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Other Kingdoms
For over half a century, Richard Matheson has enthralled and terrified readers with such timeless classics as I Am Legend, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Duel, Somewhere in Time, and What Dreams May Come. Now the Grand Master returns with a bewitching tale of erotic suspense and enchantment.…
1918. A young American soldier, recently wounded in the Great War, Alex White comes to Gatford to escape his troubled past. The pastoral English village seems the perfect spot to heal his wounded body and soul. True, the neighboring woods are said to be haunted by capricious, even malevolent spirits, but surely those are just old wives’ tales.
Aren’t they?
A frightening encounter in the forest leads Alex into the arms of Magda Variel, an alluring red-haired widow rumored to be a witch. She warns him to steer clear of the wood and the perilous faerie kingdom it borders, but Alex cannot help himself. Drawn to its verdant mysteries, he finds love, danger…and wonders that will forever change his view of the world.
Other Kingdoms casts a magical spell, as conjured by a truly legendary storyteller.
1918. A young American soldier, recently wounded in the Great War, Alex White comes to Gatford to escape his troubled past. The pastoral English village seems the perfect spot to heal his wounded body and soul. True, the neighboring woods are said to be haunted by capricious, even malevolent spirits, but surely those are just old wives’ tales.
Aren’t they?
A frightening encounter in the forest leads Alex into the arms of Magda Variel, an alluring red-haired widow rumored to be a witch. She warns him to steer clear of the wood and the perilous faerie kingdom it borders, but Alex cannot help himself. Drawn to its verdant mysteries, he finds love, danger…and wonders that will forever change his view of the world.
Other Kingdoms casts a magical spell, as conjured by a truly legendary storyteller.
316 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2011
About the author
Richard Matheson
726 books4,376 followersBorn in Allendale, New Jersey to Norwegian immigrant parents, Matheson was raised in Brooklyn and graduated from Brooklyn Technical High School in 1943. He then entered the military and spent World War II as an infantry soldier. In 1949 he earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and moved to California in 1951. He married in 1952 and has four children, three of whom (Chris, Richard Christian, and Ali Matheson) are writers of fiction and screenplays.
His first short story, "Born of Man and Woman," appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1950. The tale of a monstrous child chained in its parents' cellar, it was told in the first person as the creature's diary (in poignantly non-idiomatic English) and immediately made Matheson famous. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently blending elements of the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres.
Several of his stories, like "Third from the Sun" (1950), "Deadline" (1959) and "Button, Button" (1970) are simple sketches with twist endings; others, like "Trespass" (1953), "Being" (1954) and "Mute" (1962) explore their characters' dilemmas over twenty or thirty pages. Some tales, such as "The Funeral" (1955) and "The Doll that Does Everything" (1954) incorporate zany satirical humour at the expense of genre clichés, and are written in an hysterically overblown prose very different from Matheson's usual pared-down style. Others, like "The Test" (1954) and "Steel" (1956), portray the moral and physical struggles of ordinary people, rather than the then nearly ubiquitous scientists and superheroes, in situations which are at once futuristic and everyday. Still others, such as "Mad House" (1953), "The Curious Child" (1954) and perhaps most famously, "Duel" (1971) are tales of paranoia, in which the everyday environment of the present day becomes inexplicably alien or threatening.
He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, including "Steel," mentioned above and the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; adapted the works of Edgar Allan Poe for Roger Corman and Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out for Hammer Films; and scripted Steven Spielberg's first feature, the TV movie Duel, from his own short story. He also contributed a number of scripts to the Warner Brothers western series "The Lawman" between 1958 and 1962. In 1973, Matheson earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his teleplay for The Night Stalker, one of two TV movies written by Matheson that preceded the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Fanatic (US title: Die! Die! My Darling!) starring Talullah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.
Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed three times under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth and once under the original title. Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somewhere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House) and the aforementioned Duel, the last three adapted and scripted by Matheson himself. Three of his short stories were filmed together as Trilogy of Terror, including "Prey" with its famous Zuni warrior doll.
In 1960, Matheson published The Beardless Warriors, a nonfantastic, autobiographical novel about teenage American soldiers in World War II.
He died at his home on June 23, 2013, at the age of 87
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
His first short story, "Born of Man and Woman," appeared in the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1950. The tale of a monstrous child chained in its parents' cellar, it was told in the first person as the creature's diary (in poignantly non-idiomatic English) and immediately made Matheson famous. Between 1950 and 1971, Matheson produced dozens of stories, frequently blending elements of the science fiction, horror and fantasy genres.
Several of his stories, like "Third from the Sun" (1950), "Deadline" (1959) and "Button, Button" (1970) are simple sketches with twist endings; others, like "Trespass" (1953), "Being" (1954) and "Mute" (1962) explore their characters' dilemmas over twenty or thirty pages. Some tales, such as "The Funeral" (1955) and "The Doll that Does Everything" (1954) incorporate zany satirical humour at the expense of genre clichés, and are written in an hysterically overblown prose very different from Matheson's usual pared-down style. Others, like "The Test" (1954) and "Steel" (1956), portray the moral and physical struggles of ordinary people, rather than the then nearly ubiquitous scientists and superheroes, in situations which are at once futuristic and everyday. Still others, such as "Mad House" (1953), "The Curious Child" (1954) and perhaps most famously, "Duel" (1971) are tales of paranoia, in which the everyday environment of the present day becomes inexplicably alien or threatening.
He wrote a number of episodes for the American TV series The Twilight Zone, including "Steel," mentioned above and the famous "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"; adapted the works of Edgar Allan Poe for Roger Corman and Dennis Wheatley's The Devil Rides Out for Hammer Films; and scripted Steven Spielberg's first feature, the TV movie Duel, from his own short story. He also contributed a number of scripts to the Warner Brothers western series "The Lawman" between 1958 and 1962. In 1973, Matheson earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for his teleplay for The Night Stalker, one of two TV movies written by Matheson that preceded the series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. Matheson also wrote the screenplay for Fanatic (US title: Die! Die! My Darling!) starring Talullah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.
Novels include The Shrinking Man (filmed as The Incredible Shrinking Man, again from Matheson's own screenplay), and a science fiction vampire novel, I Am Legend, which has been filmed three times under the titles The Omega Man and The Last Man on Earth and once under the original title. Other Matheson novels turned into notable films include What Dreams May Come, Stir of Echoes, Bid Time Return (as Somewhere in Time), and Hell House (as The Legend of Hell House) and the aforementioned Duel, the last three adapted and scripted by Matheson himself. Three of his short stories were filmed together as Trilogy of Terror, including "Prey" with its famous Zuni warrior doll.
In 1960, Matheson published The Beardless Warriors, a nonfantastic, autobiographical novel about teenage American soldiers in World War II.
He died at his home on June 23, 2013, at the age of 87
http://us.macmillan.com/author/richar...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
December 2, 2011
If you are thinking that you want to read a book where the narrator is the most annoying person you could ever imagine, than this book is for you. I mean, you get an old man who recounts his tale. He does it as if he were telling you the story, harping on favorite items like the fact that he was 18 years old (roughly 500 times) and that he has a bad father (roughly 500 times) and that the story he is telling you actually happened EXCLAMATION POINT (roughly 500 times). Yet, he is still writing, so the narration of the book stops so that the narrator can inform you, in detail, every time that he uses an alliteration of some type. "...I found myself in terrible trouble...'terrible trouble' that's a good Arthur Black combo there, two T's, would you look at that. So anyway, I was in terrible trouble...I still like that...when I found the frightened fairies fleeing...hey, look, a triple combo. That is one of my specialities. You see how I used three F's in a row. That felt good to do. So, I found the frightened fairies..." That happens every single time without fail throughout the book, nearly 1000 times. It is the absolute most annoying literary tool I have ever come across. But hey, it could be for you.
If you want to read a book which markets itself as frightening but really is a bogged down, boring, and ridiculous tale involving none other than fairies and witches, then this book might be for you. There is so little that is challenging in it. So little story. And it is so beyond ridiculousness, that whatever might have worked in a traditionally told tale is completely nullified by just being trite and stupid here. But, that might be what you want. Sure.
If you want to read a book about what it is like to have sex with fairies and witches, then no joke, this book is totally for you.
And if you revere the line "I screamed and I screamed, not for ice cream, but in pain," as a model of literary mastery, have I got a book for you.
If you want to read a book which markets itself as frightening but really is a bogged down, boring, and ridiculous tale involving none other than fairies and witches, then this book might be for you. There is so little that is challenging in it. So little story. And it is so beyond ridiculousness, that whatever might have worked in a traditionally told tale is completely nullified by just being trite and stupid here. But, that might be what you want. Sure.
If you want to read a book about what it is like to have sex with fairies and witches, then no joke, this book is totally for you.
And if you revere the line "I screamed and I screamed, not for ice cream, but in pain," as a model of literary mastery, have I got a book for you.
March 18, 2012
How can an author with such a lasting legacy can produce a book so subpar, boring and unsatysfying?
Other Kingdoms is a short story or novella gone wrong. Poorly executed, meandering and seemingly directionless, not specially imaginative or exceptional in any way. It's just sort of there, showing signs of promise, but never trying too much to achieve it.
It's narrated in the first person by Alex White, a 82 year old writer who publishes under the name of Arthur Black. He recounts his experiences as a 19 year old soldier, who promises a fallen comrade to visit his home village in nothern England. After the war he moves to Gartford, the place he knew about from his fellow soldier; there he slowly becomes a part of the world of witches, faeries and magic.
This doesn't sound bad at all, but Matheson does absolutely nothing innovative with it. After the relatively intriguing first part the book dissolves into a sea of fantasy stereotypes, fairy cliches, lots of eroticism and generally an outright mess. The story itself, if repetitive and not very original, is marginally interesting, but what kills it is the way it is told. It's all over the place, as the scatterbrained narrator rambles on and on, overusing parentheses (about three per paragraph), his voice quickly becoming grating and unpleasant. The humor isn't funny and eyes keep reolling at what's supposed to be serious, the plot is repetitive and lacking direction, the overall message and point seem to be nonexistant. This is Richard Matheson's Mister B. Gone, which was another major disappointment from an otherwise well estabilished and regarded author. Other Kingdoms is a meandering romp glittering with false promises, ultimately leading nowhere.
On the other hand, this is probably the only book in the whole history of literature which used the word "beleaguered" in relation to male genitalia, which automatically guarantees it another star.
Other Kingdoms is a short story or novella gone wrong. Poorly executed, meandering and seemingly directionless, not specially imaginative or exceptional in any way. It's just sort of there, showing signs of promise, but never trying too much to achieve it.
It's narrated in the first person by Alex White, a 82 year old writer who publishes under the name of Arthur Black. He recounts his experiences as a 19 year old soldier, who promises a fallen comrade to visit his home village in nothern England. After the war he moves to Gartford, the place he knew about from his fellow soldier; there he slowly becomes a part of the world of witches, faeries and magic.
