#electric castle live and other tales

[mistray-art]

» Day 12 » The Hippie » Into the Electric Castle.

[12 november 2022]

[ddarker-dreams]

☾ book recommendations: *✲⋆.

my all time favorites:

the brothers karamazov by fyodor dostoevsky

notes from underground by fyodor dostoevsky

the picture of dorian gray by oscar wilde

frankenstein by mary shelly

the plague by albert camus

we have always lived in the castle by shirley jackson

the seven who were hanged by leonid andreyev

blackshirts & reds by michael parenti

others that i'd recommend:

break the body, haunt the bones by micah dean hicks

tomie by junji ito

uzumaki by junji ito

berserk by kento miura

the haunting of hill house by shirley jackson

i have no mouth, and i must scream by harlan ellison

the tell-tale heart by edgar allen poe

the cask of amontillado by edgar allen poe

rebecca by daphne du maurier

wuthering heights by emily brontë

dune by frank herbert

a shadow over innsmouth by h. p. lovecraft

the color out of space by h. p. lovecraft

the dunwich horror by h. p. lovecraft

crime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky

demons by fyodor dostoevsky

the idiot by fyodor dostoevsky

jane eyre by charlotte brontë

do androids dream of electric sheep? by philip k. dick

a long fatal love chase by louisa may alcott

the stranger by albert camus

the metamorphosis by franz kafka

the trial by franz kafka

dragonwyck by anya seton

discipline and punish by michel foucalt

the castle of otranto by horace walpole

faust by johann wolfgang von goethe

the fall by albert camus

the myth of sisyphus by albert camus

the strange case of dr jekyll and mr hyde by robert louis stevenson

blood meridian by cormac mccarthy (do look into the content warnings though, there's heavy violence/depictions of 1840s-1850s racism)

the death of ivan ilyich by leo tolstoy

the dead by james joyce

the overcoat by nikolai gogol

dead souls by nikolai gogol

hiroshima by john hersey

useful fictions: evolution, anxiety, and the origins of literature by michael austin

no exit by jean paule satre

candide by voltaire

white nights by fyodor dostoevsky

notes from a dead house by fyodor dostoevsky

the shock doctrine by naomi klein

the 100 year war on palestine by rashid khalidi

killing hope by william blum

the karamazov case: dostoevsky’s argument for his vision by terrence w. tilley

stiff: the curious life of human cadavers by mary roach

lazarus by leonid andreyev

imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism by vladmir lenin

[birdmitosis]

Fanmix-slash-playlist for Slay the Princess! Song list under the cut. There’s 96 songs on this fanmix/playlist, and it’s about 6 and a half hours long.

Some of the songs were not available on Spotify, and they will be linked to on YouTube below. (Some artists have 2 songs on the playlist; aeseaes, The Crane Wives, and Hozier each have 3 because they were just too perfect. Also, some songs are definitely on here because of other people's fanvids or even just suggestions, and I've made note of and credited all of those!) (All fanmixes/playlists are a perpetual WIP.)

aeseaes - All Things Devour

aeseaes - Semantics

aeseaes - Tongues

AG - Terrible Thing

t h e . a i m s - Violence & Blood

Alanis Morissette - Everything (friend suggestion)

Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra - Trout Heart Replica

Amber Run - I Found

The Amazing Devil - The Horror and the Wild

The Amazing Devil - That Unwanted Animal

Andrew Bird - Imitosis

AURORA - Your Blood

Baby Storme - This City is a Graveyard

Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You

Beth Crowley - Monster

Blindside - Withering

Bring Me the Horizon - Deathbeds

Camera Obscura - Fifth in Line to the Throne

Chonny Jash - The Soul Eclectic (inspiration)

City and Colour - Little Hell

Coldplay - The Hardest Part

Coldplay - Square One

Collective Soul - The World I Know

The Crane Wives - Curses

The Crane Wives - Hollow Moon (inspiration)

The Crane Wives - Tongues & Teeth

Crystal Castles - Suffocation (inspiration)

David Bowie - Changes

The Echoing Green - Starling

Electric President - Some Crap About the Future

Elizabeth & the Catapult - Do Not Hang Your Head

Elizabeth & the Catapult - My Goodbye

Ellie Goulding - Salt Skin

Eurielle - Hate Me

The Feeling - Mr Grin

Florence + The Machine - Kiss With a Fist

Florence + The Machine - What the Water Gave Me

Forgive Durden - A Dead Person Breathed on Me!

