Fitz-James O'Brien

[neuroticdog]

Recently finished "The Supernatural Tales of Fitz-James O'Brien Volume Two: Dream Stories and Fantasies". Fitz is a new name for me and I'm really glad I made this discovery. All of these stories were written in the mid 1850's (apparently he was killed during the Civil War) and, interestingly enough, I noticed many similarities, not only in his style of writing, but in subject matter as well with the master, Lord Dunsany. I wonder if Dunsany ever acknowledged or even name-dropped O'Brien because reading pieces like "An Arabian Nightmare", "The Dragon-Fang Possessed by the Conjuror Piou-Lu", "Three of a Trade" and others contained in this (to) thin volume certainly bring to mind Dunsany's fantastic descriptive prose and thought provoking, almost fable like style of tale telling.

There is a major difference though. O'Brien seemed to be unafraid to wield a razor sharp sabre of (sometimes) biting satire coupled with a rapid fire sense of humor. In fact, at times the one liners come fast and furious as if whatever subject he's attacking is the unfortunate recipient of a roast. Combine this with some very thoughtful, occasionally very touching and especially VERY ironic messages in his stories and the result is an excellent read.

This volume collects his dream stories, most emanating from the now current tried and true trope of..."it never happened, it was only a dream" and his longer fantasies. It's the latter where most of the satire comes in. The fantasies especially were a joy to read...most falling into a brilliantly absurd, weird fairy tale sort of thing ala Alice in Wonderland. The one story that seemed out of place, and the one I enjoyed the least, "How I Overcame my Gravity" bled into the science fiction genre, and even that was interesting given that it came from a mid 19th century perspective.

I certainly plan on seeking out the first volume which contains his macabre tales. Recommended!!

best
Michael

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I'm a big fan of O'Brien. I have Dream Stories and Fantasies. Unfortunately, the companion volume is difficult to find. Fortunately, most of his stories are available online, at places like The Literary Gothic and Horror Master.

My favorite of all his stories that I've read has always been "The Lost Room." Perhaps his best-known work (at least it seems to turn up in a great many anthologies) is "The Diamond Lens," which is memorable but not, I think, nearly as evocative. "The Golden Ingot" is another I like very much.

"The Wondersmith" is a wonderfully disturbing Christmas story, and it is one of my favorites although it's difficult to get past the inherent racism. I won't make excuses, as many do for favorite writers, and say that he was a man of his time etc. etc. It's still an ugly element of the story, and I expect it's the reason that it doesn't get reprinted more often. That said, I think it is definitely worth a read on its merits as a great imaginative work, and because it was influential in its time.

 

[Elflock]

That sounds interesting,I have a few of his stories in old Ghost/Horror anthologies,I didn't know he did fantasy similar to Dunsany...