Raising Hell(raiser): NO MORE SOULS to JUDGMENT

Almost since its inception in 2013, the principal focus of Old Sins Cast Long Shadows has been nineteenth-century supernatural horror in English literature. It will continue to remain so for the foreseeable future. Lately, however, I find myself wanting to explore works and topics, in various media, only tangentially related to this blog's focus. In addition perhaps, though rarely, I would like to discuss horror-related subjects not even closely related to this focus.

This blog post will continue the exploration of the phenomena of horror in various media with the discussion of a fan film that would, in time, bode well for a feature-length production.

To celebrate the release of the tenth outing in the Hellraiser film franchise, this blog post will concern itself with one of the earliest, if not the earliest, Hellraiser movie-based fan films, the 2004 Hellraiser-fan film No More Souls: One Last Slice of Sensation. In my opinion, it replicates the essence of diabolic melancholy on a practically non-existent budget.

In the end, it was just two sins that proved deadly for the world.

Greed and Lust.

And, when the losing superpower saw the end was nigh, they chose to cut off the nose of humanity to spite the face of mankind.

The apocalyptic finale was instant.

The newsrooms never even knew that the orders were given; or that the release codes were initiated; or that the buttons were pushed.

The bright light and the searing heat were the first and last confirmation of the end.

No time to question faith.

No time to question meaning.

Judgment was immediate and final. And almost instantly Heaven and Hell became the home for four billion human souls.

So, what becomes of the harvester with no more souls to harvest? What becomes of the hunters with nothing left to hunt?

The first millennium passed quickly as the plethora of victims passed through our doors. For as each was assigned an eternity of torment in the stygian bowels below, the corridors of Leviathan grew quiet.

The years have passed silently, taking with them my will and my hunger. For what is there to wait for? Another sixty-five million years until I can know the eternal delight of an experience where hurt and ecstasy become one.

Too much time to wait for such a fleeting sensation.

But I am not alone. My legion grow hungry. And they, they will not be sated by words or philosophy. And soon, soon I fear they will turn upon their master.

The strength to wait and the strength to fight are no longer within. Desire has abandoned me.

For in the destruction of their world, mankind destroyed mine.

Time only remains now for one last slice of sensation.

.

.

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The sweet s-suffering...

originally written by Gary J. Tunnicliffe.

transcribed from the you-tube video

§

For many years, I have been a fan of the Hellraiser movie franchise. By this, I do not mean to imply that I am a fan of Clive Barker's writing. Actually, quite the contrary. I thought the novella, Hellbound Heart, first published in late 1986, was good. However in my opinion, The Scarlet Gospels, published in 2015 and Barker's final word on the Hell Priest (a.k.a. Pinhead), was a massive let down.

As it turns out, I am more of a fan of Doug Bradley's presentation of Pinhead, than of Barker's writings revolving around Pinhead. After the disappointing Hellraiser: Revelations (2011), the ninth in the movie franchise and the first without Doug Bradley, it was with excitement and trepidation that I heard about the tenth movie, Hellraiser: Judgment, completed in mid-2016 and finally released on 13 February 2018.^[i] I felt this way because of who the director / writer / actor (not as Pinhead) in this film was—Gary J. Tunnicliffe.

§

Written, directed, and starred in, as Pinhead, by Gary J. Tunnicliffe, No More Souls: One Last Slice of Sensation was filmed with a budget that barely qualified as shoestring–approximately $2,500.00 over a single weekend. It clocks in at 6 minutes, 7 seconds. Although of that, only a little more than 4 minutes is the actual fan film. The remainder of the time is for the end-credits. The text at the top of this post—a soliloquy by the Hell Priest (a.k.a. Pinhead)—constitutes the entirety of the dialogue in No More Souls.

Gary J. Tunnicliffe is a "British special make-up effects designer, writer, and director. He designed and created make-up effects in all the Hellraiser films since Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, wrote Hellraiser: Revelations, and wrote and directed Hellraiser: Judgment."^[ii] In Judgment, he also had a significant acting role as well.

In February 2003, Tunnicliffe, following his work on Deader and Hellworld, "decided to make his own short film that would allow him opportunity to flex his own Hellraiser muscles and so it was that the project No More Souls came about."^[iii] He found himself filling the roles of writer, director, director of photography, production designer, as well as filling the principal acting role as Pinhead.