Foxtails Brigade - Long Route

Foxtails Brigade - Nun but the Lost

Ghost and Pals - DEATHBODY

Ghost and Pals - In Iolite

Hannah Fury - Angels & Absinthe

Howie Day - Collide

Hozier - Francesca

Hozier - In the Woods Somewhere

Hozier - Who We Are

Jack Conte - Kitchen Fork (inspiration)

The Jezabels - Hurt Me

Jhariah - Flight of the Crows

Kate Nash - Paris

Kiltro - Softy

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard - Magenta Mountain

lasah - taixu (inspiration)

Lisa Hannigan - Oh Undone

Little Dragon - Twice

The Lord Dog Bird - The Shedding Path

Ludo - The Horror of Our Love

Madilyn Mei - Knotted Constellations

MGMT - Little Dark Age

Michelle Branch - Everywhere

Mili (feat. KIHOW) - In Hell We Live, Lament

Mirah - You've Gone Away Enough

The Mountain Goats - No Children (inspiration)

The Mountain Goats - Sudden Oak Death

Mr.Kitty - After Dark

múm - Prophecies & Reversed Memories

The Nor'easters - 715 — CRΣΣKS (inspiration)

Olivier Bibeau - Better Run, Better Hide

Passion Pit - Seaweed Song

PEGGY - Villains Aren't Born (They're Made)

Perfectly Human - Bad As

Perfectly Human - Fly Again

Racoon - Took a Hit

Reinaeiry - When the Sun Loves the Moon

Ricky Montgomery - This December

RIProducer - Fruiting Bodies

RIProducer - What Gave It Away?

Sarah Blasko - Bird on a Wire

Satin Puppets - Bad Moon Rising

Seeming - Someday Lily

Sharon Van Etten - It's Not Like

Shayfer James - Boots Worn Through (inspiration)

Sleeping At Last - Mind

Sleeping At Last - Taste

SNAKE POOL - FIGURE IN THE BACKGROUND (inspiration)

Snow Patrol - Open Your Eyes

Solas Composer - He Who Devoured the Dark II

Southwest Statistic - Fairy Tale (friend suggestion)

Stars - He Dreams He's Awake

Subsignal - The Bells of Lyonesse (inspiration)

Sunset Rubdown - For the Pier (and Dead Shimmering)

Talking Heads - And She Was

Trespassers William - I Know

TV on the Radio - Stork & Owl

Woodkid - Ghost Lights

[frogfrogfrogfrogoose]

Into The Electric Castleuary Days 4-6: The Decision Tree/The Highlander

I’m just gonna be doing silhouettes for all of these based on their live show appearances in Electric Castle Live and Other Tales

i’m actually doing these on time?? kinda?? we’ll see how it goess

[bananaofswifts]

AT LONG LAST, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) has arrived. The third release in Taylor Swift’s series of rerecorded albums, this updated version of her third studio album flashes all the way back to 2010. Then, she was entering her twenties with her first entirely self-written record under her belt, a giant step that solidified the same legacy she’s attempting to protect by recording every album before Lover to gain control of her own master recordings.

“I always look at this album as my album, and the lump in my throat expends to a quivering voice as I say this. Thanks to you, dear reader, it finally will be,” Swift shared in a statement when the album was first announced. “I consider this music to be, along with your faith in me, the best thing that’s ever been mine.”

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) features new “Taylor’s Version” recordings of “Back to December,” “Mean,” “Mine,” “The Story of Us,” “Sparks Fly,” and “Ours.” It also includes cuts like the angst-fueled “Haunted” and “Dear John,” which she has already asked Swifties to avoid using as an excuse to recenter John Mayer as public enemy number one. There’s also “Better Than Revenge,” which Swift is revisiting in her 30s, having lived and matured more than when she wrote the song’s somewhat problematic lyrics at 19.

“I first made Speak Now, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20,” she shared earlier this year. “The songs that came from this time in my life were marked by their brutal honesty, unfiltered diaristic confessions, and wild wistfulness. I love this album because it tells a tale of growing up, flailing, flying and crashing… and living to speak about it.”

