To Charles Fort, With Love

To Charles Fort, With Love is a collection of supernatural and horror stories first published in 2005. The book contains nine tales that draw inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft's cosmic horror tradition and Charles Fort's writings on paranormal phenomena. The stories take place across various time periods and settings, from New England to the American South. Characters encounter mysterious occurrences, unexplained disappearances, and entities that exist beyond human comprehension. The narratives blend elements of science fiction with dark fantasy and horror, incorporating paleontology, archaeology, and natural history. Multiple stories feature scientists and researchers who must confront evidence that challenges their understanding of reality. The collection examines humanity's place in a vast and indifferent universe, while exploring themes of forbidden knowledge and the limitations of scientific rationality. Through these interconnected tales, Kiernan questions the boundaries between myth, science, and cosmic truth.

Readers describe this short story collection as weird fiction that blends horror, science fiction, and Lovecraftian elements. Many reviews note Kiernan's dense, literary prose style and atmosphere-focused storytelling. Likes: - Strong sense of place, particularly Southern Gothic settings - Unique voice and poetic language - Stories that leave questions unanswered - Connection to Fortean/paranormal themes Dislikes: - Writing style too complex for some readers - Lack of traditional plot resolution - Some stories feel incomplete or abstract - Dense prose requires slow, careful reading Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (477 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (15 ratings) Several reviews compare the collection to Thomas Ligotti's work. One reader noted: "Like Fort himself, Kiernan collects strange facts and weaves them into something both beautiful and unsettling." Multiple readers mentioned needing to re-read stories to fully grasp their meaning.

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski This meta-textual horror novel blends academic analysis with supernatural elements through interconnected narratives about a mysterious house that defies physical laws.

The Secret History by Donna Tartt Ancient rituals and dark academia merge in this tale of college students whose classical studies lead them into dangerous territory beyond academic boundaries.

The Red Tree by Sarah Lafferty A writer's manuscript reveals connections between New England folklore, personal darkness, and an ancient tree with connections to occult history.

Experimental Film by Gemma Files A film researcher's investigation into lost silent films uncovers connections to pre-Christian mythology and a supernatural presence that bridges past and present.

The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall A man with memory loss discovers he is being pursued by a conceptual shark that swims through information instead of water, leading him through layers of reality and written text.

🌟 The book's title pays homage to Charles Fort, a famous chronicler of paranormal phenomena who coined the term "teleportation" and inspired the word "Fortean" to describe mysterious or unexplained events 🌘 Author Caitlin R. Kiernan worked as a vertebrate paleontologist before becoming a full-time writer, and often weaves scientific knowledge into her supernatural fiction 📚 This collection features "La Peau Verte," which won the 2004 International Horror Guild Award for Best Short Story 🖋️ Kiernan wrote all thirteen stories in this collection while living in Atlanta, Georgia, drawing inspiration from the American South's gothic atmosphere 🗃️ The book's structure deliberately mirrors the style of Charles Fort's own works, mixing seemingly unrelated strange phenomena and building connections between them