§

Set in the far future with humanity long extinct, Hell has become dull. Pinhead, consumed by profound melancholy, realizes no more souls means no more distraction; no more diversion from an infinity in Hell. Too impatient to see what the long future will bring, Pinhead chooses to take action to end his tedious existence.

§

As the dialogue of No More Souls highlights, I believe Tunnicliffe's writing captures the essence of Pinhead superbly. I am also happy to say that this opinion is not just mine alone. "Rick Bota the director of Hellraiser: Hellseeker, Deader and Hellworld was kind enough to say it really invoked the tone of the first Hellraiser."^[iv] In a podcast interview, Tunnicliffe, in relaying the same incident, stated Rick Bota told him: "I think you captured Hellraiser more than I ever did . . . I think you just get it. You just like that world."^[v]

In expressing the Hell of an eternity of crushing boredom; Tunnicliffe turns Pinhead into a sympathetic and tragic figure. In addition, his No More Souls anticipates a major plot element found in Barker's The Scarlet Gospels by ten years. On a side note, and for full disclosures sake, I feel I should mention that while it is true Mr. Tunnicliffe penned the script for the . . . unfortunate . . . Hellraiser: Revelations (9th in the franchise), his involvement in its production, beyond writing, was minimal.

Also, as he was the make-up effects artist on the majority of the Hellraiser productions, Tunnicliffe certainly was aware of that aspect of the franchise and most adept in its execution. For instance, it has been stated that Tunnicliffe applied Doug Bradley's Pinhead make-up over one hundred times.^[vi]

Despite the fact that Doug Bradley will not be donning the Pinhead gear in Hellraiser: Judgment, it is these two factors—(1) Tunnicliffe's proven ability to write and direct Hellraiser projects that capture that Hellraiser-feeling and, (2) his experience in the make-up effects in the Hellraiser-verse—that reassure me this latest outing (Hellraiser: Judgment) will be respectful of the franchise and the fan-base.

§

The first time I saw No More Souls on YouTube was a couple of years ago and I was amazed! I honestly believed that this was how Hellraiser should be done! Indeed, one of the many positive reviews of the brand new Hellraiser: Judgment likened it to a fan film.

It’s been compared to being a fan-film, but if anything, that’s a badge of honor at this point. Who knows the roots of the franchise better than fans?^[vii]

I could not agree more.^[viii]

§

And, now that I have said my piece on No More Souls, I can watch Hellraiser: Judgment in peace.

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.

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LATER—I just finished watching Hellraiser: Judgment.

Wow!

...to be continued...

References

Print Resources

Digital Resources

Online Resources

Antipax, Janos. "No More Souls --- Easter Egg for Deader DVD." Doug Bradley. Tapatalk.com. 09 June 2005. Web. 19 February 2018.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/dougbradley/no-more-souls-easter-egg-for-deader-dvd-t503.html

Brehmer, Nat. "Ten Horror Fan Films That Did Justice to the Films They Were Inspired By." Wicked Horror. WickedHorror.com. 30 March 2016. Web. 24 February 2018.

http://wickedhorror.com/horror-reviews/ten-horror-fan-films-that-outdo-the-professionals/

Davison, Jacob. "Review: ‘Hellraiser: Judgement’ Verdict, a Step Up in the Franchise." iHorror.com. iHorror.com. 13 February 2018. Web.17 February 2018. http://www.ihorror.com/review-hellraiser-judgement/

Green, Adam & Lynch, Joe, hosts. "Gary J. Tunnicliffe." The Movie Crypt, episode 232. GeekNation. 2017. http://geeknation.com/podcasts/the-movie-crypt-ep-232-gary-j-tunnicliffe/

JigsawX. " Review #17: No More Souls: One Last Slice of Sensation (2004) - Fan film." Beyond the Darkened Door - Horror Reviews. 28 July 2014. Web 04 February 2018. http://beyondthedarkeneddoor.blogspot.com/2014/07/review-17-no-more-souls-one-last-slice.html

"No More Souls: One Last Slice of Sensation (2004)." The Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc, n.d. Web. 14 February 2018.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436636/.