There are six previously unreleased songs included on Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) including “Electric Touch” with Fall Out Boy and “Castles Crumbling” with Paramore’s Hayley Williams. The others “From the Vault” tracks are titled “When Emma Falls in Love,” “I Can See You,” “Foolish One,” and “Timeless.”

[itspileofgoodthings]

Do you know which books you'll be teaching this fall? Favourite vault track(s) from Speak Now? Anything stand out to you in the vocals for Taylor's versions?

Ahhh thank you for asking! And these are such fun questions.

So, I decided today that I’m going to start with Neighor Rosicky (a Willa Cather short story) with my 8th graders, A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens) with my sophomores, and some poetry and then One Day in the Life (Solzhenitsyn) OR Dante with my seniors. In the best way possible I want to knock Dickens out of the way quickly while spirit is high and the weather is kindly and save Beowulf (my usual beginning book) for the depths of winter. I’m tired of starting my 8th graders with Frankenstein so I think a lovely and more accessible short story like Neighbor Rosicky will be a gentle breaking in. And then—I want to either do a short snappy (wonderful) little novel with my seniors (one day) or just dive into one of our greatest works right away (the inferno!), I’m still mulling it over.

The rest of the fall will include Hamlet, Frankenstein, and then Romeo and Juliet. (Across my classes.)

I love the Speak Now vault tracks SOOO much—it’s so hard choose. Each song is such a treasure. If forced to choose, I think my favorite is Castles Crumbling just because it’s so personal to me but Timeless and Foolish One are RIGHT THERE. I have a new affection for I Can See You since I heard it live—like, it’s just increasingly wonderful. When Emma Falls in Love is so gorgeous and poignant and TRUE and made me weep like a baby the first time I heard it. Electric Touch is probably my least favorite but I feel bad saying that because it’s SO MUCH FUN and also so haunting and has also grown on me so much!!!

And lastly, I don’t think any specific moments stand out to me on the re-recordings but overall I’m so impressed with how much she’s been able to reclaim the songs and have them truly sound the same. Not literally (though sometimes close.) The differences are there for the better—her vocals are so much warmer and fuller and more sure—and sometimes just for the ….other, I guess. I won’t say worse. Just that—there are moments where it’s just impossible for her to capture the song in exactly the same way because the song NEEDED to be recorded at that exact moment in time for it to sound the way it did. And yet the essence is THERE. The magic of the song, the heart of the song, the power of her very specific delivery are all there because SHE hasn’t changed! She is still her, and in some ways only more so. So I love hearing all the songs again and appreciating not only the sometimes more polished vocals or careful instrumentation but also just the way she CAN reclaim the songs because she has in no way strayed from the artist she was, but has just grown into her more and more truthfully.

That’s a long answer but I have a lot of feelings! Thank you for asking! ❤️ This was fun.

[ghoulsister1]

🎃SpookTober 31 Days Prompts🎃:

Day 20: Candle🕯

Danny Blue x GN!Reader. Spooky moments. Things go bump in the night. Power outages. Gotta light them candles. Lots of fluff. Cuddling and snuggling. SpookTober Prompt: Candle🕯

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☆●~When The Lights Go Out~●☆

You and Danny were just setting up for a good horror binge until you guys experience a power outage. Only candles for a light source, you two take turns telling stories. Things get really spooky......

"Danny! Hurry!" You Cried as you got your Netflix set up to watch a horror movie binge.

"Coming!" Cried Danny as he made his way downstairs and into the living room where you had set up some snacks and drinks, accompanied by some pillows and blankets. Danny and you were dressed in warm, comfy pjs and with a smile, Danny sits on the couch and you two snuggled up together.

"So, what movie do you wanna watch first?" You Asked, cosying up to Danny closer.

"Hmmmm........Wanna watch that new scary movie with the red door?" Suggested Danny. You giggle and you two get closer.

"Okay, let's try that one" You Agreed and you clicked on the movie. The movie was just getting started until out of no where, all the electricity from the TV to the lights and Halloween decorations suddenly went out, plunging you and Danny's home in darkness, scaring you in the process and making Danny let out a startled yelp.

"Oi!" Yelped Danny, startled. You jumped and pressed up closer to him, heart racing. The lights going out so suddenly caught you both by surprise.

"Power outage" You Remarked and both of you sigh. So much for a cosy, spooky night in.

"God damnit!" You Sighed sadly.

"Hey, don't worry about it love. Come on, we can still make this a spooky night in!" Suggested Danny and you looked up at your boyfriend, smiling.

