Panel Discussion: New Wave of Horror Fiction

Last night, finally back - for the first time in nearly a year! - with the Horror Book Club! Not a book club meeting per se - I never have time to read them - this was a panel, in Waterstone's - of new horror writers, discussing what's current. I booked for Prezzo, next door, beforehand - probably didn't need to, but why not?

Well, despite the best efforts of my bus - delayed, stopped to "regulate the service", stopped for a change of driver - I was still in time for my booking. You see, I had to change to a bus going down Strand - but I only needed to travel two stops, so every single bus that passed would take me there! I actually arrived early for my booking - and it was as well I had booked, as I saw when I went in, because I might have had trouble getting a space. 

Perusing the menu, I saw.. bottomless alcohol! Ooh.. now, this mightn't be for everyone - it only lasts for 90 minutes, for one thing - but the price charged was less than the cost of two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc: and I typically have two glasses of Sauvignon Blanc with a meal! So I had that - had to yell it at her, with the noise level, and her thinking first off I was asking for a bottle.. the American-sounding couple at the table beside me seemed rather shocked. :-) I also ordered the chicken spaghetti carbonara al forno - quite a mouthful, even to say. I didn't bother with a starter - I figured the pasta would fill me up, and anyway, I was rather put off by the couple on my other side, who were apparently waiting ages for their starter, then the doughballs arrived cold. They had them taken off the bill, and left without having a main - rather off-putting.

My wine arrived in good time, and I was conscious of drinking it fairly fast, mindful that I had to be out of there within an hour for what I was going to. The food took ages - she apologised when she brought it, muttered something that I think amounted to them cooking the wrong thing. But it was very moreish - I might have had dessert (they brought a gorgeous-looking one to a nearby table), but of course I didn't have time. Unable to attract anyone's attention for the bill, I stood and put on my coat, and asked for the bill of the next server that happened by - he brought it immediately. Now, the irate couple on that side had been replaced by a young, again American-sounding, couple (there were a lot of American couples last night), who were discussing what sounded like an amazing round the world trip.. I threw in my tuppence worth of advice before I left. Think I persuaded them to head via Transylvania - well, I had a great time there last year! I was amazed that they hadn't considered that Egypt can be dangerous though.. I advised them it was terrific, but did warn them that when I was there, we were guarded by guys with machine guns..

And so on to the horror talk, which I made in time - she scanned my ticket, and downstairs I went. Unfortunately, the group organiser messaged to say she couldn't make it, but I did OK for myself, discovering the free wine! Grabbed a glass and sat down the back - I didn't see anyone I recognised. Left a message on the group page in case anyone was around.

There were five authors, as I recall - and it wasn't so much a philosophical discussion about the trends in horror in general as a personal exposition of the writing process for each of them. One guy did bring up an interesting point, about how there was a golden age for horror, then people thought it was a restricted, gory genre and moved away from it - to the extent that now, once more, horror is classified under other categories - thriller, SciFi.. which they all lamented, quoting several good horror writers. You might have picked up the names of some good books from the talk - for me, the main benefit I derived from it was pure inspiration of how it might be to be a horror author.  One of these years, perhaps..

At the end, a friend of mine, in several of the same groups as I am, popped up beside me! I then spied one of the book club members (specifically - I don't know him from anywhere else) near the front, and we went over to say hi - well, he couldn't get away from us fast enough, just grunted something and sped off. And that was that, as far as the Meetup went! You know, as I say, I hardly go with this group any more, and last night didn't enthuse me to change my mind - I should really resign from it, but every now and again they come up with something good. Like this. Anyway, as I was unable to see anyone else I recognised, I went with my friend for a nightcap in The Admiralty. A good end to the night! As usual, I was too tired to blog afterwards.

Tonight, finally back with storytelling at Torriano! Hosted, as ever, by Nell Phoenix, it's - again - months since I was there. On this occasion, the performance is Lilith: The Other Side of the Story.

Tomorrow, by the way, we have a company-sponsored team lunch, a reward for our hard work on the recent release - and I'll be eating burgers again, in Byron Burgers. Another place I haven't been to in years! And tomorrow evening, I thought film - and what came up was Mr. Nobody Against Putin, a documentary where a Russian teacher films his school to capture Putin's brainwashing of schoolchildren to fight against the Ukraine. Showing in the Curzon Bloomsbury - which, of course, I can walk to from the office, where I'll be that day. I booked - it was selling out - and used the last of my year's free tickets on it.

Then a few more days of horror. On Friday, I'm off to Dark Secrets: The Esoteric Exhibition at Waterloo Vaults - sounded too interesting to miss!

On Saturday, storytelling from the Crick Crack Club! Ben Haggarty and Sarah-Liisa Wilkinson are performing Stories in the Dark at the Richmond Lending Library. Sold out now, I believe. I've booked the Buenos Aires steakhouse for afterwards.

On Sunday, back with The Hideout for Good Boy - a horror film from the perspective of a dog just trying to protect its master! Happening in Cineworld Leicester Square - details announced last night - and I'm eating in Bella Italia beforehand, of course, then meeting the group at Victory House.

Next, a couple of plays. On Monday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Lifers, a prison drama at Southwark Playhouse - was delighted I still had credit on my PAYG subscription with them.

On Tuesday, heading to Blessings at Riverside Studios - a play about a staunchly religious family in the 60s, with change in the offing. Damnit, I saw it was on CT, checked to see whether full-price tickets were more expensive, which they were - and accidentally booked one of those instead!

Next Wednesday is our work social - we're headed to Boom Battle Bar, which has, em, axe throwing.. among other things. Augmented reality features. Well, I missed it at Shocktober..

On the 16th, I'm back with the London Classical Music and Theatre Group for The Cardinall's Musick, performing a choral concert at St. Martin in the Fields.

On the 17th, The Hideout persuaded me to go to Ti West's X trilogy - Pearl, X, and MaXXXine - at the PCC. Never seen any of them before. Lord knows when I'll have time to eat..

And on the 18th, meeting James for our monthly get-together at The Phoenix - it's the only weekend he can, and he prefers Saturday. Ivan can't make it - Martin provisional as of yet.