The Dreadful Thoughts project begins (like a cauldron of hot blood) to bubble and fizz most satisfactorily – with my comrade Sinéad rallying the troops over at The Sigla Blog.

For the first of the reborn (Hallelujah!) Story Club's homework assignments we're returning to the previously discussed (though not discussed much) M. R. James. Given that James is probably deserving of a club devoted exclusively to his supernatural tales – this is not remotely a bad thing.

Sinéad's choice of story is one of his very best/creepiest – the frequently anthologised "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad" (1904). Links to online texts are given below.

That, then, is your assignment Dreadful Thinkers (or should that be Thought-ers?). You have until this coming Monday (the 10th) to read and ponder it. Return here at 8.00 p.m. on that date when a shiny new post for all related chitter and chatter will be waiting for you.

It'd be great if all interested parties could be online simultaneously, but (as Sinéad suggests) "if you can’t make the designated time, you can always post your thoughts afterward". There's no time limit on how long the discussion can run for (the comments section will remain ever open).

Now but one question remains unanswered: What's a good (reasonably priced) red wine to accompany talk of g-g-ghosts and ghost stories?

Story: "Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad" (pdf), (html)

Meeting: Monday, March 10, 8.00 p.m. (GMT).

P.S. By the way, the new issue of The Irish Book Review features my not entirely complimentary take on Roddy Doyle's The Deportees.