The worst Carnacki adaptation ever, some fabulous artwork from Sebastian Cabrol, strange links, and a warning from history. The William Hope Hodgson festival continues, still astonishingly in full swing. Who’d have thought the old fellow had so much in him?
My prize find for this post is the Pepsi-Cola Playhouse adaptation of Hodgson’s Carnacki story, The Whistling Room. Yep, Pepsi-Cola. I could tell you now what they’ve done with the character of Carnacki, and with the entire plot, but it really is better if you watch it yourself.
Cracking stuff. Back to links in a minute, but first I’d like to share some more illustrations by the talented Sebastian Cabrol, kindly supplied by Hermida Editores. We showed you the cover last week. These are the interior illos, and I love them, all from Hermida’s Spanish edition of The House on the Borderland, coming this November.
Writer on the Borderland 2: The Voice of Horror ran out of room, so here are some of the items which wouldn’t fit in. We will be running an interview with Willie Meikle in a few days, and I mentioned the audio of his Treason and Plot before. Morgan Scorpion, our featured interviewee last week, has also recorded another of his Carnacki stories, The Hellfire Mirror:
A range of Meikle stories are available on audio as well. No more Carnacki as yet, but it can only be a matter of time. The full list can be found by clicking on the link below:
In addition to Pepsi-Cola, others have sought to adapt or interpret Hodgson. It’s not a long list. One more now, the rest next time. Today’s mention goes to the rather miscast version of the story The Horse of the Invisible, produced as part of the Rivals of Sherlock Holmes British television series. It’s not an awful adaptation, but somehow Donald Pleasence just doesn’t work as Carnacki. Some of the non-Hodgson episodes are quite fun, though.
Rivals of Sherlock Holmes on DVD
Clearly to rectify this failing, Eibon la Furies, an English metal band described as “a fusion of avant-garde black metal, dark rock and occult spiritual darkness” recorded their own musical version of The Horse of the Invisible. Here’s the link to a live version. If I were younger and had stronger eardrums, I could probably tell you what it sounds like.
Tune in for some more audiovisual and musical interpretations in a later mid-week post.
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Our final item has been retrieved from the microfiche records of a London newspaper, and extracted for your perusal.
14th September 1907
A REQUEST FROM THE EDITOR
We regret to announce the disappearance of Arthur Gordon Smith. Mr Smith, one of this paper’s most promising young journalists, was last seen undertaking enquiries in the area of the Embankment two days ago. Whilst we still hope for his safe return, we have to add that his overcoat and water-damaged notebook were discovered only this morning by a police constable, not far from Cheyne Walk.
We have decided therefore to publish this partial interview, reconstructed from the Pitman shorthand entries in Smith’s notebook, and ask that the gentlemen named therein contact either the Chelsea Constabulary or ourselves at their earliest convenience.
(unreadable) for some years.
Dodgson: You keep calling them stories. They are, however, records of actual events. I have no reason to doubt Carnacki’s veracity.
S (Smith): Yet certain details are surely beyond belief, such as the concept of monstrosities beyond this world?
Arkright: Only for those unimaginative milksops who sit together in darkened parlours, those who prefer to hear about their late aunt’s inheritance, or want to know if their cat is happy in Heaven. The serious student of psychic…
The older man makes choking noises, and is assisted by Taylor. Unwell?
Dodgson: We are heading to our beds, sir. If you have nothing sensible to ask…
S: Gentlemen, you will concede that there are many fakes and scoundrels in this new century, so-called psychical researchers who gull the innocent, be it over monstrous hauntings or their dead cat’s welfare?
Dodgson: To a point. Carnacki, however, is scrupulous in considering the possibility that mundane causes might be at the root of the matter. Most scrupulous. In the Reston fraud case recently, for example, he proved conclusively that no abnormal element was responsible.
Taylor: And he exposed the real criminals, eh? Remember that.
S: So are you gentlemen, as his intimates, also involved in these investigations?
Dodgson: Dr Arkright has considerable academic knowledge of the more obscure monographs and papers relevant to the field. Taylor and I make no such claims, and have no role in Carnacki’s cases.
S: Doctor Arkright? A medical man then, sir?
Arkright: Philology, you damnable pup, and if (unreadable)
(unreadable)
(unreadable) psychical gifts at all yourselves?
Dodgson: Carnacki does not claim ‘psychical gifts’, as you call them. He is a methodical investigator with an understanding of the abnormal. And no. Taylor, Jessop and I are merely friends of his. We do not dabble in occult matters ourselves.
S: Would you ever consider doing so?
Dodgson: Absolutely not. I have seen enough to —
S: When you and Mr Taylor were based in the Cape Colony during the war? I understand you both saw action at Paardeburg, under Kitchener, and that there were certain events with the Boers…
Taylor reddens, looks to approach me. Dodgson gestures him back.
Dodgson: I think we are finished here.
Dodgson suddenly very abrupt. Must look into D’s time in Cape Colony further.
Arkright: Have you nothing better to do, you and those other meddlers from the rags?
S: Excuse me, Dr Arkright. I am an accredited reporter. And, as it happens, I am this very night embarking upon the Herald & Gazette’s own investigation into the Deptford Assassin himself.
Arkright and Taylor turn away, suddenly. Dodgson shakes his head.
Dodgson: Then I pray, sir, for your own sake, that you do not discover anything. Goodnight.
They leave. Note to self – file interview in morning, send request to clippings service re Arkright background, Paardeburg (unreadable)
This is the end of Arthur Gordon Smith’s notes. Anyone with information on Mr Smith’s whereabouts is welcome to contact the Herald & Gazette by telephone on Chelsea 102, or call in at our offices.
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From the same organ, box at bottom of Page Seven
16th September 1907
The Herald & Gazette has decided to postpone its coverage of certain recent murders as a mark of respect for Mr Arthur Smith, an unaffiliated freelance reporter who occasionally submitted to this paper. Mr Smith’s body was recovered from the Thames late last night, and the matter is in the hands of the constabulary.
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Coming next, Hodgson – The Inheritors, where we explore those noble authors who have continued or re-interpreted WHH’s themes and characters. Goodnight, and remember, there is no monstrous Hogge from the Outer Circles snuffling under your bed. Probably.
