"The modern master of the gamebook format" (Rob Sanders)... "Can do dark very well" (Jonathan Oliver)... "Green gets mileage out of his monsters" (SFX Magazine)... "It takes a firm editorial hand and a keen understanding of the tone of each piece to make a collection this diverse work, and Green makes it look effortless" (Starburst Magazine)... "A charming blend of camp creatures, humour, and genuine horror" (Set the Tape)
Today is the 83rd anniversary of H P Lovecraft's death, in 1937. This event coincides with the world generally shutting down because of COVID-19.
I have seen much mention, on social media, of the fact that, whilst he was in quarantine during a time of plague, England's foremost playwright wrote not just Macbeth but also King Lear.
Lovecraft-corrupted versions of both these tales appear in the anthology Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu. In The Terrors of the Earth, Pat Kelleher gives us his squamous take on The Tragedy of King Lear, while noted Scottish author Graham McNeill, re-imagines the Scottish Play for a modern, genre audience, with his tale, Something Wicked This Way Comes.
So in case you find yourself in lockdown due to the Coronavirus, why not make sure you have a copy of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu to hand, just in case.
Next week is Shakespeare Week (running from Monday 20th March to Sunday 26th March) so what better time is there to pick up a copy of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu and dip into the myriad short stories through the next seven days?
"The concept is a good one to base an anthology of short stories around. The premise is what if Shakespeare rather than Lovecraft had discovered the Great Old Ones and in particular Cthulhu. So the book is based on stories written by the great bard, but all with a Lovecraftian bent. "I enjoyed reading the book, but it also one I was pleased to enjoy in hard copy rather than in Kindle form, and that's down to the format and the typesetting. The design is taken from play manuscripts of the time and adds a sense of visual aesthetic to the read. It also helps ground the stories it contains... "The story about Henry V really shone for me. It was also interesting to see how the different authors tackled the blend in stories. Some were more explicit than others, while some simply took inspiration and followed their own path. The Twitter sonnet at the end was a nice construct. "While the variance in quality can be expected in an anthology like this, it's strength also stems from that variety. The range of stories from Shakespeare is impressive, as is how they were handled. There's some lovely craft here."
"I rarely support book kickstarters as I usually prefer just buying the book once it's available, however this seemed like a fun idea so I backed it. And I'm glad I did... The design is taken from play manuscripts of the time and adds a sense of visual aesthetic to the read. It also helps ground the stories it contains... While the variance in quality can be expected in an anthology like this, it's strength also stems from that variety. The range of stories from Shakespeare is impressive, as is how they were handled. There's some lovely craft here.
So I liked this a lot, it was a fun concept, that delivered on its premise. Highly recommended."
You can pick up your own copy of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu here. And, once you've read it, why not post your own review?
Horrorville is a brand new quarterly magazine, edited by Will Salmon, that introduces itself at the 'Home of Modern Horror', and I'm pleased to report that Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu is reviewed in the very first issue.
It's not the most marvellous review, giving the book 3.5 stars out of 5, but it just goes to show how reviewers' tastes can vary so greatly. While the Starburst review was a grand 9 out of 10, that reviewer didn't rate Graham McNeill's Something Wicked This Way Comes, the Horrorville reviewer calls it the stand-out story in the anthology.
Horrorville is available now from major newsagent outlets.
Yesterday, Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu was well and truly launched at the Forbidden Planet Megastore in London.
There were books...
There were cakes...
The Bard himself was in attendance, as was a minion of Cthulhu...
And there were authors and artists and loyal supporters there too...
And then, with the stars were no longer in alignment, it was time to retire to a local hostelry and quaff flagons of foaming ale...
Thank you to all the authors and artists who made the effort to be there (despite train breakdowns and clashes with Nine Worlds Geekfest) and thank you to everyone who came along in support, as well as to buy books.
And lastly, a big thank you to Mark and everyone at the store who helped out (and an even bigger thank you for the biscuits and the water) and also to Danie who arranged it all in the first place.
If you're dropping by Forbidden Planet anytime soon, they have some signed copies of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu in stock at the moment, but they're not going to hang around for long!
All of the backer paperbacks of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu went out this week to those people who supported the original Kickstarter, and some have already been spotted out in the wild.
Shakespeare Vs Cat-thulhu, courtesy of Matt Zitron
Register your interest in attending now on Facebook.
Contributors who will be in attendance include Jonathan Oliver, Andrew Lane, Ian Edginton, Adrian Chamberlin, James Lovegrove, Ed Fortune, Malcolm Barter, Tony Hough, Neil Roberts, and yours truly.
As well as having the chance to meet all these luminaries of the genre world, you will also be able to have your photograph taken with the Bard - a Shakespeare selfie, if you like - and there will be cake. What more do you need to know?
If you're in the general London area next Saturday, maybe I'll see you there.
Last Shakespeare Sunday, I previewed the last of the 15 stories that appear in Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu. But it's not only short stories that are to be found within this rather wonderful cover...
