You are getting very, very sleepy … and also a bit murderous. Mesmerism, also called animal magnetism and later hypnosis, spread in popularity throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries as doctors, hobbyists, and stage performers demonstrated their ability to control the actions of others through mere suggestion. The Victorians and Edwardians were fascinated by this new discipline, but also, understandably, quite anxious. Without knowing what the limitations were of this power, they imagined scenarios in which one could be mesmerized to commit crimes, betray loved ones, and even kill. Death by Suggestion: An Anthology of 19th and Early 20th-Century Tales of Hypnotically Induced Murder, Suicide, and Accidental Death edited by Donald K. Hartman brings together twenty-two tales by authors both well-known and obscure that explore the darker side of suggestion. Continue reading Review of Death by Suggestion–A Hypnotic Anthology
Preview of Steampunk Con
The organizers of Dark Side of the Con are bringing us a brand-new steampunk convention! The aptly named Steampunk Con will take place this weekend, June 21–23, at the Radisson hotel in Piscataway, New Jersey. This debut convention represents a branching out for VampireFreaks, who have been bringing us the goth convention Dark Side for three successful years! Steampunk Con brings out the best of both worlds by showcasing the darker side of steampunk and highlighting the ways in which the goth and steampunk communities overlap. You can purchase tickets and find out more about the event at the Steampunk Con website.
Grief: The Raven and The Babadook
What does Poe’s most famous poem have to do with an Australian horror film from a few years back? More than you might think. “The Raven” and The Babadook utilize similar plot lines to explore the inescapable nature of grief after the loss of a loved one. (Warning: This post contains spoilers for the movie The Babadook.)
Most of you are likely familiar with “The Raven,” Poe’s 1845 poem that first skyrocketed him into literary fame. The poem is told from the perspective of an unnamed speaker who mourns for his lost love, Lenore. One night, a raven comes in through his window and answers all of the speaker’s questions with one word: “Nevermore.” At the end of the poem, the speaker acknowledges that the raven is still sitting above his door, and his soul will be under its shadow forever. If you’d like to refresh yourself on the details, you can read the full text of “The Raven” here.
Somewhat more niche is The Babadook, a debut horror film written and directed by Jennifer Kent, which made waves among horror fans when it was first released in 2014. The story features a single mother named Amelia, whose husband died the same night she gave birth to her son Sam. Years later, Amelia and Sam discover a mysterious pop-up book that features a terrifying creature called the Babadook. Though Amelia initially dismisses the Babadook as fictional, it soon begins to take over her mind, showing her visions of violence and causing her to act erratically. Amelia finally confronts the Babadook, and the end of the movie shows the monster now somewhat docile, living in her basement. Amelia visits occasionally to feed it. Continue reading Grief: The Raven and The Babadook
Review of An Ember in the Ashes
“The field of battle is my temple. The swordpoint is my priest. The dance of death is my prayer. The killing blow is my release.” This is the mantra of one of the elite soldiers in Sabaa Tahir’s dark YA fantasy, An Ember in the Ashes. The first in an ongoing series, this book blends political intrigue and revolution with mythological creatures and hints of magic. I picked up An Ember in the Ashes on a whim, but found myself devouring it as fast as possible and immediately downloading the sequel. Continue reading Review of An Ember in the Ashes
Review of Spinning Silver—Slavic Demons and Ice Fairies
It’s never wise to brag where the Staryk can hear you…. One of my favorite authors, Naomi Novik, once again brings fairy tales to life in Spinning Silver. This stand-alone novel came out last year and is a chilling tale that blends a Slavic-inspired fantasy world with a loose retelling of “Rumpelstiltskin.” If you love folklore, badass female characters, and hefty fantasy novels, this book will be right up your alley! Continue reading Review of Spinning Silver—Slavic Demons and Ice Fairies
Review of Zone One by Colson Whitehead—Literary Zombies
How many Pulitzer Prize–winning authors have written zombie novels? Generally, the sort of literary prestige that gets one nominated for such awards is not given to authors who write in a genre inspired by B-grade horror films. But good writing is good writing, whether it’s in a tale of the zombie apocalypse or the next Great American Novel. And at least one American author has managed to pull off both: Colson Whitehead. You’ve most likely heard his name in the context of his 2016 novel The Underground Railroad, which won him the Pulitzer, the National Book Award, and numerous other prizes. But fewer people are talking about the zombie novel that preceded his biggest hit: Zone One. Continue reading Review of Zone One by Colson Whitehead—Literary Zombies
Influential Mothers of Gothic Authors
For Mother’s Day several years ago, I wrote about the common Gothic trope of absent mothers, which many authors use to turn their protagonists into vulnerable orphans and deny them the comfort and sense of safety that mothers provide. But just because mothers are often absent in their fiction, doesn’t mean that mothers have been absent from these authors’ real lives. In fact, several authors of Gothic fiction owe much of their literary career to the influence of their mothers. This Mother’s Day, I want to highlight two of my favorite literary moms: Mary Wollestonecraft and Lady Jane Wilde. Continue reading Influential Mothers of Gothic Authors
Review of Middlegame–Brutal and Beautiful Alchemy
One of my favorite authors is back with a book quite unlike anything I’ve read before! Middlegame by Seanan McGuire is an adult fantasy novel starring a pair of twins imbued by alchemists with special powers as part of a plot to take over the world. If you’re familiar with McGuire from her Wayward Children series, this book is very different. It is ambitious and broad in scope with an experimental style that hops around between different timelines. But it does still have the signature elements that I love about McGuire’s works: in-depth explorations of nuanced characters, clever plays on classic tropes, and a certain tendency toward the macabre. Middlegame comes out tomorrow, May 7. Continue reading Review of Middlegame–Brutal and Beautiful Alchemy
Review of The Invited—Helpful Hauntings
Would you intentionally invite spirits into your home? What about if you knew they had an important message for you? Jennifer McMahon explores these questions in her latest horror novel, The Invited, which comes out tomorrow, April 30. If you’re a fan of haunted houses, historic ghosts, and women who defy expectations, you won’t want to miss this one! Continue reading Review of The Invited—Helpful Hauntings
Gothic Tropes: Burning Houses
In Gothic literature, the setting of the story functions almost like a character itself. These castles, estates, and manor houses are given names, along with their own history, personality, and secrets. And as with living characters, sometimes the novel needs to end with their death. In one common trope, house fires are employed as a means of destroying the central setting at the end of the novel, often with symbolic significance. Continue reading Gothic Tropes: Burning Houses