"No More Souls: One Last Slice of Sensation (2004)." The Movie Stills Database. MovieStillsDB.com. Web. 17 February 2018. https://www.moviestillsdb.com/movies/no-more-souls-one-last-slice-of-sensation-i436636#6MBu9K

Ridenour, Rob. "My Personal Feelings on Hellraiser: Judgment – Part One." The Clive Barker Podcast. The Clive Barker Podcast. 20 March 2016. Web. 22 February 2018.

http://www.clivebarkercast.com/2016/03/20/my-personal-feelings-on-hellraiser-judgment-part-one/

ViciousYellowJacket. "Hellraiser Fan Film - No More Souls." Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube. 18 September 2006. Web. 07 February 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlWGQaFxWKI

ViciousYellowJacket. "Hellraiser Fan Film: The Making of - 'No More Souls.'" Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube. 17 September 2006. Web. 11 February 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aAKE33F69Y

ViciousYellowJacket. "Project Angel - Redesigning an Icon (Full Version - Behind the Scenes) Pinhead Reborn." Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube. 12 February 2009. Web. 20 February 2018.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlk_niVq1Yw

Wikipedia contributors. "Gary J. Tunnicliffe." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 05 February 2018. Web. 15 February 2018.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gary_J._Tunnicliffe&oldid=824049886

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[i] This, despite the fact that in this latest outing, Doug Bradley again will not be "Pinhead" (with the to-be-expected melodrama).

[ii] "Gary J. Tunnicliffe." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 February 2018.

[iii] Antipax, Janos. "No More Souls --- Easter Egg for Deader DVD." Doug Bradley. Tapatalk.com. 09 June 2005. Web. 19 February 2018.

[iv] Antipax, Janos. "No More Souls --- Easter Egg for Deader DVD." Doug Bradley. Tapatalk.com. 09 June 2005. Web. 19 February 2018.

[v] Green, Adam & Lynch, Joe, hosts. "Gary J. Tunnicliffe." The Movie Crypt, episode 232. GeekNation. 2017. At approximately the 98:50 mark.

[vi] ViciousYellowJacket. "Project Angel - Redesigning an Icon (Full Version - Behind the Scenes) Pinhead Reborn." YouTube. 12 February 2009. Web. 20 February 2018.

[vii] Davison, Jacob. "Review: 'Hellraiser: Judgment' Verdict, a Step Up in the Franchise." iHorror.com. iHorror.com. 13 February 2018. Web. 17 February 2018.

[viii] Sometimes fans understand the franchise far better than any suit in an office. For example, the controversy and subsequent legal battle between fan film Axanar and the studio's official Star Trek Discovery.

Contemplating Barry Pain's STORIES IN THE DARK.

It is true that I intended to focus more on single story works (i.e. novels) versus multiple-tale collections. However, after reading this collection, I felt compelled to write about it. Barry Pain's Stories in the Dark is one of the very best (and shortest!) books I have read in quite some time.

A true pleasure!

And there in the library the spirit of Alexander Wyatt, that the mirror saw not, found in the easy-chair the huddled body, dressed in clothes that no longer moved to the breathing.

‘I am dead,’ said Alexander Wyatt, ‘and this—this—this is all.’

An excerpt from "This Is All."

...He noticed that the sand round the edges was all worn down, as though someone had danced there, round and round, for a long time. But no separate footprint was distinguishable there. Just outside this track, however, he saw two footprints clearly defined close together: one was the print of a tiny satin shoe; the other was the print of a large naked foot—a cloven foot.

An excerpt from "The Moon-Slave."

The rest is, of course, well known. The servant’s reason had broken down, possibly the immediate cause being the death of Mrs. Pyrwhit. On entering his master’s room, without the least hesitation, he raised a loaded revolver which he carried in his hand, and shot Pyrwhit through the heart. I believe the case is mentioned in some of the text-books on homicidal mania.

An excerpt from "The Case of Vincent Pyrwhit."

‘Where is my sword?’ he exclaimed.

‘I’ve got it,’ replied the voice, this time from the roof of the cavern; ‘what do you want it for?’

‘Want to kill myself,’ said Curtius.

‘If I give you your sword, will you own that you were merely a drunken theatrical impostor?’

‘Yes.’

‘And that you are a coward, and are dying the death of a coward?’

‘Yes.’

The sword clattered down from the roof on to the floor of the cavern at the feet of the hero.

He picked it up and set his teeth.

An excerpt from "The Bottom of the Gulf."

