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Centipede Press
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This is one of those books that make me feel more and more depressed with ever word I read. As I turn each page I wonder "Will I ever read anything this good again?" This two-volume set collects every word of fiction that Lamsley has ever had published, and, according to the introduction by Simon Strantzas, he has been retired for a few decades. So chances are good that this is the be-all, end-all, last word on his fiction.
Like I said, depressing.
On the other hand...Jesus, what a pleasure it is to read these stories. Every word is perfectly chosen, every sentence is expertly crafted, every story ends with a punch in the gut...Lamsley just might be the finest short story writer I've ever encountered. (And the cover and interior art, by Ruth Sanderson, is exquisitely creepy, too.)
Posted : May 21, 2026 4:52 am
Another great job by Centipede press! I just got the Beaumont Biography, wow!!
Posted : May 21, 2026 4:50 pm
dannyboy121070 reacted
Topic starter
I wasn't even aware the Beaumont Bio was out yet!
Posted : May 21, 2026 4:57 pm
Yep, got my Beaumont bio a few days ago. I've been waiting for this for years, ever since I first rumors of its existence...can't wait to read it. Beaumont is and has always been -- since I read the TOR pb reprint of the Dark Harvest collection -- one of my absolute favorite authors.
As far as Lamsley, I can't agree more...just wonderful stuff. I didn't pick up the Centipede collection because I have all his collections from which the Centipede set is sourced (with no new material, unfortunately) so couldn't justify the redundancy. I still think about picking up the set, though...wouldn't surprise me at all if I weaken one of these days. That's how good Lamsley is.
Posted : May 23, 2026 9:23 pm
dannyboy121070 reacted
This set is high in my TBR. I haven't read Lamsley before and I'm excited to do so, especially after reading such high praise.
Posted : June 9, 2026 6:07 pm
dannyboy121070 reacted
Topic starter
I hadn't read a lot of Lamsley before, so I am surprised at how (blackly) humorous some of the stories in this collection are. Still dread-inducing, but also funny. The story I just finished, WALKING THE DOG, had some truly absurd, laugh-out-loud moments, but the end was also...pretty terrible. Terrible for the characters, that is, not for the reader.
Posted : June 10, 2026 2:30 am