Fannish 50: 2024: Everything is Murder edition: #41: Ghost Stories of MR James

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

I really enjoy MR James' ghost stories. They are of a time and place and quality, but for me, they are always spooky, always eerie, always entertaining, no matter how many times I read them (or listen to them). James was a Cambridge medieval scholar and his stories have to do with scholars finding relics, old books, on their travels or having weird things happen to them.

I have had an audiobook version of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary narrated by Stephen Crichow and David Timson on repeat for most of the month, and there is a Youtube channel who does a very good job of them too. That's Classic Ghost Stories Podcast with Tony Walker. And the MR James playlist is here.

I really tried to channel his subtle style in my Spook Me offerings even though they are not in those fandoms. I have written a story in a MR James fandom, specifically, "Casting the Runes."



I just posted a MR James triple drabble which mentions one of James' most famous stories, "The Mezzotint."

Title: An indifferent mezzotint
Fandom: BBC Sherlock
Rating: Gen
Length: 300
Prompt: fatuous
Notes: references to MR James story "The Mezzotint"
Summary: Sherlock gets some unusual anonymous gifts on Hallowe'en night.


“What’s that?” asked John after he had settled the shopping bags on the kitchen table.
Sherlock did not stir from his drawn-up perch, which was more on than in his armchair. He was staring at, or more precisely, staring down a framed picture which was prompted up on a kitchen chair directly in front of him.

“Arrived an hour ago. No card.”

“Picture?”

“Obviously. Engraving to be precise. Mezzotint.”

“Oh, a mezzotint.” John gave the picture another look. “A rather indifferent mezzotint.”

One corner of Sherlock’s mouth twitched. “Perhaps the worst form of engraving known.”

“You think if you stare at it the figure will come to life and carry off a baby in some sort of centuries-
old revenge plot? Like in that story by MR James?”

“I don’t know,” said Sherlock with much more excitement than that statement usually received.

“Sounds like a party,” said John dryly. “Perfect for Hallowe’en. In fact, I’m on my way to a Hallowe’en party tonight.”

“Fatuous,” muttered Sherlock.

“I don’t know. You’re invited, of course. But it’s fancy dress. Greg and I are going as ‘eggs and bacon.’ You could be a kipper.” John snorted. “Or a grilled tomato.”

Sherlock rolled his eyes. “Why would I want to go to—?”

“Woo-hoo! Boys? Sherlock, did you order something from a costume shop, uh, by the looks of it, a sort of Mephistopheles get-up?”

“No,” said Sherlock, uncurling from his perch and cross the distance to take the suit bag from his landlady. “But it looks like someone wants Cinderella to go to the ball.” He turned to John.

John sighed. “Why do I have a sinking feeling this is going to be a very long, very horrible night? On second thought, why don’t we stay home and watch your bloody picture.”

“Mezzotint, John.”


And turns no more his head (900 words) by okapi
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Casting the Runes - M. R. James
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Edward Dunning/Henry Harrington
Characters: Edward Dunning, Henry Harrington
Additional Tags: Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Hand Jobs, Oral Sex, Kinktober 2019, Intercrural Sex
Summary:

Three scenes between Edward Dunning & Henry Harrington of M. R. James' short story "Casting the Runes."

This is a challenge to post about 50 things I'm fannish about in 2024. I did the challenge in 2023 so to make it more interesting, in 2024, it's Everything is Murder edition. More info & to sign up here:https://alexcat.dreamwidth.org/1357645.html


The List (to date)

Fannish 50: 2024: #1: Jeeves & Wooster
Fannish 50: 2024: #2: Libraries
Fannish 50: 2024: #3: Facial Sheet Masks
Fannish 50: 2024: #4: Venom
Fannish 50: 2024: #5: jhope of BTS
Fannish 50: 2024: #6: the art of Edward Gorey
Fannish 50: 2024: #7: The works of Edgar Allan Poe
Fannish 50: 2024: #8: SUGA of BTS
Fannish 50: 2024: #9: Miss Marple - Agatha Christie
Fannish 50: 2024: #10: Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
Fannish 50: 2024: #11: Honkaku & shin honkaku detective fiction
Fannish 50: 2024: #12: Audiobooks
Fannish 50: 2024: #13: Holiday blend coffee
Fannish 50: 2024: #14: Jazz
Fannish 50: 2024: #15: Jigsaw puzzles
Fannish 50: 2024: #16: Sherlock Holmes
Fannish 50: 2024: #17: Poetry
Fannish 50: 2024: #18: Chocolate
Fannish 50: 2024: #19: Detective Matthew Venn series - Ann Cleeves
Fannish 50: 2024: #20: Tarot
Fannish 50: 2024: #21: Poirot - Agatha Christie
Fannish 50: 2024: #22: The ocean
Fannish 50: 2024: #23: Hardboiled detectives/noir
Fannish 50: 2024: #24: Tea
Fannish 50: 2024: #25: Bees & honey
Fannish 50: 2024: #26: Campion - Margery Allingham
Fannish 50: 2024: #27: The language of flowers
Fannish 50: 2024: #28: The moon
Fannish 50: 2024: #29: Gervase Fen detective series - Edmund Crispin
Fannish 50: 2024: #30: James Bond
Fannish 50: 2024: #31: Jungkook of BTS
Fannish 50: 2024: #32: Inspector Alleyn series - Ngaio Marsh
Fannish 50: 2024: #33: Collage materials
Fannish 50: 2024: #34: RM of BTS
Fannish 50: 2024: #35: Nanette Hayes mysteries - Charlotte Carter
Fannish 50: 2024: #36: Lord Peter Wimsey - Dorothy L. Sayers
Fannish 50: 2024: #37: Inspector Littlejohn series - George Bellairs
Fannish 50: 2024: #38: Jimin of BTS
Fannish 50: 2024: #39: Autumn
Fannish 50: 2024: #40: Halloween

Comments

[spiralicious]

Another author I need to look up!

The Sherlock fic is very cute & well done.

I enjoyed the other fic as well, even not knowing the fandom.

You are so close to finishing your fannish 50!

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you!

I have 9 more, and luckily BTS has 2 more members I haven't done.

[spiralicious]

Nice! *\o/*

[smallhobbit]

I like M R James - when the short stories come on BBC Sounds I listen to them. And John's much better staying at home!

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

They are good. John knows how this will probably end!