This doesn't sound bad at all, but Matheson does absolutely nothing innovative with it. After the relatively intriguing first part the book dissolves into a sea of fantasy stereotypes, fairy cliches, lots of eroticism and generally an outright mess. The story itself, if repetitive and not very original, is marginally interesting, but what kills it is the way it is told. It's all over the place, as the scatterbrained narrator rambles on and on, overusing parentheses (about three per paragraph), his voice quickly becoming grating and unpleasant. The humor isn't funny and eyes keep reolling at what's supposed to be serious, the plot is repetitive and lacking direction, the overall message and point seem to be nonexistant. This is Richard Matheson's Mister B. Gone, which was another major disappointment from an otherwise well estabilished and regarded author. Other Kingdoms is a meandering romp glittering with false promises, ultimately leading nowhere.
On the other hand, this is probably the only book in the whole history of literature which used the word "beleaguered" in relation to male genitalia, which automatically guarantees it another star.
February 6, 2018
This certainly strayed from the path of Matheson's other novels & I really liked it, although I'm not sure why. It was rather long, sagged pretty badly about 3/4 of the way through, & wound up pretty much where I knew it would from early on. Overall, it was an interesting journey. Very intimate.
It's told as a conversation from an 82 year old man to me the reader & was done so very well by the narrator. I don't think it would have worked as well for me in print. It focuses on a year or so in the life of Alex White, a casualty of WWI who goes to his buddy's home in England after he is mustered out. There he strays off the path & winds up in a tumultuous love triangle with a witch & a fairy princess.
He's a pretty reliable narrator & doesn't spare his dumb ass 18-19 year old self much as he's pulled by his organ between the ladies & tries to figure out what sort of love he should strive for. Some reviewers call this fairy porn, but there isn't any porn aspect to it at all, just some youthful lust that is never graphically described. There are a few graphic scenes, but they're not about sex. Painful!
I think this would appeal most to guys who can remember their own attempts in trying to figure out what love is. Highly recommended.
It's told as a conversation from an 82 year old man to me the reader & was done so very well by the narrator. I don't think it would have worked as well for me in print. It focuses on a year or so in the life of Alex White, a casualty of WWI who goes to his buddy's home in England after he is mustered out. There he strays off the path & winds up in a tumultuous love triangle with a witch & a fairy princess.
He's a pretty reliable narrator & doesn't spare his dumb ass 18-19 year old self much as he's pulled by his organ between the ladies & tries to figure out what sort of love he should strive for. Some reviewers call this fairy porn, but there isn't any porn aspect to it at all, just some youthful lust that is never graphically described. There are a few graphic scenes, but they're not about sex. Painful!
I think this would appeal most to guys who can remember their own attempts in trying to figure out what love is. Highly recommended.
January 18, 2023
I don’t know why this book exists, other than perhaps Matheson needing money or something. Talk about phoning it in, this isn’t even Matheson on cruise control: this is him idling in the garage with the door closed.
There’s nothing new or interesting here, which is a shame coming from one of the masters. It’s really poorly constructed, too. The main character is an 82-year-old man recounting adventures he had just after WWI when he was 18-19, getting tangled up with fairies and a witch, but it doesn’t really make any sense. The dude is catnip to the ladies, who immediately fall in love with him, which sounds like a guy bragging. The saving grace is that he’s an admitted dolt, bumbling around in his first relationships.
Matheson was 85 when this was published, so maybe he was going for some sort of parallel with his life. If so, it doesn’t come across. Ultimately it doesn’t seem to have any point.
I will say that once again Bronson Pinchot’s narration is superb. And that was the main reason I got this book; Pinchot is easily one of the best audiobook narrators out there.
There’s nothing new or interesting here, which is a shame coming from one of the masters. It’s really poorly constructed, too. The main character is an 82-year-old man recounting adventures he had just after WWI when he was 18-19, getting tangled up with fairies and a witch, but it doesn’t really make any sense. The dude is catnip to the ladies, who immediately fall in love with him, which sounds like a guy bragging. The saving grace is that he’s an admitted dolt, bumbling around in his first relationships.
Matheson was 85 when this was published, so maybe he was going for some sort of parallel with his life. If so, it doesn’t come across. Ultimately it doesn’t seem to have any point.
I will say that once again Bronson Pinchot’s narration is superb. And that was the main reason I got this book; Pinchot is easily one of the best audiobook narrators out there.
November 4, 2011
First off, let me say that I "read" this book on audio book. It was read by Bronson Pinchot and he did a really great job! Anyone that uses audio books knows that the reader can make or break a book. Even the best of books can be smothered under a poor reader. I have heard readers that actually set my teeth on edge.
Now, how many times in movies or books has someone said with caution to another, that may be new to the area, "stay on the path".............and always much to the cautioners head shaking, everyone down to the last one, leaves the path! When Alex returns from his first time leaving the path, frightened, confused and out of breath, the same man who warned him says "you left the path didn't you?"
If the total charm of the explination of what a "faerie" is and how to recognize them, doesn't pull you right into this book, nothing will. Between Alex's total disbelief, Joe's explanation and Pinchots reading of it all, I fully enjoyed it and was hooked from this part on.
Now, I must add that I have been a Matheson fan for years, from his novels, his great Twilight Zone episodes and the films of his books. So, I knew what to expect, a turn or two, perhaps then even a third one in what you think may be going on. He delivers without question as always.
He isn't for everyone, there is a lot of sarcasm, humor, and some sex in this book, and I know of people who have not really liked this mix. But for me, his mixture works and I enjoy his work.
No spoilers here, you'll just have to read it.
But remember,
"Stay on the path" and watch out for lovely ladies and "faeries" of the woods!
They are tricky!!
Now, how many times in movies or books has someone said with caution to another, that may be new to the area, "stay on the path".............and always much to the cautioners head shaking, everyone down to the last one, leaves the path! When Alex returns from his first time leaving the path, frightened, confused and out of breath, the same man who warned him says "you left the path didn't you?"
If the total charm of the explination of what a "faerie" is and how to recognize them, doesn't pull you right into this book, nothing will. Between Alex's total disbelief, Joe's explanation and Pinchots reading of it all, I fully enjoyed it and was hooked from this part on.
Now, I must add that I have been a Matheson fan for years, from his novels, his great Twilight Zone episodes and the films of his books. So, I knew what to expect, a turn or two, perhaps then even a third one in what you think may be going on. He delivers without question as always.
He isn't for everyone, there is a lot of sarcasm, humor, and some sex in this book, and I know of people who have not really liked this mix. But for me, his mixture works and I enjoy his work.
No spoilers here, you'll just have to read it.
But remember,
"Stay on the path" and watch out for lovely ladies and "faeries" of the woods!
They are tricky!!
April 1, 2011
I'm giving this 2 stars, rather than 1, only out of respect for Richard Matheson.
Uhg. What a disappointment! I had high hopes going into Other Kingdoms and they were just SMASHED. The more I read, the more I was just SAD about this book. It was just so irritating.
The narrator or the story, Alex White/Arthur Black, is an 82 year old man, recounting a story of his youth - a TRUE story (he reminds us several times.)
The story itself wasn't terrible. It was GREAT, but it wasn't awful. The TELLING of the story - THAT was awful.
If the editor had removed all of the "asides" from Alex/Arthur Other Kingdoms could have been half the size it was. Every page seems to have at least one instance (did I mention the weather? ha-ha.) of irritating, senile rambling. Like hearing a disturbing story from a disturbing old man on a park bench. You'd walk away, but that would be rude. Also, he's got a death grip on your wrist.
No redemption for this one, either. The conclusion was as bad as the story itself. Finishing it actually made me wonder why I kept at it.
Not a complete waste of time - but nothing I would recommend to anyone. Ever.
Uhg. What a disappointment! I had high hopes going into Other Kingdoms and they were just SMASHED. The more I read, the more I was just SAD about this book. It was just so irritating.
The narrator or the story, Alex White/Arthur Black, is an 82 year old man, recounting a story of his youth - a TRUE story (he reminds us several times.)
The story itself wasn't terrible. It was GREAT, but it wasn't awful. The TELLING of the story - THAT was awful.
If the editor had removed all of the "asides" from Alex/Arthur Other Kingdoms could have been half the size it was. Every page seems to have at least one instance (did I mention the weather? ha-ha.) of irritating, senile rambling. Like hearing a disturbing story from a disturbing old man on a park bench. You'd walk away, but that would be rude. Also, he's got a death grip on your wrist.
No redemption for this one, either. The conclusion was as bad as the story itself. Finishing it actually made me wonder why I kept at it.
Not a complete waste of time - but nothing I would recommend to anyone. Ever.
June 7, 2022
What a different view of the world dawns upon us when we open ourselves to the soul-life in Nature . . . To do this deliberately . . . is to experience a quickening that knows no end. It leads through door after door, over threshold after threshold . . .
- Marjorie Spock
_______
What has not worked will now succeed.
Those who cause you distress will change or vanish from your life.
Doors of opportunity will open unexpectedly.
What you believe will prosper.
Your mind will be free.
New ideas will come to you.
You will be kind and generous to others.
You will be truthful in all things.
- White Lady Blessing
Other Kingdoms contains some great information on the faerie realm and transports readers to another dimension. However, the narrator annoyingly remarks on the use of big vocabulary, the use of letters in sequence and repeatedly (unnecessarily) mentions the age of the main character. The story does get more interesting as the book progresses, but the reader must endure the annoying narrator remarks.
The main character is Alex White, a veteran of World War One. Other Kingdoms recounts how Alex
I waited over a decade to experience Other Kingdoms, I waited due to low ratings and the dull beginning. In 2022, I obtained an audiobook to assist me in exploring Other Kingdoms. At times while reading, I was tempted to donate this to my neighborhood Little Free Library, but I think I'll keep it (things do pick up toward the end).
Reading Other Kingdoms, I was encouraged to read Some Kind of Fairy Tale for the third time. I'd also love to watch The Gnome Mobile film that I grew up with as a child. Like the main character, I am Pisces and have encountered the faerie realms. As with gnomes and faeries, there is some elusiveness to Other Kingdoms that makes the story intriguing, even while being frustrating.
Favorite Passages:
A Pisces (it has been labeled "the trash bin of the zodiac") . . .
______
"The wee folk?" I said.
"Yes." He nodded, still smiling. "The little people."
"Little people," I said, completely dumbfounded now.
"Yes, little people," he repeated. "Those who live in Middle Earth."
_______
Their realms are Neverland, Eden, Emhain, Middle Earth, and much more.
. . . .
They move through the woods, usually unseen.
They are solitary, rarely meeting with humans.
They can shape-shift, often appearing as animals.
_______
Mother, mother, why did I smother - you and Geraldine? - That was mean.