Stories in the Dark was Barry Pain's 11th publication out of a total of 59 published works in his lifetime. This collection of ten supernatural tales was originally published in 1901, in London, by Grant Richards Publishing. As a side note, since Queen Victoria's reign officially ended on 22 January 1901, I consider Stories in the Dark to have been published right on the cusp between the Victorian and Edwardian periods. So, it still counts as Victorian and I am treating it as such.

Covers of two versions of Stories in the Dark released by Grant Richards Publishing in 1901. While there is some difference of opinion, I believe the left cover is the hardbound edition and the right is the paperbound.

The edition under consideration was published by Black Heath Editions in 2014. Black Heath Editions republishes lesser known works of supernatural fiction from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the Kindle format for incredibly reasonable prices. I would not have even heard of many of these authors (and their works) had it not been for Black Heath Editions. Thank you.

§

To my surprise, I was unable to discover much in-depth biographical material on Barry Pain. Barry Pain was born in Cambridge on 28 September 1864 and attended Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. Contrary to the stereotypical image of the Victorian gentleman-author, Pain was a skilled writer of light humor and parody.

Original scanned from In a Canadian Canoe, published in 1891. Image from Wikipedia.

Scanned from Great Thoughts, 14 October 1893. Image from the British Library.

As his reputation as such grew, he would be employed by Punch, Daily Chronicle and other journals and papers.

But Barry Pain also had another side to his writing. He wrote a fair number of horror tales. In Stories in the Dark, the ambiguous endings of the tales left the reader with a feeling of incompleteness. In addition to this ambiguity, the endings could be interpreted as going in any one of several directions, depending on the reader.^[i]

Until shortly before his death on 5 May 1928 at the age of 63, Pain was a regular contributor to Windsor Magazine.

Though today largely neglected as an author of supernatural fiction, these tales would provide a lasting influence to the horror genre. For instance, Howard Phillips Lovecraft's "The Thing on the Doorstep" was written in 1933. The idea of cross-gender mind-transfer, the primary plot point, was put forward as early as 1911 in An Exchange of Souls by Barry Pain.^[ii] It is known by researchers and scholars that Pain's An Exchange of Souls was part of Lovecraft's personal library.^[iii] It is also possible that Lovecraft's The Shadow Out of Time and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward possessed plot elements that were influenced, at least in part, by An Exchange of Souls.

And, in regards to this collection, in a 1934 letter to August Derleth, Lovecraft praised "The Undying Thing," where an analysis of Lovecraft's comments indicated that he "considered Pain's work of some significance."^[iv]

§

Summaries of the ten tales that make up the Stories in the Dark follow. These summaries are more involved than I normally present; ironically the shorter the tale the more involved the summary and the majority of the tales are very short.

"The Diary of a God"^[v]

Found some time after the death of the author, extracts from his diary cover the time period June 1 through August 1. These extracts begin with the diarist making an abrupt and total break with his previous life. However, early on, there are brief flashes where it seems as if the diarist regrets this break and wishes for a return to his old life. These flashes do not last.

In my opinion, the disjointed nature of the narrative serves to highlight the ongoing deterioration of the diarist's mental state. Until, near the end of the series of diary extracts, it is strongly hinted that the diarist actually has had a mental break. He recounts a meeting with a person, whom I take to be an alienist. Though ultimately, this meeting was in vain.

In the final extract of August 1, the diarist is accepting and growing into his divine nature. All the while he was awaiting the arrival of his betrothed, an ancient goddess of the Earth. Later that night, he was found by the locals–and ended up in an asylum.

"This is All"

Mr. Alexander Wyatt faces an existential crisis. He fears that he is going to die–someday. His dear friend, Dr. Holling, assures him that, yes, everyone dies and that he is no different. And unless Wyatt takes care, it will be sooner rather than later.

Later that night, sitting alone in his library, Wyatt's thoughts remain fixed on his death. Unfortunately, a servant's innocent mistake causes Wyatt's temper to erupt in a fit of pique. After venting his rage on the poor manservant, Wyatt again settles into his chair.

The next morning, regretting the previous night's outburst, Wyatt makes his way downstairs. Passing a full-length hall mirror, he is startled by what he sees. Rushing back into the room. Wyatt notices his own body, dead in his chair.

