Oliver. 9th July 2012. 333 pages. £14.95. Paperback. ISBN 978-1-905784-47-9.

Contains: 'Author’s Note', 'Beside the Shrill Sea', 'Feng Shui', 'In Arcadia', 'Evil Eye', 'Miss Marchant’s Cause', 'Tiger in the Snow', 'Garden Gods', 'The Black Cathedral', 'The Boy in Green Velvet', 'The Golden Basilica', 'Death Mask', 'The Seventeenth Sister', 'The Copper Wig', 'The Dreams of Cardinal Vittorini'.

160. TALES OF LOVE AND DEATH, by Robert Aickman, with an Introduction by Michael Dirda. 28th May 2012. 243+ xiii pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in burgundy wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-45-5.

Contains: 'Introduction' by Michael Dirda, ‘Growing Boys’, ‘Marriage’, ‘Le Miroir’, ‘Compulsory Games’, ‘Raising the Wind’, ‘Residents Only’ and ‘Wood’.

Review

'Dreadful possibilities beautifully written, this Tartarus Press reprint is as attractively constructed as its horrors are elegantly told.' - William Simmons, Hellnotes

159. WORMWOOD, Issue 18, Edited by Mark Valentine, 30th April 2012. 92 pages. £8.99. 500 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by Antony Rowe.

Contents: 'World Gone Wrong: H.P. Lovecraft’s Mythology of Loss' (part two) by Joel Lane, 'Contra Grundy: William Sharp and The Pagan Review' by Paul Fox, 'Cultivating the Demon Within: An Appreciation of Frances Oliver' by Paul Newman, 'A Beauty, an Inspiration and an Unreality: On Robert Aickman’s "Letters to the Postman" ' by Philip Challinor, 'In an Unresting Land: Randolph Stow’s The Girl Green as Elderflower' by Mark Valentine, 'Screaming Skulls & Dead Smiles: F. Marion Crawford’s Short Fiction' by Mike Barrett, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, 'Late Reviews' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Camera Obscura', 'Notes on Contributors'.

158. THE KING IN THE GOLDEN MASK, by Marcel Schwob, translated by Iain White. 19th March 2012. 250 + xx pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in burgundy cloth stamped in gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-46-2

Contains: 'Translator’s introduction', 'Acknowledgements'. From Cœur double: 'The Strigae', 'The Sabot', 'Train 081', 'Arachné', 'The Veiled Man', 'Beatrice', 'Lilith', 'A Skeleton', 'The Fat Man', 'The Dom', 'The Amber-trader', 'Mérigot Marchès', 'The "Papier Rouge" ', 'The Firebrands'. From Le Roi au masque d’or: 'The King in the Golden Mask', 'The Death of Odjigh', 'The Embalming-women', 'The Plague', 'The Milesian Virgins', 'The Sabbat at Mofflaines', 'Blanche the Bloody', 'The Flute', 'The Sleeping City'. From Vies imaginaires: 'Introduction', 'Empedocles, Reputed God', 'Herostratos, Incendiary', 'Crates, Cynic', 'Septima, Enchantress', 'Lucretius, Poet', 'Clodia, Shameless Matron', 'Petronius, Novelist', 'Sufrah, Geomancer', 'Frate Dolcino, Heretic', 'Cecco Angiolieri, Malevolent Poet', 'Paolo Uccello, Painter', 'Nicholas Oyseleur, Judge', 'Katherine la Dentellière, Whore', 'Alain le Gentil, Soldier', 'Gabriel Spenser, Actor', 'Cyril Tourneur, Tragic Poet', 'Major Stede Bonnet, Pirate by Vagary', 'Burke and Hare, Murderers'. La croisade des enfants: 'The Goliard’s Narrative', 'The Leper’s Narrative', 'The Narrative of Pope Innocent III', 'Narrative of Three Little Children', 'Narrative of François Longuejoue, Clerk', 'The Kalandar’s Narrative', 'Little Allys’ Narrative', 'The Narrative of Pope Gregory IX'. 'The Wooden Star'

Cover illustration by Santiago Caruso

Review

'Reading it is the literary equivalent of visiting a museum in the hours after it closes. Shadows move; the curtains whisper your name and you are not sure if you are awake or dreaming.' Agony Column

