In which we bring you the usual sort of reader news: a huge forthcoming collection of Sherlock Holmes cases (the detective bit) which includes the truth behind ‘The Musgrave Ritual’, the Kickstarter campaign for a terrific collection of dark stories (the scary bit) from some of the greats in weird fiction, and something in between – a most stimulating anthology of ‘Tales of Mesmerism and Mystery’ by classic writers (the mesmeric bit).
Naturally, we retain our fondness for occult detectives, those doomed meddlers who combine both the weird and the detection aspects, so we will note that the also fairly huge anthology Occult Detective Quarterly Presents is due out very soon from Ulthar Press, and we’ll bring you the full low-down on that when it’s available.
For today, let us wander into other waters, starting backwards as usual…
Mesmeric Meddling
Just released is a new anthology by writer/editor and erudite scholar-about-town Tim Prasil. Mesmerism and spiritualism were rather entwined in the nineteenth century, with mediums often described as being in a mesmeric or hypnotic trance. Stage shows might combine elements of both ‘disciplines’, though some considered mesmerism to be a scientific fact whilst viewing spiritualism as hokum or an unproven venture.
Figures with impressive scientific credentials or cultural influence lined up on all sides to espouse their favourite interpretations, one of these being Arthur Conan Doyle, who grew to consider both as genuine practices. The following was published in the The Evening News (Portsmouth) on 9 February 1889
“A gathering between twenty thirty medical and scientific men and journalists of Portsmouth last night assembled by invitation in the small hall of the Portland Hall, Southsea, on the occasion of a séance given by professor Milo de Meyer, whose experiments in hypnotism have lately attracted much attention on the Continent and in London and Brighton. As was explained by the gentleman who acted as M. De Meyer’s interpreter, the Professor treats the subject of animal magnetism on a scientific basis, and claims that its practice would be beneficial in the case of many surgical operations. Ten young men were introduced as “subjects,” is being explained that they were Portsmouth residents, who had been selected beforehand in order to save time, the Professor having found that only about twenty-five per cent. of people in general were susceptible of hypnotism at the first attempt. Dr. Conan Doyle having volunteered to swell the number of would-be subjects, the experiments began.”
A more detailed account can be found here:
https://www.arthur-conan-doyle.com/index.php?title=Hypnotism_at_Southsea
In Monsieur Prasil’s new book, although he is is indeed familiar with early spiritualism and tales of hauntings, he rings a welcome change by focussing on the mesmeric theme in fiction. It deserves a more in-depth review, but for the moment we shall give you the basics:
Entranced by Eyes of Evil: Tales of Mesmerism and Mystery (Phantom Traditions Library) (Volume 1)
Edited by Tim Prasil
“More than one name has been applied to the phenomenon of one person putting another into a deep trance–and into a deep state of submission. But how far does this power truly go? Can a devious hypnotist entrance an unknowing subject from across a room? Can a mesmerized person be compelled to commit murder? Can a hypnotic spell extend beyond death?
“In the 1800s, such questions had no certain answers, and the extreme possibilities were explored by fiction writers such as Edgar Allan Poe, Louisa May Alcott, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Ambrose Bierce. These and fourteen more authors spin tales about unbounded hypnotism in Entranced by Eyes of Evil: Tales of Mesmerism and Mystery.”
This enterprising volume brings together stories from 1814 (‘Der Magnetiseur’ by E T A Hoffman) to 1900 (‘Love’s Counter-Spell’ by C Wynn Williams).
from Brom Bones Books
(E T A Hoffman is someone we should talk about at some future date – a most interesting early weird fiction author perhaps best known for The Golden Pot and his Devil’s Elixir.)
Ashes or Entropy?
Our second mention is for a Kickstarter campaign which is currently underway:
“Nightscape Press is proud to present ASHES AND ENTROPY edited by Robert S. Wilson, an anthology of cosmic horror and noir/neo-noir. ASHES AND ENTROPY will include brand new stories by Laird Barron, Damien Angelica Walters, John Langan, Kristi DeMeester, Jon Padgett, Jayaprakash Satyamurthy, Lucy A. Snyder, Tim Waggoner, Jessica McHugh, Paul Michael Anderson, Max Booth III, Lynne Jamneck, Greg Sisco, Lisa Mannetti, Nate Southard, Erinn Kemper, Matthew M. Bartlett, Autumn Christian, and will be published in December of 2018.”
A terrific line-up, you’ll agree, with some of the hottest names in weird fiction. You can find out all about Ashes and Entropy, which has a wide range of options and rewards, by checking out the campaign link below. Go do that thing!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/875540908/ashes-and-entropy/description
Sherlock Holmes: Adventures Beyond the Canon
Finally, a project dear to our hearts, possibly because old greydog happens to have a story in it. So no conflict of interest there, then. We return to dear Sherlock Holmes, this time in a rather magnificent three volume set exploring the truth behind some canonical cases and the consequences of others.
Belanger Books have amassed a wealth of brand new stories from some of the most talented Holmes pastiche writers today, in order to fill out the world of Baker Street. As a bonus, these volumes are edited by David Marcum, the most experienced and well-read editor of canonical Holmes stories in captivity.
“Sherlock Holmes himself would have us believe that, once a case was finished, it – or the people involved – never crossed his mind again. “A client is to me a mere unit,” he once told Watson, “a factor in a problem.” And yet, in a career spanning multiple decades and thousands of cases, he must have occasionally re-crossed paths with previous clients – and the occasional villain as well!!!
“This anthology, with twenty-nine brand new stories spread over three volumes, reveals some of those sequel investigations. There are stories ranging from Holmes’s early days in Montague Street, through the legendary Baker Street years, and well into his retirement. We meet former clients with new problems, and former adversaries too. Sometimes we find that the published Canonical version of a story was only the beginning, while other tales in this collection reveal what was really going on during the original narratives.”
Repeat-offender John Linwood Grant chose to re-examine the evidence in the popular story ‘The Musgrave Ritual’, due to the fatal flaws in the original. In doing so, he claims to have come up with an entirely different interpretation which resolves the case with finality. Loose ends and logical conundrums are explained in a spiffing yarn of a family that has survived centuries of in-fighting to end with the daughter of Sir Reginald Musgrave discovering out the grisly truth…
“It is time,” said Holmes, “To mend the utter folly of youth, the crass enthusiasm which I once displayed for the puzzle alone, and not the people involved.”
“There was more to the affair than you deduced?”
“More? In some ways far more, and also less. The fact is, Watson, that I deluded myself, and were I a detective inspector, I would dismiss myself from the Force as a fool, a nincompoop. Twenty years have passed, and it was only in the last fortnight, bereft of stimulation, that I made certain vital connections. Twenty years! The news of Musgrave’s illness was the spur, and I the lumpen beast of burden who finally understood.”
I frowned. “Surely, it was only your third or fourth case. You were young–”
“And should have been needle-sharp. No, there are no excuses. When I finally told you of the business, I was pricked by doubts, but once again I dismissed them. Now I cannot.”
“And the Scottish borders, the works by Sir Walter Scott – there is some connection, I presume.”
“Certainly. His notes on ‘Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border’ were a most useful reminder, accompanied by a few days’ reading of certain other, more ancient texts. There is much to do, my friend, and possibly an injustice to set right.”
At which he drew on his pipe and sank into contemplation.
John Linwood Grant 2018
This campaign was fully funded very early on, but you still have an excellent opportunity to sign up and grab those rewards. We’re so excited that we actually want to read these, and we would use our mesmeric powers to encourage you to join in (if we had any).