Wormwood
Literature of the Fantastic,
Supernatural and Decadent
Edited by Mark Valentine
Wormwood is a regular paperback journal devoted to discussion of
authors, books and themes in the fields of the fantastic, supernatural and decadent
in literature. It contains essays, articles, short appreciations, new research
and perspectives from new and established writers about acknowledged major
authors, lesser-studied writers, and those who are unjustly neglected.
The first thing you notice about Wormwood is the high production values.
They say you should not judge a book by its cover, however, the care taken with
production can tell you a lot about a journal and this is one produced with
great care and an eye for detail. The essays usually include a nice image of
the person or book being discussed and other rare black and white images are
included. The paper chosen and print used is easy on the eye. This is not a
throw away magazine, but a journal to keep and cherish. There is an economy in
the presentation so there is lot to read in every volume yet at the same time
the presentation is professional and illustrations are used when necessary not
for padding. The essays are intelligent and insightful but avoid undue academic
jargon.
So often when we are looking for books to read we look to what is on the
market or what is happening next, as a culture we are obsessed with the new,
the latest fad, the “in” author.
However, when it comes to literature, there is so much in the past that
has been forgotten and overlooked. Wormwood introduces us to writers and works
of the past which should be remembered.
Looking over the four issues I have in front of me, we have fascinating
introductions to Josef Simanek, a Czech Pagan Fantasist, the Lost Genius of
Lionel Britton, the Dark fiction of Theodore Sturgeon and an overview of the
work of Higushi Ichiyo among others. There are explorations of the various
motifs within literature and various rare and unpublished stories with erudite
introductions, for example, the Psychology of Species by William Hope Hodgson
with an introduction by Douglas A Anderson and Agorit: An unpublished fragment
by Sarban (John William Wall) and others. The introductions help us place these
works in context and hence appreciate their significance. Each essay is a
doorway into another world and can start us on a journey to find new works to
read and savour.
There are also late reviews and Camera Obscura which considers books we
have may overlooked.
Every issue of Wormwood is a treasure-trove of unusual authors,
forgotten works and undiscovered gems. This is a highly significant journal and
documents rare and unusual titles and authors which could have been so easily
forgotten, it is marked by superior production, erudite essays and reviews and
always includes something to surprise and intrigue.
Web: http://homepages.pavilion.co.uk/users/tartarus/wormwood.htm