157. SOURDOUGH, by Angela Slatter. Paperback reprint. 13th March 2012, 238+ viii pages. £14.95. ISBN 978-1-905784-44-8.

Contains: 'Introduction' by Robert Shearman, 'The Shadow Tree', 'Gallowberries', 'Little Radish', 'Dibblespin', 'The Navigator', 'The Angel Wood', 'Ash', 'The Story of Ink', 'Lost Things', 'A Good Husband', 'A Porcelain Soul', 'The Bones Remember Everything', 'Sourdough', 'Sister, Sister', 'Lavender and Lychgates', 'Under the Mountain, 'Afterword' by Jeff VanderMeer.

Reviews

'Like Aickman, her sense of the fantastic serves to show us the weird world we hold within our own psyches.' Rick Kleffel, American Public Radio Books

'These stories are stupendously good' Paul Kane, The Compulsive Reader

'There is magic in this world.' Rick Kleffel's Agony Column

'...an absolute treasure.' Paul Charles Smith, Empty Your Heart Of Its Mortal Dream

'With their larger than life characters and the beautiful, evocative writing, the intricate plotting that continually reinvents itself and twists back on what has gone before, these are wonderful stories from a writer who appeals to both the emotions and the intellect. Sourdough and Other Stories was one of the best books I read in 2010, and it’s work from a writer whose career is just beginning. . . . Tartarus have done Slatter proud with a truly sumptuous volume. Sourdough is a beautiful book, one that gets its collector’s edition status and price tag on merit and not simply by virtue of being signed by whomever or number whatever of a limited edition' Peter Tennant, Black Static

'The sixteen stories contained within this collection attests to both Slatter’s storytelling and her consistency in creating entertaining tales with deep, almost primeval, resonances.' Simon Marshall-Jones, Beyond Fiction

'Slatter displays a rare gift for evocative and poetic prose.' Publishers Weekly

'Slatter’s fairy tales have a ravishing quality which leaves the reader totally spellbound by their elegance and imaginative power.' Mario Guslandi, Bookgeeks

'This book is a fantastic achievement on every level.' Alan Baxter, The Word

'Slatter’s writing is exquisite and very vivid, she really is a master storyteller.' - Scott Wilson, The Fringe

'I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dark fiction, fairytales, strange tales, elegant horror, or anyone who likes stories with strong women protagonists and good characterization.' She Never Slept

'These stories are stupendously good and offer many distinct pleasures: a strange yet superbly realised world, compelling characters and, above all, beautiful prose that has the power to move.' Jildysauce

'Sourdough is probably the most exquisitely produced and packaged collection of the year. The artifact produced is a credit to Tartarus Press and the quality of the inter-linked fairy-tale-esque stories is a credit to Slatter’s prowess as a short story writer.' The Judge's report for the Aurealis Awards

156. BLACK HORSE AND OTHER STRANGE STORIES, by Jason A. Wyckoff. 1st March 2012, 266 pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in green cloth stamped in silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-41-7

Contains: ‘The Highwall Horror’, ‘Panorama’, ‘The Walk Home’, ‘Intermediary’, ‘The Night of His Sister’s Engagement’, ‘The Bells, Then the Birds’, ‘A Civil Complaint’, ‘The Mauve Blot’, ‘Black Horse’, ‘Raise Up the Serpent’, ‘The Trucker’s Story’, ‘A Willow Cat in Meadowlark’, ‘Hair and Nails’, ‘Knott’s Letter’, ‘An Uneven Hand’, ‘A Matter of Mirrors’.