_______
Next peculiar incident; onward with my wacko tale. Wacko but, I assert once more, completely true. I had decided, by then, that Mr. Sedate Face had either gone completely mad, or was already mad. Would I have noticed in the pub that afternoon if I hadn't been intent on selling hm the gold? More plausibly, of course, he had devised a plan to get his money back and keep the gold as well. Precious metal into powdery dirt? Nonsense. Brother Grimm stuff.
_______
At any rate, three days of constant rain. In the sky and in my brain.
_______
It was, instead, a weird experience, I tell you, unlike, to the slightest degree, anything I'd ever known before.
_______
Fear is a strange, insidious phenomenon. Especially when there seems to be no reason for it.
_______
Self-aborting of unwanted chimera (monsters). Illustrated in realistic minutiae. Enough said about that. I came close to losing breakfast as I viewed it.
_______
Maybe "nightmares" is the wrong word if you think it refers exclusively to frightening dreams; not so. What happened to me was more, much more. Check your dictionary. Nightmares can also refer to frightening incidents.
_______
Now I was really confused. And deeply disturbed.
_______
"Faeries don't like the smell of ashes. If you have a mirror, put it near your bed. Faeries hate mirrors. They prefer to see their reflections in pools of water. Too bad you haven't got a cat. They chase away faeries."
_______
So all this lunatic stuff was anathema to my common sense-oriented brain. It was not reality but insanity. Yet I could not deny that all of it was happening. It was and I had to accept it. Throw that in a mix in a logical brain, and what do you get? Immense confusion. Which is precisely the state I was in.
_______
The Middle Kingdom - or Faerieland - Garal went on to say, is a locale within our world yet not. How's that for an enigmatic explanation? The realm has many names. I'll give you just a few of them. The Inner-Plain. The Ethereal World. A Parallel Universe. Enough? Okay, how about Land of the Dead? Ghost Dwelling? That's too much. Scratch it.
The inhabitants of these worlds have been known as Angels (I buy that one), Demons (not so much), Imaginary Beings (not at all!), Ghosts (nope), and Faeries.
. . . .
The most popular of these is what is called The Little People. Or the Wee Folk, the Good Folk, the Blessed Ones. (Daoine Maithe.)
_______
They are fascinated (and repelled) by human beings and appear in shape-shifted forms to us, particularly as domestic animals. So be kind to your web-footed friends. (Isn't that how the song goes?) For that duck may be somebody's mother.
_______
It isn't necessary, I discovered, to star into a mirror to scry. Any body of water will do - a lake, a pond, a pool, a puddle.
_______
Then, to my immediate dismay - later I was okay about it - he was saying good-bye. "See you someday, chum" - and the scrying picture faded; I was staring at water again.
Someday, Harold. It's a date.
_______
I asked him about the relationship between the faeries and the citizens of Gatford. He told me that, at one time, centuries ago, the relationship had been extremely cordial. Well, maybe that's exaggerating. Very nice, though. The Gatford citizens treated Faerieland with respect. They did favors for each other. The Gatford citizens left milk (always fresh) and bread for the faeries. Reciprocation consisted of such things as helping trees and plants grow bountifully, locating runaway pets and cattle (faeries love animals; well, most of them do), and other friendly acts. Gatford, at that time, was Gateford - a gateway between the worlds.
_______
This other existence of ours - our spiritual existence - is our soul. That continues after so-called death. This is our real self. This is Reality.
_______
Gilly tried to steal my shadow. How this is done is also way beyond me. But he pulled it off - for a few minutes - before Ruthana undid it. And let me tell you, the disappearance of one's shadow is incredibly dismaying. Try to visualize it. No, you couldn't possibly. Take my word for it. It makes you physically sick, nauseated. It's so against natural law. It's also fatal if it lasts.
_______
I had never seen them in such numbers before. They were a fascinating sight. Every age, every appearance, all short in height, of course, all dressed in clothes of various color. All - do I dare express it so? - cute. Well, they were. Dwellers of Middle Kingdom. Secretive to a fault. Fast moving. Innocent yet capable of alarming mischief. Lovers - and nurturers - of Nature. A (virtually) unknown race of legendary people, little people. It was hard for me to believe I was one of them. Of course, I wasn't.
_______
After all I'd seen in 1918, I would have bought the Brooklyn Bridge for twenty cents. Little green men from Mars? Probably. Rocket ships to- what? - the moon? Why not? For Jesus' sake I'd lived with faeries for six months! A witch for three! What was left to disbelieve?
_______
The music? Fiddles. Panpipes. Pennywhistles. One delicious melody after another. Did you know that many so-called folk songs were derived from faerie songs? For instance "The Londonderry Air." That was one of them. Of course, there is a melancholy feeling to that one. There was nothing but joy and energy to the dancing music that day. All to the throbbing, mesmerizing beat of tiny drums, the rhythmic cadence of feet as they battered lightly at the ground. Whirling, jumping faerie figures, dressed in vividly colored costumes adorned with flowers, sparkling with jewels of every shade. Voices singing jubilantly, peals of buoyant laughter. These were happy people. No matter their size. They were surfeited with merriment. As was I, watching on the sidelines, enlightened by the sights and sounds of their delight. I have never, since, experienced such total exultation.
_______
You've probably seen (I hope you haven't, it's a loathsome sight) photographs of eyeballs pulled out (either accidentally or deliberately) from their orbits - or, if you prefer, their sockets - and hanging down over cheeks, dangling by the optic nerve. It has been done, how often medially, I couldn't say. I'm sure it's occurred a thousand times in war, gouged out by blades, no doubt torn away completely. Sure. Good ol' mankind.
_______
"I need to remember you soaring through the trees. Invisible. Enchanted. Bathing your exquisite body in the waterfall unseen, and laughing in the woods, causing leaves to rustle. Dancing in the glades, a vision of innocence and playfulness. Don't take all that away from me!"
_______
Editorial Note
The author known as Arthur Black (born Alexander White) died in his sleep on May 20, 1985. The following verse was found in his belongings:
AT THAT MAGIC TIME
IN THAT MAGIC PLACE
I MET THE ONE TRUE LOVE
OF MY ENTIRE LIFE
MY FAERIE PRINCESS
RUTHANA
- Marjorie Spock
_______
What has not worked will now succeed.
Those who cause you distress will change or vanish from your life.
Doors of opportunity will open unexpectedly.
What you believe will prosper.
Your mind will be free.
New ideas will come to you.
You will be kind and generous to others.
You will be truthful in all things.
- White Lady Blessing
Other Kingdoms contains some great information on the faerie realm and transports readers to another dimension. However, the narrator annoyingly remarks on the use of big vocabulary, the use of letters in sequence and repeatedly (unnecessarily) mentions the age of the main character. The story does get more interesting as the book progresses, but the reader must endure the annoying narrator remarks.
The main character is Alex White, a veteran of World War One. Other Kingdoms recounts how Alex
I waited over a decade to experience Other Kingdoms, I waited due to low ratings and the dull beginning. In 2022, I obtained an audiobook to assist me in exploring Other Kingdoms. At times while reading, I was tempted to donate this to my neighborhood Little Free Library, but I think I'll keep it (things do pick up toward the end).
Reading Other Kingdoms, I was encouraged to read Some Kind of Fairy Tale for the third time. I'd also love to watch The Gnome Mobile film that I grew up with as a child. Like the main character, I am Pisces and have encountered the faerie realms. As with gnomes and faeries, there is some elusiveness to Other Kingdoms that makes the story intriguing, even while being frustrating.
Favorite Passages:
A Pisces (it has been labeled "the trash bin of the zodiac") . . .
______
"The wee folk?" I said.
"Yes." He nodded, still smiling. "The little people."
"Little people," I said, completely dumbfounded now.
"Yes, little people," he repeated. "Those who live in Middle Earth."
_______
Their realms are Neverland, Eden, Emhain, Middle Earth, and much more.
. . . .
They move through the woods, usually unseen.
They are solitary, rarely meeting with humans.
They can shape-shift, often appearing as animals.
_______
Mother, mother, why did I smother - you and Geraldine? - That was mean.
_______
Next peculiar incident; onward with my wacko tale. Wacko but, I assert once more, completely true. I had decided, by then, that Mr. Sedate Face had either gone completely mad, or was already mad. Would I have noticed in the pub that afternoon if I hadn't been intent on selling hm the gold? More plausibly, of course, he had devised a plan to get his money back and keep the gold as well. Precious metal into powdery dirt? Nonsense. Brother Grimm stuff.
_______
At any rate, three days of constant rain. In the sky and in my brain.
_______
It was, instead, a weird experience, I tell you, unlike, to the slightest degree, anything I'd ever known before.
_______
Fear is a strange, insidious phenomenon. Especially when there seems to be no reason for it.
_______
Self-aborting of unwanted chimera (monsters). Illustrated in realistic minutiae. Enough said about that. I came close to losing breakfast as I viewed it.
_______
Maybe "nightmares" is the wrong word if you think it refers exclusively to frightening dreams; not so. What happened to me was more, much more. Check your dictionary. Nightmares can also refer to frightening incidents.
_______
Now I was really confused. And deeply disturbed.
_______
"Faeries don't like the smell of ashes. If you have a mirror, put it near your bed. Faeries hate mirrors. They prefer to see their reflections in pools of water. Too bad you haven't got a cat. They chase away faeries."
_______
So all this lunatic stuff was anathema to my common sense-oriented brain. It was not reality but insanity. Yet I could not deny that all of it was happening. It was and I had to accept it. Throw that in a mix in a logical brain, and what do you get? Immense confusion. Which is precisely the state I was in.
_______
The Middle Kingdom - or Faerieland - Garal went on to say, is a locale within our world yet not. How's that for an enigmatic explanation? The realm has many names. I'll give you just a few of them. The Inner-Plain. The Ethereal World. A Parallel Universe. Enough? Okay, how about Land of the Dead? Ghost Dwelling? That's too much. Scratch it.
The inhabitants of these worlds have been known as Angels (I buy that one), Demons (not so much), Imaginary Beings (not at all!), Ghosts (nope), and Faeries.
. . . .
The most popular of these is what is called The Little People. Or the Wee Folk, the Good Folk, the Blessed Ones. (Daoine Maithe.)
_______
They are fascinated (and repelled) by human beings and appear in shape-shifted forms to us, particularly as domestic animals. So be kind to your web-footed friends. (Isn't that how the song goes?) For that duck may be somebody's mother.
_______
It isn't necessary, I discovered, to star into a mirror to scry. Any body of water will do - a lake, a pond, a pool, a puddle.
_______
Then, to my immediate dismay - later I was okay about it - he was saying good-bye. "See you someday, chum" - and the scrying picture faded; I was staring at water again.
Someday, Harold. It's a date.
