Valancourt Books discussion

These two beauties head to the printers today and will be available in March: Riccardo Stephens's very rare 1912 weird mystery THE MUMMY (with an intro by Mark Valentine), in which a series of deaths seems linked to an ancient Egyptian curse, and STORIES OF THE STRANGE AND SINISTER (1983), a scarce collection by Frank Baker, author of The Birds, introduced by Tartarus Press's R.B. Russell. Both feature cover designs by M.S. Corley.

Covers and descriptions below:



The Mummy (1912) by Riccardo Stephens, with a new introduction by Mark Valentine

Book Description

Dr. Armiston, middle-aged bachelor and general practitioner, has his quiet and routine life interrupted when he is called in to consult on the deaths of two young men. One case seems to be a tragic accident, the other the result of natural causes, but they have one strange thing in common: the presence of the same ancient Egyptian mummy case in both men's homes. When Armiston learns that the sarcophagus is inscribed with a terrible curse promising vengeance on anyone who disturbs the mummy's repose, and as the series of deaths continues, the doctor will risk his own life to unravel the mystery and find out whether the mummy - or something or someone else - is responsible.

As Mark Valentine argues in his new introduction to this edition, Riccardo Stephens's exceedingly scarce The Mummy (1912) is a fine piece of storytelling, an inventive weird mystery that bears comparison with the works of Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson. This edition follows the text of the 1923 Hutchinson edition.



Stories of the Strange and Sinister (1983) by Frank Baker, with a new introduction by R.B. Russell

Book Description

Sadly neglected today, Frank Baker (1908-1983) was an intriguing and highly original author of fantasy and horror fiction, best known for his post-apocalyptic novel of an avian attack, The Birds (1936), which may have been an influence on Hitchcock’s film, and Miss Hargreaves(1940), a classic in which two young men invent a story about an unusual old woman only to discover that they have actually brought her to life.

First published in 1983 and long unavailable, Stories of the Strange and Sinister collects ten of Baker’s short stories and displays the versatility of his work. Included are wonderfully macabre tales like ‘The Chocolate Box’, in which a discarded box found on a Cornish moor contains a gruesome surprise, and ‘In the Steam Room’, where a man enjoying a sauna believes he glimpses a horrible event through the steam, as well as more subtle tales of the fantastic like ‘My Lady Sweet, Arise’, in which a woman’s compulsion to sing ends with strange consequences, and ‘Quintin Claribel’, the story of a rude young man who must – quite literally – eat his words. This first-ever republication includes a new introduction by R. B. Russell. Frank Baker’s The Birds is also available from Valancourt.

Like the sound of both of these. Also must get the Frank Baker for the local connection (I live in Cornwall; guessing the moor is Bodmin Moor, which is about an hour away from me).

Re the Baker: I actually bought an original copy of this book and I will not divulge what I paid for it, but it was a lot. However, the seller discovered a huge flaw in the book he was selling to me and canceled the transaction. So thank you for publishing this -- not only am I eager to read it, but with the cost difference I can buy more books!

I'll be picking up The Mummy as well.

Nice covers!

I need BOTH--paperback and kindle (for immediate reading).
Mummies have always been fascinating to me--one of the few sub-genres that I don't feel have been exhausted yet ;). And loved Frank Baker's THE BIRDS. :D

Kimberly wrote: "I need BOTH--paperback and kindle (for immediate reading).
Mummies have always been fascinating to me--one of the few sub-genres that I don't feel have been exhausted yet ;). And loved Frank Baker'..."

I bought The Birds this morning; now I'm afraid that time is going to tick...tick...tick... by until it gets here.

both sound great. I hope you will post a thread for when they are released? i'll never remember! I like the covers, too.

My copy of The Birds just got here! YAY!

I would suggest to one interested in reading "The Mummy" to also consider reading Richard Marsh's "The Beetle".

Mike wrote: "I would suggest to one interested in reading "The Mummy" to also consider reading Richard Marsh's "The Beetle"."

The Beetle: A Mystery is great! It is like the comfort food of books.

Nancy wrote: "My copy of The Birds just got here! YAY!"

Hope you enjoy it!!

--

Okay, I'm off of here for the next 10 days. Behave yourselves!

Adiós!

Valancourt Books wrote: "Nancy wrote: "My copy of The Birds just got here! YAY!"

Hope you enjoy it!!

--

Okay, I'm off of here for the next 10 days. Behave yourselves!

Adiós!"

have a great time, you two!!!!