Reviews

'... "The Walk Home" is understated and elegiac ... "The Night of His Sister’s Engagement" ... satisfyingly ambiguous throughout.... "A Civil Complaint" is the best story in the book, a delicious black comedy in which every word counts ... Title story "Black Horse" is another highlight ... a strange offbeat tale ... "nott’s Letter" ... the danger in this story somewhat more concrete than elsewhere, and Wyckoff showing that he is as adept at writing the overtly horrific as he appears to be with more abstract material. ... And finally we have the metafictional "A Matter of Mirrors" in which a vampire explains why his kind do not reflect, the author poking gentle fun at the current vogue for vampire confessionals, then adding a chilling final twist.' Peter Tennant, Trumpetville

'Wyckoff is quite adept at creating the peculiar combination of puzzlement, awe and intuitive understanding that Aickman first achieved.' Rick Kleffel, American Public Radio Books

' "The Highwall Horror" [is a] story full of oblique angles and shifting perspectives, as the protagonist's worldview becomes unravelled ... "Black Horse" [is] another highlight ... A strange offbeat tale, with hints of the wild hunt ... but with a quality that is uniquely Wyckoff’s own ... "A Willow Cat in Meadowlark" [is a] story melding prosaic and magical to the betterment of both.' Peter Tennant, Black Static

'...these tales are the work of a writer skilled at navigating the twists and turns of his unconventional horror themes.' Publishers Weekly

'Black Horse is a surprising and impossible-to-overlook debut, perhaps even a dark horse contender for best collection of the year.' Twilight Ridge

'It's the sort of collection that you'll read slowly, deliberately, drawing out the pleasure on your porch in the long afternoons and haunted evenings.' Agony Column

'This is an astonishing debut book by a superb writer, whose stories remind us how rewarding and bewitching good fiction can be.' Mario Guslandi, British Fantasy Society

155. MORBID TALES, by Quentin S. Crisp. Paperback reprint. 16th January 2012. 267 pages. £12.95. ISBN 978-1-905784-43-1.

Contains: Foreword, The Mermaid, Far-Off Things, Cousin X, A Lake, The Two-Timer, The Tattooist, Ageless, Autumn Colours.

Reviews

'Crisp will surprise and delight you with his marvellous writing skill and the ability to convey a profound sense of universal horror, cosmic menace and spiritual desolation.' Mario Guslandi, The Alien Online

'Attempting to find a frozen moment, description, or phenomena with which to express a breath of cosmic fear and awe, Crisp achieves with this collection a remarkable scrapbook of terror.' William Simmons, Cemetery Dance

'The power of the best stories here is in the way in which Crisp has been able to use his influences to reflect deep within himself and draw out something that is strikingly new.' Douglas Campbell, All Hallows

154. MRS MIDNIGHT, by Reggie Oliver. Paperback reprint. 16th January 2012. 381 pages. £14.95. (The first 200 copies numbered and signed.) ISBN 978-1-905784-43-1.

Contains: "Mrs Midnight", "Countess Otho", "Meeting with Mike", "The Dancer in the Dark", "Mr Pigsny", "The Brighton Redemption", "You Have Nothing to Fear", "The Philosophy of the Damned", "The Mortlake Manuscript", "The Look", "The Giacometti Crucifixion","A Piece of Elsewhere", "Minos or Rhadamanthus".

Reviews

'Readers who like their horrors subtle but unsettling will find this volume much to their liking.' Starred review at Publishers Weekly

'…by miles, the best living exponent of the spooky yarn.' Barry Humphries.

'Mrs Midnight and other stories is one of the best books I have read this year.' Henry Wessells, The Endless Bookshelf

'The latest collection (the fifth) by this extraordinary author assembles a bunch of excellent tales which confirm his uncommon talent as a teller of creepy, uncanny stories.' Mario Guslandi, The British Fantasy Society

Nominated in the World Fantasy Award and British Fantasy Awards, 2012

2011:

153. WE ARE FOR THE DARK, by Robert Aickman and Elizabeth Jane Howard, with an Introduction by R.B. Russell. November 2011, 258+ xii pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in burgundy wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-42-4.

Contains: 'Introduction' by R.B. Russell, ‘The Trains’, ‘The View’ and ‘The Insufficient Answer’ by Robert Aickman, and ‘Three Miles Up’, ‘Left Luggage’ and ‘Perfect Love’ by Elizabeth Jane Howard.

Review

For those who love unnerving but elegant dark fiction but missed this book in the past, the present beautiful volume represents a splendid opportunity to get (re)acquainted with two masters of the genre.' Mario Guslandi, Specusphere

152. WORMWOOD, Issue 17, Edited by Mark Valentine, 15th November 2011. 92 pages. £8.99. 500 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by Antony Rowe.

