Datlow's Inferno - an opening salvo

[realthog]

The imminently forthcoming Ellen Datlow anthology Inferno: Twenty Original Tales of Terror (Tor, December), in which there's a story by moi, is garnering some great advance reviews. In Fantasy Magazine Paula Guran, no less, starts off thus (http://www.darkfantasy.org/fantasy/?p=44):

Seeking a definition of “modern horror” or “literary horror”? Look no further. Inferno, edited by Ellen Datlow, defines short dark fiction circa 2008 as surely as Kirby McCauley’s Dark Forces did in 1980.

adding, in the course of a long review, that "there’s not a bad story in the bunch". Eventually my own humble offering appears:

John Grant’s “Lives” is memorable for its twisted answer to one of those questions you may not want to ask again after you read his story: If there are those who have incredible luck, what might that mean for those around them without it?

Library Journal likes the book too ("All of the stories are wisely chosen and deserve attention and comment"), while PW (http://www.publishersweekly.com:80/article/CA6496987.html) has made it one of its picks in a Best of the Year roundup ("Datlow offers a state-of-the-art anthology of 20 new stories by some of horror fiction's best and brightest"). And Nick Gevers gives it the thumbs-up in the current issue of Locus:

. . . the quality of the prose is high, and many of the contributions are triumphs of construction, bringing plot and metaphor together in resounding harmony. The impression, to a critic who doesn’t read overmuch horror, is of a genre recovering from its big commercial setbacks and yearning to assume a major market position once more. . . . The list of strong stories continues . . . “Lives” by John Grant turns to suspenseful humor in its portrait of a boy with many lives to call upon but one short of the necessary . . . Inferno delivers in full on its awful premise, and Ellen Datlow stands on the same plinth as Dante, if only in fright-coordinating echo. More anthologies like Inferno . . . should be urgent priorities. It’s very clear that horror at short length is poised for a major revival, and the commercial stimulus must, as here, be applied, and on a large scale . . .

All very cheering, eh?

Comments

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

I'd swap you a fairly major but nonessential organ for any one of those reviews. Nick Gevers in particular speaks with great wisdom.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

What's interesting, though, is that Nick's reading of "Lives" is quite different from Paula's, which in turn differs from the one that Ellen and I share. I'm actually delighted by this, because I value the opinion of all three of them very highly indeed; that three such skilled readers should each get something different out of the story seems to me the height of praise. Why do you think my mood when compiling this entry was as described?

[hutch0.livejournal.com]

Indeed, I do understand, and I'm consumed with writerly envy. And you know how I feel about short fiction - any anthology that affects a reviewer the way it seems to have affected Nick and Paula can only be a good thing, in any genre.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"any anthology that affects a reviewer the way it seems to have affected Nick and Paula can only be a good thing, in any genre"

Too true. As you can imagine, Ellen herself is a little ... bubbly about these reviews!

[(Anonymous)]

Paul:

I very much enjoyed "Lives" and your reading at WFC. Terrific story.

Laird

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Hi Laird

I could say the same in return! Any idea when we'll be seeing copies of the mighty tome?

[(Anonymous)]

Alas, I haven't heard anything about contributor copies. Some of my favorite authors are in there -- I can scarcely wait to finally tackle the beast....

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I know the feeling!

Incidentally, why did you abandon your own LJ blog?