Mystery and the Macabre

[Kantarii]

It's hard to mention those two words and not mention Edgar Allan Poe's name. I did a little minor research on him this morning out of curiosity. I can see how his troubled childhood had an influence on his writings and short stories. In part, I can relate to that.

Poe is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the US literature and he was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story. Poe is (generally) considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre and is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction.

I wouldn't say I read a lot of Poe's stories, but I probably read more of his stories than most other writers from his time period. The Raven, The Scarlet Letter, Tell-Tale Heart, the Pit and Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death, and The Murders in the Rue Morgue are among my favorites.

 

[OmnislashXX]

Yep. He's also the reason why us Baltimorons called our NFL team the Ravens. We used to have Edgar, Allen and Poe as our mascots, but now it's just Poe. The zoo also has a Raven which they bring to the stadium whenever a home game is playing.

Bells, Bells, Bells, And the ringing of the Bells.

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

Yep. He's also the reason why us Baltimorons called our NFL team the Ravens. We used to have Edgar, Allen and Poe as our mascots, but now it's just Poe. The zoo also has a Raven which they bring to the stadium whenever a home game is playing.

Bells, Bells, Bells, And the ringing of the Bells.

Some city had to adopt him; his birth city (Boston) still snubs him. It was a big deal when a statue of Poe was placed in the park, and other than that, there's a plaque on the side of a burrito shop, and a small medallion near a condominium building to acknowledge him. It's pretty pathetic.

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

It's hard to mention those two words and not mention Edgar Allan Poe's name. I did a little minor research on him this morning out of curiosity. I can see how his troubled childhood had an influence on his writings and short stories. In part, I can relate to that.

Poe is widely regarded as a central figure of Romanticism in the US literature and he was one of the country's earliest practitioners of the short story. Poe is (generally) considered the inventor of the detective fiction genre and is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction.

I wouldn't say I read a lot of Poe's stories, but I probably read more of his stories than most other writers from his time period. The Raven, The Scarlet Letter, Tell-Tale Heart, the Pit and Pendulum, The Masque of the Red Death, and The Murders in the Rue Morgue are among my favorites.

To add to your already great list: Never Bet the Devil Your Head.

 

[8letters]

A great mystery is "An Unpardonable Crime" by Andrew Taylor. Edgar Allan Poe is a minor character - he's a school boy and his teacher is the main character. Set in early 1800's England. There were a couple of times were I had no idea of what was going to happen next, yet everything tied together beautifully. And a romantic happy ending to boot.

 

[Hypoxia]

Exactly one of Poe's works was republished during his lifetime.

It was a field guide to shellfish.

Glub.

 

[NotWise]

I have read quite a bit of Poe, but not recently. I understand that his style derives from that of E.T.A Hoffmann, who is probably best known as the author of "The Nutcracker." The libretto for the Nutcracker ballet is a retelling of Hoffmann's dark horror by Dumas.

Hoffman died at 46, and his writing was reborn as ballets and operas fifty years later--Copelia and Tales of Hoffmann, for instance. He was a brilliant polymath; writer, composer, painter and politician. I've heard him described as the inventor of Science Fiction, but there was a fascination with machinery at the time, so if he hadn't done it then someone else would have.

 

[sheablue]

I'm a huge fan of Poe. I have a few very large collections of his works, but I haven't read them in ages. I have three Halloween story ideas. Maybe rereading a bit of Poe will be just the right inspiration to get those stories done.

 

[sr71plt]

He has a museum in Richmond and we keep his old room (#13 West Range) open and furnished in his period at the University of Virginia.

I few years ago I did a trilogy of short stories marking his October death date, and posted it here (https://www.literotica.com/s/3-for-poe). It was posted in the nonerotic category, although I find Poe's stories to be erotic. It wasn't universally loved.

 

[Hypoxia]

Has anyone here written Poe pastiches or takeoffs? HOUSE OF USHER is a natural for Incest. CASK OF AMONTILLADO could veer into NonConsent. Many could use GLBT themes. THE RAVEN could be a Voyeur. "Perched upon the bedroom door / Watch the bed roll o'er and o'er / Quoth the Raven, 'Poke her some more!'" PIT & PENDULUM is obvious BDSM. And ANNABEL LEE goes for Erotic Horror.

 

[Kantarii]

Has anyone here written Poe pastiches or takeoffs? HOUSE OF USHER is a natural for Incest. CASK OF AMONTILLADO could veer into NonConsent. Many could use GLBT themes. THE RAVEN could be a Voyeur. "Perched upon the bedroom door / Watch the bed roll o'er and o'er / Quoth the Raven, 'Poke her some more!'" PIT & PENDULUM is obvious BDSM. And ANNABEL LEE goes for Erotic Horror.

E.A.Poe was a true master for his time period. His writings have stood the test of time.

 

[sheablue]

Has anyone here written Poe pastiches or takeoffs? HOUSE OF USHER is a natural for Incest. CASK OF AMONTILLADO could veer into NonConsent. Many could use GLBT themes. THE RAVEN could be a Voyeur. "Perched upon the bedroom door / Watch the bed roll o'er and o'er / Quoth the Raven, 'Poke her some more!'" PIT & PENDULUM is obvious BDSM. And ANNABEL LEE goes for Erotic Horror.

Interesting ... I already did it to Ray Bradbury with my summer contest entry. If one of my three Halloween ideas don't pan out, I should look to Poe.

 

[lovecraft68]

Robert Mcammon did a great Horror novel based on a modern version of The infamous Usher family.

