SixesAlltheway
Ancient Mariner
I do! Campbell mentions some newer writers too in the piece Foro posted. The book The Mammoth Book of the Best of Best New Horror, authors Lisa Tuttle, Mark Samuels, Thomas Ligotti, Kazuo Ishiguro
I do! Campbell mentions some newer writers too in the piece Foro posted. The book The Mammoth Book of the Best of Best New Horror, authors Lisa Tuttle, Mark Samuels, Thomas Ligotti, Kazuo Ishiguro
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
I didn't actually read the article that carefully as it seemed to be a bit of an advert for several books, which didn't strike me as particularly representative of what Campbell probably wanted to recommend; or even that representative of the authors (e.g. Machen) that he discusses. It was a strange choice of editions, those five...
SixesAlltheway
Ancient Mariner
Not knowing Campbell I have no idea what would be more representative of him....The anthology series Best New Horror seems worth looking into though.
http://www.stephenjoneseditor.com/index.html
http://www.stephenjoneseditor.com/index.html
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
I actually just meant that the interview & recommendations format itself was a little contrived. Campbell talks about someone like Machen; they then link this to a specific Penguin paperback edition, which doesn't (oddly) even have the story, The Great God Pan, which Campbell specifically mentions. He discusses HPL, but there is no indication of where you might find the stories he cites. In the interview detail it's clear that Campbell is not talking about the books they're showing you, but is talking more generally about the authors. The article says he recommends "five disturbing tales"; or is it five books?; or is it five authors? It's a muddle was the only point I was actually trying to say.
SixesAlltheway
Ancient Mariner
I agree that the interview is a bit catchall. Some general horror genre talk, influences and recommendations. He does point out the bit about The Great God Pan though " This collection doesn’t contain The Great God Pan, which is Machen’s seminal novel. But it does have a lot of other very remarkable stories."
At the top of the article is the five books he recommends:
Machen: The White People and Other Stories
Jackson: The Haunting of Hill House
Hartwell: The Dark Descent
Jones: Mammoth Book of Horror
MR James: Collected Ghost Stories
But yes, the article tries to do a lot at the same time and it gets a bit confusing.
At the top of the article is the five books he recommends:
Machen: The White People and Other Stories
Jackson: The Haunting of Hill House
Hartwell: The Dark Descent
Jones: Mammoth Book of Horror
MR James: Collected Ghost Stories
But yes, the article tries to do a lot at the same time and it gets a bit confusing.
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
Yes, I concede all of this fluff is utterly without purpose; I'm nit-picking simply because I've read & heard Campbell talk before & this seemed an odd, clunky "interview".
Do proceed...
Do proceed...
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
@CriedWhenBrucieLeft @SixesAlltheway My wife recommends this site (I haven't read anything yet(!), but she thinks I'd like it as well; that interview I posted came from her as well):
OLDSTYLE TALES PRESS.
ARTFULLY ANNOTATED ILLUSTRATED ANTHOLOGIES of UNFORGETTABLE HORROR CLASSICS
by the GREAT MASTERS of SUPERNATURAL TALES, WEIRD FICTION, GHOST STORIES, and HORROR.
The Blogs are nice. And there are overviews of authors:
Victorian Masters {fl. 1830 - 1895}.
M A C A B R E P A S T S .
Edwardian Masters {fl. 1895 - 1921}.
P E C U L I A R T E R R O R S .
Scottish and Irish Masters.
G R O T E S Q U E F A N T A S I E S .
The American Ghost Story.
D A R K A R A B E S Q U E S .
The American Weird Tale.
P E R V E R S E I M A G I N I N G S .
The Modern Masters. {1939 - 1976}
P O S T - W A R N I G H T M A R E S .
Post-Modern Masters {1976 - Present}
Enjoy!
OLDSTYLE TALES PRESS.
ARTFULLY ANNOTATED ILLUSTRATED ANTHOLOGIES of UNFORGETTABLE HORROR CLASSICS
by the GREAT MASTERS of SUPERNATURAL TALES, WEIRD FICTION, GHOST STORIES, and HORROR.
The Blogs are nice. And there are overviews of authors:
Victorian Masters {fl. 1830 - 1895}.
M A C A B R E P A S T S .
Edwardian Masters {fl. 1895 - 1921}.
P E C U L I A R T E R R O R S .
Scottish and Irish Masters.
G R O T E S Q U E F A N T A S I E S .
The American Ghost Story.
D A R K A R A B E S Q U E S .
The American Weird Tale.
P E R V E R S E I M A G I N I N G S .
The Modern Masters. {1939 - 1976}
P O S T - W A R N I G H T M A R E S .
Post-Modern Masters {1976 - Present}
Enjoy!
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CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
Looks familiar, I'll have a look...
Maturin
Sköldpadda
Read John Ajvide Lindqvist? Most famous for Let the Right One In. I'd recommend that one, and Harbour.
Forostar
Ancient Mariner
I still have that film laying around. How is it? Very graphic?
I've only seen the original version, and thought it was very good. There's quite a bit of gore, but from what I remember you don't get to see too much of it for prolonged periods, because it's always quite dark. Quite a slow paced film, if you're used to action stuff, to begin with, but the character development is great. Not one for the kids.
Maturin
Sköldpadda
Which one, American or the original? The original film is far less shocking than the book, that's for sure. (They didn't include the pedophilia or the castration scene...) The true horrors you'll find in the miserable lives of the outcast characters and brooding existentialism rather than in gore.
Pretty much, yes.
Maturin
Sköldpadda
Reading After the Crash by Michel Busi.
A great mystery novel, and a bad mystery novel at the same time. The mystery at the heart of it is great; the "Dan Brown-ism" of a batshit crazy killer going on a rampage to drive the plot forward is really tiring. But I'm only halfway through so perhaps I may be surprised by some godsend twist to it all (just not of the Dan Brown-kind where the great benefactor turns out to be the real mastermind who orchestrated all of it, please!) At least Busi is a better writer than Brown though. Anyone read it?
Edit: Finished it.
A great mystery novel, and a bad mystery novel at the same time. The mystery at the heart of it is great; the "Dan Brown-ism" of a batshit crazy killer going on a rampage to drive the plot forward is really tiring. But I'm only halfway through so perhaps I may be surprised by some godsend twist to it all (just not of the Dan Brown-kind where the great benefactor turns out to be the real mastermind who orchestrated all of it, please!) At least Busi is a better writer than Brown though. Anyone read it?
Edit: Finished it.
Turned out to be Dan Brown after all. 
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Forostar
Ancient Mariner
These two books by Stephen Volk sound good, especially for people into Hitchcock or Peter Cushing, but I guess it can also be nice for others:
LEYTONSTONE
by Stephen Volk
Afterword by Stephen Gallagher
(novella, Spectral Press, 2015)
One evening in 1906 a chubby little boy of seven, son of a London greengrocer, is taken by his father to visit the local police station.
There he suddenly finds himself, inexplicably, locked up for a crime he hasn't committed - or has he? Blinking into sunlight, traumatized by his overnight stay, he is told by his father the next morning: "Now you know what happens to naughty little boys!" But the incident is the catalyst for a series of events that will scar, and create, the world's leading Master of Terror in the century to come...
WHITSTABLE
by Stephen Volk
Afterword by Mark Morris
(novella, Spectral Press, 2013)
*Selected for Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 25, ed. Stephen Jones
*Finalist for Best Novella, British Fantasy Awards 2014
PUBLISHED IN 2013 TO HONOUR THE CENTENARY OF PETER CUSHING'S BIRTH
(cover art and design by Ben Baldwin)
1971. A middle-aged man, wracked with grief, walks along the beach at Whitstable in Kent.
A boy approaches him and, taking him to be the famous vampire-hunter Van Helsing from the Hammer movies, asks for his help. Because he believes his mother's boyfriend is a vampire...
LEYTONSTONE
by Stephen Volk
Afterword by Stephen Gallagher
(novella, Spectral Press, 2015)
One evening in 1906 a chubby little boy of seven, son of a London greengrocer, is taken by his father to visit the local police station.
There he suddenly finds himself, inexplicably, locked up for a crime he hasn't committed - or has he? Blinking into sunlight, traumatized by his overnight stay, he is told by his father the next morning: "Now you know what happens to naughty little boys!" But the incident is the catalyst for a series of events that will scar, and create, the world's leading Master of Terror in the century to come...
Read the Leytonstone official Press Release from Spectral Press here (27 October 2014)
PRE-ORDERS TAKEN ON THE WEB SITE ABOVE
"A chilling and dark work that might have come from the mind of the Master of Suspense himself. An unexpected journey into a heart of darkness" Paul Simpson, Sci-Fi Bulletin
"A daring, chilling, beautifully written piece of work" What are you reading for...?
"A staggering achievement... testament to the extraordinary writing talents of Mr Volk... The reason the book felt so special to me was for that wonderful invocation of the time, the place, and this singular child. Hitchcock buffs will no doubt revel in the ghost of future movies that haunt the text (and rightly so), but I think the greatest strength of the book is that I genuinely believe you could know almost nothing of Hitchcock's work and this would still stand as a powerful, gripping and amazingly evocative narrative" Kit Power, Ginger Nuts of Horror
"Volk's book brilliantly and movingly gives an origin myth to bring light to the ambiguous depths and tragic dimensions of the films, and to restore to Hitchcock his humanity, the wounded and confused pain and compassion at the heart of his work" Jez Winship, Sparks in Electric Jelly
"Leytonstone is intensely vivid, handled with sensitivity and poise, and every bit as impeccably crafted as Whitstable was. Just like its forebear, it's a thoroughly compelling and elegant tale given that special extra something by the considered addition of its choice of protagonist. Volk likely has another award winner under his belt, here. And rightly so" Gareth Jones, Dread Central
"Not only will you find lightning has struck twice, you're now eagerly awaiting when it will strike next. Stephen Volk is a master storyteller. And what stories!" Johnny Mains, editor of Best British Horror
"Through his length career in Hollywood, Hitchcock assiduously maintained his English identity, formed in the streets of his native Leytonstone - and it is this period in which Volk sets his elegantly written, always fascinating narrative... This one is a piece to relish - even if you are not an Alfred Hitchcock aficionado (although that certainly helps)" Barry Forshaw, CrimeTime
"Stephen Volk's novella is engaging and audacious. With sombre glee and descriptive verve, he etches a dark tale of burgeoning adolescence that features his hero in an appearance rather more complex than the familiar cameo. It is a modest but persuasive box of imaginative gems for any lover of cinema" Terry Johnson, playwright of Hitchcock Blonde
"In Leytonstone, author Stephen Volk manages to take a familiar moment in cinema lore and, in a brilliant mix of scholarly research and a vivid, wicked imagination to a dark extreme, creating a one-of-a-kind tale of terror and suspense. Volk possesses a questing mind and an expansive heart and vividly paints dark and light sides of the human equation like few others" Mick Garris, producer of Masters of Horror and Fear Itself
"A new tale which engrosses from the first paragraph... It's a unique, absorbing, disconcerting and evocative story and thus is a worthy successor to the wondrous Whitstable" Tim Dry
"An incredible piece of writing... Leytonstone has the makings of another classic. Befittingly, Stephen has proven the claims of the Jesuits by taking the boy at seven and giving us the man. It's a book I highly recommend" Anthony Watson, Dark Musings
"The writing here is superb and I experienced a voyeuristic pleasure in reading this fascinating narrative, an aspect which would not have been lost on Hitchcock... Highly recommended" Brian Lavelle, No Time is Passing
"I am still processing Leytonstone. Wow, what an amazing read. Incredibly evocative of another time and place, also quite weird, sad and VERY scary. Stephen Volk might well have got to the heart of the man, and the fact I enjoy Hitchcock's film-making and want so badly to like the person who made them makes it all the more unsettling. A tremendous balancing act, and, for me, a real horror story about the dark side of human nature" Anne Billson, film critic and novelist
"Another triumph... There's much to admire here: the skilfully drawn setting, the vibrantly drawn secondary characters, the surprisingly moving coda... Volk's precise and supple prose is the perfect vehicle for his tale. Whether you view Leytonstone as horror, historical fiction or character driven literature is irrelevant. It's quite simply one of the first must reads of 2015." James Everington, This Is Horror
"Likely to be one of this year's most celebrated books" Leytonstone is "a compelling fictional story of guilt, punishment and unintended consequences... (offering) deeper thrills than mere reference-spotting, with its richly evocative description of London in 1906 and Volk's superb characterisation of the young Hitchcock and his parents. A triumph of the imagination... (it) confirms Volk's status as one of the best writers we have. A book to treasure" - James Everington, This Is Horror
"A weighty tale, sometimes innocent and charming, often darker and grittier, but never once putting a foot wrong. Superbly written, atmospheric and tense, this is perfectly structured and never less than gripping. A wonderful read and a worthy successor to the powerful Whitstable. Very highly recommended" Strange Tales (Mark West)
"It's simply incredible and, whether you are a fan of the director's work or not, a compelling, beautiful and unsetlling story of how obsessions are formed" Guy Adams
"Gets to the heart of Hitchcock more effectively than any biography I have ever read, with the kind of disturbing thrills worthy of the man himself at his peak" Neil Snowdon, editor, We are the Martians: the Legacy of Nigel Kneale
"I absolutely loved Leytonstone. Emotionally and psychologically devastating, yet quiet, sad and drenched in melancholy. Masterful" Gary McMahon
"Reading Stephen Volk's remarkable short novel Leytonstone, with its patient, spare, expertly-paced evocation of the life and fears of a very young Hitchcock, you feel a very long way from the abyss, until, in its devastating last quarter, you come to realise just how close you have been to the drop throughout. Volk suspends suspense and then unleashes it like a wave of acid. Leytonstone is an apparently simple tale, told patiently and with a quiet generosity, but when it finally has you in its cupboard, in its stinky cell, in the head of its director, then it takes you beyond cinematic representation to a deeply troubling place; a territory beyond representation where your condition is in the hands of something or someone that, no matter how much it wants to be good, cannot come close" Phil Smith, Mytho
"A fictionalized version of a signal event in the life of six-year-old Alfred Hitchcock, (Leytonstone) is a deeply felt, nuanced, sad, big-hearted work, written with compassion and an unflinching eye. I was already pretty sure I would love it, but it managed to delight me even more than I expected" Nathan Ballingrud, author of North American Lake Monsters
"Beautifully written and compelling. Volk is a master storyteller" Barbie Wilde, author of The Venus Complex
"This is an engrossing story, one which chronicles the birth of a fantastic imagination and the events that shaped Hitchcock to his role as purveyor of terror" Peter Tennant, Black Static
PRE-ORDERS TAKEN ON THE WEB SITE ABOVE
"A chilling and dark work that might have come from the mind of the Master of Suspense himself. An unexpected journey into a heart of darkness" Paul Simpson, Sci-Fi Bulletin
"A daring, chilling, beautifully written piece of work" What are you reading for...?
"A staggering achievement... testament to the extraordinary writing talents of Mr Volk... The reason the book felt so special to me was for that wonderful invocation of the time, the place, and this singular child. Hitchcock buffs will no doubt revel in the ghost of future movies that haunt the text (and rightly so), but I think the greatest strength of the book is that I genuinely believe you could know almost nothing of Hitchcock's work and this would still stand as a powerful, gripping and amazingly evocative narrative" Kit Power, Ginger Nuts of Horror
"Volk's book brilliantly and movingly gives an origin myth to bring light to the ambiguous depths and tragic dimensions of the films, and to restore to Hitchcock his humanity, the wounded and confused pain and compassion at the heart of his work" Jez Winship, Sparks in Electric Jelly
"Leytonstone is intensely vivid, handled with sensitivity and poise, and every bit as impeccably crafted as Whitstable was. Just like its forebear, it's a thoroughly compelling and elegant tale given that special extra something by the considered addition of its choice of protagonist. Volk likely has another award winner under his belt, here. And rightly so" Gareth Jones, Dread Central
"Not only will you find lightning has struck twice, you're now eagerly awaiting when it will strike next. Stephen Volk is a master storyteller. And what stories!" Johnny Mains, editor of Best British Horror
"Through his length career in Hollywood, Hitchcock assiduously maintained his English identity, formed in the streets of his native Leytonstone - and it is this period in which Volk sets his elegantly written, always fascinating narrative... This one is a piece to relish - even if you are not an Alfred Hitchcock aficionado (although that certainly helps)" Barry Forshaw, CrimeTime
"Stephen Volk's novella is engaging and audacious. With sombre glee and descriptive verve, he etches a dark tale of burgeoning adolescence that features his hero in an appearance rather more complex than the familiar cameo. It is a modest but persuasive box of imaginative gems for any lover of cinema" Terry Johnson, playwright of Hitchcock Blonde
"In Leytonstone, author Stephen Volk manages to take a familiar moment in cinema lore and, in a brilliant mix of scholarly research and a vivid, wicked imagination to a dark extreme, creating a one-of-a-kind tale of terror and suspense. Volk possesses a questing mind and an expansive heart and vividly paints dark and light sides of the human equation like few others" Mick Garris, producer of Masters of Horror and Fear Itself
"A new tale which engrosses from the first paragraph... It's a unique, absorbing, disconcerting and evocative story and thus is a worthy successor to the wondrous Whitstable" Tim Dry
"An incredible piece of writing... Leytonstone has the makings of another classic. Befittingly, Stephen has proven the claims of the Jesuits by taking the boy at seven and giving us the man. It's a book I highly recommend" Anthony Watson, Dark Musings
"The writing here is superb and I experienced a voyeuristic pleasure in reading this fascinating narrative, an aspect which would not have been lost on Hitchcock... Highly recommended" Brian Lavelle, No Time is Passing
"I am still processing Leytonstone. Wow, what an amazing read. Incredibly evocative of another time and place, also quite weird, sad and VERY scary. Stephen Volk might well have got to the heart of the man, and the fact I enjoy Hitchcock's film-making and want so badly to like the person who made them makes it all the more unsettling. A tremendous balancing act, and, for me, a real horror story about the dark side of human nature" Anne Billson, film critic and novelist
"Another triumph... There's much to admire here: the skilfully drawn setting, the vibrantly drawn secondary characters, the surprisingly moving coda... Volk's precise and supple prose is the perfect vehicle for his tale. Whether you view Leytonstone as horror, historical fiction or character driven literature is irrelevant. It's quite simply one of the first must reads of 2015." James Everington, This Is Horror
"Likely to be one of this year's most celebrated books" Leytonstone is "a compelling fictional story of guilt, punishment and unintended consequences... (offering) deeper thrills than mere reference-spotting, with its richly evocative description of London in 1906 and Volk's superb characterisation of the young Hitchcock and his parents. A triumph of the imagination... (it) confirms Volk's status as one of the best writers we have. A book to treasure" - James Everington, This Is Horror
"A weighty tale, sometimes innocent and charming, often darker and grittier, but never once putting a foot wrong. Superbly written, atmospheric and tense, this is perfectly structured and never less than gripping. A wonderful read and a worthy successor to the powerful Whitstable. Very highly recommended" Strange Tales (Mark West)
"It's simply incredible and, whether you are a fan of the director's work or not, a compelling, beautiful and unsetlling story of how obsessions are formed" Guy Adams
"Gets to the heart of Hitchcock more effectively than any biography I have ever read, with the kind of disturbing thrills worthy of the man himself at his peak" Neil Snowdon, editor, We are the Martians: the Legacy of Nigel Kneale
"I absolutely loved Leytonstone. Emotionally and psychologically devastating, yet quiet, sad and drenched in melancholy. Masterful" Gary McMahon
"Reading Stephen Volk's remarkable short novel Leytonstone, with its patient, spare, expertly-paced evocation of the life and fears of a very young Hitchcock, you feel a very long way from the abyss, until, in its devastating last quarter, you come to realise just how close you have been to the drop throughout. Volk suspends suspense and then unleashes it like a wave of acid. Leytonstone is an apparently simple tale, told patiently and with a quiet generosity, but when it finally has you in its cupboard, in its stinky cell, in the head of its director, then it takes you beyond cinematic representation to a deeply troubling place; a territory beyond representation where your condition is in the hands of something or someone that, no matter how much it wants to be good, cannot come close" Phil Smith, Mytho
"A fictionalized version of a signal event in the life of six-year-old Alfred Hitchcock, (Leytonstone) is a deeply felt, nuanced, sad, big-hearted work, written with compassion and an unflinching eye. I was already pretty sure I would love it, but it managed to delight me even more than I expected" Nathan Ballingrud, author of North American Lake Monsters
"Beautifully written and compelling. Volk is a master storyteller" Barbie Wilde, author of The Venus Complex
"This is an engrossing story, one which chronicles the birth of a fantastic imagination and the events that shaped Hitchcock to his role as purveyor of terror" Peter Tennant, Black Static
WHITSTABLE
by Stephen Volk
Afterword by Mark Morris
(novella, Spectral Press, 2013)
*Selected for Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 25, ed. Stephen Jones
*Finalist for Best Novella, British Fantasy Awards 2014
PUBLISHED IN 2013 TO HONOUR THE CENTENARY OF PETER CUSHING'S BIRTH
(cover art and design by Ben Baldwin)
1971. A middle-aged man, wracked with grief, walks along the beach at Whitstable in Kent.
A boy approaches him and, taking him to be the famous vampire-hunter Van Helsing from the Hammer movies, asks for his help. Because he believes his mother's boyfriend is a vampire...
Check out the video BOOK TRAILER created by Mark West
Listen to the podcast review by Jim Moon in his "best of the year" 2013 (short reading and review begins 45.40 until 56.00)
"Not only a gripping story but a vivid vignette about one of Britain's best loved actors." Hellnotes
"This will engross and enthrall all Hammer fans and those who adore and revere Cushing. It brings his screen persona vividly to life in a modern context when the monsters are all too real." Tony Earnshaw, author of An Actor And a Rare One: Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes and Beating the Devil: The Making of 'Night of the Demon'
"A chilling cat-and-mouse tale... Whitstable is a triumph... as fitting a tribute to the man as could be imagined." Starburst
"A brilliantly written and finely detailed character piece with an uncomfortable undercurrent of modern day horror... so honest and human than even readers unfamiliar with Cushing will find this an extremely powerful read" HellBound Times
"Possibly the most touching tale that we have had the privilege to review... Whitstable effortlessly blurs reality and fiction in a beautifully realised tale of good versus evil... A must read; not only for fans of Cushing but lovers of great writing in general" Geek Syndicate
"The sensitivity, technical virtuosity and razor-sharp wit of the author's storytelling make Whitstable an entertaining, emotionally resonant and insightful read... Stephen Volk is at the top of his game... An enthusiastic salute to a towering figure in British cinema, a perceptive exploration of the link between imagined and experienced horror, and one of the most gripping and original stories you'll read this year" Andy Hedgecock (co-Fiction Editor, Interzone)
"Stephen Volk has produced a novella that works both as a gripping thriller and as a beautiful and heart-breaking tribute to one of horror's finest stars... Very few books have actually caused tears to well up in my eyes. The love and respect that the author has for Peter Cushing is laid bare on the pages, and as a reader you cannot help but become totally immersed in this poignant tale" Jim McLeod, Ginger Nuts of Horror
"Elegant, moving and absolutely magnificent" Simon Kurt Unsworth
"Peter Cushing was my first hero, and in my opinion Stephen Volk has done something heroic by putting the man who fought onscreen monsters at the heart of a very human drama. Sad, tinged with a palpable sense of loss, beautifully written, and blessed with an unerring eye for crucial detail, Whitstable is a story to savour. If I may be so bold, I'm convinced that Peter Cushing would have approved" Gary McMahon
"The depth of feeling with this character is so strong that you may just want to reach into the pages of the book to console him... A wonderfully written and absorbing novella" Ebookwyrm
"A wonderful piece" David Pirie, author of A Heritage of Horror: The English Gothic Cinema
"I loved Whitstable! It's a beautiful love letter to a man, a genre, and an era that means so much to those of us of a certain age" Mick Garris, producer, Masters of Horror
"A genuine masterpiece... Moving, haunting and triumphant" Johnny Mains (editor, Back From the Dead: The Legacy of the Pan Books of Horror Stories)
"Simply brilliant writing... I almost pity Mr Volk, as he is now in the unenviable position of having to follow this truly inspired piece of work" Dave Brzeski, British Fantasy Society website
"At the heart of this novella is a subtle and beautifully realised portrayal of the power of fiction in our lives, for better or worse, and in Cushing himself we see a man who embodies that principle in all its pleasurable ambiguity. With the possible exception of his wonderful story 'After the Ape', Whitstable is Stephen Volk's best work to date, and I loved it" Peter Tennant, Black Static
"A moving tale... - and one which is crying out to be adapted into a biodrama. How about it, BBC Four?" Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine (5/5 stars)
"This is compulsive, fast-paced writing at its best... an enthralling read... a wonderful tribute to one of the great icons of horror and is up there with Volk's best work" This Is Horror
"Utterly engrossing" Barry Forshaw, author of British Gothic Cinema
"Utterly superb writing, clear as well as being full of haunting feelings... A story for our times... This is not only a classic work of fiction (but) an important one too" D. F. Lewis
"A beautiful piece of work -- heartfelt, respectful, elegant and brave" Dread Central (5/5 stars)
"While it has its chilling moments, it's less a horror story than a moving meditation on loss and heroism, and the ways in which the illusions of cinema can act both as an ironic counterpoint to 'real life' and a set of sustaining myths in the midst of its trials... Horror aficionados will enjoy the film references (...) but it's the warmth and humanity at the heart of this dark tale that really count. Highly recommended." David Sutton, Fortean Times
"This is the subtlest of horrors... touchingly poignant one moment, then heart-stoppingly dark the next" The Eloquent Page
"Undoubtedly one of the most touching and heartfelt books I have ever read" Katie Doherty, Black Sunday Magazine
"A terrific and heartfelt gem that blends real and imagined history to powerful effect. Peter Cushing, a complex and much-loved figure whose fundamental decency shone through even his darkest roles, here responds to a child's plea for help with the persistence and moral courage of the fairytale heroes he often portrayed." Stephen Gallagher (The Bedlam Detective, Eleventh Hour)
"It takes a fiction writer, Stephen Volk, to get closest to who (Peter Cushing) was and what he meant" Kim Newman, Sight & Sound
"I absolutely loved Whitstable. It is fantastic. Haunting, scary, and an incredible rendering of Peter Cushing, private man and actor" Reece Shearsmith, writer/actor (League of Gentlemen, Psychoville)
"Weakened by grief. the cinema's celebrated Van Helsing takes on a vile modern monster - persuasively done, compassionate and satisfying. Mr Cushing would surely smile." Phil Rickman (The Wine of Angels, Merrily Watkins Mysteries)
"To conjure an iconic character so vividly, and to then sustain that character for the entire story, amidst a fascinating immersion into Cushing's careeer and British film making, is some feat. I was impressed." Adam Nevill (The Ritual, Last Days)
"A stunningly original story and a superb example of the novella as an art form." James Everington, Scattershot Writing
"Volk has always been a sensitive writer and this novella certainly fits perfectly into his oeuvre. At the same time the story acts as a memento mori for all of us. It's easy to come away from this exquisite novella wishing that Peter Cushing had been a friend." Nancy Kilpatrick, Beware the Dark
"One of the best things - maybe THE best - that I've read this year. An honest-to-god triumph." Simon Bestwick (The Condemned)
"Just finished Whitstable and erm, seem to have something in my eye. Having been lucky enough to meet Peter Cushing, I can honestly say Mr Volk has beautifully nailed the man. A lovely novella, highly recommended." Anne Billson
"An extraordinary story. This is the best of horror fiction, and if you go away and hunt out only one book from this list you should make it Whitstable" Top Five Books 2013, Richard Wright
"Whitstable will leave you shocked, surprised and left without doubt you've read a novella of great beauty by a writer at the pinnacle of his craft" Anthony Cowin, Horrifically Horrifying Horror Blog
"I have just finished Whitstable and I have been touched, mesmerised and even humbled by such an awesome piece of writing" Zonacrypt
"Wonderful and touching... One of the most moving books I've read in the last year - and by that I mean blubbing in my beard. A very special little book" Jim Moon, Hypnobob
"Profound and touching... Highly recommended" Horror World
"Volk has already given us horribly convincing personifications of human evil in Ghostwatch and Afterlife - and here he gives us his most striking vision of redemption, helped along by the mildest-seeming of heroes. But that was always Cushing's strength, for me - under the quirkiness of his heroes, there was always a very steely edge and that's something captured wonderfully here" Paul Magrs, Life on Magrs blog
"Wonderful, atmospheric and very very moving. I loved this book from start to finish and definitely recommend it" Phil Collinson, former producer, Doctor Who
"Masterful" Stephen Jones, editor, Mammoth Book of Best New Horror series
Listen to the podcast review by Jim Moon in his "best of the year" 2013 (short reading and review begins 45.40 until 56.00)
"Not only a gripping story but a vivid vignette about one of Britain's best loved actors." Hellnotes
"This will engross and enthrall all Hammer fans and those who adore and revere Cushing. It brings his screen persona vividly to life in a modern context when the monsters are all too real." Tony Earnshaw, author of An Actor And a Rare One: Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes and Beating the Devil: The Making of 'Night of the Demon'
"A chilling cat-and-mouse tale... Whitstable is a triumph... as fitting a tribute to the man as could be imagined." Starburst
"A brilliantly written and finely detailed character piece with an uncomfortable undercurrent of modern day horror... so honest and human than even readers unfamiliar with Cushing will find this an extremely powerful read" HellBound Times
"Possibly the most touching tale that we have had the privilege to review... Whitstable effortlessly blurs reality and fiction in a beautifully realised tale of good versus evil... A must read; not only for fans of Cushing but lovers of great writing in general" Geek Syndicate
"The sensitivity, technical virtuosity and razor-sharp wit of the author's storytelling make Whitstable an entertaining, emotionally resonant and insightful read... Stephen Volk is at the top of his game... An enthusiastic salute to a towering figure in British cinema, a perceptive exploration of the link between imagined and experienced horror, and one of the most gripping and original stories you'll read this year" Andy Hedgecock (co-Fiction Editor, Interzone)
"Stephen Volk has produced a novella that works both as a gripping thriller and as a beautiful and heart-breaking tribute to one of horror's finest stars... Very few books have actually caused tears to well up in my eyes. The love and respect that the author has for Peter Cushing is laid bare on the pages, and as a reader you cannot help but become totally immersed in this poignant tale" Jim McLeod, Ginger Nuts of Horror
"Elegant, moving and absolutely magnificent" Simon Kurt Unsworth
"Peter Cushing was my first hero, and in my opinion Stephen Volk has done something heroic by putting the man who fought onscreen monsters at the heart of a very human drama. Sad, tinged with a palpable sense of loss, beautifully written, and blessed with an unerring eye for crucial detail, Whitstable is a story to savour. If I may be so bold, I'm convinced that Peter Cushing would have approved" Gary McMahon
"The depth of feeling with this character is so strong that you may just want to reach into the pages of the book to console him... A wonderfully written and absorbing novella" Ebookwyrm
"A wonderful piece" David Pirie, author of A Heritage of Horror: The English Gothic Cinema
"I loved Whitstable! It's a beautiful love letter to a man, a genre, and an era that means so much to those of us of a certain age" Mick Garris, producer, Masters of Horror
"A genuine masterpiece... Moving, haunting and triumphant" Johnny Mains (editor, Back From the Dead: The Legacy of the Pan Books of Horror Stories)
"Simply brilliant writing... I almost pity Mr Volk, as he is now in the unenviable position of having to follow this truly inspired piece of work" Dave Brzeski, British Fantasy Society website
"At the heart of this novella is a subtle and beautifully realised portrayal of the power of fiction in our lives, for better or worse, and in Cushing himself we see a man who embodies that principle in all its pleasurable ambiguity. With the possible exception of his wonderful story 'After the Ape', Whitstable is Stephen Volk's best work to date, and I loved it" Peter Tennant, Black Static
"A moving tale... - and one which is crying out to be adapted into a biodrama. How about it, BBC Four?" Ian Berriman, SFX Magazine (5/5 stars)