Shakespeare wasn’t only a playwright, he was a poet as well, most famous for his 154 sonnets, and so Shakespeare Vs Cthulhualso features two Lovecraftian-themed sonnets.
First there's Nimue Brown’s What Dreams May Come, and then there's Danie Ware’s The Green-Ey’d Monster. Both form a fitting tribute to the Bard of Stratford whilst at the same time honouring Lovecraft’s literary legacy.
The last story to be previewed from Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu is Pat Kelleher's The Terrors of the Earth. I first met Pat when we were both working for Abaddon Books, the imprint for which I created the Pax Britannia steampunk series and Pat wrote the No Man’s World trilogy.
Pat and I got chatting about Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu back at Edge-Lit last year, when I was there promoting my first short story anthology SHARKPUNK. Pat has taken King Learas the inspiration for his story, The Terrors of the Earth, and here's an extract...
Gazing out through rheumy eyes at his three daughters, gathered courtiers, nobles and servants, Great Leyh’r, son of Bladud, son of Lud, King of the ancient Isle of Albion, sat throned in Troynovant’s Great Hall.
Outwardly, he bore the stately manner of a King of Albion. Inside he howled like a man condemned, beating at the confines of his cell, unable to escape his fate; a fate thrust upon him by Divine Right of Succession and the Blood of Albion that ran in his veins. He had seen some fourscore years, threescore of those upon the throne of Albion, the previous score in the company of his father, King Bladud, and his dark obsession, of which the rule of the kingdom was but the least of it.
Leyh’r felt the ineffable yoke of his office press down upon him like the years on his back that weakened his sinews, agued his bones and misted his sight. If he could bear it a little longer he might yet do some good, even though he must still carry the heavier portion of that burden alone toward death.
Pat Kelleher is a freelance writer. He served his time writing a wide variety of TV licensed characters, across a bewildering array of media, has several non-fiction books to his credit and a collection of children’s stories published by Bloomsbury. His No Man’s World series of pulp sci-fi novels is published by Abaddon Books, along with his Gods and Monsters e-novella,Drag Hunt. He also worked on Sniper Elite 3, the latest in the video game series from Rebellion and has short stories published by Tickety Boo Press and the award-winning Fox Spirit Books.
As you will already know, if you have been following these weekly Shakespeare Vs Cthulhuupdates, three of the stories that appear in the anthology are set during William Shakespeare's lifetime.
The first of these is Josh Reynolds’A Tiger’s Heart, A Player’s Hide, which is set during the summer of 1592, when an outbreak of plague resulted in the closure of all of the theatres in London. The second is Guy Haley’s A Reckoning, which takes as its inspiration the circumstances surrounding the murder of Shakespeare’s friend, and fellow playwright, Christopher ‘Kit’ Marlowe in a tavern brawl in Deptford, in 1593. And the third is John Reppion'sExeunt.
The story takes place towards the end of Shakespeare’s life, in 1616, and here's a taster...
The night outside was cold and wet. The sky just as blank and lifeless as it had seemed through Fletcher's grimy window. William hurriedly fastened his cloak and set off at a pace along the narrow, busy street. He felt old. In his very marrow, his heart, his mind. Old and weary.
Why had he even returned to London this time? What hold did this filthy city have upon him that he could not be content to leave it behind once and for all? He should be in Stratford with Anne. She was alone in the house now, Judith married and gone only one month ago, and yet here he was.
Mud and shit sucked at the wrinkled leather of his boots as he stamped along. He did not need to think about where he was going, his feet knew the way. He walked on, lost in thought, oblivious to those he passed, many of whom recognised him and some of whom he should have recognised himself.
At the mention of Hamnet it had been as if a great sorrow sunk deep within had risen and burst to the surface of William's being. Sorrow and guilt too, for he had not been with the boy at the end. Had not seen nearly enough of him in his short life.
Tears were on his cheeks once more but they were almost indistinguishable from the sooty, spattering drizzle which fell over all.
No, that was not right. Though it had been John who had spoken Hamnet's name, the boy's spectre had already been summoned by William's own thoughts and words.
How had John known though? Could the answer be that he was indeed a true friend? A man who knew William's sadness and understood how he had suffered. He said he had not meant to wound him, and yet –
William squelched to a halt at a gateway off Borough High Street. He shoved the gate inward with a painful creak which felt like it emanated as much from himself as the straining hinges. Arranged around three sides of the yard beyond were the higgledy–piggledy buildings of The Tabard Inn – a hostelry which had been in business for more than three centuries. Despite the rain there were some whose merry-making had spilled out into the court, several taking advantage of the yards darker corners to satiate those urges and appetites drink so often provokes.
Upon entering The Tabard, William was immediately accosted by a party of theatre-folk. He knew a few by sight, only one or two by name, yet felt no inclination to decline their insistent invitation. Indeed, he had more or less counted on as much. His cup was kept full, food ordered and eaten. Either they would pay for the pleasure of his company, or else he would be left with a hefty bill to settle. He did not much care which. Their inane, self-important jabbering was a welcome distraction from his earlier vexation and the renewed rawness of his sorrows. He laughed when they laughed, slapped their backs as they did his, until at last, in his cups, he stood upon the table and bellowed a toast.