Contents: 'World Gone Wrong: H.P. Lovecraft’s Mythology of Loss' (part one) by Joel Lane, 'Songs of the Archangel: Halcyon & Other Poems of Gabriele d’Annunzio in English' by Daniel Corrick, 'Reginald Hodder: Author of The Vampire' by James Doig, 'Ernest Bramah’s Max Carrados: The Sightless Supersleuth' by Gary G. Garner, 'Donald Armour’s Swept & Garnished: A Rediscovered Masterpiece of Supernatural Horror' by Robert Eldridge, 'Lilies Among the Thorns: An Overview of American Decadence' by rj krijnen-kemp, 'Some Notes on Aickman's Plays' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, 'Late Reviews' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'The Horror' by Arthur L. Salmon, 'Camera Obscura', 'Notes on Contributors'.

151. CLARIMONDE, by Theophile Gautier, edited by Rosalie Parker, with an Introduction by Brian Stableford. 21st October 2011, 366+xiii pages. £35.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in mauve wibalin cloth stamped in gilt, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-38-7.

Contains: ‘Introduction’ by Brian Stableford, ‘Onuphrius’, ‘Two Actors for One Part’, ‘Omphale’, ‘Clarimonde’, ‘One of Cleopatra’s Nights’, ‘The Opium Pipe’, ‘The Duplicated Knight’, ‘The Mummy’s Foot’, ‘King Candaules’, ‘Arria Marcella’, ‘Jettatura’, ‘Avatar’, and various addenda.

Review

'Read this for the prose style alone, which, for anyone who has read his one anthologised story ‘Loving Lady Death’ (‘La Morte Amoureuse’)—re-translated as the title tale here—will already have experienced his stunning, sensual evocation of place and time. This continues in the other eleven tales.' The Pan Review

150. MRS MIDNIGHT, by Reggie Oliver. 30th September 2011, 381 pages. £30.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Antony Rowe in black wibalin cloth stamped in silver, with head and tailbands. 400 copies. 978-1-905784-39-4.

Reviews

'Readers who like their horrors subtle but unsettling will find this volume much to their liking.' Starred review at Publishers Weekly

'…by miles, the best living exponent of the spooky yarn.' Barry Humphries.

'Mrs Midnight and other stories is one of the best books I have read this year.' Henry Wessells, The Endless Bookshelf

Nominated in the World Fantasy Award and British Fantasy Awards, 2012

149. COLD HAND IN MINE, by Robert Aickman, with an Introduction by Phil Baker. July 2011, 296+ xi pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Biddles in burgundy wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-34-9.

Contains: 'Introduction' by Phil Baker, 'The Swords', 'The Real Road to the Church', 'Niemandswasser', 'Pages from a Young Girl’s Journal', 'The Hospice', 'The Same Dog', 'Meeting Mr Millar', 'The Clock Watcher'.

Reviews

'Lovers of contemporary dark fiction should not miss this splendid book, a fully enjoyable, unique reading experience providing full evidence that life’s dark corners are much more scary than monsters, zombies and werewolves.' Mario Guslandi, The Short Review

'Cold Hand in Mine, the latest volume of Aickman's stories to be meticulously reprinted by Tartarus Press, is yet another superb example of how fine literature and reading can help illuminate a dimly understood part of our everyday experience. ... They're superb example of written literature, doing something that can only be done with words extraordinarily well. They're enjoyable and unsettling.' Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

148. FIVE DEGREES OF LATITUDE, by Michael Reynier. 1st July 2011, 269 pages. £30.00. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Biddles in green wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with head and tailbands. 300 copies. 978-1-905784-37-0.

Contains: 'Le Loup-Garou', 'No. 3 Hobbes’ Lane', 'The Rumour Mill', 'Sika Tarn', 'The Visions of Lazaro'.