_______
I asked him about the relationship between the faeries and the citizens of Gatford. He told me that, at one time, centuries ago, the relationship had been extremely cordial. Well, maybe that's exaggerating. Very nice, though. The Gatford citizens treated Faerieland with respect. They did favors for each other. The Gatford citizens left milk (always fresh) and bread for the faeries. Reciprocation consisted of such things as helping trees and plants grow bountifully, locating runaway pets and cattle (faeries love animals; well, most of them do), and other friendly acts. Gatford, at that time, was Gateford - a gateway between the worlds.
_______
This other existence of ours - our spiritual existence - is our soul. That continues after so-called death. This is our real self. This is Reality.
_______
Gilly tried to steal my shadow. How this is done is also way beyond me. But he pulled it off - for a few minutes - before Ruthana undid it. And let me tell you, the disappearance of one's shadow is incredibly dismaying. Try to visualize it. No, you couldn't possibly. Take my word for it. It makes you physically sick, nauseated. It's so against natural law. It's also fatal if it lasts.
_______
I had never seen them in such numbers before. They were a fascinating sight. Every age, every appearance, all short in height, of course, all dressed in clothes of various color. All - do I dare express it so? - cute. Well, they were. Dwellers of Middle Kingdom. Secretive to a fault. Fast moving. Innocent yet capable of alarming mischief. Lovers - and nurturers - of Nature. A (virtually) unknown race of legendary people, little people. It was hard for me to believe I was one of them. Of course, I wasn't.
_______
After all I'd seen in 1918, I would have bought the Brooklyn Bridge for twenty cents. Little green men from Mars? Probably. Rocket ships to- what? - the moon? Why not? For Jesus' sake I'd lived with faeries for six months! A witch for three! What was left to disbelieve?
_______
The music? Fiddles. Panpipes. Pennywhistles. One delicious melody after another. Did you know that many so-called folk songs were derived from faerie songs? For instance "The Londonderry Air." That was one of them. Of course, there is a melancholy feeling to that one. There was nothing but joy and energy to the dancing music that day. All to the throbbing, mesmerizing beat of tiny drums, the rhythmic cadence of feet as they battered lightly at the ground. Whirling, jumping faerie figures, dressed in vividly colored costumes adorned with flowers, sparkling with jewels of every shade. Voices singing jubilantly, peals of buoyant laughter. These were happy people. No matter their size. They were surfeited with merriment. As was I, watching on the sidelines, enlightened by the sights and sounds of their delight. I have never, since, experienced such total exultation.
_______
You've probably seen (I hope you haven't, it's a loathsome sight) photographs of eyeballs pulled out (either accidentally or deliberately) from their orbits - or, if you prefer, their sockets - and hanging down over cheeks, dangling by the optic nerve. It has been done, how often medially, I couldn't say. I'm sure it's occurred a thousand times in war, gouged out by blades, no doubt torn away completely. Sure. Good ol' mankind.
_______
"I need to remember you soaring through the trees. Invisible. Enchanted. Bathing your exquisite body in the waterfall unseen, and laughing in the woods, causing leaves to rustle. Dancing in the glades, a vision of innocence and playfulness. Don't take all that away from me!"
_______
Editorial Note
The author known as Arthur Black (born Alexander White) died in his sleep on May 20, 1985. The following verse was found in his belongings:
AT THAT MAGIC TIME
IN THAT MAGIC PLACE
I MET THE ONE TRUE LOVE
OF MY ENTIRE LIFE
MY FAERIE PRINCESS
RUTHANA
July 19, 2011
Four stars for the first half of this novel and one for the second, which devolved so severely I had to skim the last 100 pages, which I almost never do. Matheson squanders the opportunities of his set-up, and by its end the novel retains little in the way of originality, emotional effect, plot interest, or point.
At first I really enjoyed the narrator and his self-consciously pulpy voice. But soon Matheson began to belabor the point, indulging in too many parenthetical asides about postmodern nudges about the artificiality of the text to no real purpose, sacrificing anything akin to good prose in the process. I soon stopped believing Matheson was skilled at capturing the mindset of an 18-year-old boy and started believing he hadn't much transcended it. The dialogue soon grew unbearably silly, including entire sentences in what Alex once calls "verbal italics". No, Matheson, no.
His use of standard and over-explained fairy lore robbed the novel of any interest its more mysterious opening gave it, and the resolution of the plot lacked anything akin to a climax. It sort of fizzled out at the end, wasting all of its potential.
Not to mention the appalling sexism, which only gets worse the more I think about it.
Not worth reading, altogether.
At first I really enjoyed the narrator and his self-consciously pulpy voice. But soon Matheson began to belabor the point, indulging in too many parenthetical asides about postmodern nudges about the artificiality of the text to no real purpose, sacrificing anything akin to good prose in the process. I soon stopped believing Matheson was skilled at capturing the mindset of an 18-year-old boy and started believing he hadn't much transcended it. The dialogue soon grew unbearably silly, including entire sentences in what Alex once calls "verbal italics". No, Matheson, no.
His use of standard and over-explained fairy lore robbed the novel of any interest its more mysterious opening gave it, and the resolution of the plot lacked anything akin to a climax. It sort of fizzled out at the end, wasting all of its potential.
Not to mention the appalling sexism, which only gets worse the more I think about it.
Not worth reading, altogether.
January 9, 2014
I enjoyed this novel despite the irritant of having a narrator who kept taking me out of the story. The protagonist of the adventure is a somewhat successful writer of a series of horror novels. He has decided to tell a fascinating true story of his youth. As he narrates he is in his 80s. This narrative technique is the weakest part of the book because the narrator constantly comments on the sentences and words he has chosen and keeps reminding you that this is a book. Just when you feel that you are being pulled into the story "reality" cracks the mirror of illusion and we hear the authour/narrator reminding us he is writing a book.
That being said the story has it's own fascination to offer and the times that we do get lost in the forest with Arthur, the faeries and the witch it works.
I've seen some reviewers characterize the book as porn because the characters engage in sex. I don't see how that qualifies as porn, when most everyone in actuality engages in sex. Why wouldn't fictional characters?
Richard Matheson is a legend in the genre of horror and there are moments of horror and terror in this novel even if some might characterize it as belonging to the "fantasy" genre.
Despite having an irritating narrator i found myself enjoying this book and being affected by it's presentation of both love and darker emotions. It wasn't brilliant, but it was worthwhile.
That being said the story has it's own fascination to offer and the times that we do get lost in the forest with Arthur, the faeries and the witch it works.
I've seen some reviewers characterize the book as porn because the characters engage in sex. I don't see how that qualifies as porn, when most everyone in actuality engages in sex. Why wouldn't fictional characters?
Richard Matheson is a legend in the genre of horror and there are moments of horror and terror in this novel even if some might characterize it as belonging to the "fantasy" genre.
Despite having an irritating narrator i found myself enjoying this book and being affected by it's presentation of both love and darker emotions. It wasn't brilliant, but it was worthwhile.
January 14, 2015
Richard Matheson wrote some really great things, some true classics, but this, sadly, is not one of them. The story is told by an eighty-some year old man, remembering events from when he was eighteen. He fought in the First World War, then traveled to England to visit the home of his friend who was killed in battle. He meets a witch and some fairies and has some sex. During the course of the narrative he stops very, very frequently and reminds the reader that all of this really, really happened and that he was eighteen years old when it did. He also interrupts the story every time two words that start with the same letter happen to rest against one another and he points that out, too. And that's about it... It's a kind of silly thing, not really terrible but not really worthwhile, either.
June 11, 2011
Ah, I realize I'm about to commit sacrilege here. I've only read one other book by him, and it left me a bit cold. I didn't hate it, but it was less than impressive.
I hated this one. I found it condescending, snarky, sexist, dull, and completely vacuous. The treatment of women is pathetic. The smoking hot voluptuous woman is--of course--a redhead and VERY BAD. The little tiny fairy is good as gold and tender. There are unrealistic sex scenes. And the hero--whose name I couldn't be bothered to recall--is a complete and utter Mary Sue. If you must read Mr Matheson, please, read something else. This book was simply annoying and a waste of time.
I apologize to my fellow horror and fantasy fans, but...I loathed this book.
I hated this one. I found it condescending, snarky, sexist, dull, and completely vacuous. The treatment of women is pathetic. The smoking hot voluptuous woman is--of course--a redhead and VERY BAD. The little tiny fairy is good as gold and tender. There are unrealistic sex scenes. And the hero--whose name I couldn't be bothered to recall--is a complete and utter Mary Sue. If you must read Mr Matheson, please, read something else. This book was simply annoying and a waste of time.
I apologize to my fellow horror and fantasy fans, but...I loathed this book.
May 22, 2013
Ok, Matheson si è rincoglionito. Può capitare a 85 anni suonati, non c'è niente di male. Certo che se smettesse anche di scrivere prima uccidere il ricordo che ho dei suoi libri migliori, sarebbe meglio.
Devo proprio spendere due parole su questo nuovo romanzo? Parte come un horror fiacco e finisce come un fantasy stucchevole, la narrazione è priva di pathos e i personaggi poco interessanti. Mica male. E avendo ancora chiaro in mente Io sono leggenda, la cosa mi fa incazzare alquanto.
Devo proprio spendere due parole su questo nuovo romanzo? Parte come un horror fiacco e finisce come un fantasy stucchevole, la narrazione è priva di pathos e i personaggi poco interessanti. Mica male. E avendo ancora chiaro in mente Io sono leggenda, la cosa mi fa incazzare alquanto.
March 23, 2012
Original review posted on Layers of Thought.
A fantastical and historical story that’s dark, funny and erotic – it includes fairies and a witch. Set in the trenches of WWI and the forests of Northern England, it’s told from the perspective of the narrator at 82 years old, reminiscing this adventure from his younger years.
About: In 1918 Alex White is 18 and enlists in the army to escape his sadistic militaristic father. Shipped off to the trenches of WWI in Europe, he meets what appears to be a young Englishman named Harold. Becoming friends quickly, within weeks Harold dies in Alex’s arms from a horrific wound. In his last moments Harold mentions a few jumbled sentences leaving Alex confused and distraught. Later when Alex finds a lump of gold, the size of his fist in the bottom of his soldier’s pack, he becomes even more curious. So he heads off to an idyllic community in the North of England called Gatford - Harold’s home. Here he hopes to find the answers to his questions about his friend’s last mumblings and the gold, and to heal from the wounds he too has incurred from battle.
There in Gatford Alex’s amazing adventures begin. It becomes apparent that fairies reside in the woods near his new home, where the locals keep eluding to the “little people’s” dangerous nature. Alex remains unbelieving, until he is inadvertently sucked into their conflict and drama. As he muddles over the boggling occurrences that keep happening, he becomes involved with a beautiful witch and an angelic fairy, creating room for some lustful interludes as well as a hard to put down story.
