by Dahlia Adler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Most of the stories in this are amazing!
I read the original Poe story (included in this collection) each time before reading the re-telling. It was an excellent way to experience and evaluate both Poe’s story and the new one.
The story that stuck with me the most is the retelling that takes place at Mardi Gras/Carnival. It felt like revenge/justice in an ironic way that I think Poe would have also loved.
This book includes both the retelling and the Poe originals.
I’ve decided to read the original story/poem first before the retelling and therefore listed them below in the order I read them (not the order they are listed in the book).
Metzengeragein by Poe
I remember now why Poe and I are rarely friends. While gothic and awesome; his inability to show a story or even tell it without muddling it all up in wording makes me crazy. I know it’s ‘another time periods English’ but I can read Shakespeare better than his stuff somedays.
Here’s hoping Kendare Blake’s retelling brings me some semblance of the real story to light.
She Rode a Horse of Fire by Kendare Blake
inspired by Poe’s story Metzengerstein
Without a doubt Blake’s take on this story is by far more readable, and the use of the tapestry is clever.
Overall I still say meh to this story. I know what Poe was going for in terms of karma coming back to bite you; but just didn’t find either version all that compelling.
Cask of Amontillo by Poe AND
Carnival by Tiffany D. Jackson
inspired by Cask of Amontillo by Poe
I’m confident I’m going to hell. As I took great pleasure (and even kind of laughed) at the cleverness of each character that walls in the other in each story. Jackson uses the cover of the noise of Carnival in a very clever way; and gives satisfaction to anyone bullied in a mere 10 pages.
Enjoyed both these stories immensely.
*After reading all of the Poe and retellings in this anthology I can confidently say this is the best set of stories of them all. I love the revenge being so dark and despicable; while also clever and concise.
The Glittering Death by Caleb Roehrig
inspired by The Pit and the Pendulum by Poe
Just wow. I’m slightly shivering after reading this. In my house, safe, my husband and 80lb pit-bull terrier in the room with me, it’s night which might add a bit of creep factor. It’s only as I finish this story I realize how rapt it had my attention.
Certainly as a teen I did not understand the true impossibility of the decision between the pit and the pendulum. I thought that the pit was always the better choice back then. Today i would merely say that both suck equally and as they both end in death then what real difference is there?
The Purloined Letter by Poe
Sure… nothing nefarious or horrific here. Just the argument that hiding in plain site is clever. I’d like to think in todays world our investigators, officers, military, etc. are trained to ensure this doesn’t happen. But people tend to work based on pre-conceived notions far too often…
A Drop of Stolen Ink by Emily Lloyd-Jones
inspired by The Purloined Letter
Really liked the science fiction element of IDs being integrated into your skin. Overall this story suffers from the same thing as Poe’s original; it’s a bit boring. Maybe in its day this story was unique; but now the ‘hidden in plain sight’ concept has been done to death. Just no real pizazz here for me.
The Tell-Tale Heart by Poe
One Poe’s most famous short stories. In a mere 7 pages Poe manages to convince you that the killer was right. Perhaps I’m too jaded by todays media consumption but this feels tame compared with shows like GoT, Witcher, and other fantasy gothic movies like ‘Crimson Peak’.
And of course the last line of this story inspired the title of this anthology.
Happy Days Sweetheart by Stephanie Luehn
inspired by The Tell-Tale Heart
Not a lot to say here; but the complete 360 twist in the end is great. Loved it!
The Raven by Poe
I have no doubt the best part of this poem is the cadence with which Poe constructs his rhymes. It flows off the tongue (even when said in your mind and out loud) and makes you want to continue; even if the Nevermore has you wanting to end.
A classic and truly deserved of being loved, nevermore.
The Raven (remix) by Amanda Lovelace
inspired by The Raven by Poe
Very very clever. Right up the last word. Redacted to select only certain words or letters. Lovelace brilliantly changes the tone of the story using only Poe’s words that were already on the page.
Hop-Frog by Poe
I can’t help but wonder how bullied, belittled, or abused Poe was in his relatively short life. Whether for being: unattractive, often poor or unintelligent remains to be seen. But I surmise as so many of his stories enact revenge.
It may also be he saw injustices of the world and felt empathy and rage because of them. Either way he clearly understood the need to get even.
Channeling by Marilee Nijkamp
inspired by Hop-frog by Poe
Excellent use of the fae and their history of ‘stealing’ or saving unwanted deformed children.
The Oval Portrait by Poe
Feels like a bit of a Dorian Grey homage with the use of the painting. I don’t even know which came first! How embarrassing. Lol.
I gotta say paintings can be both beautiful and haunting. Really liked this one.
The Oval Filter by Lamar Giles
inspired by Poe’s Oval Portrait
Very clever to incorporate the Poe story into an Instagram modern day based one. Enjoyed how the death of the girlfriend felt very Poe on it own; even without the creepy Instagram/phone activity added in. The creepiness of the phone doing things just heightened the overall gothic, supernatural, and disturbing feel.