“Oh, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! That we should, with joy, pleasance revel and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!”
A roar of approval. The meaning and origin of the speech lost on almost all present. William, wobbling on the table-top, laughed then coughed until his eyes watered.
“And now,” he cried “I must piss!”
A roar even louder and more exultant.
Out in the yard Shakespeare planted his feet firmly and sent forth a golden arc, frothing a puddle until upon its surface was a head worthy of an ale. Triumphant, he looked to the sky. The rain had ceased, the clouds dispersed, and the heavens were now filled with stars.
“Will.” The voice came from across the yard, little more than a whisper.
Adjusting his breeches, William peered into the shadows. A figure slowly melted into existence out of the darkness near the gateway. The man looked familiar, Shakespeare realised. He had passed him in the street on his way to The Tabard. He had been there among the drinkers in the tavern too. A young man with flowing locks, his cheeks bare, upper lip and chin adorned with but a teenager's growth of hair. The face was one he knew of old.
“Marlowe?”
John Reppion
John Reppion was born in Liverpool, England in 1978. His writing career began in 2003 when he collaborated with his wife Leah Moore on a proposal for a six issue mini-series entitled Wild Girl. The proposal was accepted and the series was published by Wildstorm in 2004/05.
Since then the duo have written many classic characters including Doctor Who (in The Whispering Gallery with artist Ben Templesmith), Sherlock Holmes (in two original mysteries for Dynamite Entertainment), and Dracula (their adaptation of which is now on several university reading lists).
John’s interests in fortean phenomena, esoterica, folklore, philosophy, theology and horror have led to his writing articles and reviews for numerous magazines and periodicals including The Fortean Times, Strange Attractor, The Daily Grail and SteamPunk Magazine. 2008 saw the release of his first full length book 800 Years of Haunted Liverpool, published by The History Press. His Lovecraftian Liverpool tale On The Banks of the River Jordan was published in 2014 in Ghostwoods Books’ Cthulhu Lives! anthology.
You can register your interest in the book launch and signing here, at the Facebook event page for the book launch. You can also let all your friends know about the event by sharing the event on your own Facebook page.
And that's less that's less than six weeks to go, from today...
Come and join us at Forbidden Planet for the official launch of Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu!
You can register your interest in the book launch and signing here, at the Facebook event page for the book launch. You can also let all your friends know about the event by sharing the event on your own Facebook page.
Everyone who has backed the Shakespeare Vs Cthulhu Kickstarter at the Richard III reward level and above will be receiving a bonus short story, written by Tim Bayley, entitled Lovecraft's Labours Lost. And here's a taster...
They passed from grassy sun-blessed plain to the darkness of the wood, warm regardless with the heat of a summer’s night. A hare had accompanied them a ways, then a hound, a hog... there’d been an untended fire after, but Prosperus led them on. In between they’d been distracted as, one by one, they turned at the tap or pinch of another. But Prosperus showed no impatience at such undue frivolity, whoever was the culprit. By and by, up on a low tree branch ahead, a figure waited, hands clasped. By height he was a small man or a tall youth and seemed both hare-young and oak-ancient. His smile across was merry but in what measure between innocence or wickedness Will could not have said.
‘Welcome wanderers.’
‘You are the hobgoblin,’ said Prosperus, ‘the Goodfellow who is called Robin?’
‘Thou speak’st aright,’ the figure approved in some gentle mocking of their speech and dropped to the ground.
‘I thank you for coming, honest Puck, and would take time to offer such courtesies as befit you, yet time is the coin wanting in our purses, so I must just enquire: do you have it?’
‘Indeed,’ this Robin replied, producing a package, ‘retained since ancient times for sport; yet such sport as would be in short supply should your purse run empty. A gift then, and freely given without obligation.’
With thanks given and courtesies observed they took their leave; only Will once more addressed their benefactor: ‘That was you, was it not? On our way here. The hare, the hound, the hog... the prods and pinching.’
Puck grinned. ‘A treasure I was to deliver, however necessary; I but took my taxes where I could in fair fee. Fare thee well, noble Prosperus, Faustus Rakehell, Groatsworth and upstart Crow; I would not follow if e’en now I could, but go with the good wishes of Summer and fare thee well.’
Tim Bayley has lived in the Big City for some 16 years and worked in the book trade throughout that time as a Bookseller and then a Sales Rep, more recently directing his efforts full time to writing, organising events and working on web projects. It was after finishing the penultimate draft of a young adults book that the urban fantasy character that had lurked at the back of Tim’s mind jumped up and said ‘My turn’, and he spent the last year discovering the seedy underbelly of London’s secret magical society in order to write the tales on this site and the first half of a full length novel of the same.
Today is the 83rd anniversary of H P Lovecraft's death, in 1937. This event coincides with the world generally shutting down because of COVID-19.
