The Weird and the Eerie

By: Mark Fisher

Narrated by: Tom Lawrence

Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

What exactly are the weird and the eerie? In this new essay, Mark Fisher argues that some of the most haunting and anomalous fiction of the 20th century belongs to these two modes. The weird and the eerie are closely related but distinct modes, each possessing its own distinct properties. Both have often been associated with horror, yet this emphasis overlooks the aching fascination that such texts can exercise. The weird and the eerie both fundamentally concern the outside and the unknown, which are not intrinsically horrifying, even if they are always unsettling.

Perhaps a proper understanding of the human condition requires examination of liminal concepts such as the weird and the eerie.

These two modes will be analysed with reference to the work of authors such as H. P. Lovecraft, H. G. Wells, M. R. James, Christopher Priest, Joan Lindsay, Nigel Kneale, Daphne Du Maurier, Alan Garner, and Margaret Atwood, and films by Stanley Kubrick, Jonathan Glazer, and Christoper Nolan.

©2016 Mark Fisher (P)2019 Watkins Publishing

Worthwhile

Much of the book involves synopses of works of fiction or film (works mostly sci-fi or horror adjacent) but these are all interesting works, the summarizing is well done and to the point, and the accompanying analysis is always smart and thought provoking. Like all good criticism, the essays let you appreciate the qualities of the works discussed with a new clarity. Only wish it were longer.

highly recommended

I already had the book and was excited to see it on audible. hopefully they bring all of the late Mark Fisher’s books to audible, soon. His views on music, movies, literature are very interesting and deserve a read or listen.

Eerie, weird

Mark Fisher explores the intriguing relationship between presence and absence in an often unusual selection of pieces from literature, music and film. Starts in familiar territory with a discussion of Lovecraft and HG Wells, then veers off into much more idiosyncratic territory with The Fall’s Grotesque: After The Gramme. The book is at its best when it successfully navigates these intriguing connections. The narration is also excellent.

Classic Mark Fisher!

If you like mark fishers approachable style, his politics and philosophy you will enjoy this book. If you don’t know mark Fisher I would recommend starting with capitalist realism. This book provides a great analysis of horror, sci-fi and uses critical theory and psychoanalysis to analyze what’s makes stories weird or eerie. It’s a quick read and lot too dense or theoretical.

Beware the Mispronunciation of names!

the criticism here is really strong and interesting. there are places where i want to object to an error or something I see as misconceived. thats high praise for how engaging this is.

However, there are a few places where mispronunciations really start to grate. "Borges" is easily the most coarse. really almost gave up on listening to it during one section.

clear but mispronounced

the narrator gives a clear and fittingly eerie tone, but mispronounces many of the names, which is always a problem, and especially in a critical text