"The Moon-Slave"

The beautiful Princess Violet lived for dancing, and only dancing. Wandering in an old part of the palace late one night, Violet discovered a garden clearing where she danced in the moonlight as if she were in a trance. Now, at the age of sixteen, she was betrothed to the Prince Hugo. For her, the arranged betrothal was part and parcel of her duty; for Hugo , it was love.

As her marriage day approached, Violet returned to the clearing and danced in the moonlight many times. On her wedding eve, it was the night of a lunar eclipse. She danced until exhausted and then, still danced. Just as the moon was totally eclipsed, Violet screamed in terror! For she "was no longer dancing alone."

"The Green Light"^[vi]

A man stands over a woman's dead body. After quickly leaving the apartment, he struggles mightily to regain his composure while walking down the street. His nerves shot, he begins to recall the past. He remembered his jealousy and the cold nature in which he made his plans. But he couldn't control himself.

He was so pleased with his cunning escape plans, even down to changing his appearance. But he did make a mistake. In his haste to leave the apartment, he forgot something. He had to go back.

Seeing the police and a crowd at his apartment, the man's composure finally breaks and he confesses all.

"The Magnet"

A manuscript found at the lodging of Rev. Shallow, who shot himself on the night of October 14.

October 6—Rev. Shallow hoped that whoever was responsible for the horrible train crash is caught and punished.

October 7—The Vicar encouraged the Rev. to preach on the subject of the train crash. His sermon was so vivid and powerful, it was as if the Rev. was an actual witness.

October 9—Following the sermon, the Rev. was praised for its power. But he was still troubled by his vision of the wreck. No sleep that night.

October 10—The Rev. is shocked at the temptation besetting him.

October 11—The Vicar says the Rev. looks ill. The Rev. is still subject to the same evil thoughts as before. His dreams are haunted by the lights of a train.

October 12—Rev. Shallow gives into his dark impulses. Unable to sleep, he goes to the train tracks and sabotages the line, as in his vision. He run away before the oncoming train arrives and returns home unnoticed.

"The Case of Vincent Pyrwhit"^[vii]

The death of Vincent Pyrwhit caused a stir locally but was quickly forgotten otherwise. The circumstances are as follows.

Pyrwhit was a good and simple man. Upon the death of his wife following a long illness, he asked a friend to stay with him for a time. After the funeral, they were relaxing in the library when the friend noticed a phone on a table. Pyrwhit told him that it was installed so he could talk to his wife during her illness without running up and down the stairs.

At that very instant, the phone rang despite the fact it was disconnected. Thinking it a cruel joke, the friend answered. The voice of Pyrwhit's late wife told him that her husband would be with her tomorrow. The friend did not tell this to Pyrwhit at all. The two men spent the next day together and it was late when Pyrwhit went to bed, much to his friend's relief.

Pyrwhit's manservant entered his bedroom and shot Pyrwhit through the heart.

"The Bottom of the Gulf"

A well-known Roman myth^[viii] is the lead-in to this tale:

After an earthquake in 362 BC, a huge deep pit suddenly opened in the Roman Forum, which the Romans attempted to fill in vain. Despairing, they consulted an augur who responded that the gods demanded the most precious possession of the country. The Romans doubted the warning, and struggled to think of what that was.

However, a young soldier named Marcus Curtius castigated them and responded that arms and the courage of Romans were the nation's most precious possessions. Astride his horse, fully and meticulously armed and decorated, Marcus rode and leapt into the chasm. Immediately, the deep pit closed over him, saving Rome.

This mythical account is challenged by the tale that follows.

Finding himself in the underground, a voice from the shadows tell Curtius that he has fallen into a trap and will die down there. The voice further taunts the warrior's courage. The voice teases the honor of Curtius, implying his courage is a sham.

Curtius begs for his sword so that he may commit honorable suicide.

The voice returns Curtius' sword.

Curtius picks up the sword and . . .

"The End of a Show"

At a small village fair in Yorkshire, after the final show of the night, the quack doctor hears sobbing from a corner of the fairground. He comes upon a van and calls out; a woman answers from inside. She is a sideshow freak and hates her life.

The quack doctor offers her a way out. She takes it gratefully. The doctor remains, unafraid to face the consequences of his good deed.

"The Undying Thing"

The wicked Sir Edric, third baronet, prays to God that he would bear any penance if his wife were spared a life-threatening childbirth.