Reviews

' "Le Loup-Garou" ... a tale of fear and betrayal in which the supernatural elements are only hinted at, the whole wrapped up in a pitch perfect delivery.... "The Visions of Lazaro" conceptually and structurally the most ambitious of these works ... brings to mind the creations of Borges, with its cleverness and artifice, and underlying it all a trust in the reader’s intuition.' Peter Tennant, Trumpetville

'I recommend it highly to all admirers of the classical supernatural tale. Reynier's prose is uncommonly polished for a debut author, and his style is perfectly suited to the mode in which these five novellas work.' Brendan Moody, The Stars at Noonday

' "Le Loup-Garou" [has] a pitch perfect delivery... [In] "No. 3 Hobbes Lane" ... the air of ambiguity [is] carefully maintained ... "The Rumour Mill" [is] carefully detailed ... "Sika Tarn" ... is a disturbing exercise in rustic terror. ... "The Visions of Lazaro" ... brings to mind the creations of Borges, with its cleverness and artifice'. Peter Tennant, Black Static.

'Readers who like weird tales with a vintage feel will find this volume an auspicious debut.' Publishers Weekly

'Five Degrees of Latitude, the debut collection from Michael Reynier is, in many ways, a thing of beauty — from the simple but elegantly designed physical book produced by Tartarus Press to the five intricate and highy-polished tales contained within, there is much to admire here.' Robert Morrish, Twilight Ridge

'...an extraordinary book, featuring stories with very original subjects and such a mature, superior writing style that it's hard to believe that this is the debut work of a brand new author and not the product of a skilful veteran storyteller.' The Agony Column

147. WORMWOOD, Issue 16, Edited by Mark Valentine, 16th May 2011. 92 pages. £8.99. 500 copies. Paperback journal printed on cream bookwove paper, and bound by Biddles.

Contents: 'Editorial', 'The Other Side of Edwardian Fiction: Two Forgotten Fantasy Novels of 1911' by George M. Johnson, 'Lone Ghost in the Shadows: Charles Allston Collins and The Compensation House' by Tim Foley, 'Carl Jacobi: Portrait in Moonlight' by John Howard, 'H.T.W. Bousfield: A Neglected Writer of Popular Fiction' by James Doig, 'Miss Opimiam' by William Charlton, A Note on Vincent O’Sullivan' by Ray Cavanaugh, 'The Man with the Poisoned Heart: The Life and Works of William Walker Hamilton' by Paul Newman, 'Under Review' by Reggie Oliver, 'Late Reviews' by Douglas A. Anderson, 'Camera Obscura', 'Notes on Contributors'.

146. POWERS OF DARKNESS, by Robert Aickman, with an Introduction by Mark Valentine. 11th April 2011, 226+xii pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Biddles in burgundy wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-33-2.

Contains: 'Introduction' by Mark Valentine, ‘Your Tiny Hand is Frozen’, ‘My Poor Friend’, ‘The Visiting Star’, ‘Larger Than Oneself’, ‘A Roman Question’ and ‘The Wine-Dark Sea’.

Review

"As a reader, one can almost feel the haunting quality not just of the prose and the story, but also of the book." Rick Kleffel, The Agony Column

145. RINGSTONES, by Sarban. 7th April 2011, 307 pages. £32.50. Second Tartarus Press printing. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Biddles in yellow wibalin cloth stamped in copper, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. ISBN 978-1-905784-35-6.

Contains: 'A Christmas Story',' Capra', 'Calmahain', 'The Khan' and 'Ringstones'.

144. FRANKENSTEIN'S PRESCRIPTION, by Tim Lees. 11th February 2011, 277 pages. £30. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Biddles in black wibalin cloth stamped in silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 300 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-29-5.

Reviews

'...a philosophically insightful and literary tale of terror.' Publishers Weekly

'...it is, quite frankly, a brilliant novel, one which takes the old stereotype and fills it with vibrant new life. The story is gripping, with each and every element of the plot fitting into place perfectly . . . It’s only February, and I may already have read the best horror novel of 2011.' Peter Tennant, Black Static.

'The characters within this book are complex and very well written; Lees does an excellent job of depicting the world and ideals of the early 1900’s.' Matthew Johns, British Fantasy Society

'His appreciation for the subject shines throughout, making this an appealing read, beautifully packaged by Tartarus Press.' Twilight Ridge

'The writing style is sharp and descriptive ... The period is realistically described ... Grim and beautifully written.' William Simmons, Hellnotes

'Moody, fast-paced and told with verve, Frankenstein's Prescription has the feeling of vintage Michael Moorcock in a black, Gothic vein.' Julian White, Starburst

143. WORMING THE HARPY, by Rhys Hughes, with an Afterword by Everett Bleiler. 10th February 2011, 231 pages. £14.95. Paperback printed on cream bookwove paper and bound by Biddles. ISBN 978-1-905784-31-8.

