Regular readers (yes, both of you) will know that I’m a big
fan of Obverse Books, the small press publishers of Iris Wildthyme, Faction
Paradox and other far-fetched fiction. Well, Obverse are branching out in a
slightly new direction, and have created a new subsidiary site that sells what
they term ‘modern pulp.’ Manleigh Books provide not only e-book copies of
Obverse’s titles but also exclusively electronic new fiction with a distinctly
pulpy texture. I’ll be reviewing some of their latest releases over the next
week or so.
The Blue Landscape
is a brand new short story collection by well-regarded author Stewart
Sheargold, a name that should be familiar to readers and listeners of Obverse
Books and Big Finish Productions. He’s a name to watch in Doctor Who-related circles, but be warned that the thirteen stories
of The Blue Landscape are not the
kind of thing you may be used to from the author. The only tale to enter the
world of Doctor Who in any way is
‘Siens Fikshen,’ the final story in the collection, a gorgeous little story
about a very young fan’s love for his favourite programme. The bulk of the
volume is of a far more adult nature, focussing on sex, heartbreak and
obsession.
A couple of the stories could be described as fantasy, and
also as horror. The opening piece, ‘The Beautification,’ gets the collection
off to an affecting, emotional and chilling start, while the later entry ‘The
Eyes of the Day’ takes a perverse journey to a snowbound winter kingdom.
Beautifully written if rather stomach-churning, it’s one of my favourite
stories from the book, despite playing on a nasty idea that I’m particularly
phobic to.
Several of the tales take place at the shoreline, the
metaphorical border of two worlds. ‘Charlotte Imagines the Sea’ is a poignant
tale of two friends walking by the sea, disturbing old memories, while ‘A Cool,
Calm Place’ is a strange, sad tale of love and lust at the sea’s edge. The most
heartbreaking story of the collection, ‘Painting Medusa Pink,’ is a tale of
tragedy that also takes place mainly along the shore’s edge. A beautifully
written tale of dreams and loss, it’s one of the highlights of the book.
Sex, both gay and straight, is the dominant, ever-present
core of the book, and many of the stories either revolve around it or feature
it prominently. We are, as a species, obsessed with sex, and Sheargold finds no
shortage of ways to explore it. ‘The Sunday Lover’ skirts between eroticism and
tragedy, while ‘Lemon-work’ uses sex to explore the mundane reality of our
everyday lives. The one story I didn’t enjoy was ‘Hobbies,’ a tale of rape and
a twisted version of female empowerment. Undoubtedly well-written, to me it’s
unpleasant and rather offensive. Others may disagree, but it’s certain to
provoke a powerful response from its readers.
‘The Blue Landscape’ itself is most obviously about sex and
sexuality, but also about the inevitable loss of the imagination and innocence
of childhood, and is another beautifully written piece. Other stories, ‘The
Winter Tower’ and ‘The Garden,’ ruminate on death, or more specifically its
lead-up and the desire for it. My personal favourite of the collection is ‘The
Tea Party,’ a sexually charged, powerfully written and deeply philosophical meeting
between God and the Devil. Exploring the true nature of sin and forgiveness,
it’s an uncompromising dissection of supposedly modern Christian values.
The Blue Landscape is
not quite what I was expecting from its author, and that is a rare and unexpected
thing in itself. A collection of powerful short works which will surprise,
horrify, entice and offend, it certainly makes a bold impression.
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