To me it is a great science fiction story using a chemistry to create horror and challenge us to its uses. The King in Yellow does feel gratiuitously added to make it fit an anthology where it can stand apart since to me the King in Yellow is far more removed from SciFi and more weird or cosmic horror in its feel. Can't wait for the next!
As a painter myself, I loved so much about this story because it perfectly captures the romance of the French philosophers and artists in the cafe' culture of this period.... as well as the artists cafe' culture that I enjoyed in art school in the 1990s. You completely expect Toulouse Lautrec to appear sipping the green fairy. I also love that it reminds me of a kind of more romantic, more bohemian version of the gentleman amateur scientists who populate H.G. Wells books. And the imagery and symbolism is so beautiful. The pink marble, the checkered floors... the Lily, the Goldfish, the Rabbit... so many pseudo-religious / alchemical references that remind me of books of forbidden knowledge. The color yellow and gold again appear in this story as a potent symbol of transformative power. I also find it interesting that Chambers gives totemic animals to many of his characters. Mr Wilde's cat, Boris's wolf's head, Geneveive's rabbit, Demosielle d'Ys' falcons. It brings a life and symbolism to these stories beyond just the human characters.
This was a wonderfully articulated comment to read full of description I could picture and appreciate. I too am enamored with this period of France, or nostalgic for a past life maybe.
Just a thought.... maybe the significance of the book in this particular instance wasn't in Alec finding it, but WHERE he found it... in Boris' library. This shortly before Boris decides to drop a few more live creatures into his "rose-colored bath full of death" to keep his mind off of things (it was too cruel for Alec,remember). A rather weird way to comfort oneself.... Maybe Boris was already beginning to be affected by the power of the book? Maybe it played a part in him creating the pool to begin with? We saw what the book/play did in the hands of an ambitious madman. Maybe this is what it can do to an artist's mind. "Perfection even unto death" kind of thing. Just a thought (I happen to have an e-copy I'm referring to).
@@LiminalSpaces03lol just trying to make it fit the pattern somehow. I'm really enjoying your channel, and the small intersection there between "horror/weird" and "stuff I've actually read and can talk about".
Actually the little quote at the beginning of this story is the stronghold of the entire book : In 4 /5 sentences the writer paints us a whole frightening menacing, impending story .
To me it is a great science fiction story using a chemistry to create horror and challenge us to its uses. The King in Yellow does feel gratiuitously added to make it fit an anthology where it can stand apart since to me the King in Yellow is far more removed from SciFi and more weird or cosmic horror in its feel. Can't wait for the next!
I agree, this story felt a lot more sci-fi than the other stories! Next story will be up tomorrow!
As a painter myself, I loved so much about this story because it perfectly captures the romance of the French philosophers and artists in the cafe' culture of this period.... as well as the artists cafe' culture that I enjoyed in art school in the 1990s. You completely expect Toulouse Lautrec to appear sipping the green fairy. I also love that it reminds me of a kind of more romantic, more bohemian version of the gentleman amateur scientists who populate H.G. Wells books.
And the imagery and symbolism is so beautiful. The pink marble, the checkered floors... the Lily, the Goldfish, the Rabbit... so many pseudo-religious / alchemical references that remind me of books of forbidden knowledge. The color yellow and gold again appear in this story as a potent symbol of transformative power.
I also find it interesting that Chambers gives totemic animals to many of his characters. Mr Wilde's cat, Boris's wolf's head, Geneveive's rabbit, Demosielle d'Ys' falcons. It brings a life and symbolism to these stories beyond just the human characters.
This was a wonderfully articulated comment to read full of description I could picture and appreciate. I too am enamored with this period of France, or nostalgic for a past life maybe.
Just a thought.... maybe the significance of the book in this particular instance wasn't in Alec finding it, but WHERE he found it... in Boris' library. This shortly before Boris decides to drop a few more live creatures into his "rose-colored bath full of death" to keep his mind off of things (it was too cruel for Alec,remember).
A rather weird way to comfort oneself.... Maybe Boris was already beginning to be affected by the power of the book? Maybe it played a part in him creating the pool to begin with?
We saw what the book/play did in the hands of an ambitious madman. Maybe this is what it can do to an artist's mind. "Perfection even unto death" kind of thing.
Just a thought (I happen to have an e-copy I'm referring to).
I love that interpretation, it adds a lot to the story!
@@LiminalSpaces03lol just trying to make it fit the pattern somehow.
I'm really enjoying your channel, and the small intersection there between "horror/weird" and "stuff I've actually read and can talk about".
Actually the little quote at the beginning of this story is the stronghold of the entire book : In 4 /5 sentences the writer paints us a whole frightening menacing, impending story .
Imaginary play? Once you have seen the Sign, you know. Others will recognize you, as you them.
Have You, seen the Sign?