Thoughts: A fantastical romance of sorts told from an unusual male perspective, it balances the darkness of its horrific bits with lustful fluff and dry humor. At time it’s realistic and historical, including interesting factual details involving trench warfare - graphic details about the horrors of WWI with descriptions of what it must have been like down below ground level within dirt walls, including the various horrible odors, day to day waiting in the mud and filth, the inevitable rats, rotting corpses, mass graves, poor sanitary conditions and tasteless cold food. Contrasting this with some idealistic dreams of several youthful and inexperienced soldiers, the older and wiser narrator does a fine job of disparaging any kind of grand visions of what war is.
Listened to in audio, I think it was quite well done. The reader uses a moderated voice for Alex’s 82 year old self looking back and reliving his story, with his New York accent. He also uses a separate voice for each different English character in the novel, even varying accents for his female characters. Alex’s character is a bit cantankerous and slightly annoying at 82, however he is insightful into the foibles and mistakes of his youth. I imagine that male readers will enjoy this tale due to its perspective, and Alex’s lusty involvements. But I will say that it went into more detail than I liked in the erotic areas.
Beyond that I think that if you enjoy a realistic, historical fantasy containing some sexy content then this will be a great read for you. A note that it does contain violence, strong language and definitely is a book for adult readers. I give this book a 4 stars, since Matheson tells one heck of a story.
A fantastical and historical story that’s dark, funny and erotic – it includes fairies and a witch. Set in the trenches of WWI and the forests of Northern England, it’s told from the perspective of the narrator at 82 years old, reminiscing this adventure from his younger years.
About: In 1918 Alex White is 18 and enlists in the army to escape his sadistic militaristic father. Shipped off to the trenches of WWI in Europe, he meets what appears to be a young Englishman named Harold. Becoming friends quickly, within weeks Harold dies in Alex’s arms from a horrific wound. In his last moments Harold mentions a few jumbled sentences leaving Alex confused and distraught. Later when Alex finds a lump of gold, the size of his fist in the bottom of his soldier’s pack, he becomes even more curious. So he heads off to an idyllic community in the North of England called Gatford - Harold’s home. Here he hopes to find the answers to his questions about his friend’s last mumblings and the gold, and to heal from the wounds he too has incurred from battle.
There in Gatford Alex’s amazing adventures begin. It becomes apparent that fairies reside in the woods near his new home, where the locals keep eluding to the “little people’s” dangerous nature. Alex remains unbelieving, until he is inadvertently sucked into their conflict and drama. As he muddles over the boggling occurrences that keep happening, he becomes involved with a beautiful witch and an angelic fairy, creating room for some lustful interludes as well as a hard to put down story.
Thoughts: A fantastical romance of sorts told from an unusual male perspective, it balances the darkness of its horrific bits with lustful fluff and dry humor. At time it’s realistic and historical, including interesting factual details involving trench warfare - graphic details about the horrors of WWI with descriptions of what it must have been like down below ground level within dirt walls, including the various horrible odors, day to day waiting in the mud and filth, the inevitable rats, rotting corpses, mass graves, poor sanitary conditions and tasteless cold food. Contrasting this with some idealistic dreams of several youthful and inexperienced soldiers, the older and wiser narrator does a fine job of disparaging any kind of grand visions of what war is.
Listened to in audio, I think it was quite well done. The reader uses a moderated voice for Alex’s 82 year old self looking back and reliving his story, with his New York accent. He also uses a separate voice for each different English character in the novel, even varying accents for his female characters. Alex’s character is a bit cantankerous and slightly annoying at 82, however he is insightful into the foibles and mistakes of his youth. I imagine that male readers will enjoy this tale due to its perspective, and Alex’s lusty involvements. But I will say that it went into more detail than I liked in the erotic areas.
Beyond that I think that if you enjoy a realistic, historical fantasy containing some sexy content then this will be a great read for you. A note that it does contain violence, strong language and definitely is a book for adult readers. I give this book a 4 stars, since Matheson tells one heck of a story.
June 5, 2013
"Avoid the Middle..."
Kingdom of witch-rape. Escape
to marry a fairy.
Really surprised I was able to get to the end of this one. As a fan of Richard Matheson, I'm going to think of it as 'doing him a solid' by finishing his book despite the pain. As with any book, the were characters I liked, and interesting scenarios, but those were few and far between. Magda the witch was pretty cool.
What ruined this book for me was bar-none the most grating and obnoxious narrator of any book I've ever read in my life. WTF was Matheson thinking when he came up with Alex White, who's repeated lame jokes and cheeky reminders of the same old 3 talking points occur in just about every other paragraph. Here's a paraphrased and exaggerated exampl of what you'll read over and over again:
'I know it sounds crazy and you might not believe me, but I SWEAR, no I swear it, and yes by swear I don't mean a curse word, but a promise of truth, yes SWEAR that this really happened when I was 18 before I became an author. What the witch was wearing (ooh, triple combo) made my member (nice combo) swell in size (not bad, double combo) despite the danger (is that another double combo, let me remind you that I'm an author), but don't forget that my young age of eighteen, just don't blame the witch's buxom bossom (OMG, another combo!). Yes, It really happened.'
Honestly, I can't believe I didn't smash my phone or shoot myself in the head. Maybe it would have been less grating in written form instead of audio, but somehow I doubt it.
Kingdom of witch-rape. Escape
to marry a fairy.
Really surprised I was able to get to the end of this one. As a fan of Richard Matheson, I'm going to think of it as 'doing him a solid' by finishing his book despite the pain. As with any book, the were characters I liked, and interesting scenarios, but those were few and far between. Magda the witch was pretty cool.
What ruined this book for me was bar-none the most grating and obnoxious narrator of any book I've ever read in my life. WTF was Matheson thinking when he came up with Alex White, who's repeated lame jokes and cheeky reminders of the same old 3 talking points occur in just about every other paragraph. Here's a paraphrased and exaggerated exampl of what you'll read over and over again:
'I know it sounds crazy and you might not believe me, but I SWEAR, no I swear it, and yes by swear I don't mean a curse word, but a promise of truth, yes SWEAR that this really happened when I was 18 before I became an author. What the witch was wearing (ooh, triple combo) made my member (nice combo) swell in size (not bad, double combo) despite the danger (is that another double combo, let me remind you that I'm an author), but don't forget that my young age of eighteen, just don't blame the witch's buxom bossom (OMG, another combo!). Yes, It really happened.'
Honestly, I can't believe I didn't smash my phone or shoot myself in the head. Maybe it would have been less grating in written form instead of audio, but somehow I doubt it.
February 21, 2013
I've been told by my male friends that there is every type of porn imaginable in this world. So I can only assume that there is fairy and witch porn and that Richard Matheson was watching quite a lot of it when he wrote this book. The book is about a young soldier during WW I named Alex who befriends a British soldier he is in the trenches with. Of course, his soldier buddy dies. His buddy's dying wish is for Alex to visit his home town of Gatford in England. So Alex goes to Gatford, where witches and fairies start coming out of the woodwork, wanting to have all sorts of crazy liaisons with him. (If this isn't some weird male fantasy, I don't know what is...) This book is kind of like a bad relationship. It sounds really good, initially, when you read the summary on the back cover. You start reading it and it's going along okay. Then you get further in and it starts to get bad and you think "maybe I should give up" but then it seems to be getting better, so you stick with it. Eventually, you realize you should have quit when you first thought of it, but by then you're too far in not to finish it. By the end, you think "well...at least I learned something." Which, in this case, is that if most people on Good Reads think that a book is kind of crap, it won't ruin your life not to read it.
May 17, 2014
The first 3/4 of the book gets 4.5 stars. At that point, it was a truly intriguing book that I didn't want to put down. The last 1/4 gets practically no stars. I'm a happy ending type of person. In my readings I prefer the loose ends to be tied off and an actual resolution to occur. This book seemed to just give up on telling the story. Also, I was not a fan of his writing style. Although Matheson did write very well, he had these annoying interjections into the story that kept interrupting the plot. Such as, every time three words in a row started with the same letter, he felt the need to discuss the occurrence in parenthesis, very weird.
October 19, 2022
This novel was…….interesting. I have read other novels by Richard Matheson (I Am Legend and A Stir of Echoes) and totally loved them but this one was very different. I must have misread the back cover of the book because it was nothing like I expected.
The beginning of the novel was very intriguing as it starts off during the war. There are trenches and gunfire and death all around and a giant gold nugget. Sounds great right? With great anticipation, we follow our lead character, Alex, to a little town that his friend told him to visit (there’s much more to the story than that but I’m trying to avoid spoilers). Then there are strange walks through the woods, the gold nugget turns to ash and we meet the witch. Ok, now we’re really getting somewhere! But then there are many sex scenes with this witch and I find myself laughing about them even now as I write this review (read it, you’ll see).
So, yeah, lots of sex with the witch. Then poor Alex meets another woman that he is completely enchanted with but since he is already in a relationship with the witch, things start to get a bit dicey for him. Oh, did I mention the new love interest is a fairy? And that’s when the story kind of went south for me. A whole bunch of stuff happens in fairyland but honestly, I feel like Matheson should have just written a regular love story because most of the story was about Alex’s infatuation with his fairy lady.
I couldn’t give it many stars because the story just wasn’t my thing. But Matheson’s writing is always wonderful and beautiful so just read something else he has written instead. One thing I can say about the author is that the man sure knows love and heartbreak and his storytelling is absolutely effortless. This particular story just wasn’t for me.
The beginning of the novel was very intriguing as it starts off during the war. There are trenches and gunfire and death all around and a giant gold nugget. Sounds great right? With great anticipation, we follow our lead character, Alex, to a little town that his friend told him to visit (there’s much more to the story than that but I’m trying to avoid spoilers). Then there are strange walks through the woods, the gold nugget turns to ash and we meet the witch. Ok, now we’re really getting somewhere! But then there are many sex scenes with this witch and I find myself laughing about them even now as I write this review (read it, you’ll see).
So, yeah, lots of sex with the witch. Then poor Alex meets another woman that he is completely enchanted with but since he is already in a relationship with the witch, things start to get a bit dicey for him. Oh, did I mention the new love interest is a fairy? And that’s when the story kind of went south for me. A whole bunch of stuff happens in fairyland but honestly, I feel like Matheson should have just written a regular love story because most of the story was about Alex’s infatuation with his fairy lady.
I couldn’t give it many stars because the story just wasn’t my thing. But Matheson’s writing is always wonderful and beautiful so just read something else he has written instead. One thing I can say about the author is that the man sure knows love and heartbreak and his storytelling is absolutely effortless. This particular story just wasn’t for me.
February 2, 2019
I was well entertained by this novel's unreliable, somewhat senile narrator who delights in simple wordplay. Those seeking an epic fantasy should look elsewhere--I would put this more in the genre of Vonnegut or Joseph Heller. It's a light and easy read that brought a hearty chortle from time to time.
