Lovedeath

In 1994, I read an anthology of novellas that delved into the captivating relationship between eroticism and horror.

This collection of works presented a unique exploration of two seemingly disparate themes, intertwining them in ways that both intrigued and startled the reader.

The authors skillfully crafted stories that combined the allure of eroticism with the spine-tingling elements of horror, creating a truly immersive and unforgettable reading experience.

Each novella in the anthology offered a different perspective on this complex relationship, exploring the darker side of human欲望 and the fears that lurk within our deepest desires.

Through vivid descriptions and engaging narratives, the anthology invited readers to step into a world where the boundaries between pleasure and pain, love and fear, were blurred.

It was a thought-provoking and stimulating read that left a lasting impression on me, making me question my own perceptions of eroticism and horror.

Overall, the anthology was a remarkable work that showcased the power of literature to explore the most profound and mysterious aspects of the human psyche.

Dan Simmons occupies a unique position at the literary extremity of the horror/SF spectrum. His body of work is so diverse that some of it, like "Phases of Gravity", doesn't even incorporate elements of SF or horror. At his peak, he masterfully fictionalizes real events and then adds a minuscule SF/horror twist.

Perhaps the most renowned of his works is "The Terror", which is based on the possible fate of the Franklin expedition after it vanished while searching for the Northwest Passage. This novel has recently been adapted for television. My personal favorite, however, is "Drood". It presents a fictionalized account of the last days of Charles Dickens as told by Dickens' real but unreliable and laudanum-addled friend, Wilkie Collins.

"Lovedeath", although literary in certain aspects, contains a touch of SF and copious amounts of horror. It is a collection of five novellas, each with its own distinct style, all围绕 the general theme of Love and Death (thus the overall title). The first novella is the memoir of a risk-averse insurance loss-adjuster. The second is a stomach-churning horror story set in Bangkok. Another, "Flashback", is the sole SF element in the collection (Simmons expanded on this theme in a novel of the same name). The fourth is a sort of mythical quest set among the Lakota Sioux.

Simmons saves the best for last with "The Great Lover", a message-in-a-bottle type of tale that features the edited transcript of a 'lost' diary written by the fictional war poet James Edward Rooke during his time on the Somme in 1916. Scenes of gut-wrenching carnage are interspersed with Rooke's highly charged vision of 'The Lady', whom he believes to be a metaphor for death. Or is she? I must add that this collection is not for the faint of heart. The sex scenes are frequent and explicit, and the violence is even more so. However, it is all just about saved by the quality of the writing. It is indeed rather intense reading material and perhaps should have been titled "Sex, Violence and Violent Sex".

Dan Simmons is a master storyteller who covers a wide range of themes. His works are not just about popular or favorable topics. Instead, he delves into genuine, generic, and favorable storytelling that is both puzzling and compelling.

Despite any previous factors that might seem to hold his work back, it is still great. In fact, these very factors make his stories even more interesting for fans of crime, sci-fi, horror, and fantasy.

Whether his works are based on historical or not, and whether they accurately represent those genres' backgrounds or worlds, they still manage to score highly. With ratings of 4/5, 5/5, 4/5, 5/5, and 4.5/5, his overall average is roughly 4.5.

This shows that Simmons has a talent for creating stories that appeal to a wide range of readers and keep them engaged from beginning to end. His unique blend of genres and his ability to tell a compelling story make him a must-read for any fan of literature.

Quite the collection of novellas indeed!

Some of them shine brighter than the rest, yet all are truly worth reading, especially for the fans of Simmons' other fiction. He deftly skates around several genres, with horror often taking the front and center stage. Since there's little connective tissue from one story to another, aside from the central themes of Love and Death, it makes sense to rate each story on its own merit.

Entropy's Bed at Midnight - 4 Stars.

This is a perfect opening story. Some have commented that it 'goes nowhere', but they seem to miss the point entirely. Simmons masterfully rides out the tension, thankfully without even offering a release. His characterization here is in top form, and the fear and pain of the main character resonate on a deeper level than any of his other characters in this collection.

Dying in Bangkok - 5 Stars.

It's easy to see why this story won awards. It's easily the most gripping one here. Simmons, like Clive Barker before him, manages to do something few horror writers can... he renders the completely absurd and ludicrously implausible stuff of fantasy into something truly unsettling. The depth of his creation for such a short story is truly striking. Oddly enough, I don't think the execution is perfect, as some of the later revelations feel a bit off or even trite, but it really doesn't matter. This story reads like a steamroller, practically tearing itself off the pages.

Sleeping with the Teeth Women - 4 1/2 Stars.

Here Simmons downplays the horror element a bit and instead takes us on the spiritual journey of a Lakota boy. More than anything, this is a fabulously told coming-of-age story. The early scenes with the protagonist sneaking off to his beloved's tipi are simply exquisite. As the tale progresses and the scope widens, visions and supernatural beings come into focus and the story takes flight. I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but this seems to be something of a precursor to Simmons' latest novel, Black Hills, which has the same setting and possibly related characters? I haven't read it yet, but he seems to have used this story as a catalyst for that much longer work.

Flashback - 3 Stars.

This is the only SF story of the bunch, but it doesn't hit quite as hard as I'd hoped, though it does have some compelling ideas. Obviously, the future he was envisioning feels a bit dated, what with the early 90's buzz of virtual reality filling nearly every frame, but that can't really be helped. The titular drug reminds one of the film Strange Days, and it makes one wonder if James Cameron (who wrote the script for director Kathryn Bigelow) perhaps had a copy of this lying around. The depth of creation is here, but the writing and characters don't quite drive it home. Several bits are overexplained, the grandfather's flashbacks feel tiresome by the third revisit (of many more), and the most satisfying part for me was how incredibly depressing and unsatisfying the ending was, if that makes any sense. Probably not, ha.

