The Double Star and Other Occult Fantasies

Fans of the work of Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft will enjoy this translated volume of short stories by French author de la Vaudère (1857–1908). These nine stories run the gamut of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, but Vaudère’s distinct writing style, both gothic and fantastical, connects the stories across their differences. Aficionados of ghost stories of the criminal variety will be drawn to “A Vengeance,” in which a man is haunted by the statue of his missing lover. Despite its portrayal of a “docile Negro,” the story is one of the most technically sound in the collection. Those who prefer stories set in space will like “The Double Star,” which gazes directly into the heart of human nature and raises questions regarding the meaning of life. However, “Astral Amour” deals with one man’s obsession with a woman who married someone else, and present-day readers may find that theme unsatisfying. Despite the biases common to stories of this era, de la Vaudère’s style and literary range are captivating. (Aug.)