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The Cosmic Horror Brilliance of Area X
In which I discuss Jeff Vandermeer's Southern Reach series, and the brilliant ways it subverts the tropes of cosmic horror.
Apr 2512 min read
11 views


In Defence of Cassandra Khaw
In which I discuss three common critiques of Nothing but Blackened Teeth, and why I consider them strengths, not flaws.
Mar 2814 min read
16 views


The Scariest Winter Tale
In which I discuss John Martin Leahy's 'In Amundsen's Tent,' and explore why it scares me more than any other short story.
Feb 218 min read
25 views


Halloween Special 2022 - Vampires Mega-Analysis (How Authors Write the Bloodsucking Undead)
In which I celebrate Halloween by discussing vampires, how they evolved and became a worldwide literary obsession.
Oct 31, 202233 min read
34 views


How 'The Dark Between the Trees' Perfects the Haunted Forest Trope
In which I discuss Fiona Barnett's 'The Dark Between the Trees,' and the ways it elevates the haunted forest subgenre.
Sep 23, 20228 min read
95 views


'Coraline' and the Importance of Gateway Horror
In which I discuss Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline,' introducing the concept of gateway horror, and its inherent value.
Aug 26, 20229 min read
52 views


'Tender is the Flesh' is the 21st Century's Defining Dystopian Novel
In which I discuss Agustina Bazterrica's 'Tender is the Flesh,' and the high status it deserves.
Aug 12, 20228 min read
100 views


How 'The Harpy' Uses Presentation to Make You Care
In which I discuss Megan Hunter's 'The Harpy,' and how it uses presentation to cause emotional responses.
Jul 15, 202214 min read
21 views


How 'A Monster Calls' Uses Story to Make You Care
In which I discuss Patrick Ness's 'A Monster Calls,' and how it uses story to cause emotional responses.
Jul 1, 202214 min read
551 views


How 'The Hellbound Heart' Modernises Gothic Horror
In which I discuss Clive Barker's 'The Hellbound Heart,' and its unique and modern approach to Gothic horror.
Jun 3, 20228 min read
43 views


'The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar' and the Benefit of Short Stories
In which I explore the sub-medium of short stories for the first time, and how Edgar Allan Poe perfected it.
May 20, 20228 min read
192 views


'The Shining' and the Benefit of Longer Stories
In which I discuss Stephen King's 'The Shining,' and the benefits it draws from a longer page count.
May 6, 20228 min read
15 views


Horror - The Genre of Fear
In which I conclude my series of essays on genre, this time looking more deeply at horror, and what it means to me.
Mar 25, 20228 min read
55 views


How 'The Rats' Reinvents a Subgenre
In which I discuss James Herbert's 'The Rats,' and the ways it reinvents a popular subgenre of horror.
Feb 4, 20229 min read
37 views


How 'A Christmas Carol' Defines Christmas - And the Ghost Story
In which I discuss Charles Dickens's 'A Christmas Carol,' and explore the many staples of the season, and the genre, it came to define.
Dec 17, 202110 min read
16 views


'The Invisible Man' is a Perfect Villainous Character Study
In which I discuss HG Wells's 'The Invisible Man,' and the ways in which it perfects the character study.
Nov 19, 202110 min read
42 views


'I'm Thinking of Ending Things' is a Microcosm of Horror
In which I discuss Iain Reid's 'I'm Thinking of Ending Things,' and the way it represents and deviates from the greater horror genre.
Nov 12, 20217 min read
17 views


Halloween Special 2021 - Why Horror is My Favourite Genre of Fiction
In which I celebrate Halloween by discussing the horror genre, and the many things that make it so good.
Oct 31, 202114 min read
22 views


Why 'Frankenstein' is My Favourite Book
In which I discuss Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein,' and the many reasons it's such a great read.
Mar 19, 20218 min read
56 views
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