"Let's get some candles lit up" You Suggested.

"Alright! Hand me that flashlight love" Said Danny and you handed Danny a flashlight before following him around the house, gathering up some matches and candles. Once everything was gathered up, you two returned to the living room, lit up the candles and to pass the time until the power returns, you decided to suggest some spooky stories to tell each other.

"Right, so you wanna tell each other spooky stories?" Asked Danny. You nod your head with a smile.

"See who gets scared the most!" You Added, giving Danny a cheeky wink and Danny scoffed with a smirk.

"Listen love, the whole scary stories thing? Doesn't phase me one bit" Smirked Danny. You giggled and smirked back.

"Alright. You go first Danny" You Suggested.

With a wicked smirk, Danny leaned in towards you.

"Alright love, but don't say I didn't warn ya" Warned Danny in a ominous voice, making you giggle as Danny leaned back in the couch.

"Right, so you know Alnwick Castle?" Asked Danny. You nod your head with a smile, remembering when Danny took you to see the castle.

"Yeah" You Smiled happily.

"Well, I bet you didn't know there was a vampire that lived in that castle" Remarked Danny smirking. You're eyes widened as Danny began his tale.

"Well, this is the story of the Vampire Of Alnwick Castle. Now it's a bit short but it's spooky nonetheless.

Right, so this 12th century historian William of Newburgh chronicled how a former master of Alnwick Castle would rise from his grave and prowl the streets at night, causing terror and disease you know, being a local boogeyman. So the townsfolk all panicked and some of the locals went to his burial site which was a shallow grave and dug up the body. The body was revealed to be bloated, which when pierced with a spade, disgorged fresh blood, proving to them that it was indeed a vampire. The body was then taken outside the town and burned" Explained Danny.

You shivered at that, just imagining the bloated corpse filled with fresh blood. Danny chuckled as you giggled a little.

"Okay, that was a good story Danny. It was chilling" You Praised and Danny smirked proudly.

"Told ya! Now it's your turn love. Tell me a blood chilling story" Suggested Danny smiling.

"I'll happily oblige my dear" You Replied smiling and you launched into your tale.

"Alright so this story took place in Ireland, in the late 70s. One night a strange, thick fog rolled in and wouldn't leave. That night, the police got phone calls from people claiming to see the dead walk the streets, sometimes they were relatives who passed on and others were neighbours and friends they knew. This continued until the morning, where the fog cleared up. The police decided to investigate the local graveyard to see if this was just a hoax by the people. When they arrived at the cemetery, the police were shocked and unnerved to find all the graves were empty. Only one question remained, where did the bodies go?" You Explained.

Danny felt a chill go up his spine at that story. He had to admit, you had a knack for storytelling and this one was good.

"Wow, okay that was a scary story!" Remarked Danny impressed. You smiled and blushed, glad to see he found the story scary.

"It's a mystery still to this day" You Added.

"Really? Jeez, so maybe the dead really walked that night" Remarked Danny feeling another shiver go through him at the thought of seeing an actual zombie.

"Did.....did anyone get bitten or attacked?" Asked Danny. You chuckled, shaking your head.

"No don't worry. Everyone was too afraid to go outside because of the strange fog" You Explained.

"I'd be more afraid of zombies than fog love" Remarked Danny, wrapping himself up in a blanket as you two huddled closer, the candles flickering and casting eerie shadows that danced across the walls.

Suddenly there was creaking in the hallway and you both turned your heads at the noise, both of you freezing. You looked at each other and then at the hallway, both of you shivering.

"You heard that right?" Asked Danny, a noticeable tremble in his voice as he spoke.

"Yeah....I..I....I did" You Answered, trembling.

You both kept an ear out for more sounds, nothing more was heard.

"Wanna hear another story?" Danny Suggested. You shook yourself of nerves and put on a brave face.

"Sure! Hit me with the best" You Replied smiling. Danny smirked and launched into his next tale.

"Another story about a castle but with a twist of some tragedy. In the 16th century, Heloise Pennington, daughter of Sir Ferdinand Pennington, master of Muncaster Castle, fell in love with a young carpenter right? But Heloise you see, was already betrothed to a knight and in anger at his daughter for daring to love someone deemed, you know unworthy, Sir Ferdinand had paid his jester to murder the freaking carpenter and presenting the severed head as proof of his deed! The headless body of the carpenter is said to roam the castle ever since, searching for his lost love" Explained Danny.

You felt a cold chill sweep through the room, the candles flickering and your heart ached for the poor unfortunate carpenter.

"Poor fella" You Remarked.

"Yeah, poor sod" Agreed Danny.

You were about to launch into your next story when suddenly the lights and power came back on, startling both of you once more.

"Jesus!" Yelped Danny as he jumped along with you. You both held each other for a brief moment before laughing at the same time.

"Guess we had a spooky night after all!" Remarked Danny and you both laughed in agreement.

You grabbed the remote and looked to Danny.

"Wanna finish that movie?" You Asked.

"Go on" Agreed Danny and you both smiled and snuggled up together on the couch as the movie played and the candles still flickered.

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[basicallyjustmuggleremuslupin]

OKAY HI

is there any chance you remember Mark?

If not, here's a refresher: Mark is this vampire who mixes slang from three centuries mercilessly and wears priceless Victorian waistcoats with tracksuit bottoms with no shame.

(I didn't remember his name lol, had to check)

Anyway, so Mark is moving. He lives in this beautiful castle built by Ludwig || in Bavaria. Now, Ludwig is know as the fairy tale king and his palaces were built to fit such a title.

Mark is moving to a condo for a couple of reasons

He never bothered to learn German

The castle is just cold

Every so often a kid comes across it and he has to silence them or whatever

There is no closet space left

However, now Mark has to sell off said castle. First, though, he needs to make up some lies to tell the realtor about why the locals think is cursed, why the entryway carpet has a few stains that look weirdly like dried blood- you know what? I'll make you a list.

Why the locals have the strange idea his home is cursed

Why the entryway carpet has a few stains the look somewhat like dried blood

Why all the bins are overflowing with empty bottles of sunscreen

Why there are priceless victorian outfits in incredible condition stuffed into the backs of closets and under chairs

Why there is no food in the kitchen

Why every so often a kid goes missing when they come poking around

How the castle had stayed in his family for centuries

Why the lack of modern elements such as electricity?

Honestly there's probably more but that's pretty long already.

Anyway, I hope you'll excuse my antics and my procrastination techniques (I should be editing rn)

omg hi, i'm genuinely dying for these random asks about mark ahhh

(also i didn't exactly remember the name but the moment i read 'vampire who mixes slang from three centuries' it all came back to me)

omg, i imagine that would be a big issue lmao

so, my answers are probably not the most creative ones but i imagine they would work:

so, hundreds of years ago, there lived a very bad person in the castle, who would rule over bavaria. said person would take a large amount of food from the farmers that lived there as payment in exchange for him to protect them all with his soldiers. but, as one can probably imagine, some years crops are very good and some years... well, not so. so in a year when the people barely had anything to eat, they still had to give away a huge amount to the ruler, most people had to give more than they had, so that they had to give up their houses and farm animals and were practically homeless, leading to many many deaths. whoever was able to survive ran away to better lands. when the ruler finally died, with no heirs of their own, mark's ancestors moved in and live slowly came back to the lands. it is said, that to this day, the ruler's spirit still lives in the walls of this very castle. but obviously, this is impossible. mark has lived there for hundreds- i mean, his family has lived there for hundreds of years and there has never been an unexplainable noise or movement or whatever. i mean, how would that even be possible to still be somewhat alive after hundreds of years, right? right?? so, it's obviously just a little ghost story that people tell each other on a dark autumn night with the only purpose being to scare each other.

oh, so that's fun story actually. you see, there was this ball, not too long ago, where lots of influential people met up. it was very unofficial tho so that no one really knew about it unless they were invited. basically just a little party amongst themselves. you see, since he moved into the castle, mark had access to more aristocratic rows of society. as it so happens, some people got into a fight, as in physically. unfortunately, while they were tumbling to the ground as a bundle of various bodies, they knocked over a table holding red wine in several glasses. said table, unfortunately, stood at this place near the entryway carpet and was knocked onto that. as red wine is known for, it is very difficult to erase out of a carpet, and until today, a final solution has not been found, except for maybe throwing out the entire carpet, which obviously would be a shame as it's rather vintage and worth a large amount of money.

so, since we're talking about a castle built by ludwig II of bavaria, i'm going to assume we're talking about schloss linderhof/linderhof castle, since it was ludwig's favorite castle of his. the castle has several huge gardens and parks and with that come several good spots to sunbathe (for example around the water parterre). with the opportunity for the guests of schloss linderhof to use such sunbathing spots came also the luxury of getting sunscreen for free, since the residents of the castle obviously had to take care of their guests and their health. however, the disposal of those bottles was an issue, so that they were found stashed in a little room, which was so rarely used that nobody noticed them even being there until a few days ago, when all the rooms and itinerary were checked for good. but of course, they will be disposed of before the castle will be sold.

as was established earlier, the castle was the location of several balls over the years. as some balls are known for, a number of visitors tended to change their clothes for the several stages of these balls, for example for eating they had a set of clothes and for dancing they had another. some, very irresponsible, people left their clothes behind, which had the tendency of laying in rather unfortunate places due to the recent cleaning of the castle.

as a castle with a certain reputation, the castle had a great number of cooks. lately, however, mark has spent the majority of his time outside the castle with his boyfriend and at his place. therefore, there was hardly any use to having cooks and food, which would go off eventually. therefore, he sent the cooks away and had them take the food with them for themselves and their families.

since the castle is old and huge, there are plenty of chances of a child going missing on the premises without mark even noticing that the child is even there. there are several hidden places and in the gardens, there is always the possibility of children falling down trees that they try climbing or hills that they want to run up. especially around the music pavilion in the northern part there are many trees, which can make a person get lost, especially a little child. so, even when they know that a child has gone missing on the premises and everyone starts looking for them, the chances are very small for them to actually find them. of course, children should rather listen to the numerous signs telling outsiders to stay off the premises. unfortunately, several children choose to ignore them, in part because they do dares based on the ghost story explained in 1, in which they have to go onto the premises in order to show their friends that they're brave.

as established before, after the bad ruler had died the castle fell into mark family's hands. they were then introduced into the higher parts of society and soon became an influential family themselves. nowadays, everyone was very content with them taking care of the 'haunted' castle, so that they never found a reason to change the owning family.

that's a very simple question, really. since the castle is so old and has a very rich history on its own, mark's family has always tried to limit the changes made as far as possible in order to keep its inherent oldness. hence, there were never any changes to rather modern features. it was all to preserve the charm of the old castle as it was hundreds of years ago.

this was sooo much fun!! i love helping mark out, so if there is anything more i can help with, feel free to tell me :)

also, let's pretend that ludwig II lived hundreds of years earlier than he actually did, cause otherwise it doesn't make much sense what i wrote haha

also this really makes me want to visit schloss linderhof lmao

[mistray-art]

» Day 16 » The Barbarian » Into the Electric Castle.

[16 november 2022]

[metalshockfinland]

AYREON Announce '30th Anniversary: An Amazing Flight Through Time' Live Shows

Photo: Lori Linstruth After five sold-out performances of Ayreon – 01011001 – Live Beneath the Waves at the 013 venue in The Netherlands in 2023, attended by 15,000 fans from 64 countries, and following four sold-out Ayreon – Electric Castle Live & Other Tales shows in 2019, as well as three sold-out Ayreon Universe shows in 2017, Ayreon is ready to add another exciting chapter to its live…

[walkaboutrojo]

The Moller Villa: A Storybook Retreat in the Heart of Shanghai

Nestled on the outskirts of the bustling French Concession in Shanghai, the Moller Villa is a one-of-a-kind destination, offering guests an experience that blends historical charm with modern luxury. With its fairytale architecture and rich history, the Moller Villa is not just a hotel but an enchanting escape that transports you back in time while maintaining all the conveniences of the present.

History: A Whimsical Dream Brought to Life

The story of the Moller Villa begins in the early 20th century, when Eric Moller, a British-Jewish shipping magnate, commissioned the construction of the villa. The villa was completed in 1936, and while the real inspiration for its design is debated, local legend has it that Moller built it as a dreamlike castle for his daughter. The tale suggests she had vivid dreams of living in a fairytale-like castle, and Moller, devoted to his family, wanted to make her dream come true. Although it’s a lovely story, the true design inspirations likely stem from Scandinavian influences with touches of Gothic and Tudor styles, reflecting Moller’s personal background and architectural tastes.

The Moller family was involved in horse racing and shipping, which is evident throughout the property. Statues and motifs related to horses and nautical themes are scattered around the grounds, a nod to Moller’s love for racing and his professional ties to the maritime industry.

After Moller left China in the late 1940s, the villa took on new life. It was used by the Communist Youth League for several decades before being transformed into a hotel in 2002. Today, the Moller Villa stands as a rare example of a European-style mansion in the heart of Shanghai, offering guests not just a place to stay but a rich historical experience.

Location: A Peaceful Oasis in the Heart of the City

Located just a block away from the lively French Concession, the Moller Villa is perfectly situated for those wanting to explore Shanghai’s rich cultural heritage. The French Concession is known for its tree-lined streets, colonial architecture, and vibrant blend of old and new Shanghai. From cafes and boutiques to local markets and upscale restaurants, this area is a melting pot of history and modern urban life.

Despite its central location, the villa offers a peaceful escape from the city's hustle and bustle, surrounded by lush gardens and tranquil walkways that make it feel like a world away.

Room Experience: Old-World Charm Meets Modern Comfort

The rooms at the Moller Villa are a study in elegance and history. Each room is adorned with crown moldings, ornate woodwork, and vintage furnishings that harken back to the villa’s storied past. The furniture shows slight wear, but these imperfections only add to the charm of staying in such a historic building.

The bathrooms are equipped with modern amenities, including electric toilets, high-end toiletries, and soft, plush towels. Many rooms also offer balconies with views of the villa’s gardens, providing a serene space to relax after a day of exploring Shanghai.

Each room features a minibar, stocked with a variety of drinks, and a small workstation complete with USB ports and other modern conveniences. The mix of historical décor with modern amenities ensures that guests have everything they need for a comfortable stay while appreciating the villa’s unique character.

Facilities: An Intimate and Elegant Setting

While the Moller Villa is relatively small compared to other luxury hotels in Shanghai, it offers several high-end facilities to cater to its guests. The restaurant located in the main villa provides an elegant dining experience, with a menu that blends international and local flavors. Private dining rooms are available for more intimate meals or special events.

One of the unique features of the villa is its historical displays scattered throughout the property, offering a glimpse into the Moller family’s life and the villa’s transformation over the years. Guests can explore the grounds and discover statues of horses, which serve as a reminder of Eric Moller’s passion for racing.

Service: Warm and Professional

The service at the Moller Villa is impeccable, with staff trained to provide five-star hospitality. From check-in to check-out, the staff is attentive and eager to assist with anything guests may need, whether it's providing local recommendations or ensuring a smooth and comfortable stay.

Guests have commented on the warmth and professionalism of the staff, noting that they go out of their way to make every guest feel welcome. This level of service only enhances the overall experience of staying in such a special and historical hotel.

Final Thoughts: A Fairytale Escape in the Heart of Shanghai

The Moller Villa offers a unique blend of history, luxury, and charm. Its whimsical architecture, combined with its central location in Shanghai’s French Concession, makes it an ideal destination for those looking to experience something truly special. Whether you're staying for the history or the luxurious amenities, the Moller Villa is an unforgettable experience.

For travelers who appreciate a hotel with character, history, and an enchanting story, the Moller Villa is a must-visit. It’s not just a place to stay—it’s a journey into Shanghai’s past, wrapped in luxury and elegance.

Rojo Rating:

Location: 8

Facilities: 6

Amenities: 5

Décor: 8

Staff: 7

Food: 7

Cleanliness: 8

Comfort: 7

Uniqueness: 9

Value: 7

Total: 72/100

For a unique and historical stay in Shanghai, the Moller Villa offers a luxurious and enchanting experience that you won’t find anywhere else.

[wyrmfedgrave]

Pics:

1 & 2. Photos of Willis George Emerson, mystery man.

3 & 4. Covers for the story in question. Note that the right pic shows a ruined house - with a sort of castle behind it! Yet, the left pic is that of a vibrant city.

1906: The Earth (is) Not Hollow.

In 1908, just 2 years after Lovecraft printed his science article, Willis G. Emerson published his sci-fi/fantasy novel "The Smoky God."

This is supposedly a 'true' account of a Norwegian fisherman & his father sailing their sloop thru a North polar entrance & on into the Earth's interior!

They spend 2 years in a strange under ground 'Eden,' encountering giants, a high priest, monsters & lost races that speak Sanskrit!!

A dim, smoky sun lights up this world.