The Great Lover - 3 1/2 Stars.

Ah, the big one. It's readily apparent that Simmons fell in love with the source material and his vision of concocting some overarching poetic statement about the Great War. He comes close to nailing it. Unfortunately, this bit felt overlong and not completely justified in its excess. Essentially, what he did was roll a bunch of WWI poets into one character and throw him into the thick of the action... and then proceed to describe every ounce of the chaos in all its gory detail. Much of the imagery is striking, but it numbs after a while, which parallels the experience of the character, so it's surely intentional, but still. The ambition is impressive, as the amount of research involved is clear (there are footnotes explaining the origins of the included poems and histories of the individual poets), and the charm of such an undertaking rubs off on you as you get deeper into the story. The ultimate revelation about the supernatural element in this story actually came as a Revelation, and by the end of the 100 plus pages, there did seem to be a valid bit of redemption for all that came before. A solid, if flawed story, but one worth reading nonetheless.

(Apologies for any typos or redundancies present in the above. I don't have time to edit. Cheers!)

Masterpiece!

A masterpiece is a work of art, literature, music, or any other creative field that is considered to be of the highest quality and significance. It is a creation that stands the test of time and continues to inspire and influence generations of people.

Masterpieces are often characterized by their unique style, innovative techniques, and profound themes. They may explore complex human emotions, social issues, or the mysteries of the universe.

Creating a masterpiece requires a great deal of talent, hard work, and dedication. It is a process that can take years or even decades of careful planning, experimentation, and refinement.

Some of the most famous masterpieces in history include the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the plays of William Shakespeare, and the music of Ludwig van Beethoven. These works have become iconic and are widely regarded as some of the greatest achievements in human creativity.

In conclusion, a masterpiece is a truly remarkable creation that enriches our lives and helps us to better understand the world around us. It is a testament to the power of human imagination and the limitless possibilities of art and creativity.

Trigger Warnings/General Warnings: Rape, violence against women, misogyny

This was NOT the book for me. I did not like a single story within it. Some of them had certain interesting ideas, but overall, I found the entire book to be the epitome of misogyny. I can't recall ever reading a book as misogynistic as this one. The title and introduction are highly misleading; there is no love here, only violence. Rape is prevalent and is not treated with the respect or gravity it deserves.

I made a valiant effort to power through these stories, even though I despised them. It took me an inordinate amount of time to get through just one story. Alas, I could not make it through the final story. I simply cannot think of a more tedious plot than that of a WWI soldier who writes poetry. It's strange that it was the boredom rather than the violent misogyny that finally got to me, but such is the case. I am clearly not the intended audience for this book, and I would not recommend it to anyone, especially women (and more specifically, feminists).

The stories themselves are a catalogue of horrors. In "Entropy's Bed at Midnight," the protagonist is annoyingly pretentious. In "Dying in Bangkok," the level of misogyny and violence is truly disgusting. "Sleeping with Teeth Women" is filled with rape and demeaning portrayals of women. "Flashback" is both boring and casually mentions rape without any real regard. And "The Great Lover" was just too much for me to handle, with its uninteresting subject matter and excessive length.

This book is a prime example of why trigger warnings are so important. It contains content that is deeply offensive and harmful, especially to women. I would urge anyone considering reading it to think twice and perhaps choose a more respectful and empowering work of literature instead.

Absolutely amazing!!!

This statement truly reflects the level of astonishment and admiration one might feel.

However, the truth is that I've read it in French!

This adds an interesting twist to the story.

Perhaps the work in question was originally written in French and its beauty and impact were not lost in translation.

Reading it in the original language might have given me a deeper understanding and appreciation of its nuances.

It also makes me wonder if others have had a similar experience of being amazed by something they read in a different language.

Overall, this simple sentence holds a world of curiosity and exploration.

It makes me eager to discover more works in different languages and see what other amazing things they have to offer.

Who knows what other hidden gems await us in the world of literature?

3.8 stars
“But love...of whom?” I say at last. “Of what? What great passion would forestall death?”
Her graceful eyebrow arches, “You do not know? You, a poet?”
I do not know. I say as much.
She leans forward so that I can hear the rustle of her starched cotton blouse and silk beneath. Our faces are so close that I can feel the warmth from her skin. “Then you need more time to learn,” she whispers, her voice as filled with emotion as when she cried out last night.”
― Dan Simmons

Dan Simmons is a remarkable writer, and his works offer a diverse range of experiences. While it is often said that his novels play better than his short stories or novelettes, this should not deter one from delving deeper into his body of work. Each piece has its own unique charm and value.

The story presented here is a captivating excerpt that leaves the reader intrigued and eager to know more. Simmons has a talent for creating vivid scenes and characters that draw the reader in and make them feel as if they are a part of the story.

Although this particular work may be considered a good, but nonessential addition to horror collections, it still has the power to engage and entertain. Simmons' writing style is engaging and his ability to build tension and atmosphere is commendable.

In conclusion, while Simmons' novels may be more highly regarded, his short stories and novelettes are also worth exploring. They offer a different perspective on his writing and展现了他的多才多艺. So, don't be afraid to take a chance and discover the world of Dan Simmons.