The Masque of Red Death by Poe
A bit too flowery and lengthy in its descriptions for me; but the overall message to avoid greed is powerful.
Red by Hillary Monahan
inspired by Poe’s Masque of Red Death
Pretty much the exact same story. The setting is changed; but the descriptions of the rooms, the chimes of the clock, almost all the details are identical. It didn’t feel different enough for me.
Ligeia by Poe
OMG boring. Overly descriptive, takes too long for something interesting to happen, and just not that shocking or big a reveal. The worst Poe one in the collection so far for me.
Lygia by Dahlia Adler
inspired by Ligeia by Poe
Love the lesbians; but just as the original story is too romantic and overdone for my tastes; so is this one. I can’t fault the author as what they had to work with was already brutal. Proof that I love gothic works but without the horror, historical setting, etc; only the romance, it’s not for me.
The Fall of the House of Usher by Poe
A little bit anticlimactic as I’ve read many retellings including Silvia Morena-Garcia’s amazing novel, Mexican Gothic. That said, it is a clever story and adaptable in many ways. I love the biology used. Be it the mess incest makes of lineage, or the fungus that ultimately shadows everyone and thing in the House of Usher. I’m glad to have finally read the original.
The Fall of the Bank of Usher by Fran Wilde
inspired by The Fall of the House of Usher by Poe
Wow!! Brilliant!!
There is no doubt in my mind that Mexican Gothic is still the penultimate retelling of House of Usher. However, Wilde’s short story treatment is just as smart and sharp; and in a totally different way. I can’t say anymore for fear of giving away the idea; but let’s just say it’s a doozy!"
The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Poe
Poe wrote an entire story basically about statistical probability with large numbers (aka: mathematical/scientific proof coincidences don’t exist).
The beginning was painful but the last half flew by as the murders motive, perpetrator, etc. were being revealed. It’s absurd and yet falls into place eloquently. Poe really was a very sharp, astute man.
The Murders in the Rue Apartwlle, Boracay by Rin Chupeco
inspired by The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Poe
One of my most anticipated stories of the book! The trans representation is excellent here (as I would expect from Chupeco); however the overall story doesn’t quite follow Poe’s story the way most of our others have. I don’t mind a different ending; but it just didn’t feel quite right. Super disappointing as I usually enjoy Chupeco's works.
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Very clever to incorporate the Poe story into an Instagram modern day based one. Enjoyed how the death of the girlfriend felt very Poe on it own; even without the creepy Instagram/phone activity added in. The creepiness of the phone doing things just heightened the overall gothic, supernatural, and disturbing feel.
The Masque of Red Death by Poe
A bit too flowery and lengthy in its descriptions for me; but the overall message to avoid greed is powerful.
Red by Hillary Monahan
inspired by Poe’s Masque of Red Death
Pretty much the exact same story. The setting is changed; but the descriptions of the rooms, the chimes of the clock, almost all the details are identical. It didn’t feel different enough for me.
Ligeia by Poe
OMG boring. Overly descriptive, takes too long for something interesting to happen, and just not that shocking or big a reveal. The worst Poe one in the collection so far for me.
Lygia by Dahlia Adler
inspired by Ligeia by Poe
Love the lesbians; but just as the original story is too romantic and overdone for my tastes; so is this one. I can’t fault the author as what they had to work with was already brutal. Proof that I love gothic works but without the horror, historical setting, etc; only the romance, it’s not for me.
The Fall of the House of Usher by Poe
A little bit anticlimactic as I’ve read many retellings including Silvia Morena-Garcia’s amazing novel, Mexican Gothic. That said, it is a clever story and adaptable in many ways. I love the biology used. Be it the mess incest makes of lineage, or the fungus that ultimately shadows everyone and thing in the House of Usher. I’m glad to have finally read the original.
The Fall of the Bank of Usher by Fran Wilde
inspired by The Fall of the House of Usher by Poe
Wow!! Brilliant!!
There is no doubt in my mind that Mexican Gothic is still the penultimate retelling of House of Usher. However, Wilde’s short story treatment is just as smart and sharp; and in a totally different way. I can’t say anymore for fear of giving away the idea; but let’s just say it’s a doozy!"
The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Poe
Poe wrote an entire story basically about statistical probability with large numbers (aka: mathematical/scientific proof coincidences don’t exist).
The beginning was painful but the last half flew by as the murders motive, perpetrator, etc. were being revealed. It’s absurd and yet falls into place eloquently. Poe really was a very sharp, astute man.
The Murders in the Rue Apartwlle, Boracay by Rin Chupeco
inspired by The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Poe
One of my most anticipated stories of the book! The trans representation is excellent here (as I would expect from Chupeco); however the overall story doesn’t quite follow Poe’s story the way most of our others have. I don’t mind a different ending; but it just didn’t feel quite right. Super disappointing as I usually enjoy Chupeco's works.
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1 comment:
I never read anything by POE (except for The Raven, that one is just inescapable) but many of these stories sound interesting, if a little creepy. Maybe I should give him a try some time!
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