Selected Readings and Miscellanea

I recently stumbled upon a collected gallery of covers from H.G. Wells’ milestone book, War of the Worlds. It remains one of my most favorite books (having also been about the second book I ever read), and this collection of covers cements it as one of the repeatedly best-designed books as well. Granted, I am partial to the old Sci-Fi/Pulp aesthetic, so these covers really speak to me. Regardless, the book has been in print for so damn long, the gallery reads more like a history of modern design — trace design styles and treatments through the years! After I saw this I decided it was time to drift into another bout of horror literature indulgence. This happens about once a year, usually around the same time (yes, I really am that transparent). Here are some of my favorites which you may also enjoy… jeez, I really don’t mean this in quite such a “Reading Rainbow” way. Honest.

H.G. Wells - Admittedly, more science fiction than horror, above all else, Wells was a visionary of grim tales.

• H.G. Wells reading - (some highlights include; The Country of the Blind and The Time Machine)
• Related - Orson Welles’ October 30th, 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast.

Edgar Allan Poe - I have recently had the pleasure of rediscovering Poe (I really only read his well known stuff in school). Successfully imbuing a sense of music and rhythm to a staggering degree in much of his work, Poe remains a highly influential master of (predominately) macabre prose.

• Edgar Allan Poe reading - (some highlights include; The Pit and the Pendulum and The Raven—Yes, I realize it’s obvious and you have probably read it before, but I assure you it’s really just as good upon multiple re-readings.)

Edward Gorey - Creator of wonderful pen-and-ink-illustrated twisted tales. Here is a delightful read, and probably his best known work; The Gashlycrumb Tinies, an A-Z guide to 26 children meeting their own dreadful ends.

H.P. Lovecraft - Lovecraft was one of the most accomplished and revered horror writers ever. His incredibly prolific career was only surpassed by his frequent thesaurus usage.

• H.P. Lovecraft reading - (some highlights include; The Call of Cthulhu and The Shadow Over Innsmouth)
• Related - Many of Lovecraft’s stories have been adapted (or bastardized) onto film. Some good ones include Re-animator (with the great Jeffrey Combs) and The Blob; the original is preferred, though the remake has some camp merit too.

And for some real-life horror, read up on some famous murderers and their victims at the Crime Library (which includes detailed reports on people like Ed Gein, the basis for such baddies as Leatherface and Buffallo Bill).

• Posted at 10:41 pm in Books, Web
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