Re: Robert Aickman
 

Following on from above, a favour from those gathered here?
Another big theme in 'The Magic Mountain' is the plasticity of Time. Can anyone
remind me of any story I should re-read by Aickman in this context, assuming
there is one?
Or music?

Re: Robert Aickman
 

'The Same Dog' maybe. Or 'No Time Is Passing', with its killer closing line. Or maybe 'The View'. Or 'The Trains' even. Though I think in all cases, time is only warped to underline the point that you can't bargain with it. Time is a train that may take the odd detour but won't stop for anyone, and its apparent concessions are just our imagination. Aickman regards the human imagination as a brave hedgehog on the motorway of life. It may dodge and somersault but it will not make it to the other side.

Re: Robert Aickman
 

This, of course, means that Aickman has an idiosyncratic view of religion. Instead of regarding religion as the only path to redemption and eternal life, or condemning it for falsely promising those things, he appears to suggest that religion is the only way we can compensate for the fact that redemption and eternal life are just not possible.

Re: Robert Aickman
 

Thanks, Joel. Most helpful. I am following up yours and other suggestions.

Meanwhile, some of you may remember the Aickman and Cannibalism thread that John Magwitch broached some time ago. I recorded it for posterity here http://nullimmortalis.wordpress.com/...n-cannibalism/
Well, you may not be surprised to learn that there is a significant cannibalistic dream scene in Mann's 'The Magic Mountain' that, during my
real-time review, I recorded at the start of the page here: http://nemonymousnight.wordpress.com/485-2/#comment-232
But only those with strong stomachs should look at that!

Re: Robert Aickman
 

I have learnt, since writing my posts here about Mann's Magic Mountain, that Aickman himself is reported to have said that Mann was a big influence on his work.
For example this article here:
http://grimreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/robert-aickman-treasure-trove-goes-on. html

And if you click on 'influences' on the right hand side of Aickman Wikipedia:

I know that is not categorical, especially to someone like me who has lived with 'the Intentional Fallacy' since I was a youthful reader, but the correlations between 'The Magic Mountain' and Aickman's work I found astonishing when I carried out my recent marathon Mountain review here:
http://dflewisreviews.wordpress.com/...n-thomas-mann/

Re: Robert Aickman
 

...and for those who can access the All Hallows forum, an interesting reference by someone else to 'Death in Venice' vis-a-vis Aickman here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/All_Hallows/message/76596

Re: Robert Aickman
 

I would never make such a vulgar suggestion, Des...

Re: Robert Aickman
 

"There is no dream that has not been dreamed before.
And another young man will be dreaming the same dream to-morrow."
---from THE ASCENDING DREAM by Oliver Onions

Re: Robert Aickman
 

I have found another potential lookalike for Aickman's Hospice and the Aickman
'disarming strangenesses':-
A novel entitled 'The Inmates' (1952) by John Cowper Powys.

I have started a RTRcausal of it here:
http://nullimmortalis.wordpress.com/13740-2/

Re: Robert Aickman
 

In fact, there has now been a scene that reminds me of Mr Bannard in Aickman’s ‘The Hospice’ and the goings-on surrounding a benighted Lucas Maybury – and in fact we are here in ‘The Inmates’ given this passage:
“They’re all right in the day. It’s in the night that the thoughts and dreams of the sleepers come out of their rooms and shuffle about, and shiver, and squeak and gibber.”