The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana

Ptolemy Horoscope is an astrologer and interpreter of the stars. In 1716 he is living in Little Britain, the “bibliopolitical part of London,

But Horoscope is not home when Turpin comes to him for advice, so Horoscope's assistant, Titus Parable, poses as Horoscope.

(The Kiowa didn’t scalp, and the real Mescalero did not live in pueblos, but factual accuracy, for May, was something that happened to other writers).

Those interested in excellent, discomfort-inducing horror should read the first four chapters of The Beetle. Those interested in watching potential be wasted should continue beyond that.

Gertrude is sweet and trusting and innocent in the ways of men, which is why she falls victim to such a selfish, self-absorbed putz.

Hallblithe was created by William Morris and appeared in The Story of the Glittering Plain Which Has Also Been Called the

Mr. Gespenst was created by E.E. Kellett and appeared in “The Tables Turned” (Pearson’s Magazine, January 1903). Ernest Edward Kellett (1864-1950) wrote widely on subjects from literature to music to religion. He also created Nameless Man (VI). “The Tables Turned” is an amusing comic ghost story.

Shelley was also the wife of the great poet and rotter Percy Bysshe Shelley.

And the and-then-I-woke-up-and-it-was-all-a-dream ending is simply inexcusable in fiction intended for an audience over the age of four. The Golden Bottle will take two hours from the readers’ life that they won’t get back.

Rodolphe manages to protect her from those who would ruin her, and eventually she is redeemed and sent to a convent, where her innate goodness is instantly recognized and she is made an abbess. (She dies from the honor).

The plague is by far the most interesting part of The Betrothed.