Contains: "Cat o' Nine Tales", "Worming the Harpy", "The Falling Star", "Quasimodulus", "The Good News Grimoire", "The Forest Chapel Bell", "Flintlock Jaw", "Velocity Oranges", "A Carpet Seldom Found", "The Chimney", "One Man's Meat", "The Man Who Mistook His Wife's Hat for the Mad Hatter's Wife", "Cello I Love You", "What To Do When the Devil Comes Round For Tea", "Arquebus for Harlequin", "Éclair de Lune", "Grinding the Goblin", "Afterword" by E.F. Bleiler.

ories are essentially literature in its purest form - wonderfully rumbustuous, humorous, word-magical fantasies, liberally peppered with honest-to-goodness horror. They remind me of Lord Dunsany, John Barth, Jorge Luis Borges, Jack Vance, involving fabulous traditions of surrealism, fairy stories and piquant wit . . . Rhys Hughes’ book is one that I had dreamed of reading but never thought I’d be so lucky ever to do so in real life.' Deathrealm

'Rhys Hughes is a very good writer . . . a fabulist whose sense of the absurd is peerless.' Grotesque

'The overall tone is one of disturbing, occasionally shocking surrealism . . . fans and others who are looking for something significantly offbeat in supernatural fiction will be delighted with this, his first book.' All Hallows

142. DARK ENTRIES, by Robert Aickman, with an Introduction by Glen Cavaliero. 10th February 2011, 197+ix pages. £32.50. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Biddles in burgundy wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 350 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-32-5.

Contains: "Introduction by Glen Cavaliero, "The School Friend", "Ringing the Changes", "Choice of Weapons", "The Waiting Room", "The View" and "Bind Your Hair".

141. THE DISCOVERY OF HERETICS, by Sarban, with an Introduction by Mark Valentine. 8th January 2011, 381+vii pages. Discovery of Heretics was only available in a slipcased set limited to 200 copies, published with Time, A Falconer. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Biddles in mauve wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. ISBN 978-1-905784-30-1.

Contains: 'Introduction' by Mark Valentine, 'The Father', ' "Their Blood Cannot Die" ', 'Discovery of Heretics', 'The Consul', 'Agorit', 'The Papers of Henry Sugden', 'The Artemists', 'The Gynarchs', 'Never Go Back', 'Fergus Aran', 'Aunt Rachel', 'The Herbs of Miss Aran'.

140. TIME, A FALCONER: A STUDY OF SARBAN, by Mark Valentine. 8th January 2011, 138+vii pages. £25. Sewn signatures, printed on 110gsm acid-free paper, and bound by Biddles in mauve wibalin cloth stamped in gilt and silver, with a silk ribbon marker and head and tailbands. 400 copies. ISBN 978-1-905784-26-4.

Reviews:

"It is somewhat unsettling to imagine this quiet man sorting out visa applications or attending dull formal receptions and all the while brooding on the taloned cat-women." Robert Irwin, The Literary Reviews

'It is somewhat unsettling to imagine this quiet man sorting out visa applications or attending dull formal receptions and all the while brooding on the taloned cat-women.' Robert Irwin, The Literary Review.

'Insightful... [Valentine] illuminates his study of Sarban's fiction with observations gleaned from the author's private diaries and correspondence, and offers particularly cogent insights on how the women in Sarban's life shaped the mystique of female characters in his fiction.' Publishers Weekly

'A sensitive and sympathetic portrait … [Valentine] weaves his analyses of Sarban’s fiction seamlessly into the broader tapestry spun from the known biographical facts. The result is a thoroughly engrossing account of the writer’s intellectual growth and interests in the course of his lifetime.' Stefan Dziemianowicz, Locus, June 2011

'... a handsome volume with numerous illustrations, and a welcome addition to any library of scholarship on the supernatural.' The Stars at Noonday

2006-2010