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8,5/10
A transfer, lack of time, and fascination with too many books and movies at a time had prevented me from completing this book. Fortunately, duties of an observer in an exam can be excruciatingly boring, and experiencing that yesterday, I had brought this book with me today. Now, it's over, and I am happy to state that in my humble opinion, this is Mark Valentine's best book till date. The stories involving Ralph Tyler has a robust sense of adventure and humour that I appreciated more than the un...
really, between a 4 and a 4.5; above all, I needed something fun to read and Ralph Tyler rocks. The earlier stories were pretty good as well.head not quite back to normal just yet, but I will be commenting on this one further soon. most certainly recommended.
Valentine's Ralph Tyler stories are of a more traditional 'occult detective' bent than those of the Connoisseur but that makes them no less enjoyable. There are several stand alone stories in this collection as well, all of which are entertaining, though special mention should be made of "Their Special Glee", which is creepy in all the right ways.
This is copy 178 of 400 copies.
The Problem with Ghost FindersFrom my earliest reading years on, I have been a sucker for ghost stories. Well, maybe not in elementary school, but quite early, anyway, and there is a lot I like out there, from E.T.A. Hoffmann to Robert Aickman. There is also a lot, however, I dislike, and this ranges from very predictable tales to unnecessarily gory ones. All in all, the best tales, I think, are those in which the sense of the supernatural, or the absurd, or the inexplicable reigns supreme, wher...
The book contains material mainly from Mark Valentine’s early writing years; specifically, there are ten occult detective stories and six others (also supernatural in hue). The main protagonist’s name is Ralph Tyler; he is apparently based on classic occult detectives like John Silence (Algernon Blackwood’s) and Carnacki (William Hope Hodgson’s), with some twists (like him not having a wealth of resources, connections and influence). Unfortunately I have just a passing contact with John Silence
"Four stars?!?" you scream.I know, I know, it's Mark frickin' Valentine!And I love Mark Valentine's work. Love, love, absolutely love.But everyone has to start somewhere, right? And this is what we have here: several early tales, more raw, more . . . "cheeky" is the word that comes to mind. Does this mean that it's bad? No, not at all. It's excellent. But when comparing these tales to his more mature work, one must consider that what we see in the voice of such masterpieces as The Collected Conn...
…. However placid woodland may look in the sunlight of day, it is always transformed by night. A deeper stillness seems to descend, and there are brittle, echoing sounds that strike at atavistic emotions inside us. That chill sliver of a cry may be no more than a nocturnal bird out hunting: the rustle in the undergrowth will be a woodland creature seeking shelter; things drop from trees in the daylight too; and yet as we stood in a grove at the end of a rough bridlepath, all these were given a k...
Herald of the Hidden and Other Stories - sixteen tales collected here, mostly written when Mark Valentine was in his twenties and early thirties, ten of the sixteen being “Ralph Tyler Stories,” that is, featuring young Ralph in his role as private detective investigating occult phenomenon. I must say there is an irresistible storytelling charm to be found in each and every one. But enough generalization - permit me to offer a closer look at three stories I count among my personal favorites:THE F...
