The Ninth Black Book of Horror

Pleased to see that the Ninth Black Book of Horror from Mortbury Press, edited by Charles Black, is to be launched at FantasyCon this September. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend but I hope the launch goes well. Stories in it by Simon Bestwick, Kate Farrell, Paul Finch, John Forth, Tom Johnstone, Thana Niveau, Marion Pitman, John Llewellyn Probert, David A. Riley, Anna Taborska and David Williamson. I can't believe it's reached the 9th volume already!

Alt.-ghost story festival, Halifax, 12th November

There has been a second update on the Ghost Story Festival in Halifax this November on the Tartarus Press Blog:

Tickets £10 for the whole day including the theatre (or £6 for "Ghosts in 60 Seconds" only)
(ordering details to folow shortly)

The provisional programme is as follows (subject to fine-tuning)

1.30am-2.00pm:
Reggie Oliver reads "Ritual", a short story by Arthur Machen

2.00pm - 2.30pm:
Panel discussing Arthur Machen, chaired by his most recent biographer, Mark Valentine, and including Gwilym Games and Reggie Oliver.

2.30pm - 2.50pm:
Dr Mark Goodall introduces "The Happy Children" (exquisite black and white Machen short film)

Break for drinks and snacks

3.15pm - 4.00pm:
Panel discussion: Pushing the boundaries of the ghost story, with Nick Royle, John Llewellyn Probert and Chris Maloney.

4.00pm - 4.50pm:
Ray Russell introduces screening of "Three Miles Up" (adaptation of Elizabeth Jane Howard story) running time: 50 minutes

5.00pm - 5:50pm
Rare screening of "The Hospice" by Robert Aickman (TV adaptation starring Jack Shepherd) running time: 45 minutes

5.50pm - 6.10 pm
General discussion about the festival and the programme for next year.

6.10-6.25
Screening of a pacey short film by Ashley Thorpe

Viaduct Theatre opens for "Ghosts in 60 Seconds" (one minute playwriting festival) at 8pm. Ends 9pm
Viaduct Cafe bar open 7pm-11pm

Additionally, we also hope to launch the publication of a new edition of We Are for the Dark by Robert Aickman and Elizabeth Jane Howard.


Looking forward to this event. Last year's was superb. Lin and I have already booked into a hotel in Halifax for the Friday and Saturday nights so we won't miss anything.

Prism - Spring Edition

Spent quite a few hours this weekend putting all the material I have been emailed for the next issue together in a standardised format, ready to be sent off. It seems to be shaping up well, with a better balance of reviews this time, and a long but very interesting interview and the usual excellent columns from Ramsey Campbell, Mark Morris and John Probert.  I've only done one review this time - Reggie Oliver's The Dracula Papers, Book One: The Scholar's Tale, which Chomu Press sent me a month or so back. I really enjoyed this book, which is in the pure tradition of the Gothic novel. A long novel, but an enjoyable read every page of the way.

By Tuesday I expect to be able to put Prism to disc and send it off.