Reggie Oliver's "Madder Mysteries"

This month will see the publication of what's shaping up to be ghost story writer Reggie Oliver's biggest and best collection of short pieces yet. Madder Mysteries from the upstart Ex Occidente Press will soon be slipping Oliver's latest book into online stores and a select few physical venues. As with the previous three story collections Oliver has released, the curious or the fanatic would do well to get their hands on this one as soon as possible. It is limited to only 450 copies and already appears set to join the rarity and hyper-inflated prices of The Dreams of Cardinal Vittorini and The Complete Symphonies of Adolf Hitler in the not too distant future.

Though we won't be seeing Oliver in a mass market book free from rapidly vanishing into the hands of collectors and fans anytime soon, his typical high quality output is well worth it. Madder Mysteries will highlight the latest weird fiction of Reggie Oliver, and also his efforts in other areas of literature and scholarship as well. Several essays on weird fiction are included here in addition to Oliver's own fiction and curious illustrations.

This book is almost certain to be another thick brew of rich, dark weirdness and sinister humor. M.R. James readers, many of whom are already acquainted with Oliver, will be doubly pleased to learn that Madder Mysteries includes the story "The Game of Bear." This is Oliver's effort, officially endorsed by a descendant of M.R. James, to flesh out the late ghost story writer's bizarre fragment. Snag your copy soon from Ex Occidente's lengthy page about the new book here. Depending on your location, it retails for $45-50.

-Grim Blogger