Usher's passing has the Usher's running a billion dollar gun business with all the typical affluent kids stereotypes Hot model daughter who is a coke head. Arrogant useless prick son who only has daddy's money and the black sheep a whiny wuss who hates the family business.

Mcammon did a great job creating "Usher's Malady" which is what will claim all of them sooner or later and an interesting way to keep it at bay

Very good modernization.

In general I like Poe, but he's no HPL in my mind. Nothing is sadder than being geeky enough to argue Poe/Lovecraft stories and influence

 

[sheablue]

Robert Mcammon did a great Horror novel based on a modern version of The infamous Usher family.

Usher's passing has the Usher's running a billion dollar gun business with all the typical affluent kids stereotypes Hot model daughter who is a coke head. Arrogant useless prick son who only has daddy's money and the black sheep a whiny wuss who hates the family business.

Mcammon did a great job creating "Usher's Malady" which is what will claim all of them sooner or later and an interesting way to keep it at bay

Very good modernization.

In general I like Poe, but he's no HPL in my mind. Nothing is sadder than being geeky enough to argue Poe/Lovecraft stories and influence

Yeah, I've read almost all of McCammon (McGammon?) books and that one is really good. They all are.

And there is nothing sad nor geeky about HPL or Poe, or arguing the virtues of either.

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

Has anyone here written Poe pastiches or takeoffs? HOUSE OF USHER is a natural for Incest.

That was what I thought Crimson Peak was when I saw it in theaters: The Fall of the House of Usher revamped with a bit of incest thrown in

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

In general I like Poe, but he's no HPL in my mind. Nothing is sadder than being geeky enough to argue Poe/Lovecraft stories and influence

so then...agree to disagree on this one, and no sad, geeky argument will be needed


seeming how:
“When I write stories, Edgar Allan Poe is my model.” - H.P. Lovecraft in a letter to Rheinhart Kleiner,

 

[lovecraft68]

Yeah, I've read almost all of McCammon (McGammon?) books and that one is really good. They all are.

And there is nothing sad nor geeky about HPL or Poe, or arguing the virtues of either.

I'm surprised McCammon (it is with a C) isn't a bigger known commodity.

Swan Song blows The Stand away and They Thirst and especially Wolf's hour are great takes on Vampires and Werewolves. I especially liked Wolf's hour, but it was a tough read because it went into a lot of the brutal goings on in concentration camps.

 

[Kantarii]

To add to your already great list: Never Bet the Devil Your Head.

Yeah, I managed to accidentally leave that one and Fall of the house of Usher off the list E.A. Poe wrote some great pieces of literature. Kant

 

[clistenovena]

And ANNABEL LEE goes for Erotic Horror.

My opinion, Annabel Lee and The Black Cat are two of Poe's darkest. A serious mess, his mind. Makes for a beautifully disturbing read.

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

My opinion, Annabel Lee and The Black Cat are two of Poe's darkest. A serious mess, his mind. Makes for a beautifully disturbing read.

I hate The Black Cat. I mean, I enjoy that the guy gets his comeuppance in the end, but that poor cat!

 

[manyeyedhydra]

Has anyone here written Poe pastiches or takeoffs? HOUSE OF USHER is a natural for Incest. CASK OF AMONTILLADO could veer into NonConsent. Many could use GLBT themes. THE RAVEN could be a Voyeur. "Perched upon the bedroom door / Watch the bed roll o'er and o'er / Quoth the Raven, 'Poke her some more!'" PIT & PENDULUM is obvious BDSM. And ANNABEL LEE goes for Erotic Horror.

Yup, I did a porny, body horror thing influenced by "The Masque of the Red Death" here:

https://www.literotica.com/s/the-orgy-of-the-pink-flesh

 

[lovecraft68]

I hate The Black Cat. I mean, I enjoy that the guy gets his comeuppance in the end, but that poor cat!

Now see, HPL worshipped cats, that would have never happened in his stories.

Cats of Ulthar....the ultimate feline revenge story.

Looking at Lovecraft's list of phobias I think cats may be the only thing he liked and wasn't afraid of.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

I tend to have plot issues with Poe. His language is so freakin' convoluted and wordy half the time I'm just trying to figure out who's who and what he's trying to say. By the time I reread it and figure it out the tension is pretty much gone.

 

[lovecraft68]

I tend to have plot issues with Poe. His language is so freakin' convoluted and wordy half the time I'm just trying to figure out who's who and what he's trying to say. By the time I reread it and figure it out the tension is pretty much gone.

You have to read in the manner he wrote. Get sloshed then it will make more sense.

 

[J_R_Ashunwhy]

Now see, HPL worshipped cats, that would have never happened in his stories.

Cats of Ulthar....the ultimate feline revenge story.

Looking at Lovecraft's list of phobias I think cats may be the only thing he liked and wasn't afraid of.

been awhile since you read that one?

It's not really feline revenge: a gypsy boy's kitten goes missing, he curses the town, all the cats disappear, they pass a law never to kill cats again, because...

"In Ulthar, before ever the burgesses forbade the killing of cats, there dwelt an old cotter and his wife who delighted to trap and slay the cats of their neighbors. Why they did this I know not; save that many hate the voice of the cat in the night, and take it ill that cats should run stealthily about yards and gardens at twilight. But whatever the reason, this old man and woman took pleasure in trapping and slaying every cat which came near to their hovel; and from some of the sounds heard after dark, many villagers fancied that the manner of slaying was exceedingly peculiar."