Being (occasionally) a collaborative sort who (occasionally) values input, I canvassed regular and semi-regular Dreadful Thoughts "members" as to what tale they'd most like to cover in Story Club session number 9. After last week's encounter with a Byronic "Vampyre", I was keen to maintain the current "Classic Monsters" theme. To that end, I placed a solitary limitation on suggestions - i.e., they had to concern themselves with lycanthropy. Werewolves, WereDucks, WerePorpoise, WereMoose¹ - all of these (and more) were fair game.

The votes are in and the result is a clear win for our dear old friend - Hector Hugh Munro - a.k.a Saki (he of the poisonous & razor-sharp pen). The tale of choice is the wee little gem - "Gabriel-Ernest" (1910). Clocking in at a mere 2445 words this is one for short bus journeys, medium toilet trips, or longish descents in an elevator. It should prove easy to consume for even the most time-poor of readers. Yum.

Details as follows.

Story: "Gabriel-Ernest" (html), (pdf), (Project Gutenberg page).

Meeting: Monday, 13th October, 9 p.m.

Go. Read. Now.

1. Mooses? [back]