Casting the Runes and Other Ghost Stories Book

This IS a book of CLASSIC horror stories. They don't depend nor do they need buckets of blood slung against a wall or descriptions of disembowelments or decapitations. James can achieve a creeping sense of horror and/or terror that will slip up your spine and tap on your shoulder when (if) you turn off the lights to go to sleep at night. It is of course possible not get into the stories, these are stories that you think about and if you do...the shivers and subtle looks over your shoulder when your alone will follow.

There are several well known stories by James in this collection. Notable for me are (of course) "Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You my Lad", a story that in some ways may be sort the "quintessential ghost story", only....is it a ghost? There is that sense of creeping unsureness about exactly what "it" was that adds to this story which you will see has influenced other writers over the years. Also "The Mezzotint" is one of my favorite stories in the collection. It needs to hit you just right I suppose, but again, you'll probably recognize it's influence on and in other books, stories, and even movies.

M.R.James assumes a certain level of education and the ability to think, he doesn't spoon feed his readers nor take them by the hand as he tells his story. He leads and if you follow into the moonlit landscapes he constructs, you'll traverse interesting lands, territories, fields and some very dark countries.

One of my few 5 star ratings...and I'm not a big short story fan.

Update: 8/25/18

This is an update or an add on. I just wondered if anyone had seen the old movie Curse of the Demon? In England it was (originally) longer and titled Night ot the Demon. I'd like to see the English version but apparently the only one ever to appear on TV is the edioted American version.

It's based on Casting the Runes and really not too bad. The poorest thing is the "Demon figure". Due to 1957 special effects it's more stuffed mock-up than fright. Apparently the Writer didn't want to show a literal demon in the film but the producer inserted the demon. It's a sort of large winged wolf like creature with claws. I think the picture would have been far more effective without it.

Possibly just me. Still as far as it goes it's a fairly well done adaption of the story. Not great but pretty good. It was on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) recently. As we're closing on Oct. it may be on again if anyone's interested.