Ex Occidente Press Continues the Magic

The ever impressive Ex Occidente Press has unveiled several more forthcoming titles that should round out the 2009 lineup from this new Eastern European publisher of weird and decadent literature. They previously scored a hit earlier this year by publishing Madder Mysteries, a new collection of tales by Reggie Oliver, a well as several other appealing volumes by past and contemporary writers with definite ties to the strange and ethereal. Now, it seems the burgeoning weird outlet is looking to expand upon its early success. Two heady names in the "New Weird" circle particularly stand out in Ex Occidente's soon-to-be-published list: Mark Samuels and Quentin S. Crisp.

A slim, but promising volume from British author Mark Samuels is set to appear in June. The new collection has been given the name The Man Who Collected Machen and Other Stories. Samuels, who has been favorably compared to Thomas Ligotti and Arthur Machen, will see this fall into line as his fourth book of short fiction. The preliminary description listed by Ex Occidente, as well as Samuels' previous themes, suggests it will continue his exploration of bizarre modern horrors with distinct echoes of Lovecraft, Machen, and Ligotti. Quentin S. Crisp's All God's Angels, Beware! presses this little known, but unique author's talents into new territory as well. Crisp's voice has often been observed to be one that blends horror with beauty (a likely aspect of the Japanese literature influencing the author). And, certainly, stories with titles like "The Meat Factory," "Ynys-y-Plag," and "Mise en Abyme" can only come from the weird tradition. It is scheduled for a July shipment.


As with all of Ex Occidente's releases to date, both of these titles will be limited editions with print runs of only a few hundred copies. Luckily, the quality of the publisher's products to date and their strange contents strongly implies a bright future for Ex Occidente. Hopefully, one that may blossom into a lengthy train of releases from the rising and already brilliant stars of weird literature.

-Grim Blogger