Horror Story Review: "The Basilisk" by R. Murray Gilchrist

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Marina’s beauty is that of a marble image. The unnamed narrator is sick in love with her, for not only is she exquisite to look at, she has knowledge that exceeds that of other women. He asks for her hand only to be rebuffed. Marina tells him about the basilisk, a beast that turns humans to stone when they look at it. When she was young, she saw basilisk. Now she’s a stone. “Ask me nothing,” she says. The narrator is only more drawn to her. Finally, she agrees to take him to the place where the spell might be broken. “’I shall blindfold you,’ she said, taking off her loose sash, ‘and you must vow obedience to all I tell you.’” Together they travel, she carrying a mirror at her waist. The story is extremely short, merely a few pages, and drips gothic horror. What’s also interesting is that it’s heavy with a sublimated eroticism. Much of the imagery is lurid and fantastic. This story has not aged well. I would guess that most 21st century readers would not enjoy it. Author R. Murray Gilchrist was a prolific writer of gothic short fiction as well as regional interest books dealing with the Peak District of England, an area in the Midlands. An earlier version of this review appeared on the late unlamented Bubblews. An online version of this tale is available. I’m given to believe that it’s available only in the US, however. ______ Title: “The Basilisk” Author: R. Murray Gilchrist (1868-1917) First published: 1894 in The Stone Dragon and Other Tragic Romances (anthology) 1894 Source: ISFDB