James was a true scholar— he loved old texts and cites them constantly.  One story begins with an extended passage in Latin.  (Don't worry, it gets translated quickly.)  But he wove his erudition in with sheer physical fright with a deftness that can really catch you by surprise.

"The Wailing Well"!  I know, right?  That was either the luckiest scout troop in the world (the one he read the story to I mean) or God's least favored, depending on how you look at it.  That story's freaking terrifying.

"The Wailing Well"!  I know, right?  That was either the luckiest scout troop in the world (the one he read the story to I mean) or God's least favored, depending on how you look at it.  That story's freaking terrifying.

That's true, that's what makes it the worst.

That's true, that's what makes it the worst.

Well, apparently it's on YouTube— "Once Upon a Midnight Scary" hosted by Vincent Price it looks like.  The special has three tales and is 47 minutes long, so I'm assuming it's a pretty abridged version of the story.

Well, apparently it's on YouTube— "Once Upon a Midnight Scary" hosted by Vincent Price it looks like.  The special has three tales and is 47 minutes long, so I'm assuming it's a pretty abridged version of the story.

We had a copy of The King in Yellow collection in our house, but I wouldn't open it for years because the cover image was so freaky— just an eye peering through frosted glass.  Eventually I braved it.

We had a copy of The King in Yellow collection in our house, but I wouldn't open it for years because the cover image was so freaky— just an eye peering through frosted glass.  Eventually I braved it.

I loved this book!  I'm always surprised no one's tried to film it yet— or if they have I suppose I just haven't noticed.  It seems like it ought to be rediscovered now in the wake of all the Harry Potter business.

I loved this book!  I'm always surprised no one's tried to film it yet— or if they have I suppose I just haven't noticed.  It seems like it ought to be rediscovered now in the wake of all the Harry Potter business.

That picture from of the axe-murder in The Gashlycrumb Tinies freaked me out too.  The rest of the book I loved, however, so I just remember having to avert my eyes when I knew I was turning to the page with K is for Kate on it.

That picture from of the axe-murder in The Gashlycrumb Tinies freaked me out too.  The rest of the book I loved, however, so I just remember having to avert my eyes when I knew I was turning to the page with K is for Kate on it.

@avclub-3f0120c8dcf9d18404640edbed84e57d:disqus Let's face it, James Bond isn't a very good secret agent.

@avclub-3f0120c8dcf9d18404640edbed84e57d:disqus Let's face it, James Bond isn't a very good secret agent.

Oosh.  I knew about Atwill, but not the rest.  A strange saga— I'll have to look up that story about Tracy.

Oosh.  I knew about Atwill, but not the rest.  A strange saga— I'll have to look up that story about Tracy.

@avclub-a80fcd777df4edacea4dd9e20f8730e4:disqus Oh come on, that was funny!

@avclub-a80fcd777df4edacea4dd9e20f8730e4:disqus Oh come on, that was funny!

Re Rocky Horror, it might actually have been, yes.  There's certainly some odd gender issues— the name of the family (the Femms), the patriarch being played by a matriarch, etc.