Fancies and Goodnights by John Collier
"Fancies and Goodnights" is a collection of fantasy stories by John Collier, known for its witty and magical narratives that often highlight human flaws and the consequences of misguided choices. The tales, many of which are reprints from earlier works, possess a sardonic tone and frequently culminate in ironic endings. For example, in "The Chaser," a young man’s desire for a love potion leads him into a tormenting situation, while "Bottle Party" tells the story of a man who becomes trapped by his own wishes when he commands a genie to bring him beauty, only to find himself at the mercy of unexpected circumstances. Other stories explore themes of greed and retribution, such as in "Another American Tragedy," where a young man's downfall is orchestrated by his own greed and ambition. Additionally, "Ah the University" illustrates how parental neglect can lead to unexpected consequences when a son seeks revenge against his father's indulgences. With a blend of the supernatural and uncanny, Collier's work invites readers to reflect on the moral implications of their desires and decisions, making it a significant contribution to the fantasy genre.
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Fancies and Goodnights
First published: 1951
Type of work: Stories
Type of plot: Fantasy—Magical Realism
Time of work: Primarily the 1920s and 1930s
Locale: Various locations in England and the United States
The Plot
Although many of the stories in John Colliers Fancies and Goodnights are reprints from earlier anthologies and popular magazines, this volume represents Colliers main contribution to fantasy literature. These are witty, magical tales in which human foibles and short-sighted decisions lead to fittingly ironic endings.
“The Chaser”, a typical Collier story, features a young man, Alan Austen, who wants a love potion to aid him in entrancing a scornful woman. Despite the warning that her magically inspired devotion will turn into never-ending torment, Austen buys the potion. The end of the story suggests that Austen, years later, will return to the shop to purchase a vial of poison to escape his chosen trap.
In “Bottle Party,” a thirtyish dreamer purchases a bottle containing a female genie from a dusty antique shop. As his taste for the best that life has to offer grows stale, Franklin Fletcher orders the genie to bring him the worlds most beautiful woman. When the genie hints that she has another lover hidden in her bottle, Fletcher magically enters the decanter and is trapped by the duplicitous pair, who remain outside. As the genie and the worlds most beautiful woman take advantage of each others company, Fletchers bottle is returned to the antique shop. At the end of the story, a group of drunken sailors purchases the bottle, which they believe contains the worlds most beautiful woman, and abuse the released Fletcher unmercifully.
A decidedly sardonic afterlife is depicted in “Halfway to Hell.” Louis Thurlow decides to commit suicide after being rejected by his girlfriend. Distraught, he falls into a swoon, and his spirit leaves his body. Louis soon finds himself accompanied by a devil, whom he gets drunk and tricks into carrying away his rival. The next morning, Louis wakes up to discover that his rival is missing and that the pathway to his girlfriends heart is once again clear.
In other stories, the supernatural is replaced by the uncanny. The young man in “Another American Tragedy,” whose profligate lifestyle has ruined him, murders and impersonates his rich, aged, and bedridden uncle. As he is about to dictate a new will that would enrich himself, the nephew is murdered by the uncles doctor, who had made himself the beneficiary of the uncles estate. The young mans demise is fitting: In Colliers fiction, greed allows its own punishment.
This vice also motivates the father in “Ah the University.” A young man is denied the education he craves so that his father can satisfy his taste for champagne and fine cigars. After studying gambling, the son bilks his father out of $150,000 in a game of poker. Other stories feature poisoners, neer-do-wells, mistaken identities, a reclusive community of lost souls living after hours in a department store, and even a ghostly Irish woman with the power to turn predatory English sportsmen into wolfhounds.