Flowers of the Sea by Reggie Oliver

I picked up Reggie Oliver's latest collection of stories from the Post Office this morning. I think I am probably one of the last people to get the book before it went out of print. I'm looking forward to dipping into this over the next few days. What with getting the DVD of Schalken the Painter in the post yesterday, and not this, things are getting off to a good start for the weekend.

The Screaming Book of Horror

Unfortunately the launch for The Screaming Book of Horror was scuppered at FantasyCon because the printers were unable to deliver it on time. Copies are available now, though, from this link. With a brand new story by the late John Brunner, not to mention the likes of Bernard Taylor, Reggie Oliver, Christopher Fowler, John Burke, and Man Booker nominee, Alison Moore, this is an important book which everyone interested in the horror genre should get.

Table of Contents
Christenings Can Be Dangerous – John Llewellyn Probert
Larva – John Brunner
The Swarm – Alison Littlewood
Natural Selection – Robin Ince
One of the Family – Bernard Taylor
Cut! – Anna Taborska
The Christmas Toys – Paul Finch
The Quixote Candidate – Rhys Hughes
Helping Mummy – Kate Farell
The City of Plenty – Alex Miles
The Iron Cross – Craig Herbertson
Sometimes You Think You Are Alone – Alison Moore
Bird Doll – Claire Massey
What Shall We Do About Barker? – Reginald Oliver
Old Grudge Ender – David A. Riley
Jack and Jill – Steve Rasnic Tem
The Blackshore Dreamer – John Burke
Imagination – Christopher Fowler
The Baby Trap – Janine Wood
The Tip Run – Johnny Mains
Dementia – Charlie Higson

Shadow Plays by Reggie Oliver

Finished reading the M. R. James play in this beautiful volume from Egaeus Press. It's the only piece, apart from the introductions to each story, that I hadn't already read in earlier volumes. The play, though, is worth the price of the book alone. Included amongst the characters is, of course, James and A. C. Benson. I would love one day to see this performed on stage, though it was engrossing enough as a good read, by turns enlightening, amusing and, ultimately, quite sad. There is an ongoing Jamesian story which is brilliant too.

The Screaming Book of Horror

Stephen Upham's Screaming Dreams will be publishing The Screaming Book of Horror later this year (cover by Steve). Included in it will be my story Old Grudge Ender, along with:

One of the Family – Bernard Taylor
Glory and Splendour – Alex Miles
What Shall We Do About Barker? – Reginald Oliver 
Cut! – Anna Taborska
The Christmas Toys – Paul Finch 
The Quixote Candidate – Rhys Hughes 
Helping Mummy – Kate Farrell 
The Iron Cross – Craig Herby 
The Baby Trap – Janine Wood 
The Club – Sara Brunsdon 
Sometimes You Think You Are Alone – Alison Moore 
The Tip Run – Johnny Mains

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.

Bite Sized Horror - another brilliant review

The Short Review: yet another very positive review of this collection.

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.