Author Archives: Damien Walter

My Apple iPhone 5 Prediction

I don’t often comment on tech issues, but I’m a real gadget buff and keep a close eye on tech news. The Apple event scheduled for 12th September is creating the usual vast storm of media interest, possibly even more than usual. Most people are certain a new iPhone 5 will be announced. Some peopleContinue reading “My Apple iPhone 5 Prediction”

Why Sense of Wonder sucks

Many writers of fantasy fiction describe their work in terms of its ability to evoke a ‘Sense of Wonder’ in the reader, and go out of their way to find sources of ‘wonder’ to energise their stories. This is self-defeating in the most serious kind of way. Stories that attempt to create a ‘Sense ofContinue reading “Why Sense of Wonder sucks”

I interviewed Ian Livingstone creator of Fighting Fantasy about the future of gaming

When I was 10 I wanted, for a brief period, to be a professional Fighting Fantasy player. I was so fascinated with the now-iconic green-jacketed gamebooks, emblazoned with the legend “Thrilling fantasy adventures in which YOU are the hero!”, that I hatched a plan to make playing them my job as a grown-up. The marketContinue reading “I interviewed Ian Livingstone creator of Fighting Fantasy about the future of gaming”

China Miéville was the star turn at the Edinburgh International Book festival

There’s a fictional quality to the closeted environment of the Edinburgh International Book festival. For two weeks, Charlotte Square is fortified with a circle of portable buildings and Spiegeltents, creating a safe space for a fantasy of literary culture to flourish without undue interference from the outside world. It’s a fantasy taking place in the daydreams of aContinue reading “China Miéville was the star turn at the Edinburgh International Book festival”

What do we do about Lovecraft?

The more I think about the issue, the more concerned I become about the honouring of H.P.Lovecraft in Horror, Fantasy, SF, weird and speculative fiction. The argument has come to the fore again in my mind because of the furore at Weird Tales, which also roughly coincided with Lovecraft’s birthday. Lovecraft’s racism is not widelyContinue reading “What do we do about Lovecraft?”

Weird Tales editor has insulted us all

The genres of SF, Fantasy, Horror and other styles of the fantastic have changed a lot in recent years. Those changes, to my mind, have been hugely positive. And if I can identify one cause at the heart of those changes it is this: diversity. To use the Hugo and Nebula awards as a benchmarks,Continue reading “Weird Tales editor has insulted us all”

Chauvinist SF misses the point of the future

There’s a logical fallacy in this club’s claims that it welcomes women members, which is rather like the rhetoric of the well-schooled military officer. Of course they want women in the army. It’s just, well, a soldier must be physically strong, naturally violent and preferably have a todger so you can pee standing up. Any woman who fulfilsContinue reading “Chauvinist SF misses the point of the future”

Aggressive reviewing is here to stay…learn to deal with it

Writing my Weird Things column for The Guardian, I regularly mention books that relate to the theme at hand. And I’ve done a fair amount of reviewing, both professional and For-The-Luv. I tend to be a nice cuddly reviewer, although I have filleted a few books when I thought they called for it. What I’veContinue reading “Aggressive reviewing is here to stay…learn to deal with it”

Feel THE FEAR…and write it anyway

I did a little whoop of joy, followed by a nod of recognition when I received Gareth L. Powell’s guest post in my email inbox. The first because Mr. Powell is among Britain’s very best science fiction authors. The second because like every writer, I recognise THE FEAR that Gareth describes. You will no doubt recogniseContinue reading “Feel THE FEAR…and write it anyway”

Is there any such thing as Realist Horror?

The latest guest post here on damiengwalter.com comes from Niki Valentine, author of psychological horror and literary fiction under an alternative pen name. But where do we draw the line between supernatural and realist horror? Niki Valentine may be one of the few authors who really knows the answer. Check out her novels and otherContinue reading “Is there any such thing as Realist Horror?”

Mythinterpretation

One of the maxims we’re all learning to live with in the early 21st century is that the extreme ends of any argument support each other’s existence. What would rightwing internet trolls do without leftwing reactionaries? How would al-Qaida go on, without neocon hatred fuelling its fire? And, of course, what would outraged atheists doContinue reading “Mythinterpretation”