"This first collection of tales by Rosalie Parker contains eight stories that explore the uncanny in the modern world. As Glen Cavaliero observes in his introduction, 'like all good stories of the preternatural, these in The Old Knowledge have a subversive effect.' In them, 'the world of logical, predictable reality is seen to be at risk from rejected modes of knowledge which can thwart the materialist and victimise those innocents who stumble into another order of reality.'
Contents: Chanctonbury Ring / In the Garden / Spirit Solutions / The Cook's Story / The Old Knowledge / The Picture / The Rain / The Supply Teacher."
"'There are many ways to tell a story . . . It is a question of choosing the right one.' - 'Sparks from the Fire' The stories in Sparks from the Fire explore a wide variety of familiar characters and settings, yet there is always something else a shadow world that haunts, disturbs, and threatens. Sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, recluses and lovers all find themselves shifting between realities: the prosaic and the mystical, even between life and death. The horrors and wonders of these parallel existences are often glimpsed, sometimes revealed, and occasionally overwhelm. These nineteen tales inhabit a terrain in which the uncanny may at any time intrude into everyday life.
Contents: Breath of Life / Entitlement / Holiday Reading / House Party / Jetsam / Job Start / Messages / Productivity / Sparks from the Fire / The Attempt / The Birdcage / The Bronze Statuette / The Fell Race / Tour Guide / View from a Window / Voluntary Work / War Games / Wing Man / Writers' Retreat."
"Ghosts, shamans, aliens, angels and the weirdness of life all make their appearance in this new collection of Rosalie Parker's strange tales. Her stories depict subtly shifting realities, and celebrate the fluidity of the barrier between the uncanny and the everyday. These twenty-five stories vary from contes to longer pieces, and explore the traditions of the weird tale in fresh and original ways.
Contents: Challenging Behaviour / Change / Chimera / Cow City / Dead Letters / Dear John / Fever / Heavenly Love / Him We Adore / Holy Innocent / Joy Riding / Poacher Turned Gamekeeper / Reality TV / Showtime / The Cinema / The Dreaming / The Group / The Moor / The Voyager / The Weeping Woman / Through the Storm / Toadie / Touchstone / Village Life / Waiting."
"Each of the stories that make up Damage represent a new take on the theme of difference and strangeness in human life. There are elements of traditional horror, fantasy and the supernatural, but also of beauty, humour, compassion and love. Damage explores the fragility of life and love and how they can sometimes survive against the odds, despite the damage that is done to them.
Contents: A Correspondence / A Life in Cars / Beth-Harvest Home / Boom Bird / Carbon Footprint / Damage / Drama Queen / Homecraft / Next Door Neighbours / Northern Light / Oracle / Planning Permission / Random Flight / Selkie: A Scottish Idyll / Siren / The Monument / The Steppe / The Thames / Untouchable / Walking Tour."
"Rosalie Parker runs the independent UK publishing house Tartarus Press with R. B. Russell. Her previous collections include The Old Knowledge (Swan River Press 2010) and Damage (PS Publishing 2016). 'In the Garden' was selected for Best New Horror 21 (2010), and 'Random Flight' for Best British Horror 2015. Rosalie lives in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, the magnificent landscape of which inspires and sometimes provides the settings for her writing.
NORTHERN LIGHT: The city was locked in a kind of permanent twilight. George could not get used to the sun hanging dimly halfway down the sky, its residual brightness hidden behind the clouds. This after it had risen at nine-thirty, with sunset due around four."
"Rosalie Parker runs the independent UK publishing house Tartarus Press with R. B. Russell. Her previous collections include The Old Knowledge (Swan River Press 2010) and Damage (PS Publishing 2016). 'In the Garden' was selected for Best New Horror 21 (2010), and 'Random Flight' for Best British Horror 2015. Rosalie lives in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, the magnificent landscape of which inspires and sometimes provides the settings for her writing.
ORACLE: I was pretty angry when I first came to Coverdale, but I suppose that's not altogether surprising. Most of the world was angry in 1940."
"Rosalie Parker runs the independent UK publishing house Tartarus Press with R. B. Russell. Her previous collections include The Old Knowledge (Swan River Press 2010) and Damage (PS Publishing 2016). 'In the Garden' was selected for Best New Horror 21 (2010), and 'Random Flight' for Best British Horror 2015. Rosalie lives in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, the magnificent landscape of which inspires and sometimes provides the settings for her writing.
PLANNING PERMISSION: The phone call had been taken by Sandy, the office clerk, who had a habit of jotting down almost everything the caller said. This was useful for Michelle, who as Planning Enforcement Officer was required to make an entry in the planning file before she went out to investigate."
"Rosalie Parker runs the independent UK publishing house Tartarus Press with R. B. Russell. Her previous collections include The Old Knowledge (Swan River Press 2010) and Damage (PS Publishing 2016). 'In the Garden' was selected for Best New Horror 21 (2010), and 'Random Flight' for Best British Horror 2015. Rosalie lives in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, the magnificent landscape of which inspires and sometimes provides the settings for her writing.
RANDOM FLIGHT: Dusk was falling as Patrick slowed the car and pulled into a lay-by. Scots pines swayed in the strengthening wind. He had heard on the radio that a storm was blowing in."
"Rosalie Parker runs the independent UK publishing house Tartarus Press with R. B. Russell. Her previous collections include The Old Knowledge (Swan River Press 2010) and Damage (PS Publishing 2016). 'In the Garden' was selected for Best New Horror 21 (2010), and 'Random Flight' for Best British Horror 2015. Rosalie lives in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, the magnificent landscape of which inspires and sometimes provides the settings for her writing.
SELKIE - A SCOTTISH IDYLL: As he walked over the pebbles down to the sea, the sun was a riot of orange and red. Although it was late in the evening, seals still basked on the rocks beneath the cliff, unfazed by the clattering of his boots."
"Rosalie Parker runs the independent UK publishing house Tartarus Press with R. B. Russell. Her previous collections include The Old Knowledge (Swan River Press 2010) and Damage (PS Publishing 2016). 'In the Garden' was selected for Best New Horror 21 (2010), and 'Random Flight' for Best British Horror 2015. Rosalie lives in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, the magnificent landscape of which inspires and sometimes provides the settings for her writing.
SIREN: It didn't take long for Hesta to get ready, which was just as well as there was less than half an hour to finish her makeup, slip on the dress and pin her hair in a complicated style."
"Rosalie Parker runs the independent UK publishing house Tartarus Press with R. B. Russell. Her previous collections include The Old Knowledge (Swan River Press 2010) and Damage (PS Publishing 2016). 'In the Garden' was selected for Best New Horror 21 (2010), and 'Random Flight' for Best British Horror 2015. Rosalie lives in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, the magnificent landscape of which inspires and sometimes provides the settings for her writing.
THE MONUMENT: 'Tell me who it is' 'What difference will it make?' 'After six years I'm entitled to know who you're leaving me for.' 'Ok. It's someone I grew up with . . . from the village. It's
Marcus Harding.'"
"Rosalie Parker runs the independent UK publishing house Tartarus Press with R. B. Russell. Her previous collections include The Old Knowledge (Swan River Press 2010) and Damage (PS Publishing 2016). 'In the Garden' was selected for Best New Horror 21 (2010), and 'Random Flight' for Best British Horror 2015. Rosalie lives in Coverdale, North Yorkshire, the magnificent landscape of which inspires and sometimes provides the settings for her writing.
THE STEPPE: To Pavlo the steppe was a sea of undulating grass, the stems and seed heads rustling against each other in the rising breeze. In the distance the mountains shimmered in the afternoon heat."
