Supernatural Tales

The final volume of Collected Speculative Works from Swan River Press covers the period 1858 to 1864. It was in the opening stages of the American Civil War that O'Brien joined that small but august company of authors who died in war or revolution. Some had already demonstrated their potential, others had yet reach it in full. O'Brien falls into the latter category, judging by the stories gathered here. As always, the book begins with a masterly essay by John. P. Irish. 'Premonitions of Death' makes clear that O'Brien was strongly committed to the Northern cause early on, unlike many in his Bohemian circle. Combined with this, he was pugnacious and a bit of a scrapper. So it's not surprising that, not long after enlisting, he was shot in a skirmish with a rebel patrol and died of his wounds.

 What are the tell tale signs of AI writing? There are definitely some fingerprints that AI tends to leave behind—especially when it's not trying to hide. Here are a few of the most common tells researchers and editors have spotted: Overuse of formal or Latinate vocabulary : Words like “utilize,” “commence,” or “ameliorate” pop up more often than they would in natural human writing, especially when simpler words would do. Repetitive phrasing or tautologies : AI sometimes says the same thing twice in slightly different ways—e.g., “Let’s come together to unite” or “a true fact.” Paragraphs that start with discourse markers : Words like “However,” “Moreover,” or “Overall,” followed by a comma, are a common AI tic 2 . Frequent use of the Oxford comma : That’s the comma before “and” in a list—AI tends to use it consistently. Numbered lists with colons : AI loves structure, and it often defaults to tidy, formulaic formats. Bland or journalistic tone : The writing can feel polished but em...

I received a review copy of this book. This is the second volume of three in the impressive Swan River Press collection of O'Brien's speculative works. It covers the years 1855-58 and shows the flowering of the Irish-American author's talent. As with the first volume (see review above) the book begins with a masterly essay by John P. Irish. In 'Bohemian Horrors', Irish gives an overview of the fashionable literary world of mid-19th century New York. O'Brien threw himself into the Bohemian lifestyle, which of course retained its glamour well into the 20th century. The first story in the volume is aptly entitled 'The Bohemian' and is an interesting twist on a familiar theme - the treasure hunt. The narrator, impoverished and obsessed with wealth, encounters the eponymous character, a louche Englishman called Brann, who promises him riches via startling and questionable methods. Brann is a powerful mesmerist, while the narrator's fiancée has clairvoyan...

I watched this Italian mystery on Prime and got a bit confused from about the tenth minute in. It was recommended by an algorithm when I asked for genre movies from the continent. So it came along with a bunch of Euro-cinema devoted to horror, sci-fi, the paranormal etc. And yet at first it seems to be nothing of the sort. Here's the synopsis from IMDb. A man is found dead in an office. Sonya, a charming 55-year-old woman, has abandoned her family for a love affair with a younger man. The two stories end up intertwining but nothing is as it seems. First things first, this is a short, beautiful film. We see Italy at its loveliest, the weather perfect, the people stylish and attractive. Even though a brutal murder is at the centre of the mystery, the pace is languid, punctuated by some sex and intrigue. But what's it actually about?  One reviewer described it simply as a confusing mess, which is fair enough. To me it was an intriguing mess, as if an episode of Inspector Montalban...

This TV film (first broadcast on the Arte channel) directed by  Marion Desseigne-Ravel  is an updated adaptation of Guy de Maupassant's classic tale. I enjoyed it, though I felt the story flagged in places and - perhaps inevitably - lapsed into horror cliché at times. It is available on Amazon Prime at the time of writing.  Le Horla begins not with a solitary gentleman but with a young family moving into a new apartment near a river. The river plays a key role in the original story. Here, there is also an implicit link, although nothing is ever stated. One of the film's strengths is that much is left unexplained, but not too much. This does, however, lead to one obvious weakness. Why is it entitled 'Le Horla' in the first place, when the name of the malign entity is never revealed in the movie?  What of the plot? The father, Damien, has opted to work remotely so that his wife, Nadia, can take a prestigious new job. Their little daughter Chloe seems happy with the new...

This is the first volume of three , collecting for the first time all of the horror and supernatural works of the Irish-American author whose life was tragically cut short by the Civil War. I was fortunate to receive review copies, which was a very pleasant surprise. The books are things of beauty. The enchanting cover art is by Brian Coldrick. The introduction to the first book, by John P. Irish, gives an excellent overview of O'Brien's early life and times. I learned in school about the horrendous Irish famine - the 'Great Hunger' - that began in the mid-1840s and was exacerbated by chronic misrule. Had it not been for the potato blight, O'Brien might well have remained in the UK and lived to a ripe old age.  But, as it is, we have a considerable body of work from a man with such a relatively short career.  The first volume covers 1848 to 1854.  Not surprisingly, the author's early output includes some mediocre efforts. While I appreciate the insights into the...