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Thomas Ligotti
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Genre
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Media
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Graphic Novel
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Publisher | Harper Voyager | ||
ISBN | 978-000726638 | ||
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Reviewer
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Gareth
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Synopsis
The terrifying world of acclaimed horror writer Thomas Ligotti brought frighteningly to life by a collection of today's most talented writers and illustrators. In the tradition of horror masters Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft, Thomas Ligotti crafts dark, disturbing tales of horror and suspense. The New York Times coined the phrase "philosophical horror" specifically to describe his groundbreaking work. In this book, three of Ligotti's most terrifying stories are adapted by three distinct writer/artist teams. In "The Last Feast of the Harlequin," writer Stuart Moore and artist Colleen Doran tell of an anthropologist's journey into a surreal winter carnival, where he witnesses an ancient rite of human sacrifice to grotesque worm-like creatures. Ben Templesmith's art accompanies Stuart Moore's adaptation of "Dream of a Mannequin,"-the story of a patient and psychiatrist bound together in a horrific dream. And in the final story, writer Joe Harris and artist Michael Gaydos team up to adapt a strange urban legend that robs artists of their desire to create art when they're confronted with horrible revelations. Each story is more terrifying than the next, and the talent assembled here brings a new dimension to a legendary horror writer's most chilling work.
Review
I wish someone had told me about the works of Thomas Ligotti before now... Not wishing to reduce him to a simple comparison, but he walks a crossed line between Harlan Ellison and H P Lovecraft. I can't say I understand all his concepts yet, but I really like that. It means that each time I read it, I'll understand more of it - that's quite exciting. His stories are on the brink of being nightmares themselves -all of them have stuck in my memory like all "good" nightmares should.
The artwork is stunning and captures the warped and fractured worlds that Ligotti inhabits. The most surprising story for me was "The Last Feast of Harlequin" mainly down to Colleen Doran's artwork. It was superb - it really conjured up the feeling of alienation and despair of the story. Ted McKeever's artwork was actually subdued - not as frentic as Plastic Forks- and actually proved to me how good a story teller he is!
I definitely want to read more of Thomas Ligotti - not only in trade paperback format, but also his actual novels. I think it's criminal that more people aren't aware of him - he's certainly got a talent to rival the Stephen Kings, James Herberts and Clive Barkers of this world... But then, in many ways it reminds me just how few people know of Harlan Ellison!
Read this book - you know you want to!
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