Occult detective fiction is a genre of literature that combines elements of mystery, horror, and supernaturalism. It typically revolves around a protagonist who investigates and solves crimes and mysteries involving the occult or supernatural phenomena. This subgenre emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and has since become increasingly popular. The occult detective function often features a central character who possesses special knowledge or abilities related to the occult or supernatural. This character may be a professional detective, a private investigator, a paranormal investigator, or even a rogue adventurer. They are typically depicted as being rational and logical, but also open-minded to the existence of supernatural phenomena.
They are typically depicted as being rational and logical, but also open-minded to the existence of supernatural phenomena. The stories in this genre tend to present a blend of traditional detective work and the exploration of the unknown. The occult detective may use traditional investigative methods, such as interviewing witnesses, gathering evidence, and solving puzzles, but they also rely on their knowledge of the occult and supernatural to uncover hidden truths.
The Witch Trials of JK Rowling, review: a podcast that promises to add more flames to the fire
The trailer for The Witch Trials of JK Rowling featured the author talking about the trans rights furore. Neat marketing trick! Anyone tuning in to the podcast expecting to hear her latest light-the-touchpaper views will have been left disappointed. There are seven episodes and two have been released today, in which the only direct mention of the transgender backlash is a brief montage of unnamed Rowling detractors calling her “disgusting” and “problematic”, and claiming that she is “literally putting trans lives at further risk”.
“Let’s face it,” says one, “Hermione would punch this woman in the face right now.”
The podcast sets about putting the backlash in context. Because, as a younger generation may not be aware and older generations may have forgotten, this is not Rowling’s first rodeo. Hysteria? Death threats? She’s been here before. The Harry Potter books provoked a moral panic when they first came out. Christian fundamentalists in the US claimed that they promoted witchcraft. From the early 1990s into the 2000s, parents tried to ban the books from school libraries, evangelists preached that she was in league with the Devil, and members of George W Bush’s White House administration reportedly objected to Rowling receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom because they believed she was promoting sorcery.
The Witch Trials of JK Rowling is presented by Megan Phelps-Roper, who knows a thing or two about this stuff. She spent the first 26 years of her life as a member of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas – the people who picket funerals with signs saying “God Hates F--s” and “Thank God for dead soldiers”. Her theory is that the kind of “witch trial frenzy” currently attending Rowling occurs at times of political dislocation – when people feel anxious and insecure, one expert tells her, they are more likely to point fingers at others, just as they did in Salem.
Megan Phelps-Roper spent 26 years as part of the notorious Westboro Baptist Church before turning her back on it Credit : David Buchan/Penske Media/Getty Images
So that’s why episode two does a lot of scene-setting about the 1990s: Phelps-Roper paints us a picture of a decade which was progressive in terms of gay rights but also gave us the Columbine High School massacre, the LA riots, and “the boom of a goth subculture”. Rowling barely figures in this episode, which is mostly concerned with a court case involving book-banning in Arkansas. Interesting enough, but come on: we’re here for the latest controversy, not a history lesson soundtracked by songs from Rent.
The first episode, though, is an interview with Rowling at her home. It goes over her life up to and including the release of the first Potter books, from obscurity to an unnerving level of fame. She talks about the death of her mother, her miscarriage, and the awful relationship with her ex-husband. There are claims here that we have not heard before. Rowling says that personal fears were the reason that she stayed so private in the early days of her fame, "not because I thought I was Salinger, not because I’m Greta Garbo”.
It is good to hear Rowling’s voice in our ears rather than through her tweets, which can often seem to carry a smirk. Phelps-Roper, meanwhile, speaks in that universal US podcaster voice, soothing and bland, as if talking you through your reiki healing treatment in a luxury spa.
If the future episodes touching on Rowling’s stance on women and trans rights are as cosy as this, however, then the podcast won’t be a piece of journalism so much as a platform for the author to expand on her previous comments. Phelps-Roper says at the outset that she spoke to people on both sides of the argument, who “vehemently disagreed on who was the witch and who was the mob lighting the fire”. On the evidence presented so far, the podcast is in Rowling’s camp.
The Witch Trials of JK Rowling is available via most podcast providers; see thefp.com/witchtrials for details
Bari Weiss has now built The Free Press, a new outlet on Substack with many great writers and open-minded essays. They have launched a podcast called The Witch Trials of JK Rowling, which aired its last episode today.
This can involve investigating haunted houses, tracking down paranormal creatures, or delving into ancient occult texts. Occult detective fiction often draws inspiration from various mythologies, folklore, and occult practices. It may incorporate elements from various religious and spiritual traditions, such as witchcraft, demonology, spiritualism, or alchemy. Authors of occult detective fiction often incorporate these elements to create an atmosphere of mystery, suspense, and otherworldliness. One of the pioneering figures in the occult detective genre is Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle's stories often featured supernatural elements, such as ghosts, vampires, and mysterious cults. Other notable authors in this genre include Algernon Blackwood, William Hope Hodgson, and Manly Wade Wellman. Occult detective fiction continues to be popular today, with many contemporary authors exploring the genre's themes and tropes. It has also made its way into other forms of media, such as television, film, and video games. Examples include the television series "Supernatural," the movie "Constantine," and the video game series "Fahrenheit" (known as "Indigo Prophecy" in North America). In conclusion, occult detective fiction is a genre that combines elements of mystery, horror, and the supernatural. It features protagonists who investigate and solve crimes and mysteries involving occult and supernatural phenomena. This genre has a rich history and continues to captivate audiences with its blend of traditional detective work and exploration of the unknown..
Reviews for "The Occult Detective in the Modern Age: How Technology is Changing the Genre"
1. Samantha - 2/5 stars - I picked up "Occult Detective Fiction" thinking it would be a thrilling and mysterious read, but I was left disappointed. The stories lacked depth and substance, and I found the characters to be one-dimensional and uninteresting. The plots were predictable and cliché, making the book feel like a carbon copy of other similar novels in the genre. Overall, I felt underwhelmed by the lack of originality and failed to be captivated by the supposed supernatural elements of the stories.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - I couldn't get through more than a few chapters of "Occult Detective Fiction" before giving up on it completely. The writing style was overly convoluted and pretentious, making it difficult to follow along with the storyline. The book seemed to rely heavily on shock value and cheap scares, rather than delivering a genuinely suspenseful and engaging narrative. The characters were forgettable and the dialogues were uninspired. I regret wasting my time and money on this book.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - As a fan of mystery and detective fiction, I was excited to delve into the world of occult detective stories. However, "Occult Detective Fiction" failed to live up to my expectations. The stories felt disjointed and lacked a cohesive plotline, leaving me confused and disconnected from the narrative. The attempts at creating an eerie atmosphere fell flat, and I found myself bored by the repetitive and unoriginal themes present in each story. Overall, I was left unimpressed and wouldn't recommend this book to fellow mystery enthusiasts.