Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

perhaps instead of suggesting that ligotti's writing appeals more to men than women, one could suggest that these types of online forums tend to be more male dominated. i've known several literary minded females who enjoy tl's writing but would be not so inclined to participate in an online discussion of said writings.
also, glad to see angela carter mentioned in this context, she is one of my favorite authors. i have commented on the import of heroes and vilains to myself in another thread..i would also include elizabeth jane howard's collaborations w/robert aickman and the work of unica zurn and leonora carrington (at least her short stories) and anna kavan in the same breath. not to mention the numerous gothic and pseudo/semi gothic female writers...shelley, brontes especially...if not in style, at least in philosophy.

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

First, let me also welcome Daisy to TLO. Just from your first posts it seems to me that an important member of this community has joined us. Thanks for your insight.
I also enjoyed every other post. Oftentimes work keeps me from being a regular reader and contributor here, but I then get the intense pleasure of a big dose of some fine, thoughtful discussion on one of my favorite authors. I don't do drugs but it must be something like the rush from a fix.
I would like to comment on two implied ideas that Daisy has brought up. First, I think that it is up to us to spread the word about Thomas Ligotti. He's a much better American writer than some who have received Nobel prizes. (To name just one- Pearl Buck??!!!) Maybe his unique vision will always appeal more to men than to women but if more readers had the opportunity to read a few of his stories that may change.
Most of the writers listed in the various posts are very, very good. Also, most of them weren't really all that popular. There are exceptions, but, usually, the better a writer is the fewer readers he or she has. Most people just don't want to do that kind of mental work. They loose out on the beauties of great writing, but that has always been the case.
The other thing to remember is that for a couple hundred years now there has been a multi-media tie-in for most of the popular novels. Even before there were films a lot of works were turned into plays. James O'Neil, Eugene's father, starred in the road company of "The Count of Monte Cristo" for example. With movies and television Ligotti would be an even tougher sell. Can anyone imagine a part in any Ligotti story for Tom Cruise or Will Smith? Out of all of his stories, which one could be pitched to Jessica Alba's people? These days the visual media make things popular - or even more popular. Even the Harry Potter sales doubled when the movies came out.
Generally, the average person looks for heros and some kind of successful resolution in a story, but as the world becomes more like the universe that Ligotti describes, he will gain more readers, both men and women. Maybe we should think of ways to speed up his popularity.

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

Great posting, Mr. D.

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

I appreciate your gracious words, Mr. D., and am delighted to be in conversation with you, Barry, Patrick Mullins, and the others. After reading and thinking about your post, it occurred to me that the year 2010 will mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Silver Scarab publication of Songs of a Dead Dreamer. Wouldn't it be excellent if there were plans at that stage for, say, an international symposium devoted exclusively to the works of Thomas Ligotti? Such an effort might help not only to raise the profile of this major author but also to commemorate his landmark book. Something to consider, in the long term!
To go back to the issue of women writers, I think the accomplished ones named in Patrick's post and throughout this thread had to have been steeped as readers in the horror tradition before they ever took up the pen. Some women, such as Jessica Amanda Salmonson and Ellen Datlow, have made their mark not only as writers but as editors, demonstrating their critical skills. I'm reminded here of a line -- which never fails to stop me in my tracks -- from Dario Argento's film Inferno (1980). When a young woman goes into a bookshop to ask about a supernatural title, the bookseller says, "Women are usually the worst readers of such stuff. Or the best, if you prefer."

Take care, all,

Daisy

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

Here's another female reader of Ligotti (or rather: a starter in the field of Ligotti's works) and Lovecraft (obviously).

I just happen to love horror in itself and Ligotti fascinates me because of the very way he writes and because of the psychological elements.

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

Female, and reads Ligotti.

And watches the films of Dario Argento. Another thing that women aren't supposed to do.

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

Well, my wife reads Lovecraft. In fact, it was for this very simple reason I met her and I married her 12 years ago. I always suspected that she was lying, though. In any case, I positively know that she did read Lovecraft's works after marrying me. She read Ligotti too. And others.

By the way, her sister read Lovecraft too. But, I also suspect that she is lying...

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

Quiz them. ;)

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

Exchange Dario Argento for the series "Hellraiser" and "Nightmare on Elmstreet" and we're even again. If that doesn't count enough, add an addiction for Batman comics.
:)

Not a very trusting soul, are you? :D
I can't help but wonder why so many guys (?) think that horror novels and similar are predominantly a male think, while women are supposed to read romantic stories. That is actually the kind of literature that makes me sick ... But well, I'm just as weird as my favourite literature I suppose *haha*.

Re: Ligotti: An author predominantly for men?
 

The third time I met my wife, she invited me to a an exhibition of "Torture Instruments". Yes, I was surprised. It was in a museum, and I remembered having seen several couples at that time. That most people would rather go somewhere else, yes, but she invited me to go there and I gladly accepted it.

After watching my wife for 12 years, I think that she is not so inclined to read Horror Literature as I am. Except for a few stories that I suggested her to read, she didn't like Ashton Smith at all. But she likes Edith Wharton instead. We both like Borges; she likes Turgeniev, I like Andreyev. I really don't think she even likes Horror stories now. In fact, I think that I don't write many more horror stories, basically because she doesn't want to read them.

I did. The first time I asked my wife: "did you read Dagon?" "yes", she answered. I replied: "...the book or the story?" If the answered is: the book, she didn't read it, because there is no such a book written by Lovecraft (it's "Dagon and other tales", the same title in Spanish). If the answer is: the story, didn't she know that it was a story in a book with that name? Well, she answered, "I read the book, and I read the story". Smart answer.