Re: Arthur Machen
 

It's easily among Machen's best post-1890s work, which is otherwise often shaky, and weirdly not included in Joshi's Penguin book or three volume Chaosium set. Joshi doesn't like it or The Great God Pan for whatever reason and thinks The Terror is more essential. The final line of N is an eerie one:

“I believe that there is a perichoresis, an interpenetration. It is possible, indeed, that we three are now sitting among desolate rocks, by bitter streams . . . And with what companions?”

Re: Arthur Machen
 

It's interesting to note that Stephen King wrote a story "N" apparently in tribute to Machen. He praises highly The Great God Pan.

Re: Arthur Machen
 

I've probably asked this before but are there any good theories on why it is called N?

Re: Arthur Machen
 

I always assumed it was because in mathematics 'N' is a sort of mystery glyph standing for something else, as 'reality' does in Machen's view, but I have read many other theories.

Re: Arthur Machen
 

North London postal code?

Re: Arthur Machen
 

The recent Oxford University Press edition, The Great God Pan And Other Horror Stories, edited by Aaron Worth, is a superior selection to S.T. Josh's Penguin edition. It has the story N, The Great God Pan, the complete The Three Imposters, and many of Machen's later stories, Ornaments in Jade, and others. It's a more robust collection and Mr. Worth's introduction is much superior to Joshi's attempt. It's a handsome hardback in decadent yellow. Also Mr. Worth's footnotes are exceptional. The price is also reasonable in the $20 range, $17.52 at Amazon US.This edition is highly recommended for beginning Machen readers as well as veterans.

Oxford - Centipede
 

The Oxford University Press edition received mixed reviews.
Not necessarily the content, nor the editing.
One reviewer complained of the book itself. That it was glued rather than sewn in signatures.
And the glue seemed of poor quality.
For that reason, I procrastinated.
The Centipede edition, while more expensive, seems far better constructed.
I have been looking for a newer edition. Most of my Machens are the Knopf set from the 1920s and they are becoming fragile.
Does anyone have thoughts on the Oxford vs Centipede volumes?

Re: Arthur Machen
 

I have the OUP edition and so far no complaints, although I've read that the printing on the cover fades with time, but I can live with that. I just like its decadent look, so appropriate for Machen's horror stories of the 1890's. However if you really want quality for a price, you can't beat the Tartarus editions.

Re: Arthur Machen
 

"Fragments of Paper" in the collection The Glorious Mystery (1924), what is that? I have not seen it elsewhere.

Re: Arthur Machen
 

Just checked mine. It's the prose poem 'Psychology' from Ornaments in Jade, but is named 'Psychology, or, Fragments of Paper'.