More Binscombe Tales: Sinister Sutangli Stories

Rating:
Summary: A Suitably Sinister Sequel
Review: As with the first book, this one is decidedly and deliciously unsettling. Biscombe is a great place to read about, but I don't think it's safe to visit there. These stories combine that good old science fiction trait of making you think about things you thought you knew in a different way with the chill of the supernatural. Until I read "No Truce With Kings," I'd never realized that we citizens of the USA should have a more sympathetic view of Oliver Cromwell than I learned from my history classes and books. If I thought that what goes on in "Let the Train Take the Strain" were true, I'd be terrified to drive my car again. On the other hand, I'm sorry that "Rollover Night" isn't true. What a show! You'll meet with an interesting modern look at an ancient profession in "Canterbury's Dilemma" (No, thank you, Mr. Fersen). "Oh, I do Like to be Beside the Seaside (Within Reason)" is another story I firmly hope is purely imaginary because the implications are so dreadful. "I Could a Tale Unfold" should make you want to know more before you buy that piece of used furniture you have your eye on. [In the next-to-the-last paragraph of p.164, shouldn't that be "tail" end, not "tale"?] I'd hate to be guilty of writing the poem on p.167! As for "Up From the Cellar", it's good to know Mr. Disvan had a reason for putting up with Mr. Oakley all this time (even though the end makes even more interesting by implication the second promise that Mr. Disvan made at the end of "It Has Been Said" and what Mr. Oakley thought he saw on p.56 of "Rollover Night"). I'm sorry that Mr. Whitbourn won't be writing the stories that he describes at the end of the book, but it was nice of him to scatter these crumbs for his readers. He certainly succeeded in leaving me wanting more.

Rating:
Summary: A Suitably Sinister Sequel
Review: As with the first book, this one is decidedly and deliciously unsettling. Biscombe is a great place to read about, but I don't think it's safe to visit there. These stories combine that good old science fiction trait of making you think about things you thought you knew in a different way with the chill of the supernatural. Until I read "No Truce With Kings," I'd never realized that we citizens of the USA should have a more sympathetic view of Oliver Cromwell than I learned from my history classes and books. If I thought that what goes on in "Let the Train Take the Strain" were true, I'd be terrified to drive my car again. On the other hand, I'm sorry that "Rollover Night" isn't true. What a show! You'll meet with an interesting modern look at an ancient profession in "Canterbury's Dilemma" (No, thank you, Mr. Fersen). "Oh, I do Like to be Beside the Seaside (Within Reason)" is another story I firmly hope is purely imaginary because the implications are so dreadful. "I Could a Tale Unfold" should make you want to know more before you buy that piece of used furniture you have your eye on. [In the next-to-the-last paragraph of p.164, shouldn't that be "tail" end, not "tale"?] I'd hate to be guilty of writing the poem on p.167! As for "Up From the Cellar", it's good to know Mr. Disvan had a reason for putting up with Mr. Oakley all this time (even though the end makes even more interesting by implication the second promise that Mr. Disvan made at the end of "It Has Been Said" and what Mr. Oakley thought he saw on p.56 of "Rollover Night"). I'm sorry that Mr. Whitbourn won't be writing the stories that he describes at the end of the book, but it was nice of him to scatter these crumbs for his readers. He certainly succeeded in leaving me wanting more.