FRUITING BODIES - And Other Fungi: The Man Who Photographed Beardsley; The Man Who Felt Pain; The Viaduct; Recognition; No Way Home; The Pit Yakker; The Mirror of Nitocris; Necros; The Thin People; The Cyprus Shell; The Deep Sea Conch; Born of the Winds

by Brian Lumley

Book Overview

A collection of thirteen horror tales features a story about two boys who learn about fear and death, and a quiet country lane that becomes a trap for an unwary motorist. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140173021
• ISBN13: 9780140173024
• Release Date: February 1993
• Publisher: Roc - Penguin Books
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.1" x 0.7" x 4.3"

Customer Reviews

There is a fungus amongus!

Having only recently been turned on to Brian Lumley, this is my first purchase and first read of Lumley; and all I can say is Wow! His writing phases from ethereal to direct impact, flowing with style and a flair for the creepy things that go squish in the night.Beginning with the best story of the collection, "Fruiting Bodies", Lumley takes us on a trip through a small, dying town that is slowly falling into the sea. But will the sea claim its victim before the Dry Rot does? Seemingly, a new and mutated type of dry rot, it is as hungry as the sea. Lumley does not deny the imagination in this tale, leaving you searching the nooks and crannies of your house for any...well...nasty accumulations."The Man Who Photographed Beardsley" is a short but sweet sabbatical into a demented and twisted mind, which has managed to retain its sense of propriety."The Man Who Felt Pain" is a tale told by the protagonist, of his twin brother and the bond they shared, through life and death. If one twin suffers, will not the other twin feel his pain...sooner or later?"The Viaduct" reminds me of Stephen King back when he still had tight and compelling stories with real-life characters you could relate to immediately. Children can be cruel, but just where is the line drawn when one doesn't understand the rules? This is an excellent story, in which I could actually feel the desperation and the slippery palms of true terror."Recognition" is a ghostly tale of a haunted place, and a firm argument as to why some things are best left alone."No Way Home" is a surreal nighttime journey through both familiar and unfamiliar territory, with a surprise ending that is unexpected...and worth the trip."The Pit-Yakker" takes us back in time to a simpler life within a working-man's village, and a young man's dreams that turn to dust and disintegration in the wake of simple urges and the lack of intelligence to quench them. Questions of friendship and tolerance and personal limitations are addressed here, in a harsh and unforgiving atmosphere of betrayal and lust."The Mirror of Nitocris" was one of the stories I found to be a bit boring, kind of strung out and lacking, even though it is only 10 pages long. It was just a bit of a yawn in all the rest of the excitement; a tale of an acquired artifact that comes into being in a chilling climax, only to be destroyed before it can leash its evil into the world."Necros" is a very interesting tale of immortality, and the things one must do in order to assure that immortality is youthful and pleasant. But there is a twist to this at the end that will surprise you, and give you a peek into the horrific aspects of bowing to such a creature."The Thin People" is a true masterpiece of the type of horror that will leave you forever guessing about ordinary things you see every day. I am counting the lamp posts on my street now, and have had a few disturbing dreams in regards to the science of "Folding". Excellent tale!"The Cypress Shell" an

Reason to Mistrust the Abnormal

Amongst the most notable horror writers that have picked up a pen and crafted, Brain Lumley the short story writer (not to be confused with Brain Lumley, the novel writer, whom I really can't speak on because of lack of general knowledge on him) has to be mentioned with awe. I'm not certain if his allure is in the way he crafts situational happenstance, with the pages of foreshadowing seamlessly meshing with the way he flawless enacts characterization, if its the way his peaks and valleys, his towns and villas, dance so vividly that my mind can walkabout and taste the air that even the shortest of tales seems to craft, or if its the ideas for his stories themselves. Its strange how he accomplishes that task, though, approaching horror and punctuating it with an aire of newness that banishes many of the classically shallow pits we've seen a million times before. Honestly, every time I read one of his shorts I find myself wondering exactly where his mind will allow him to approach even the most basic idea from. In this collection of short stories, I've found many and many a tale that merits and actually demands acclaim. Some, like Fruiting Bodies and The Thin People, teem with topics that are frightening in their flavors, wearing masks that I can't recall reading anywhere else. Others, like the Lovecraftian tales he forged, most notably Recognition, wear dread like familiar sweaters. Now, for a listing of the stories here and a synopsis of some that no doubt does them an injustice: Fruiting Bodies, one of my favorite pieces in this book, incorporates the disappearance of a town and the tales of a kindly old man into a tale of a mysterious fungi that seems quite extraordinary in its abilities. In fact, as it consumes more and more, it seems downright horrific in its reproach. I particularly liked this story because of the last statements, the punctuation mark on the horror if you will, that left the terrible tale open for the mind to digest. On top of that, the detail given to the setting is deliciously remarkable. The Viaduct, a tale containing a valuable lesson on the cost of tormenting others, on heights and the challenge they bring to the table, and on the wonderful world of falling. This tale wasn't one that I cared for simply because of its ending, a great piece of work in and of itself, but I also appreciated the detailing, quite explicit and painstakingly given. In it, I could feel the characters and taste the surroundings, something that always amazes me. Recognition, a Lovecraftian inspired piece, focuses on an entity that dwells within a home that someone wishes to be rid of, their efforts to understand the enemy, and the subsequent means (a medium, and exorcist, and someone to draw the beast for him) used to do so. This tale is particularly inspiring because it focuses upon the notion we hold most dear, that of understanding, and the high costs that connection can bring.The Thin People, another of the more remarkable pieces here,

WATCH OUT FOR THE FUNGUS!

For me this is Lumley's best book because of the title story, "Fruiting Bodies", about a fungus eating up a coastal village in England. Future readers will note a very close tie with Stephen King's big red fungus "the Ripley" in his upcoming DREAMCATCHER which I've read and am reviewing for The Philadelphia Inquirer. You won't forget "Fruiting Bodies" once you've read it. Ask Big Steve!

Lumley is the master of short horror fiction.

With this anthology, Brian Lumley proves that he is a true master in the horror genre. His short fiction is superior to Stephen King's. He is probably the best writer of short horror stories since H.P Lovecraft, by whom he is inspired. This book, along with "The Second Wish" and "Dagon's Bell", his other anthologies, will turn you into a Lumley fan, even if you weren't impressed by the Necroscope series.

Better horror stories than Stephen King.

Some of the short stories in this book really shine. The best (in my opinion) is "The Viaduct" which I have forced all my friends to read. We all agree it is outstanding. This is the best short story collection I own, and would recommend it to anybody.