Jean Muno

Thoroughly enjoyable collection of strange tales by member of the Belgian "School of the Bizarre", superbly translated by Kim Connell, the editor of a fine anthology of that title. In each story, the cosy, regular lives of the Belgian bourgeoise are gradually disrupted by intrusions from elsewhere. There is a touch of surrealism to these tales - the author explicitly refers to Andre Breton in his introduction, and one inevitably thinks of his Belgian compatriot Magritte. I was also reminded of the incomparable Charles Addams' original cartoons for the New Yorker - the characters are expertly sketched, with a strong deadpan humor in their attempts to cope with the irrational.

The menacing presences include figures from gothic fiction and medieval demonology, and other, less classifiable threats to the identity of the characters. 'Glove of Passion', a tale of fetishistic obsession that appears to be reciprocated, is perhaps the outstanding piece. I'd like to read more of Muno's work. This little small-press paperback is long out of print and hard to find. Fans of Thomas Owen should seek it out.… (more)