Occult Detective Magazine Mythos Special #2 (periodical review).

‘Occult Detective Magazine’ usually has occult detectives but branched out recently with a Mythos special, featuring stories involving either Lovecraftian themes or tied to ‘The King In Yellow’ by Robert W. Chambers, albeit still with a detective bent. It was so popular that the publishers thought readers might want a second volume, and here it is with stories galore.

First up is ‘The Bibliophile’ by Nick Marsh and illustrated by Mutartis Boswell, which opens with an extract from the journal of Professor Alphonse Moretti, London 1923. He reflects on killing when it is necessary and recalls the first time he did it. Paulo and Alphonse were closer than brothers, for both their fathers had died to free the kingdom of Italy from Austria. In the 1870s, Paulo and Alphonse worked as book delivery workers in Milan, frequently opening the packages to read the contents. An old scholar befriends Alphonse and tells him of the hidden truth behind certain events and peculiar phenomena. Paulo, who is more of an extrovert than a bookish person, shows no interest. This dark tale may not resonate with you if, like Paulo, you are ‘inhibited by an unhelpful morality’, but in horror fiction, nice guys tend to finish last. It brought out the chills.

James Lowder’s ‘Morning in America’ takes place in an entirely distinct environment. President Reagan’s conflict with Congress has caused a government shutdown that affects the poorest. Ross Eberhardt, a crewcut FBI agent straight out of the 1950s, recruits Antonio Chapin to help with an interrogation. He’s investigating a strange cult in the boondocks, and Chapin is rumored to have unusual abilities that might be useful. The cult is anti-government and anti-feds. This is an engrossing narrative, complete with unexpected turns and distinctly Mythos elements.

‘Only the Dead’ by Gordon Linzner is another one of those old men in search of secret knowledge who won’t stop for anything. The setting is New York, shortly after the Brooklyn Bridge was built. Footpad Paddy McGuire made a mistake when he stole a gold bar from a lascar. I appreciate the combination of well-crafted horror and historical information in this story. Because of the setting, it reminded me of Peter Tomasi’s ‘The Bridge’, an excellent graphic novel about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Alexander Gardner Coffin inherits a hat shop, renames Noir Pleasure, and has movie nights once a month showing classic gangster films. Local caterer Phoebe Pease supplies sandwiches and desserts. Then, a seven-foot-tall gentleman in a gray suit turns up. Alice Loweecy’s ‘The King in Grey’ demonstrates the effective use of Chandler and Hammett’s first-person wise-cracking style in occult detective fiction. An enjoyable romp.

This issue of ‘Occult Detective’ is certainly a tour through time. ‘A Tiger’s Heart, A Player’s Hide’ by Josh Reynolds takes us back to 1592, when Doctor John Dee and his apprentice, William Sly, investigate a stabbing at the Red Wolf alehouse. There’s a new disease spreading: the Chattering Plague. Victims talk gibberish and have marks on them that look like writing. The Queen has ordered Dee to investigate, which gets him mixed up with a playwright named Bill. I thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment provided by both Dee and his apprentice.

Paul St. John Mackintosh’s ‘Drones’ tells the story of Doctor Kay Hansen, a psychological trauma specialist at Marysville Air Force Base who observes her own actions but does not control them. An alien intelligence is in control. This is scary in a quiet, ruthless, Old Ones way.

In Brandon Barrows’ ‘The Madness of Arthur Malbrey’, Thomas Carnacki rears his handsome, stiff upper-lipped Edwardian head. As usual, his friend Dodgson narrates the tale after summoning him and others to 427 Cheyne Walk. George Jones sought Carnacki’s assistance when his friend and co-editor Arthur began exhibiting unusual behavior following a dream about the play ‘The King in Yellow’. Carnacki tries to help in this intriguing mash-up of classics.

‘Ex Astris’ by Erica Ruppert is another in the hard-boiled tradition of short, snappy sentences and few adjectives, set in the modern world of the internet and mobile phones. A case in California left Peter Castaigne with a scarred hand and a sense of constant surveillance. The current investigation into the disappearance of Jennifer Littlejohn brings back unpleasant memories. Her journal is full of arcane script. It’s all a bit vague but instills a sense of creepy nihilism. There’s nowt so scary as nowt.

The journey through time and space continues with Edward M. Erdelac’s ‘The Unrepeatables’, set in the year of the Consulship of Commodus and Civica in the Roman town of Baiae. Modius Macula is the bodyguard to Damis of Nineveh, a wise old bird who owns a talisman shop. Vibius Salonius Calidas, the champion charioteer for the Blues, leads them into a complex investigation. It’s clever to point out that the names of gods change over time, and then slot some Mythos into the Graeco-Roman pantheon. This turned into an adventure story, but that’s fine with me.

‘Sailors of the Skies’ by Mike Chinn is another action-adventure yarn. The disappearance of plans in the skies over Providence, Rhode Island prompts the hiring of Damian Paladin and his lovely blonde assistant, Leigh Oswin, to investigate. Damian’s previous adventure with Professor James Morton Stanley has given him some insight into strange phenomena. The story is entertaining and provides an excellent insight into the early buccaneering days of the airplane business.

Finally, there’s a sympathetic view of Lovecraftian sea dwellers in Aaron Vlek’s ‘The Lights Beneath the Sea’, with an excellent illustration on page 177 that looks exactly like Peter Cushing. A young man staying at an old seaside mansion gets too involved with books of ancient lore and gets in trouble.

Harriet M. Clarcke works for O.D.D., the Occult De-Ghouling and De-Ghosting Detective Agency in North Wales. Their slogan is ‘Fear today, gone tomorrow’. Harriet must stop the ovine apparitions haunting Nataniel Pilchards, a renowned classical guitarist. Marni Scofidio’s ‘Beyond the Wall of Sheep’ was a bit of fun, with many humorous touches.

All the ‘Occult Detective Magazines’ are excellent value. The page count is deceptive because the pages are bigger than a paperback book, so a word count would be helpful. There are a lot of words. The stories are all top quality, and the illustrations are terrific. I had a PDF review copy, and I’m grateful, but I checked online for the price of old paper issues, and they cost as much as new ones! So they keep their value, a sure sign of quality. Horror enthusiasts should definitely check them out.

Eamonn Murphy

September 2024

(pub:‎ Cathaven Press, 2024. 219 page paperback. Price: £ 9.95 (UK). ISBN:‎ 978-1-91602-129-7. Ebook: Price: £ 4.95 (UK).

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