Rating: 
Summary: More Gorey Stories
Review: Though not quite so wonderful as "Amphigorey" (q.v.) (if nothing else, there is nothing to equal the brillint "Gashleycrumb Tinies" nor "The Unstrung Harp"), the first Gorey omnibus volume, if only because the very best was skimmed off for that volume, this is still very high class whimsey indeed.Like Gahan Wilson (q.v), Gorey looks at the world in a slightly skewed manner; much of his work consists of showing or telling us something that sounds perfectly rational but does not, in fact, quite compute, leaving our own minds to struggle with the cognitive dissonance he creates. Probably my favourite bit in this collection is "The Gilded Bat", which is a sadly perceptive story of perception and reality in the life of a prima ballerina -- even after litle Maudy Splaytoe has progressed to being enigmatic star Miriella Splatova, her life is still pretty much the same as it always was, a round of rehearsal, performance and boredom. (In a wonderful example of something or other, there was a ballet based on this work; i have never seen it, but heard an interview on PBS with the choreographer, who had had to create excerpts from three OTHER, fictitious, ballets referred to in the text...) The two versions of "The Chinese Obelisks" present us with an opportunity to see the author's mind at work, comparing sketch and draft of text to the finished work. The only reason not to immediately purchase this work would be if you could only afford one of them and hadn't already got the previous volume. If you DO already have "Amphigorey", then you absolutely must have this collection to go with it.
Rating:
Summary: More Gorey Stories
Review: Though not quite so wonderful as "Amphigorey" (q.v.) (if nothing else, there is nothing to equal the brillint "Gashleycrumb Tinies" nor "The Unstrung Harp"), the first Gorey omnibus volume, if only because the very best was skimmed off for that volume, this is still very high class whimsey indeed. Like Gahan Wilson (q.v), Gorey looks at the world in a slightly skewed manner; much of his work consists of showing or telling us something that sounds perfectly rational but does not, in fact, quite compute, leaving our own minds to struggle with the cognitive dissonance he creates. Probably my favourite bit in this collection is "The Gilded Bat", which is a sadly perceptive story of perception and reality in the life of a prima ballerina -- even after litle Maudy Splaytoe has progressed to being enigmatic star Miriella Splatova, her life is still pretty much the same as it always was, a round of rehearsal, performance and boredom. (In a wonderful example of something or other, there was a ballet based on this work; i have never seen it, but heard an interview on PBS with the choreographer, who had had to create excerpts from three OTHER, fictitious, ballets referred to in the text...) The two versions of "The Chinese Obelisks" present us with an opportunity to see the author's mind at work, comparing sketch and draft of text to the finished work. The only reason not to immediately purchase this work would be if you could only afford one of them and hadn't already got the previous volume. If you DO already have "Amphigorey", then you absolutely must have this collection to go with it.
Rating:
Summary: Gorey's credo and short comments on some works in AT.
Review: Unlike most writers, Gorey does not seek publicity and goes his own way with classic unconcern. His artistic credo scattered about in random interviews is the antithesis of verbosity. "There's a kind of style running through the universe. I think of my books as Victorian novels all scrunched up. I write about everyday life. It's dreadfully hazardous. I never could understand why people feel they have to climb Mt. Everest when you know it's quite dangerous getting out of bed. I think you have to rely on chance an awful lot. I don't believe in free will. I've always been a firm believer in the line from a Patrick White novel. 'Life is full of alternatives, but no choices.' . . . I haven't the slightest idea why my work has taken the tack it has. I just do what occurs to me--if it occurs to me strong enough. My philosophy? I'm a Taoist if I'm anything. They believe this is the way the world runs and you might as well go with it. I stand by the idea that you can't prevent things. The surrealist writers thought the most mysterious thing of all is just everyday life. I agree. Everyday life is very discomfiting. I'm trying to convey that discomfiting texture in my books. THE BEASTLY BABY is an illustrated commentary on the nature-nurture issue. In Gorey's view, some "bad-apples" are such from the beginning. THE NURSERY FRIEZE is an antiquarian's delight. THE PIOUS INFANT showcases religious zealotry. THE EVIL GARDEN might have been inspired by Mirbeau's "le jardin des supplices," Stutthof Concentration Camp or the carbon-nitrogen cycle. THE INANIMATE TRAGEDY is an obvious parody of a classical Greek play complete with chorus, carried out by inanimate objects. THE IRON TONIC could be depictions of some of the inhabitants of Lake Woebegone waiting for Godot. THE OSBICK BIRD is an example of commensalism. THE DERANGED COUSINS is an example of psycho-pathology in every day life. Gorey's work is like an open window on the ID which draws our attention to the ubiquitous dysphemism of human activity. This commentator who is a resident of "Fun City, USA," has known six people who were murdered and three murderers, and the list of personally viewed and experienced disasters is lengthy. Gorey's work makes us think about the human condition as well as covertly laugh at what we see as its stark shortcomings and irrationalities.
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