Read
February 24, 2024What has not worked will now succeed.
Those who cause you distress will change or vanish from your life.
Doors of opportunity will open unexpectedly.
What you believe will prosper.
Your mind will be free.
New ideas will come to you.
You will be kind and generous to others.
You will be truthful in all things.
Those who cause you distress will change or vanish from your life.
Doors of opportunity will open unexpectedly.
What you believe will prosper.
Your mind will be free.
New ideas will come to you.
You will be kind and generous to others.
You will be truthful in all things.
October 22, 2020
Not my normal go-to type of book but I rather enjoyed it. Based on other reviews a lot of people did not enjoy the narrator's "stream of consciousness" style of relaying the story. I though it was a fun ride though it seemed to be lacking something I couldn't put my finger on.
March 15, 2024
I had no idea the guy who wrote Hell House, I Am Legend, What Dreams May Come, wrote a bunch for the Twilight Zone AND this interesting novel! This one follows a WWI vet into the English countryside, where he meets the fae folk and a witch.
July 3, 2023
What a boring way to tell a mid story.
October 12, 2020
I love Matheson and many of his books. This one was an odd mix of fantasy, romance, humor and horror that didn't meld well in my opinion. Didn't enjoy this book, but went through it very fast.
April 2, 2012
Alexander White, at 82 years old is looking back at the best and worst time of his life, the period that made him Arthur Black, a popular horror writer whose novels he feels little respect for. As a young American he enlisted in the Army to escape an abusive father and lived the horrors of trench warfare in World War I. His best chum, a Brit named Harold was killed in combat but not before slipping an enormous lump of pure gold in his ruck sack and telling him to visit his town of Gatford England. As he sags in Alex’s arms his last words are “But whatever you do, stay away from middle . . . .ahhh. . .”
Middle what?
Alex makes a pilgrimage to Gatford and decides to stay. He becomes erotically involved with a local witch named Magda Variel, who warns him to stay away from the forest if he values his life and sanity. He doesn’t and is chosen and marked for passion by a perfect angel of a woman named “Ruthanna”, who turns out to be far more than human. The forest is the gate to the legendary Middle Kingdom.
A jealous triangle develops between young naïve Alex and these two powerful, amorous, unearthly women. He trysts with both who warn him about each other until Alex moves in with Magda, who turns out to be a sexual dynamo who can exhaust the capabilities even of a 19 year old. While she’s away at a Wiccan festival, bored little Alex has occasion to poke through her personal library and discovers a manuscript of some serious black magic.
Inevitably Alex manages to piss off both magical women and Magda throws him out. Sleeping on his own in a cottage he is violently attacked in the night by demons and almost killed. Which of these women has it in for him and why? From that moment it’s an intense page turner of erotic romance, and whodunit with both of these mighty women competing for his body and soul. One of them is truly good. One of them is evil beyond words.
All the time I was reading, I had developed a huge crush on Magda and in my imaginary conversations with her I wanted to ask her “I totally know what Alex sees in you, but what do you see in Alex?” The novels virtue is its masterful plotting and the two women are compelling characters, especially Magda. Young Alex is a passive hero, clearly in over his depth with the ladies, more acted upon than acting. Alex keeps this from being a perfect novel, nevertheless very compelling reading by a master story teller from the old school.
Richard Matheson is one of my personal literary heroes. I grew up with him the way I grew up with the Beatles. In the early sixties he teamed up with Rod Serling to create the TV anthology series “The Twilight Zone” and for a remarkable two years ruled prime time television the way Lennon and McCartney ruled rock n roll.
In recent years he has been making a come back as movie makers discover his remarkable novels such as “What Dreams May Come” with Robin Williams, and “I Am Legend” with Will Smith.
Meanwhile for poor Alex, the mystery of who sending demons after him remains. As Glinda once said to Dorothy “Are you a good witch? Or a bad witch? Which?”
Middle what?
Alex makes a pilgrimage to Gatford and decides to stay. He becomes erotically involved with a local witch named Magda Variel, who warns him to stay away from the forest if he values his life and sanity. He doesn’t and is chosen and marked for passion by a perfect angel of a woman named “Ruthanna”, who turns out to be far more than human. The forest is the gate to the legendary Middle Kingdom.
A jealous triangle develops between young naïve Alex and these two powerful, amorous, unearthly women. He trysts with both who warn him about each other until Alex moves in with Magda, who turns out to be a sexual dynamo who can exhaust the capabilities even of a 19 year old. While she’s away at a Wiccan festival, bored little Alex has occasion to poke through her personal library and discovers a manuscript of some serious black magic.
Inevitably Alex manages to piss off both magical women and Magda throws him out. Sleeping on his own in a cottage he is violently attacked in the night by demons and almost killed. Which of these women has it in for him and why? From that moment it’s an intense page turner of erotic romance, and whodunit with both of these mighty women competing for his body and soul. One of them is truly good. One of them is evil beyond words.
All the time I was reading, I had developed a huge crush on Magda and in my imaginary conversations with her I wanted to ask her “I totally know what Alex sees in you, but what do you see in Alex?” The novels virtue is its masterful plotting and the two women are compelling characters, especially Magda. Young Alex is a passive hero, clearly in over his depth with the ladies, more acted upon than acting. Alex keeps this from being a perfect novel, nevertheless very compelling reading by a master story teller from the old school.
Richard Matheson is one of my personal literary heroes. I grew up with him the way I grew up with the Beatles. In the early sixties he teamed up with Rod Serling to create the TV anthology series “The Twilight Zone” and for a remarkable two years ruled prime time television the way Lennon and McCartney ruled rock n roll.
In recent years he has been making a come back as movie makers discover his remarkable novels such as “What Dreams May Come” with Robin Williams, and “I Am Legend” with Will Smith.
Meanwhile for poor Alex, the mystery of who sending demons after him remains. As Glinda once said to Dorothy “Are you a good witch? Or a bad witch? Which?”
April 1, 2020
“ Con Otros Reinos, Matheson demuestra el porqué es uno de los autores más importantes del género, ha creado una historia maravillosa e inolvidable que llega al corazón del lector”
A estas alturas poco o nada queda por decir de Richard Matheson, uno de los autores más importantes de la historia del terror y la ciencia ficción que no se haya dicho ya. Es uno de los autores más influyentes que ha habido y que hay con clásicos como La casa infernal, Soy leyenda y una gran cantidad de relatos con los que ha dejado una profunda huella en autores y lectores de todo el mundo.
Otros Reinos es uno de sus últimos libros publicados antes de que falleciera en 2013, concretamente se publicó en 2010, e inexplicablemente, hasta ahora permanecía inédito en España, hasta que una pequeña editorial como Kelonia, se ha arriesgado y adquirió los derechos para su publicación en castellano, y lo han hecho con una edición que no tiene nada que envidiar a las de otros de sus libros. Una edición cuidada hasta el último detalle, de la que hablaré más adelante, y así entrar en más detalle en la que es una de las publicaciones del año en territorio nacional.
Otros Reinos cuenta la historia de Alex White, un anciano que irá narrando su vida a lo largo de la novela, desde que era un niño hasta sus últimos días, donde irá contando su peculiar relación con su progenitor, un ser despótico y prácticamente carente de escrúpulos con él y el resto de la familia.
Todo esto cambiará cuando Alex se vaya de su hogar para enrolarse en el ejército para participar en la Primera Guerra Mundial o como fue llamada, La Gran Guerra, a partir de este acontecimiento asistiremos al cambio de Alex en forma de una madurez lograda a base de unas experiencias y hechos que harán que se plantee todo en lo que había creído hasta entonces. En una trinchera conocerá a una persona que desencadenará unos hechos que transformarán y de qué manera toda su vida, esa persona será Harold Lightfood, que como se verá, esconde un gran secreto. Harold le hablará del lugar de donde procede, un pueblo llamado Gatford. Tras ser mandado para casa a causa de una herida causada en pleno combate, Alex se propondrá un objetivo, localizar el pueblo de su amigo Harold. Tras encontrarlo, se decide a pasar un tiempo allí, ya que parece un lugar tranquilo donde curarse de las heridas físicas y psíquicas causadas por la Gran Guerra. Allí conocerá a una misteriosa y atractiva mujer de cabellos rojos, llamada Magda Variel, de la que corren muchas habladurías en el pueblo.
Alex establecerá una relación con Magda que le enseñará muchas cosas, entre ellas, algunos de los misterios que esconden los bosques que hay en el pueblo, advirtiéndole que para nada se salga del camino marcado, o podría poner en serio peligro su vida. Pero haciendo caso omiso a las advertencias de Magda, Alex se adentrará en lo más recóndito del bosque y descubrirá algo increíble y peligroso, y entre todo esto también hallará algo que le llegará a lo más hondo de su corazón.
Acompañaremos a Alex en todo su periplo por Gatford donde asistiremos como él a unos descubrimientos y sucesos que dejarán totalmente boquiabierto a todos, a los lectores y al protagonismo. Alex descubrirá sensaciones y sentimientos muy profundos, y por encima de todos, estará el amor más profundo que le transformará en todos los sentidos, todo esto nos llevará a un final de esos que no se olvidan en muchísimo tiempo, por las emociones que hará sentir al lector, y que incluso en algún momento hará que se le ponga el vello de punta y la piel de gallina, cosa no muy frecuente últimamente.
Otros Reinos es sin duda una novela, maravillosa, emotiva y con un encanto muy pocas veces visto en este tipo de historias, una historia donde la fantasía es el elemento predominante, pero en un sentido totalmente distinto a lo que se suele ver en este género. Matheson ha optado por un tipo de fantasía donde conviven las hadas, duendes y demás seres del folclore mitológico, pero todo tratado de una manera exquísita y con un cariño muy especial, no hay que olvidar que el autor dedicó esta novela a su mujer Ruth Ann, el amor de su vida, y eso se nota en todas y cada una de las páginas de este libro, logrando transmitir esas sensaciones a lo largo de toda la historia de este libro.
A pesar que durante toda la novela se palpa el sentido de la maravilla, es a partir de casi la mitad del libro donde ese sentimiento se hace más intenso, con ciertos momentos donde el lector se puede llegar a emocionar como pocas veces, por no decir casi ninguna, en novelas dentro del género fantástico.
Se nota que cuando Matheson escribió Otros Reinos ya estaba de vuelta de todo y volcó en esta historia toda su maestría y toda su experiencia en este libro, y con más razón si estaba dedicado a su mujer, que estuvo a su lado en todo momento, hasta su fallecimiento. Por todas estas razones, se puede considerar que esta novela es todo un homenaje y una declaración de amor su compañera de fatigas durante tantos años.
