BOOK REVIEWS
I have dispensed with my 'Books of the Year' postings which covered the years 2009 and 2010, and now attempt to review a selection of books that I have read both good and bad, in editions old and new. Much of what I buy is often based on suggestions by others, or some train of thought that makes me think "maybe I should try..." so they are not necessarily all strange/supernatural fiction.
With many small press books costing around £35-£40 each, and some seemingly worthy tomes changing hands on the second hand market for many times that, these reviews may also give the potential purchaser some indication of what they might receive for their money. Needless to say, my opinions should not be given any great value as I bring my own foibles to every review and these may change at any time.
Colin Insole 'Oblivions Poppy'
(Passport Levant 2010)
This book was previously reviewed by myself as one of my 'Books of the Year 2010'.
Passport Levant is an offshoot of Ex-Occidente Press. Both specialize in what we might loosly (and perhaps lazily) term weird fiction. E.O. tend to produce full length books while P.L.s output are landscape format novellas. All are produced in small editions, often only 100 copies.
2010 has seen a plethora of titles from both presses and it would now seem that both are to cease production in late 2011. The quality of fiction has generally been very high and the nice production values certainly make them attractive to read.
Each book retails at about £40.00+, a considerable sum with so many other presses clamouring for your money, and whilst you will do no wrong by buying Mark Valentines 'The Mascarons of the Late Empire', the pick of the bunch must be 'Oblivions Poppy' by the previously unknown (to me) Colin Insole.
The action is set in 1952, within a semi-closed retreat where people with dubious pasts are in residence. Although safe; it is far from being a refuge, as their work symbolically entails them re-living their sins in some way. This is bought into sharper relief by the arrival of some of their victims, each mysteriously invited by the leader of the Retreat. A reconciliation or ordeal is now inevitable, but not without the use of rites and a device that has lain forgotten for some centuries.
An air of mysticism and melancholy pervades the entire text. The plot itself slowly winds the reader into its enclosed gardens, caves and spartan rooms where one begins to feel the weight of each protagonists burden, either as a perpetrator of deeds that sit heavily upon them, or those of their victims, who are themselves lost souls; dispossessed of loved ones, or post-war geographical identity.
The writing steers clear of pathos by its beautiful turns of phrase. The text has a suffused twilight glow over it and the layers of the plot are slowly pulled away as one might perhaps gossamer silk layers from a scared treasure, with small jewels of language are constantly being exposed within their folds. I was reminded somewhat of M. P. Shiel, but whereas he can sometimes overload his texts and create too rich a texture 'Oblivions Poppy' maintains an air of restraint throughout making it an absolute joy to read.
Whilst one can buy direct from the press itself many people (myself included) have had problems with orders. Thus I personally recommend buying from Cold Tonnage Books
