THE DEEP ONES: "My Dear Emily" by Joanna Russ
DiscussionsThe Weird Tradition
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1semdetenebre
"My Dear Emily" by Joanna Russ
Discussion begins on February 24, 2021.
First published the July 1962 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
ONLINE VERSIONS
No online versions available.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?43732
SELECTED PRINT VERSIONS
The Dark Descent
The Zanzibar Cat
A Treasury of Modern Fantasy
MISCELLANY
https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/joanna-russ-the-science-fiction-wri...
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/radical-joanna-russ/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Russ
https://www.jprstudies.org/2011/03/interview-joanna-russ/
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yd5v6ktc
Discussion begins on February 24, 2021.
First published the July 1962 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.
ONLINE VERSIONS
No online versions available.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?43732
SELECTED PRINT VERSIONS
The Dark Descent
The Zanzibar Cat
A Treasury of Modern Fantasy
MISCELLANY
https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/joanna-russ-the-science-fiction-wri...
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/radical-joanna-russ/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanna_Russ
https://www.jprstudies.org/2011/03/interview-joanna-russ/
https://preview.tinyurl.com/yd5v6ktc
2semdetenebre
Fantastic! Carmilla goes to town. Russ's prose contains so many subtleties that I had to slow down just to try to catch as much as possible on my first read-through. I really enjoyed Emily's progressive emancipation-through-corruption (and not the other way around - ha!), although it seems that she has really been in control all along and might have just been looking for a Martin Guevara to propel herself out of her docile-little-girl social miasma. I could only think, good for her! I like that it's Emily who comes out on top in the predator-victim relationship, even though she still hasn't quite attained her true desire.
I really appreciated the fine detail too, especially in the tea party scene with the Japanese paper lanterns that had caught fire at some point and were merely burned out husks. The "musical" plopping sound of the cream being poured. The knitted tube around the teapot handle.
And then there's Martin. His awakening from his death sleep at the beginning is probably the best description of that daily fact of vampiric existence that I've read to date. "Alive!" he cries, in triumph. It is - as usual - his first word of the day. He's a true vampire, too. Insinuating, threatening, cruel and murderous, and yet ultimately weak, dissipated and limp.
My favorite moment, not completely unexpected, but still hideous in its glory, is the unveiling of the veiled woman as Charlotte. In the darkness her face burns with unnatural and beautiful color is pitch-perfect. I couldn't help imagining the whole thing through a Mario Bava filter. This story flows like a fever-dream version of something he'd film in a BLACK SUNDAY mood. Is it Weird? Probably not, but it's top-notch vampire fiction.
I really appreciated the fine detail too, especially in the tea party scene with the Japanese paper lanterns that had caught fire at some point and were merely burned out husks. The "musical" plopping sound of the cream being poured. The knitted tube around the teapot handle.
And then there's Martin. His awakening from his death sleep at the beginning is probably the best description of that daily fact of vampiric existence that I've read to date. "Alive!" he cries, in triumph. It is - as usual - his first word of the day. He's a true vampire, too. Insinuating, threatening, cruel and murderous, and yet ultimately weak, dissipated and limp.
My favorite moment, not completely unexpected, but still hideous in its glory, is the unveiling of the veiled woman as Charlotte. In the darkness her face burns with unnatural and beautiful color is pitch-perfect. I couldn't help imagining the whole thing through a Mario Bava filter. This story flows like a fever-dream version of something he'd film in a BLACK SUNDAY mood. Is it Weird? Probably not, but it's top-notch vampire fiction.