Maybe the key here is, back in the early 1950s, Sharon wasn't a popular name. Not unknown, especially in Australia and the US... but not 'normal', not ... just some random name like Jane or

. The. Us, hat back in 1950-ish, the name Sharon wasn't as 'normalised' as it was.

... is that the lads misheard her name.

What she actually replied was "Charon".

(I'm playing catch-up with #AScareADay this year, so am going by memory of reading 3MU ages ago, but...)

As you mention, Sharon doesn't say much. IIRC, she doesn't, herself, actually say her name in the story.

So my pet theory as to 'why she's led them out here' is...

Ooh, where was that? We only have a couple of useful places in Falmouth, so if I'm venturing further afield it'd be good to have a destination to aim for!

Nice to have (I was a lucky boy that Christmas!), but TBH you're better off with their individual volumes: (a) squeezing all his stories into two volumes means the print is quite small, (b) there's an errata slip listing rather a lot of mistakes, and (c) they're too precious to take off the shelves!

Oh wow. And still available. Sixty quid isn't actually that bad for something so lovingly produced. Bound to increase in value too.

Sadly, as I already have these* I can't really justify it... 😟

* my library (spare bedroom) shelves are too buried to reach ATM ☹️

Also Aickman's The Swords. A story that manages to get creepier and more unsettling each time you read it.

To be honest – whisper it, but – I wish someone could persuade Jeremy Dyson to write-direct a few Ghost Stories for Christmas, rather than Mark Gatiss...

Thank you for this!

And there is also a FilmFour short film of The Cicerones, written and directed by Jeremy Dyson and starring Mark Gatiss. Which means you're in good hands of course.

This has IMO at least two of the most unnerving moments ever on telly.
www.dailymotion.com/video/x7vyaki

Ha! Yes! I had forgotten that!

Well played, Sir, well played.

Terry Pratchett's Cohen the Barbarian nailed the 'substitooth' thing though. They're called din-chewers.

... and now to find as many as possible as audiobooks. Can't beat being read a spooky story. Gather round the fire*, small glass of sherry**...

* loops available on YouTub,e I'm sure
** large glass of Rioja

Oh my. Some absolute corkers there!

Fresh coffee -smelling emails do sound rather enticing. Is it a new Google thing?