It was not to be. But the child, a boy, survived. However, there was something very wrong with the baby. Both the doctor and the father, Sir Edric, can not even bear to be in the same room with it. In strictest secrecy, they placed the baby in a labyrinthine cave system.

Six years later, Sir Edric thought he heard wolves—then died.

Generations pass.

The current baronet (sixth), another Edric, has his best friend, Andrew Guerdon, staying with him for a few days. They discuss the old prophecy which put forth the tale of the creature, this "Undying Thing," which would end Sir Edric's life and his line. The men make fun of the silly old wives' tales.

Until it is no longer so silly.

"The Gray Cat"

A tale is narrated concerning Archdeacon M, an older gentleman, well-liked and of great learning. This tale begins in January 1881.

In London for a few days, the Archdeacon meets his friend, Guy. Staying with Guy, the Archdeacon sees Guy's huge and strange-looking gray cat, whose name is "Gray Devil." The cat seems to like everyone except Guy, for some reason. Guy relates how he came to live with the cat; weirdly how the day before, he had purchased a small figurine of a gray cat. Then the real thing comes into his life!

During the night, Guy is killed. Both the figurine and "Gray Devil" are missing. The police determine the death to be suicide. The Archdeacon is not so sure. He believes that cat, "Gray Devil" is somehow metaphysically responsible, while living up to it name.

§

Better known in his lifetime for his humorous writings than his horror, Pain's writing in the horror field has had a lasting impact on the genre of supernatural horror fiction.

I very much enjoyed reading Mr. Pain's tales in this collection. And even though to date, Stories in the Dark is the only one of his many, many works which I have read, I hope to return to the supernatural works of Barry Pain again.

References

Print Resources

Joshi, S.T. Lovecraft's Library: A Catalogue (Fourth Revised Edition). Hippocampus Press: New York, 2017.

Digital Resources

Pain, Barry. Stories in the Dark. Black Heath Editions. 2014. Kindle Edition.

Online Resources

Clute, John. "Pain, Barry." Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. 07 December 2017. Accessed 06 February 2018.

http://www.sf-encyclopedia.com/entry/pain_barry#chklst

Currey, Lloyd. "Pain, Barry [Eric Odell]. STORIES IN THE DARK." L. W. Currey, Inc. Accessed 24 November 2017.

https://www.lwcurrey.com/pages/books/156813/barry-pain-eric-odell/stories-in-the-dark

Eliott & Fry. "Barry Pain." Great Thoughts, 14 October 1893. From the British Library. Fine Art of America. 14 July 2016. Accessed 7 February 2018.

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/barry-pain-british-library.html

Fowler, Christopher. "Invisible Ink: No 146 - Barry Pain." Independent. 20 October 2012. Accessed 02 February 2018.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/invisible-ink-no-146-barry-pain-8219358.html

Lobolober, "Stories in the Dark-Barry Pain, 1901." Chronicles Science Fiction & Fantasy Community. 30 July 2008. Accessed 24 November 2017. https://www.sffchronicles.com/threads/46865/

skullsinthestars. "Barry Pain's 'The Undying Thing and Others'." Skulls in the Stars. 18 December 2012. Accessed 24 November 2017. https://skullsinthestars.com/2012/12/18/barry-pains-the-undying-thing-and-others/

Turner, Alwyn. "‘Originality without eccentricity’: Barry Pain." Lion & Unicorn. 09 October 2016. Accessed 02 February 2018.

https://thelionandunicorn.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/originality-without-eccentricity/

Wikipedia contributors. "Barry Pain." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 28 December 2017. Web. 30 January 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Pain

Wikipedia contributors. "Marcus Curtius." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 24 August 2017. Web. 2 February 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Curtius

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[i] This aspect I enjoyed most in Barry Pain's Stories in the Dark.

[ii] While technically not part of the collection under discussion, An Exchange of Souls and its impact is still worthy of comment.

[iii] Joshi, S. T. Lovecraft's Library: A Catalogue (Fourth Revised Edition). Page 125.

[iv] skullsinthestars. "Barry Pain's 'The Undying Thing and Others'." Skulls in the Stars. 18 December 2012.

[v] There was a lot going on for such a brief tale. Even after multiple readings, I am not sure I have plumbed all of its depths.

[vi] What a really strange ending.

[vii] Wow! More so than nearly every other tale in this collection, I did not see this one coming. A short, sharp shock!

[viii] "Marcus Curtius." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.