Evans

May I inquire as to the origin of your latest signature, or is it something of your own devising?

Thanks. I appreciate the message. Best wishes, Stephen

Many thanks for the great books, which finally got to me through ye strange cosmos!

Yes, the 5115 South Mead Street address is correct. Hopefully your letter will reach me soon!

Haven't gotten your letter yet, my friend. I look forward to it. THE TINDALOS CYCLE is soon to be published by Hippocampus!

Hello Evans,

No, I never reviewed that particular book. I haven't read much Valentine yet, to be perfectly honest. I'm hoping to pick up and possibly review his latest paperback coming out soon from Tartarus. I definitely need to read one of his full collections by all the great things said around here about his work.

Yikes! I had forgotten about temporarily closing it. Open sesame!

I've not forgotten that I am sending you a copy of WEIRD INHABITANTS -- it's just that life had been super-crazy and I've been lunatic and this past fortnight I've been in bed with bronchitis (an unpleasant bedfellow...) Soon, my friend.

Your interview will be presented to the civilized universe on October 28th. Many thanks!

Thank you for taking an interest. Hope you're well.

Sorry about the lack of response. I always forget to check my personal page. (PM's work better) I just noticed your message now. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have about the whole Arthur Machen/Golden Dawn issue. In fact, I was just discussing it with a few friends the other night.Cheers!

The Ramsey Campbell arriv'd in to-day's post, and I thank you for it. I'll send ye a copy of my new book as a token of thanks.

Hi Evans... if I understand your message correctly. Yes (I think)

Yes, Julia has read one of the new, original stories that will be published in WEIRD INHABITANTS OF SESQUA VALLEY!! She has read it superbly. The story was inspir'd by the "Who Killed St. John?" thread here at TLO -- and thus I dedicated the tale to our members here. It is the opening story in the new book, which will see print within ye fortnight.

Thankyou Evans!

No reason for you to apologize, I assure you.The topic was not the issue, but the method of discourse. Lively discussions of dissimilar opinions are welcomed so long as things do not get out of hand.

No big sweat.

People, in passing through this world, seem to leave a residue. A ghost, if you like, although not what most people would probably think of as a ghost. If you get too mixed up with someone, study them too deeply, you encounter the ghost, one way or another. Crowley's ghost isn't nice.

Loosing the original message I sent you felt like a shot across my bows, with the message don't go back there!

This message was longer than the maximum permitted -- so here's the end of it, cut and pasted...

On the plus side, the Confessions, as I recall, includes an index -- so, if you can locate a copy, it should be easy to look for a Machen reference.

On the minus side (checking on Amazon) the Confessions seems to be out of print. On UK Amazon, the cheapest copy is £25. Alternatively, you may be able to find the book in a library.

After I'd checked Amazon, I closed it, but mistakenly closed the Internet connection rather than just the Amazon tab. In doing so, I lost my original version of this message. It felt, to me, like the curse of Crowley striking. I don't think that I'll look him up on Amazon again, let alone read any of his stuff. Some rocks are better left unturned. I do not recommend looking into his Confessions, or any other Crowley book. It may be safe for you to do so, but please don't explore Crowley too far.

My answer may not be very satisfactory, but here goes. Machen and Crowley were, of course, both involved in the Golden Dawn, and certainly knew one another. The most likely Crowley book to contain a mention of Machen is his Confessions (a massive autobiography). I read the Confessions around 1971, and much of it (as you'd expect) has vanished from my easily retrieved memory. I don't recall Crowley mentioning Machen -- and I might recall it (having been familiar with Machen's work since about 1963). But I think that the Confessions is probably the best place to look. I'm afraid I can't check myself as I no longer have a copy, or this or any other book by Crowley.

Not at all, ask away... Whether I'll be able to give you a sensible answer is another question.