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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Old-timey horror for the non-horror reader. Deservedly influential.
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The canonical works that only becomes seen as transitory movers and shakers of a medium are deeply fascinating. Intercepting between Poe and Lovecraft, Chambers collection of short stories touches on the burgeoning themes of science fiction, fantasy, and cosmic horror but without committing fully to any of them, leaving a jarring if entertaining journey through various tones, concepts, and characters.
The Repairer of Reputations, the opening story, is by far the strongest. Chambers depicts a deeply cynical world nearing the end of the century. Suicide has not only become legal but actively encouraged by the governments of the world, and a series of imperial wars in close succession has rendered down the fat of identity to its basest aspects, blinding the works characters in the tallow light.
Oddly prescient in recent years are the themes of misogyny and reactionary conspiracy theories which reoccure through the text. Often times, the King in Yellow reads like the Twilight Zone targeted against the modern manosphere in the best way possible.
The Repairer of Reputations, the opening story, is by far the strongest. Chambers depicts a deeply cynical world nearing the end of the century. Suicide has not only become legal but actively encouraged by the governments of the world, and a series of imperial wars in close succession has rendered down the fat of identity to its basest aspects, blinding the works characters in the tallow light.
Oddly prescient in recent years are the themes of misogyny and reactionary conspiracy theories which reoccure through the text. Often times, the King in Yellow reads like the Twilight Zone targeted against the modern manosphere in the best way possible.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
When I began this book, I had bought it for the King In Yellow section of stories. Some of them were very good, too. The Court of the Dragon, The Yellow Sign, The Mask, and The Demoiselle d'Ys - were all great in seperate ways.
However, personally, I enjoyed RWC's Mystery of Choice collection as a whole to be stronger and more enjoyable a read. Especially The Purple Emperor, The Messenger, and The White Shadow. Something about how they were written and told stood out and captured me more than the King In Yellow.
I understand as well that some stories were left absent from the collection of King in Yellow stories present in this book. I've heard they're quite basic and seem to oddly have no obvious connection to the playscript of The King in Yellow which ties his stories together.
Nonetheless, RWC is a very talented writer, and his imagery is gorgeous. His romance-writing shows as the many relationships shown are tender, enjoyable, and sweet.
However, personally, I enjoyed RWC's Mystery of Choice collection as a whole to be stronger and more enjoyable a read. Especially The Purple Emperor, The Messenger, and The White Shadow. Something about how they were written and told stood out and captured me more than the King In Yellow.
I understand as well that some stories were left absent from the collection of King in Yellow stories present in this book. I've heard they're quite basic and seem to oddly have no obvious connection to the playscript of The King in Yellow which ties his stories together.
Nonetheless, RWC is a very talented writer, and his imagery is gorgeous. His romance-writing shows as the many relationships shown are tender, enjoyable, and sweet.
This is not the greatest horror story in the world. This is a tribute.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes