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'When an author sits down to write the linking pieces for the stories in his new book, planning to do it by the hours of the night observed by medieval scholars, he is interrupted by phonecalls from his eccentric yet harmless friend, Raymond, a former mental patient with whom he shares some curious notions about the perceived world. At first casual and interested, even helpful, these calls soon become increasingly tense and strange, until the author realizes that what started out as an innocent fun idea - a shared all-night vigil on the autumn Equinox - is actually serving some other vital purpose, becoming by stages part therapy, party incantatory process, part vindication of those very theories which will change forever the way he sees the world.' (Source: bookseller's website.)
Notes
-
Dedication: For Nick and Nic with love and gratitude.
-
Epigraph: There is a braid that gathers up the hours ...
Contents
- Introduction, single work prose horror (p. 11-16)
- The Bullet that Grows in the Gun, single work short story horror (p. 17-36)
- The Maze Man, single work short story horror (p. 37-54)
- The Daemon Street Ghost-Trap, single work short story horror (p. 55-78)
- The Terrarium, single work short story horror (p. 79-93)
- They Found the Angry Moon, single work short story (p. 94-110)
- The Gully, single work short story horror (p. 111-130)
- The Last Elephant, single work short story horror (p. 131-148)
- The Echoes, single work short story horror (p. 149-173)
- The Third Gift, single work short story horror (p. 174-187)
- The Quiet Redemption of Andy the House, single work short story horror (p. 188-214)
- The Mars You Have in Me, single work short story horror (p. 215-228)
- The Rediscovery of Tutankhamen's Tomb, single work short story horror (p. 229-243)
- Scaring the Train, single work short story horror (p. 245-284)
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
-
The Australian Horror Novel Since 1950
2012
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Sold by the Millions : Australia's Bestsellers 2012; (p. 112-127) According to James Doig the horror genre 'was overlooked by the popular circulating libraries in Australia.' In this chapter he observes that this 'marginalization of horror reflects both the trepidation felt by the conservative library system towards 'penny dreadfuls,' and the fact that horror had limited popular appeal with the British (and Australian) reading public.' Doig concludes that there is 'no Australian author of horror novels with the same commercial cachet' as authors of fantasy or science fiction. He proposes that if Australian horror fiction wants to compete successfully 'in the long-term it needs to develop a flourishing and vibrant small press contingent prepared to nurture new talent' like the USA and UK small presses.' (Editor's foreword xii) -
When Was the Last Time You Noticed the Shape of the Light-Switch in Your Bedroom? A Profile of Terry Dowling
Gavin Bertram
(interviewer),
1996
single work
interview
biography
criticism
— Appears in: Sirius , March no. 11 1996; (p. 4-7) -
Untitled
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: Aurealis : Australian Fantasy & Science Fiction , no. 15 1995; (p. 76-77)
— Review of An Intimate Knowledge of the Night 1995 selected work -
Psychic Invasion
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 25-26 November 1995; (p. rev 8)
— Review of An Intimate Knowledge of the Night 1995 selected work -
Strange Scuttlings in the Night
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 14 October 1995; (p. 11A)
— Review of An Intimate Knowledge of the Night 1995 selected work
-
Strange Scuttlings in the Night
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 14 October 1995; (p. 11A)
— Review of An Intimate Knowledge of the Night 1995 selected work -
Psychic Invasion
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 25-26 November 1995; (p. rev 8)
— Review of An Intimate Knowledge of the Night 1995 selected work -
Untitled
1995
single work
review
— Appears in: Aurealis : Australian Fantasy & Science Fiction , no. 15 1995; (p. 76-77)
— Review of An Intimate Knowledge of the Night 1995 selected work -
The Australian Horror Novel Since 1950
2012
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Sold by the Millions : Australia's Bestsellers 2012; (p. 112-127) According to James Doig the horror genre 'was overlooked by the popular circulating libraries in Australia.' In this chapter he observes that this 'marginalization of horror reflects both the trepidation felt by the conservative library system towards 'penny dreadfuls,' and the fact that horror had limited popular appeal with the British (and Australian) reading public.' Doig concludes that there is 'no Australian author of horror novels with the same commercial cachet' as authors of fantasy or science fiction. He proposes that if Australian horror fiction wants to compete successfully 'in the long-term it needs to develop a flourishing and vibrant small press contingent prepared to nurture new talent' like the USA and UK small presses.' (Editor's foreword xii) -
Close Encounters in Intimate World of Fantasy
1995
single work
criticism
biography
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 28 May 1995; (p. 24) -
When Was the Last Time You Noticed the Shape of the Light-Switch in Your Bedroom? A Profile of Terry Dowling
Gavin Bertram
(interviewer),
1996
single work
interview
biography
criticism
— Appears in: Sirius , March no. 11 1996; (p. 4-7)
Awards
- 1996 shortlisted Ditmar Awards — Best Novel
- 1995 winner Aurealis Awards for Excellence in Australian Speculative Fiction — Horror Division — Best Novel