Halloween Countdown, Day 2
Oct. 2nd, 2009 08:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eldritchhobbit[Poll #1465369]
Spooky Text of the Day: Today's story is "The Man of Science" (1892) by Jerome K. Jerome.
Excerpt:
I met a man in the Strand one day that I knew very well, as I thought, though I had not seen him for years. We walked together to Charing Cross, and there we shook hands and parted. Next morning, I spoke of this meeting to a mutual friend, and then I learnt, for the first time, that the man had died six months before.
The natural inference was that I had mistaken one man for another, an error that, not having a good memory for faces, I frequently fall into. What was remarkable about the matter, however, was that throughout our walk I had conversed with the man under the impression that he was that other dead man, and, whether by coincidence or not, his replies had never once suggested to me my mistake.
As soon as I finished, Jephson, who had been listening very thoughtfully, asked me if I believed in spiritualism "to its fullest extent."
"That is rather a large question," I answered. "What do you mean by 'spiritualism to its fullest extent'?"
"Well, do you believe that the spirits of the dead have not only the power of revisiting this earth at their will, but that, when here, they have the power of action, or rather, of exciting to action?"
Read the complete story here.
Spooky Text of the Day: Today's story is "The Man of Science" (1892) by Jerome K. Jerome.
Excerpt:
I met a man in the Strand one day that I knew very well, as I thought, though I had not seen him for years. We walked together to Charing Cross, and there we shook hands and parted. Next morning, I spoke of this meeting to a mutual friend, and then I learnt, for the first time, that the man had died six months before.
The natural inference was that I had mistaken one man for another, an error that, not having a good memory for faces, I frequently fall into. What was remarkable about the matter, however, was that throughout our walk I had conversed with the man under the impression that he was that other dead man, and, whether by coincidence or not, his replies had never once suggested to me my mistake.
As soon as I finished, Jephson, who had been listening very thoughtfully, asked me if I believed in spiritualism "to its fullest extent."
"That is rather a large question," I answered. "What do you mean by 'spiritualism to its fullest extent'?"
"Well, do you believe that the spirits of the dead have not only the power of revisiting this earth at their will, but that, when here, they have the power of action, or rather, of exciting to action?"
Read the complete story here.
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no subject
Date: 2009-10-02 03:02 pm (UTC)This poll was awesome - I didn't realize how many mad scientist there were, although I'm a fan of nearly all these shows/films. I probably voted for half the people up there. I wish there were some evil lady scientists, though!
I haven't seen it yet, but once Human Centipede comes out, I'm sure Dr. Heiter will rank as one of the creepiest mad scientist to grace the silver screen. I know I'll end up seeing this movie, but I'm kind of afraid to.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-02 03:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-02 04:01 pm (UTC)Also... I picked the scientist from Blade Runner. Even though he's not exactly mad, but his creations are his undoing, and that counts, right? ;)
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Date: 2009-10-02 06:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-02 06:51 pm (UTC)I mean, all great "mad scientists"... but how can you not love Miguelito?
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Date: 2009-10-03 12:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 03:09 am (UTC)Why is "The Old Nurse's Story" such a classic? It shows up in so many period anthologies. It was well-written but not scary at all. And no M.R. James? A cool page nonetheless, with many stories, and more than a few authors, I am unfamiliar with.
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Date: 2009-10-03 04:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 12:55 pm (UTC)Oh my goodness, Human Centipede looks really spooky! Thanks for the link... I think. *wink*
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Date: 2009-10-03 12:58 pm (UTC)You can vote for more than one, though. And hey, there's Dr. Loveless, too! (Speaking of Loveless, the picture on p. 148 of Kesler's Wild Wild West book has to be one of my favorite pictures of all time. I just adore it.)
Guy LeSaux! Wow, that's a tough one. Maybe he does count after all. One way or another, he does cut a dash. LOL!
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Date: 2009-10-03 12:59 pm (UTC)You're right. How on earth could I have forgotten Eldon Tyrell? He definitely deserves to be on this list. Good catch.
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Date: 2009-10-03 12:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 01:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 01:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 01:02 pm (UTC)Dr. Pretorius cracks me up. He's having such a fabulous time being evil. :)
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Date: 2009-10-03 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 02:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 02:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 02:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-03 03:40 pm (UTC)LOL! Awesome! Especially since they are looking down at nekkid/bondage Jim right there. :)))
Guy LeSaux! Wow, that's a tough one.
There was *nothing* easy about that character. ;-) Kind of an interesting question, though... When time changes society's perception about a scientific practice, does the scientist become a "mad scientist" retroactively?
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Date: 2009-10-03 08:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 02:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-04 04:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 11:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 11:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 11:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 11:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 11:32 am (UTC)apparently Jerome K. Jerome spoke spookiness as fluently as flippancy.
LOL! A man of many talents. Great icon, BTW.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-06 03:46 pm (UTC)Doesn't hurt to have Zack Whedon writing for him, either. ;)
Although gotta tell you -- I kinda EXPECTED Noble to be great, and since Zack was my reason for sampling the wares from the beginning, that wasn't a surprise either. But Joshua Jackson? I was flat-out stunned at how much I have madlove for his character, particularly in terms of how he deals with both his resentments and affections for his dad. Mad great writing to be sure, but Joshua really sells it, too. Impressive. And, from my view at least, very very unexpected.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-08 01:42 pm (UTC)Now you've got my brain singing, "Zack is doin' us a little favor..." LOL!