"This is compulsive, fast-paced writing at its best... an enthralling read... a wonderful tribute to one of the great icons of horror and is up there with Volk's best work" This Is Horror
"Utterly engrossing" Barry Forshaw, author of British Gothic Cinema
"Utterly superb writing, clear as well as being full of haunting feelings... A story for our times... This is not only a classic work of fiction (but) an important one too" D. F. Lewis
"A beautiful piece of work -- heartfelt, respectful, elegant and brave" Dread Central (5/5 stars)
"While it has its chilling moments, it's less a horror story than a moving meditation on loss and heroism, and the ways in which the illusions of cinema can act both as an ironic counterpoint to 'real life' and a set of sustaining myths in the midst of its trials... Horror aficionados will enjoy the film references (...) but it's the warmth and humanity at the heart of this dark tale that really count. Highly recommended." David Sutton, Fortean Times
"This is the subtlest of horrors... touchingly poignant one moment, then heart-stoppingly dark the next" The Eloquent Page
"Undoubtedly one of the most touching and heartfelt books I have ever read" Katie Doherty, Black Sunday Magazine
"A terrific and heartfelt gem that blends real and imagined history to powerful effect. Peter Cushing, a complex and much-loved figure whose fundamental decency shone through even his darkest roles, here responds to a child's plea for help with the persistence and moral courage of the fairytale heroes he often portrayed." Stephen Gallagher (The Bedlam Detective, Eleventh Hour)
"It takes a fiction writer, Stephen Volk, to get closest to who (Peter Cushing) was and what he meant" Kim Newman, Sight & Sound
"I absolutely loved Whitstable. It is fantastic. Haunting, scary, and an incredible rendering of Peter Cushing, private man and actor" Reece Shearsmith, writer/actor (League of Gentlemen, Psychoville)
"Weakened by grief. the cinema's celebrated Van Helsing takes on a vile modern monster - persuasively done, compassionate and satisfying. Mr Cushing would surely smile." Phil Rickman (The Wine of Angels, Merrily Watkins Mysteries)
"To conjure an iconic character so vividly, and to then sustain that character for the entire story, amidst a fascinating immersion into Cushing's careeer and British film making, is some feat. I was impressed." Adam Nevill (The Ritual, Last Days)
"A stunningly original story and a superb example of the novella as an art form." James Everington, Scattershot Writing
"Volk has always been a sensitive writer and this novella certainly fits perfectly into his oeuvre. At the same time the story acts as a memento mori for all of us. It's easy to come away from this exquisite novella wishing that Peter Cushing had been a friend." Nancy Kilpatrick, Beware the Dark
"One of the best things - maybe THE best - that I've read this year. An honest-to-god triumph." Simon Bestwick (The Condemned)
"Just finished Whitstable and erm, seem to have something in my eye. Having been lucky enough to meet Peter Cushing, I can honestly say Mr Volk has beautifully nailed the man. A lovely novella, highly recommended." Anne Billson
"An extraordinary story. This is the best of horror fiction, and if you go away and hunt out only one book from this list you should make it Whitstable" Top Five Books 2013, Richard Wright
"Whitstable will leave you shocked, surprised and left without doubt you've read a novella of great beauty by a writer at the pinnacle of his craft" Anthony Cowin, Horrifically Horrifying Horror Blog
"I have just finished Whitstable and I have been touched, mesmerised and even humbled by such an awesome piece of writing" Zonacrypt
"Wonderful and touching... One of the most moving books I've read in the last year - and by that I mean blubbing in my beard. A very special little book" Jim Moon, Hypnobob
"Profound and touching... Highly recommended" Horror World
"Volk has already given us horribly convincing personifications of human evil in Ghostwatch and Afterlife - and here he gives us his most striking vision of redemption, helped along by the mildest-seeming of heroes. But that was always Cushing's strength, for me - under the quirkiness of his heroes, there was always a very steely edge and that's something captured wonderfully here" Paul Magrs, Life on Magrs blog
"Wonderful, atmospheric and very very moving. I loved this book from start to finish and definitely recommend it" Phil Collinson, former producer, Doctor Who
"Masterful" Stephen Jones, editor, Mammoth Book of Best New Horror series
Black Wizard
Pleb Hunter
I just finished Shutter Island which I actually started reading in August but I had some trouble getting into it and left it as I got a bit busy with work. I'm now going to tackle the new Bernard Cornwell book Warriors of the Storm, aiming to finish before I go back to Reading on Thursday.
CriedWhenBrucieLeft
Meme Only Account
Never read the book, what's it like? Decent?