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A review by infinitebynature
Dark Entries by Robert Aickman, Glen Cavaliero
3.0
I enjoyed the writing style and variety of language used in this short story collection. Perhaps due to the profligate array of horror themed books and films available these days I didn't connect to the suspenseful and supposedly creepy elements in these tales.
I did, however, thoroughly enjoy them. Answers are never quite given and I often ended a story thinking 'what on Earth happened there?' There's a mysterious and supernatural quality to be found between these pages, not for those who enjoy black and white -- thoroughly explained story-lines and plots. I enjoyed the portrayal of many eccentric characters despite not quite being able to figure out who or what was real. I feel as though each story was a short trip into insanity, a sort of psychedelically supernatural dream-world where nothing is what it seems and you never figure out exactly what it was.
There are a few outdated ideas to be found in this book which was originally published in the 1950s or 60s, including a sentence which nearly made me put the book down due to its racist nature, it certainly lost my respect for the author himself as during that time there were huge numbers of people who weren't prone to such ignorant thoughts. I think it is important to acknowledge the history of the time in which a book is written but it did make me wonder at Neil Gaiman's recommendation of this author.
I did, however, thoroughly enjoy them. Answers are never quite given and I often ended a story thinking 'what on Earth happened there?' There's a mysterious and supernatural quality to be found between these pages, not for those who enjoy black and white -- thoroughly explained story-lines and plots. I enjoyed the portrayal of many eccentric characters despite not quite being able to figure out who or what was real. I feel as though each story was a short trip into insanity, a sort of psychedelically supernatural dream-world where nothing is what it seems and you never figure out exactly what it was.
There are a few outdated ideas to be found in this book which was originally published in the 1950s or 60s, including a sentence which nearly made me put the book down due to its racist nature, it certainly lost my respect for the author himself as during that time there were huge numbers of people who weren't prone to such ignorant thoughts. I think it is important to acknowledge the history of the time in which a book is written but it did make me wonder at Neil Gaiman's recommendation of this author.