"Afterwards" - a Review

I'm writing this more as a memo to myself than any other reason. We will get to why in just a bit. First, a word on our subject.

Afterwards is a short story written by Edith Wharton that deals with a house that is so subtly haunted that even if you see a ghost, “[y]ou won't know till long, long afterward.” Its owners, Ned and Mary Boyne, are initially put out by this. You see, they would have preferred a more active ghost. Unfortunately for them, however, the spirit interfering in their lives is just active enough.

Which is all you'll get out of me on the subject. Good or bad, a ghost story must tell itself, after all.

Now for why this is a memo. I saw this story on television once. Twenty four years ago, in fact. I didn't need to reread the story, as I remember the plot vividly. Especially Mary Boyne's final words. All I couldn't remember was the title and the author.

Two decades and change I searched. Countless anthologies I read, hoping in vain to stumble across it. I became well versed in ghost stories, but none the wiser to my goal.

On learning of the research powers of the Internet, I pursued the tale by other means. I remembered it was on Mystery! Surely I'd find it there.

Well, they give all the titles, but not any synopsis before 1998. Not very helpful in my quest. But in the end I triumphed. Found the name, reread the story, and promptly forgot name and author.

Ugh.

So, after yet another search, I've found it again. Thus this review.

Was it worth all this hassle? Was it worth twentysome years of hunting?

Oh yeah. Afterwards is classic. You can judge for yourself, as the story is on-line. You can go here, where it is a part of a whole collection of Wharton's ghost stories. Or you can go to Wikisource and read it there. That copy, sadly, gets a bit hard to read in places.

And I thought this blog needed an editor... That one makes me look pro in places.

Today I am No Kin to Polonius

Sometimes you blather on and on about the most trivial details. Others, you can't think of a word worth saying. It happens.

The rewrites are spinning wheels trying to find traction in the icy mud. Or muddy ice. Whichever metaphor works for you.

I have a nasty feeling I'm a one draft and it's done type of person. I'm not talking grammar gaffs and spelling snafus. I'm talking meat and potato plot stuff. I'm afraid that once I'm done with a story, I'm done with a story.

Which bites. But what can you do?

Anyway, haven't given up on the drafts yet. I also stumbled onto an unfinished fragment that I've strove to finish. While I like it, I put it among the stories I doubt will sell. Which means I'll put up here, so that it will at least know some of the joy of being read.

On this, I've rediscovered my What If, the book on writing exercises I mentioned back in the way back. Might go through some exercises and post them here.

This is a Writer's Journal, after all.

Whatever comes, comes. I might stumble on something else to talk about. There's time.

Have I rattled on long enough to make my title ironic...? Or do I need to go spy on some royalty...? Nah. Might be confused with paparazzi. Wouldn't want that. Man's got to have standards. Like "Neither a borrower nor a..."

Yeah, that's pushing it.

The Invasion is Coming - More Cool Doctor Who News

My lord, am I out of touch on things! I completely missed this news the first time around.

Where to begin? At the beginning? Why not?

Back in the day, the BBC was having space issues in their video tape archives. They opted to erase (or junk) a substantial amount of their shows. After all, who would ever want to watch any of those old things, anyways?

Unfortunately, among the shows junked were quite a few Doctor Who serials. These episodes (listed here) are believed to be lost forever. Every now and then someone somewhere will stumble across a clip or, in rare cases, a whole episode. However, for the longest time Doctor Who fans (Whovians) had to accept the fact that they would never experience these stories outside of the novelizations done by Target. (The publishing company, not the store chain. Though that would be cool...)

Here is where the story gets interesting. As VCRs and DVD players did not exist in the 50's and 60's, Whovians had to use different means to record there shows. Namely through audio tape. Thus many of the missing episodes soundtracks were preserved while the whole originals were being junked.

The BBC in 1999 began releasing the stories on CD. These releases contained the original sound track, plus linking narration performed by actors from the series. I have one of these CDs: The Web of Fear. While not quite the same as an old-time radio program, I enjoyed the show immensely and wish I had picked up more.

Now we reach the cool part.

Now we reach the cool part.

The BBC plans to release the Doctor Who serial “The Invasion” on DVD, first in Great Britain then, presumable the US and the rest of the world. This particular story was only slightly junked while the others were being destroyed. Of its seven episodes, two are missing.

I didn't have much interest in this news at first. I own “The Tenth Planet” on tape, which also suffered a partial junking. Its missing episode was replicated by soundtrack and various photos and clips. I was not impressed. I was glad I got the show and all, but the whole thing was a bit disruptive of the whole viewing experience.

Today, however, I learned that the BBC had a much different idea for “The Invasion.” They have had an animation studio called Cosgrove Hall recreate the missing episodes using animation and the aforementioned soundtracks. A trailer of sorts can be found here for the interested.

Now I've seen some of Cosgrove Halls work before, and I can't say that I was impressed then or by the trailer now. Also, going from animation episode to video taped episode will no doubt be jarring. That can't be helped.

All of this is irrelevant, as we are getting new old school Doctor Who. “The Invasion” is, by all accounts, classic Who and I'm dying to see it. More, there might be a chance of further efforts along these lines, especially for stories that have been completely junked. I would love to see stuff like “Galaxy Four”, “The Macra Terror”, and “The Daleks' Masterplan” receive this sort of treatment. It would be...

Well, it would be WAY cool.

More information on the junking of Doctor Who can be found here. A list of the missing episodes and stories can be found here. And, once more, the trailer for “The Invasion” can be found here.

This is Just Too Cool Not To Share

Here are the covers for this weeks edition of the Radio Times, a magazine published across the pond in Great Britian:

I post this not full of fanish delight that two of the Doctor's greatest foes are, for the first time in Doctor Who history meeting and joining in battle and/or partnership against all life. Although I am as giddy as a little kid over the prospect.

No, I'm posting this because the thought of Daleks and Cybermen playing soccer is so delightfully ridiculous that even these pictures make me laugh. Especially the Dalek Supreme. Too silly by far.

Oh! So That's What All the Noise Is About...

Happy Fourth of July everyone. Don't know where my head is. Or yours, either. Shouldn't you be out with your family and friends rather than reading my blog?

I mean, really. Go on. I won't mind.

Spinning Wheels...

...on all fronts for a couple of days. So sad! But it resulted in a little reorganizing of my Devil Box computer. I hope ta post somefin of substance before th week is out.

Cause these little post... they make me sad.

The Month... of DOOM

The Month of Doom is upon me. Specifically. It might be on you, too. I dunno. But it's on me. The one Doom no one can avoid save through... death!

Insert ominous music... now.

In better than two weeks, I will suffer an irrevocable change. It'll be over in an instant, and when it's done, I will never be able to go back!

Scary!

(And to think, as a kid I would look foward to this month...)