Pics: You've got to love the inclusion of interior art in these old books. It's not the greatest of pics, but, it does help to accept the plot's weirdness...

1. Playing "dodge ball" between North Pole icebergs.

2. Meeting the High Priest who lives in 'Eden.'

3. Avoiding loud, giant elephants!

4. Lucky to sight a passing whaler.

5. Another cover for this story.

Plot: Their original motive was a hunt for ivory. But, it became a quest for the Nordic Gods!

Once in the Inner World, the common motif is the gigantic size of every thing. From the plants to the animals - all are immense.

Showing its superiority, the unnamed civilization here uses gold as a mere decorative metal & not for finance!

Capitalism is 'below' these people.

Emerson credits these folk with quite advanced arts & sciences - including astronomy!

The hero thinks the sun is actually an electrical cloud mass...

Whatever this sun is, it's regularly 'eclipsed' - every 12 hours. So, they experience night as well.

(I guess a studying their 'sun' could be called 'astronomy.' But, that 'star' was also worshiped, so their 'astronomy' should have a more religious tone!)

This civilization is still a pastoral society dedicated to agriculture & the arts. They've 'temples' for music, hill side vineyards & valley grain fields...

There's a long explanation of how their monorail runs, that's so inconsistent, it still baffles modern readers!

(Fly wheels & control of air pressure & gravity all somehow relate to the monorail's speed...)

The Inner World folk speak with each other, no matter what the distance, via "air currents."

(Radio?)

Weird Bit: For some obscure reason, the High Priest lives in a place called 'Eden.' This is also the site where the Biblical rivers of the Euphrates, Pison, Gihon & Hiddekel actually flow from...

They learn that the Inner World folk can live up to 800 years old!!

Olaf & his father even get to explore trees that grow up to a 1,000 feet!

(Sequoias?!)

Then, rather abruptly, Olaf's 'visit' just ends...

The fishermen leave - thru the South Pole! But, only Olaf survives to return home - due to a timely whaling ship.

The story ends like it began: asserting the tale's 'truth' & adding to Olaf's development as a type of hero.

(This is a kind of 2nd-hand plot device, where the 'presenter' of the story isn't the 'true' writer, was widely used by many writers.

This trope was also used by Lovecraft. Just check out his "Call of Cthulhu" for 'proof.' Luckily, it's not a popular literary device nowadays.)

Criticism: This tale adds little to the Hollow Earth genre. But, is a compact retelling of certain Inner World ideas.

This genre's civilizations are never equal to ones on the surface. They're either low tech & primal. Or, far more advanced.

This story follows the latter trope.

From the onset, Emerson distances himself from the tale - it's Olaf's tale to tell.

Yet, Emerson is also responsible for presenting the work as legit! He uses excerpts from W.F. Warren, Sir John Barrow & Robert E. Peary to backup the story's approach.

Much space is used to set up the 'fact' of a Hollow Earth & Olaf's credibility.

For instance, the tale took a long time to be published - because Olaf was supposedly institutionalized, in an asylum, for many years!

Just for trying to 'share' his story...

Finally, Olaf's dying confession elicits sympathy - as dying people "don't lie with their final breaths."

Author: There seems to be little info on W.G. Emerson's life, so the following summary will have to suffice.

Emerson was a lawyer (in 1886), a Chi Town newspaper man, a Republican Party promoter, a politician, a Western writer(!) & even a criminal!!

But, Emerson quickly lost all interest in the Law & moved to Kansas. There, he became part of the Republican Party.

Then, moving West, Emerson built the North American Copper Company & the town of Encampment. Both are situated in Wyoming.

Crimes: Emerson is known to have been involved in several mining & stock frauds.

But, Emerson also committed major fraud with his small Emerson Motor Company. He sold cars that were actually 'disguised' Ford vehicles!

(Sigh. These Republicans.)

[the-essence-of-epica]

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐟𝐢𝐭 #𝟏

📸 by Kitty van de Waart

[valleyofanneke]

No holy sunrays Will light my tomb of dreams I won't return From the valley of the queens

[mistray-art]

» Day 20 » The Futureman » Into the Electric Castle.

[20 november 2022]

[filmflits]

Electric Castle Live And Other Tales

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Electric Castle Live And Other Tales

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INFO: BLURAY | Engels | 28 maart 2020

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Productiejaar: 2020

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