Modern Gothic - Various Authors

 

"Gothic" is a term oft bandied about within the realms of fiction. Frequently it's applied to an historical novel that presents as quite dark and bleak. But in many instances it's not really Gothic at all - just a bleak and dark historical novel!

Wikipedia would have us believe that Gothic is a  'loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting.' I've always been intrigued by the definitions of the term which are many. For me a true gothic story bestows upon me an indefinable sense of horror and disquiet, an atmosphere that shrouds the soul. One thinks of Frankenstein and Melmoth,  Edgar Allan Poe and H P Lovecraft. So I found it a bold assertion to offer a collection of Modern Gothic tales. But as I read this engrossing collection I realised that the modern refers to them being written recently! For, apart from references to emails in one story, there is an otherworldly, historical, timeless even, flavour to these stories which adhere to those elements that produce that 'gothic feel' but the settings never feel modern.

It's a modest sized collection than spans less than one hundred and fifty pages but it's quality not quantity that counts here. Every story is a compelling tour de force of unease, incredulity with that necessary chill factor that is a must for the true gothic. 

I think my favourite was Rose Biggins' A Respectable Tenancy. A short epistolary story it defies belief in its premise! I'll say no more! (There maybe be tenant readers who feel it is a metaphoric allusion to the state of affairs today! 😉) I also really enjoyed Dark Water (not to be confused with the Elizabeth Lowry novel of the same name which does pertain to the Gothic!) But all of the stories filled me with a sense of foreboding and unease. 

The writing in all of the stories is excellent. All of these authors understand the short story medium so well, not to mention the elements of a gothic fiction! It's a well arranged collection of stories too. The stories are diverse yet they work very well together. I think in part that is due to how well curated the collection is. For example had the last story in the collection been the first it would have evoked a different sense to the anthology as a whole.

I would like to credit all the writers here, for although I have cited two of my favourite stories I can't say that there were any that I didn't enjoy. 

So Lerah Mae Barcenilla, Lauren Archer, Rose Biggin, Michael Bird, Pete Hartley and Edward Karshner Thank you!! And further thanks to Fly on the Wall Press who've done a grand job with this book.