Se podría decir que esta novela es algo atípica dentro de la bibliografía de Matheson, ya que optó por un género como el de la fantasía, prácticamente inédito en toda su carrera. Y es aquí cuando este gran autor demuestra el porqué está considerado uno de los más importantes de la historia, ya que tocó casi todos los géneros posibles, como el policiaco, las novelas del oeste y hasta el infantil, saliendo de todos ellos con excelente nota.
Una de las varias cosas a destacar de Otros Reinos es la manera en el que está escrito, con un ritmo pausado, que no lento, va situando al lector dentro de la historia de Alex, y donde asistiremos a su terrible experiencia en la Gran Guerra, hasta su llegada a a Gatford y su convivencia con algunos de los peculiares habitantes de este pequeño pueblo, pasando por su estrecha relación con Magda, con una resolución de este tema bastante atípica, hasta el descubrimiento del mundo que se oculta en lo más profundo del bosque, donde conocerá a un ser, que no se puede desvelar quien es, para que así el lector se sumerja más en esta maravillosa y emotiva historia.
Otro de los puntos fuertes de la novela son los personajes, donde Matheson vuelca toda la experiencia adquirida durante su larga y fructífera carrera, todos los personajes que pueblan Otros Reinos están tan bien caracterizados que el lector puede llegar a identificarse con alguno de ellos. Unos personajes que se quedan grabados a fuego en la memoria de todo aquel que se sumerja en este mágico mundo creado por este gran autor.
Otro punto a destacar es el final de la novela, que sin desvelar nada, puedo decir y asegurar que es uno de los mejores y más emotivos que servidor haya podido leer en muchos años, y que puede llegar a despertar sensaciones a los lectores, un final inolvidable.
Y por último, destacar la edición que han llevado a cabo desde la Editorial Kelonia, una edición preciosa, empezando por la portada de Daniel Expósito, que en mi opinión ha captado a la perfección la historia con un solo dibujo, pero no hay que olvidar las ilustraciones interiores, que están hechas por Barb Hernández, que con unos tonos grises y negros, ha logrado crear unas ilustraciones increíbles, todo esto da una idea de todo el gran esfuerzo en todos los sentidos que han realizado desde Kelonia para que Otros Reinos sea uno de los lanzamientos más destacados en lo que va de año. Y toda una muestra de que esta novela no es para nada una obra menor dentro de la increíble trayectoria de Richard Matheson, sino todo lo contrario, ya que no tiene nada que envidiar a la mayoría de su obra, a pesar de que sea en un género muy distinto del que nos tenía acostumbrados este genio. Mi más sincera enhorabuena a todos los que han formado parte de Otros Reinos, ya que gracias a ellos, hemos podido disfrutar en castellano de esta obra que incomprensiblemente, permanecía inédita en España.
A estas alturas poco o nada queda por decir de Richard Matheson, uno de los autores más importantes de la historia del terror y la ciencia ficción que no se haya dicho ya. Es uno de los autores más influyentes que ha habido y que hay con clásicos como La casa infernal, Soy leyenda y una gran cantidad de relatos con los que ha dejado una profunda huella en autores y lectores de todo el mundo.
Otros Reinos es uno de sus últimos libros publicados antes de que falleciera en 2013, concretamente se publicó en 2010, e inexplicablemente, hasta ahora permanecía inédito en España, hasta que una pequeña editorial como Kelonia, se ha arriesgado y adquirió los derechos para su publicación en castellano, y lo han hecho con una edición que no tiene nada que envidiar a las de otros de sus libros. Una edición cuidada hasta el último detalle, de la que hablaré más adelante, y así entrar en más detalle en la que es una de las publicaciones del año en territorio nacional.
Otros Reinos cuenta la historia de Alex White, un anciano que irá narrando su vida a lo largo de la novela, desde que era un niño hasta sus últimos días, donde irá contando su peculiar relación con su progenitor, un ser despótico y prácticamente carente de escrúpulos con él y el resto de la familia.
Todo esto cambiará cuando Alex se vaya de su hogar para enrolarse en el ejército para participar en la Primera Guerra Mundial o como fue llamada, La Gran Guerra, a partir de este acontecimiento asistiremos al cambio de Alex en forma de una madurez lograda a base de unas experiencias y hechos que harán que se plantee todo en lo que había creído hasta entonces. En una trinchera conocerá a una persona que desencadenará unos hechos que transformarán y de qué manera toda su vida, esa persona será Harold Lightfood, que como se verá, esconde un gran secreto. Harold le hablará del lugar de donde procede, un pueblo llamado Gatford. Tras ser mandado para casa a causa de una herida causada en pleno combate, Alex se propondrá un objetivo, localizar el pueblo de su amigo Harold. Tras encontrarlo, se decide a pasar un tiempo allí, ya que parece un lugar tranquilo donde curarse de las heridas físicas y psíquicas causadas por la Gran Guerra. Allí conocerá a una misteriosa y atractiva mujer de cabellos rojos, llamada Magda Variel, de la que corren muchas habladurías en el pueblo.
Alex establecerá una relación con Magda que le enseñará muchas cosas, entre ellas, algunos de los misterios que esconden los bosques que hay en el pueblo, advirtiéndole que para nada se salga del camino marcado, o podría poner en serio peligro su vida. Pero haciendo caso omiso a las advertencias de Magda, Alex se adentrará en lo más recóndito del bosque y descubrirá algo increíble y peligroso, y entre todo esto también hallará algo que le llegará a lo más hondo de su corazón.
Acompañaremos a Alex en todo su periplo por Gatford donde asistiremos como él a unos descubrimientos y sucesos que dejarán totalmente boquiabierto a todos, a los lectores y al protagonismo. Alex descubrirá sensaciones y sentimientos muy profundos, y por encima de todos, estará el amor más profundo que le transformará en todos los sentidos, todo esto nos llevará a un final de esos que no se olvidan en muchísimo tiempo, por las emociones que hará sentir al lector, y que incluso en algún momento hará que se le ponga el vello de punta y la piel de gallina, cosa no muy frecuente últimamente.
Otros Reinos es sin duda una novela, maravillosa, emotiva y con un encanto muy pocas veces visto en este tipo de historias, una historia donde la fantasía es el elemento predominante, pero en un sentido totalmente distinto a lo que se suele ver en este género. Matheson ha optado por un tipo de fantasía donde conviven las hadas, duendes y demás seres del folclore mitológico, pero todo tratado de una manera exquísita y con un cariño muy especial, no hay que olvidar que el autor dedicó esta novela a su mujer Ruth Ann, el amor de su vida, y eso se nota en todas y cada una de las páginas de este libro, logrando transmitir esas sensaciones a lo largo de toda la historia de este libro.
A pesar que durante toda la novela se palpa el sentido de la maravilla, es a partir de casi la mitad del libro donde ese sentimiento se hace más intenso, con ciertos momentos donde el lector se puede llegar a emocionar como pocas veces, por no decir casi ninguna, en novelas dentro del género fantástico.
Se nota que cuando Matheson escribió Otros Reinos ya estaba de vuelta de todo y volcó en esta historia toda su maestría y toda su experiencia en este libro, y con más razón si estaba dedicado a su mujer, que estuvo a su lado en todo momento, hasta su fallecimiento. Por todas estas razones, se puede considerar que esta novela es todo un homenaje y una declaración de amor su compañera de fatigas durante tantos años.
Se podría decir que esta novela es algo atípica dentro de la bibliografía de Matheson, ya que optó por un género como el de la fantasía, prácticamente inédito en toda su carrera. Y es aquí cuando este gran autor demuestra el porqué está considerado uno de los más importantes de la historia, ya que tocó casi todos los géneros posibles, como el policiaco, las novelas del oeste y hasta el infantil, saliendo de todos ellos con excelente nota.
Una de las varias cosas a destacar de Otros Reinos es la manera en el que está escrito, con un ritmo pausado, que no lento, va situando al lector dentro de la historia de Alex, y donde asistiremos a su terrible experiencia en la Gran Guerra, hasta su llegada a a Gatford y su convivencia con algunos de los peculiares habitantes de este pequeño pueblo, pasando por su estrecha relación con Magda, con una resolución de este tema bastante atípica, hasta el descubrimiento del mundo que se oculta en lo más profundo del bosque, donde conocerá a un ser, que no se puede desvelar quien es, para que así el lector se sumerja más en esta maravillosa y emotiva historia.
Otro de los puntos fuertes de la novela son los personajes, donde Matheson vuelca toda la experiencia adquirida durante su larga y fructífera carrera, todos los personajes que pueblan Otros Reinos están tan bien caracterizados que el lector puede llegar a identificarse con alguno de ellos. Unos personajes que se quedan grabados a fuego en la memoria de todo aquel que se sumerja en este mágico mundo creado por este gran autor.
Otro punto a destacar es el final de la novela, que sin desvelar nada, puedo decir y asegurar que es uno de los mejores y más emotivos que servidor haya podido leer en muchos años, y que puede llegar a despertar sensaciones a los lectores, un final inolvidable.
Y por último, destacar la edición que han llevado a cabo desde la Editorial Kelonia, una edición preciosa, empezando por la portada de Daniel Expósito, que en mi opinión ha captado a la perfección la historia con un solo dibujo, pero no hay que olvidar las ilustraciones interiores, que están hechas por Barb Hernández, que con unos tonos grises y negros, ha logrado crear unas ilustraciones increíbles, todo esto da una idea de todo el gran esfuerzo en todos los sentidos que han realizado desde Kelonia para que Otros Reinos sea uno de los lanzamientos más destacados en lo que va de año. Y toda una muestra de que esta novela no es para nada una obra menor dentro de la increíble trayectoria de Richard Matheson, sino todo lo contrario, ya que no tiene nada que envidiar a la mayoría de su obra, a pesar de que sea en un género muy distinto del que nos tenía acostumbrados este genio. Mi más sincera enhorabuena a todos los que han formado parte de Otros Reinos, ya que gracias a ellos, hemos podido disfrutar en castellano de esta obra que incomprensiblemente, permanecía inédita en España.
August 5, 2011
Originally posted at http://www.audiobookfans.com
My Review: Richard Matheson has entertained the masses for over 60 years! He received the World Fantasy Award in 1984 for Lifetime Achievement and was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2010. So needless to say, any new release from Mr. Matheson will be eagerly anticipated.
Told from the perspective of Arthur White (aka Arthur Black) who is reflecting back on his previous 82 years. Matheson begins Other Kingdoms by showing us the horrors of life in the trenches of World War I. While in the trenches, Arthur forms a strong bond with Harold Lightfoot from Gatford, England. Harold’s description of the “gorgeous” land of Gatford gets under Arthur’s skin and compels him to seek out the town of Gatford after he is injured during an attack on his trench.
Finding Gatford turns out to be a little harder than Arthur had anticipated but once he arrives he is stunned by the view. Arthur’s stay in Gatford soon takes a dark turn when he begins to cross paths with a witch and a forest full of faeries.
