It is not he, and the night's coming on
Oct. 1st, 2020 03:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ashlymeA few days ago, I walked around Bournville with JH. Someone was playing a carillon in the Village School as we passed by; I'd never heard one before. It's a very quiet suburb of the city; not many other walkers around. J showed me the Serbian Orthodox Church, which with its greened copper domes could belong in Portmeirion. Lots of gorgeous architectural details across the village: eyebrow gables, deep porches, Arts and Crafts houses with little buttresses. One front garden was filled with the stone heads of classical gods, and though we saw no Pan, we hoped the owner was a Machen reader. A fat paperback lay broken-spined on a wall. It looked like a trap. We walked into town along the canal; where it parallels the railway from Stirchley the twopath is hedged with yew and old man's beard just coming into whisker.
A less epic walk today, just down the cut to Copt Heath Wharf. There's a weird rusted-orange vessel moored out there, submersible-looking, with a huge spiderweb-paned porthole window, KITTIWAKE stencilled along the top. No idea if it's a container or lived in. Some balsams still in bllom in the damp places, Queen Anne's Lace too: the leaves are usually dusted with mildew, so they're only few shades darker than the flowers. Rosehips everywhere, fat rubies; a few nightshade berries, bright on dead vines.
A Facebook friend found his copy of Edward Gorey's Dracula toy theatre last night, and ever since then I've mulled over writing something about them. Can you think of any weird fiction that revolves around toy theatres? I think they feature in a late Russell Hoban novel, and (perhaps) in Aickman's novella The Model, but there must be others. The thoughts (such as they are) are trying to connect with a scenario I have in my head, featuring characters I can only see as being played by Murray Melvin and Toby Jones. I don't know yet if the theatre is an intrument of haunting or a layer of ghosts. The word bramblejack jostled in today but I think that's a whole different story.
A less epic walk today, just down the cut to Copt Heath Wharf. There's a weird rusted-orange vessel moored out there, submersible-looking, with a huge spiderweb-paned porthole window, KITTIWAKE stencilled along the top. No idea if it's a container or lived in. Some balsams still in bllom in the damp places, Queen Anne's Lace too: the leaves are usually dusted with mildew, so they're only few shades darker than the flowers. Rosehips everywhere, fat rubies; a few nightshade berries, bright on dead vines.
A Facebook friend found his copy of Edward Gorey's Dracula toy theatre last night, and ever since then I've mulled over writing something about them. Can you think of any weird fiction that revolves around toy theatres? I think they feature in a late Russell Hoban novel, and (perhaps) in Aickman's novella The Model, but there must be others. The thoughts (such as they are) are trying to connect with a scenario I have in my head, featuring characters I can only see as being played by Murray Melvin and Toby Jones. I don't know yet if the theatre is an intrument of haunting or a layer of ghosts. The word bramblejack jostled in today but I think that's a whole different story.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-01 07:10 pm (UTC)I would hope so, too.
There's a weird rusted-orange vessel moored out there, submersible-looking, with a huge spiderweb-paned porthole window, KITTIWAKE stencilled along the top. No idea if it's a container or lived in.
Oh, wow. That sounds like an object.
Can you think of any weird fiction that revolves around toy theatres?
Does Angela Carter's The Magic Toyshop count, or does the human scale of the puppets invalidate it? Otherwise I feel like the answer is yes, but I can't lay my brain on it.
The thoughts (such as they are) are trying to connect with a scenario I have in my head, featuring characters I can only see as being played by Murray Melvin and Toby Jones.
*cheers quietly but full-throatedly*
no subject
Date: 2020-10-02 11:34 am (UTC)It's either that, or the case that follows will be called "The Bourneville Survivals". Mr Machen would like the suburb I think - just not its lack of pubs. There's probably some article somewhere where he rails against Quakers and teetotallers.
*That sounds like an object.*
I'll take a picture next time I'm down there.
*Does Angela Carter's The Magic Toyshop count, or does the human scale of the puppets invalidate it?*
That totally counts! I can't believe I missed that one out. Might explain why I was thinking of calling a character "Uncle Phillip".
*cheers quietly but full-throatedly*
I've got you to thank for Mr. Melvin. Not sure I could quite drop Bilis Manger into a story, but a look-alike... I have to use his face in *something*. He's too beautiful not to write about.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-02 11:47 am (UTC)I am suddenly reminded of Charles Babbage vs. the buskers.
I'll take a picture next time I'm down there.
I look forward!
That totally counts! I can't believe I missed that one out. Might explain why I was thinking of calling a character "Uncle Phillip".
I haven't read the Aickmann novella, so we're even. Bet you could still use the name, as a tip of the hat.
I've got you to thank for Mr. Melvin. Not sure I could quite drop Bilis Manger into a story, but a look-alike... I have to use his face in *something*. He's too beautiful not to write about.
I'm so glad to have been able to share him with you! Strongly, strongly agreed.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-02 05:51 pm (UTC)Oh my God, that's hilarious! I love that picture - there aren't enough street harpists these days.
*I haven't read the Aickmann novella, so we're even.*
You might well enjoy The Model. For Aickman, it's pretty much magic realism.
no subject
Date: 2020-10-01 08:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-10-02 11:23 am (UTC)