Arthur quickly finds himself embroiled in a love triangle with two spurned females. So when Arthur begins to be attacked in the night by mysterious forces he is unsure which of his partners is to blame.
Audio Production: As I have mentioned in previous posts (See Matterhorn and Blood Oath reviews), I have become a big fan of Bronson Pinchot’s narration. As usual I was impressed by Bronson’s ability to amplify every nuance and shading while effortlessly switching back and forth between characters.
Early on in the novel I remember meeting the character of Harold for the first time.. when he began to speak I almost picked up the audiobook case to verify that it wasn’t a full cast narration.
Overall: Good book with great narration and audiobook production. Other Kingdoms makes for a very interesting trip into the land of faerie and black magic. At times the repeated pronouncement from the 82 yr old Arthur White that “Every word is true” and the all too often “Arthur Black Combos” (references to alliteration) seem to pull you out of the story. However, with all things considered Other Kingdoms is still a very robust novel that will enlighten, horrify and entertain fans of the genre.
My Review: Richard Matheson has entertained the masses for over 60 years! He received the World Fantasy Award in 1984 for Lifetime Achievement and was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame in 2010. So needless to say, any new release from Mr. Matheson will be eagerly anticipated.
Told from the perspective of Arthur White (aka Arthur Black) who is reflecting back on his previous 82 years. Matheson begins Other Kingdoms by showing us the horrors of life in the trenches of World War I. While in the trenches, Arthur forms a strong bond with Harold Lightfoot from Gatford, England. Harold’s description of the “gorgeous” land of Gatford gets under Arthur’s skin and compels him to seek out the town of Gatford after he is injured during an attack on his trench.
Finding Gatford turns out to be a little harder than Arthur had anticipated but once he arrives he is stunned by the view. Arthur’s stay in Gatford soon takes a dark turn when he begins to cross paths with a witch and a forest full of faeries.
Arthur quickly finds himself embroiled in a love triangle with two spurned females. So when Arthur begins to be attacked in the night by mysterious forces he is unsure which of his partners is to blame.
Audio Production: As I have mentioned in previous posts (See Matterhorn and Blood Oath reviews), I have become a big fan of Bronson Pinchot’s narration. As usual I was impressed by Bronson’s ability to amplify every nuance and shading while effortlessly switching back and forth between characters.
Early on in the novel I remember meeting the character of Harold for the first time.. when he began to speak I almost picked up the audiobook case to verify that it wasn’t a full cast narration.
Overall: Good book with great narration and audiobook production. Other Kingdoms makes for a very interesting trip into the land of faerie and black magic. At times the repeated pronouncement from the 82 yr old Arthur White that “Every word is true” and the all too often “Arthur Black Combos” (references to alliteration) seem to pull you out of the story. However, with all things considered Other Kingdoms is still a very robust novel that will enlighten, horrify and entertain fans of the genre.
August 11, 2011
A new fantasy from the Master.
This type of book is not my favorite form of literature. But it is Matheson.
Alex White is the eighty-two year old author of the long MIDNIGHT(as by Arthur Black) series of horror novels. He's telling a story he swears is all true and happened in his late teens/early twenties, starting with the friend he met in the trenches of the Great War.
Harold was constantly regaling him of the beauties of his home town of Gatford in northern England. A German grenade in the trench one night left Alex severely wounded and Harold dying. Harold extracted a promise from Alex to go to Gatford. Which he gave with no intention of going there.
But he did.
Alex had a less than good home life before joining the army because of his overbearing father, a naval officer(he joined the army to spite him). The only thing that had made it tolerable was his mother and sister. The his sister had died during the flu epidemic a few months before and his mother shortly after(never expressed, but implied the father may have had some responsibility).
He rents a small cottage and is warned by the handyman fixing the roof to stay out of the woods. Faeries and witches and such.
He ignores that warning.
That's how he met Magda, a beautiful redhead old enough to be his mother and the witch he was told of, who lived on the edge of the woods. She pulls him back from a menacing presence he felt, telling him it was those faeries. tricksters all. Best stay on the path.
Which he didn't.
That was how how met the beautiful faerie, Ruthana, all of three foot high, standing naked in the pool.
What we have here is a romantic triangle with the two women vying for his attentions. And love. Alex is a typical teenage male, with one thing on his mind, and seems to believe the stories told by one woman about the other, depending on which one he was with at the time.
And then things got ugly.
I enjoyed this, though not as much as his other work. Not the fault of the material, but my own prejudices.
This type of book is not my favorite form of literature. But it is Matheson.
Alex White is the eighty-two year old author of the long MIDNIGHT(as by Arthur Black) series of horror novels. He's telling a story he swears is all true and happened in his late teens/early twenties, starting with the friend he met in the trenches of the Great War.
Harold was constantly regaling him of the beauties of his home town of Gatford in northern England. A German grenade in the trench one night left Alex severely wounded and Harold dying. Harold extracted a promise from Alex to go to Gatford. Which he gave with no intention of going there.
But he did.
Alex had a less than good home life before joining the army because of his overbearing father, a naval officer(he joined the army to spite him). The only thing that had made it tolerable was his mother and sister. The his sister had died during the flu epidemic a few months before and his mother shortly after(never expressed, but implied the father may have had some responsibility).
He rents a small cottage and is warned by the handyman fixing the roof to stay out of the woods. Faeries and witches and such.
He ignores that warning.
That's how he met Magda, a beautiful redhead old enough to be his mother and the witch he was told of, who lived on the edge of the woods. She pulls him back from a menacing presence he felt, telling him it was those faeries. tricksters all. Best stay on the path.
Which he didn't.
That was how how met the beautiful faerie, Ruthana, all of three foot high, standing naked in the pool.
What we have here is a romantic triangle with the two women vying for his attentions. And love. Alex is a typical teenage male, with one thing on his mind, and seems to believe the stories told by one woman about the other, depending on which one he was with at the time.
And then things got ugly.
I enjoyed this, though not as much as his other work. Not the fault of the material, but my own prejudices.
March 4, 2011
This story is told by 82 year old Alex White... (AKA Alex Black...) It's the old man telling the "true" tale of what happened to him During and after he was injured in battle of WWI 1918, he was 18 yrs old. While fighting in Europe,
He met a young British soldier in the trenches, Harrold Lightfoor....And that is where all the supernatural happening began for Alex. He went to Gatford England and bought himself a cottage in the beautiful woods.... Where he found out that the Faerie people were real, witches were real... Magic was real.
I listened to this book in it's Audio version and I think the narrator Bronson Pinchot was spot on as 82 yr old Alex. I think that had I read this without Mr. Pinchot narrating with such skill I may not have finished this book. Pinchot had me enjoying the tale. It was truly like listening to an 82 year old man tell me a story. With all his meandering and going on tangents... That is what made the story worth while. If I start giving details I think that would be too much of a spoiler... You need to have Alex tell you his tale in his way.
As with all of the Matheson books that I have read they are good but they "just" miss the really good, just miss, something.... Yet I keep reading his works because there is enough there to enjoy.
3.75 out of 5 stars
He met a young British soldier in the trenches, Harrold Lightfoor....And that is where all the supernatural happening began for Alex. He went to Gatford England and bought himself a cottage in the beautiful woods.... Where he found out that the Faerie people were real, witches were real... Magic was real.
I listened to this book in it's Audio version and I think the narrator Bronson Pinchot was spot on as 82 yr old Alex. I think that had I read this without Mr. Pinchot narrating with such skill I may not have finished this book. Pinchot had me enjoying the tale. It was truly like listening to an 82 year old man tell me a story. With all his meandering and going on tangents... That is what made the story worth while. If I start giving details I think that would be too much of a spoiler... You need to have Alex tell you his tale in his way.
As with all of the Matheson books that I have read they are good but they "just" miss the really good, just miss, something.... Yet I keep reading his works because there is enough there to enjoy.
3.75 out of 5 stars
March 14, 2011
Other Kingdoms is a pleasant read, but at the same time, I believe it will be quickly forgotten.
I finished this book quickly because, well, it is a small book, but also because the story is flowing through the pages, if you know what I mean. I was not bogged down anywhere during the reading. Although there are some scenes that you can qualify of gripping, mostly it is a simple recount of events that happened 60 years ago. However, this is the kind of book where you can “feel” what is going on at the character level, and at the end, I closed this book with a feeling of sadness.
The story presented in this book is told by a 82 years old man, from his memories of his younger eyes perspective. During the first War he became friend with a young man in the trenches, and when this kid is killed he promised him he would visit his village in North of England. As soon as he set foot in that village, strange things become to happen around him, and in the woods, where it appears that little folks and faeries walk and live. As well as a witch!
This is a story of love and loss, and lust, based on a faerie tale setting.
I finished this book quickly because, well, it is a small book, but also because the story is flowing through the pages, if you know what I mean. I was not bogged down anywhere during the reading. Although there are some scenes that you can qualify of gripping, mostly it is a simple recount of events that happened 60 years ago. However, this is the kind of book where you can “feel” what is going on at the character level, and at the end, I closed this book with a feeling of sadness.
The story presented in this book is told by a 82 years old man, from his memories of his younger eyes perspective. During the first War he became friend with a young man in the trenches, and when this kid is killed he promised him he would visit his village in North of England. As soon as he set foot in that village, strange things become to happen around him, and in the woods, where it appears that little folks and faeries walk and live. As well as a witch!
This is a story of love and loss, and lust, based on a faerie tale setting.
August 14, 2012
I was quite interested to get this home and start reading. The premise you can get from the book blurb, so I won't belabor that--suffice to say that it piqued my interest, both because of the promised fantasy elements and because this is RICHARD FREAKING MATHESON.
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The quirky narrative voice didn't bother me as much as it seems to have irritated some other reviewers, nor did the story asides. If you've ever spoken at length with someone who is elderly, you know that conversational sideroads are a given. I quite liked the section about his WWI experiences, in fact. Where the novel faltered was in the actual creation and depiction of the fantasy world that lies cheek and jowl with this world. It was sloppy, cliched, and frankly boring. If it wasn't for the almost embarrasing sexual references, it could belong to any pulpy middle grade novel (which would, thankfully, leave out the sexist description of female characters).
Chalk Matheson on the list of "Those Who Should Have Quit When They Were Ahead".
Unfortunately, I was very disappointed. The quirky narrative voice didn't bother me as much as it seems to have irritated some other reviewers, nor did the story asides. If you've ever spoken at length with someone who is elderly, you know that conversational sideroads are a given. I quite liked the section about his WWI experiences, in fact. Where the novel faltered was in the actual creation and depiction of the fantasy world that lies cheek and jowl with this world. It was sloppy, cliched, and frankly boring. If it wasn't for the almost embarrasing sexual references, it could belong to any pulpy middle grade novel (which would, thankfully, leave out the sexist description of female characters).
Chalk Matheson on the list of "Those Who Should Have Quit When They Were Ahead".
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