Richard Gavin's Blog, page 17

Pre-Orders for THE BENIGHTED PATH are imminent...

Jessica Grote and David Beth are currently in the final phases of preparation on The Benighted Path: Primeval Gnosis and the Monstrous Soul. This book, my most in-depth work on esoteric philosophy and praxis, will be available for pre-order before November's through. The Benighted Path will be published in two distinct editions: the Standard hardcover edition and a special talismanic Auric Edition. Please note that both editions will be strictly limited (the Auric especially). Subscribers receive first notice of pre-orders.

I strongly urge readers to subscribe to Theion Publishing's electronic newsletter, which keeps its members apprised of not only The Benighted Path but also the many other fine titles that Theion offers.

Free subscriptions to the Theion Publishing newsletter can be made here.

Thomas Ligotti Interview

Mike Davis, the tireless editor behind The Lovecraft eZine, recently conducted an interview with Thomas Ligotti  for which he kindly invited a selection of horror authors, myself included, to contribute questions. 
The result may be read here. Tom's interviews are as engaging as his fiction.

Signed copies of FUME - Sold Out

Gratitude to all who took advantage of Duhmans Manor Press's "early bird" pre-order for signed copies of my forthcoming chapbook Fume. All signed copies are now sold out. A very limited number of unsigned copies will be available from the publisher when Fume  is released in January 2016.

FUME Pre-Order Has Begun...

The cover art for my forthcoming chapbook Fume  has been unveiled...

This striking piece was fashioned by the extremely talented Michael Bukowski.

Fume  will be released in January 2016 by Dunhams Manor Press. An "early bird" pre-order special has begun. Do note that this edition of Fume is strictly limited to 50 copies, 25 of which will be signed by me.

To pre-order your copy, click here.

Rosaleen Norton

In memoriam of the nativity of the Witch. Born during a thunderstorm, 2nd October 1917

31 Horrors...

As October tends to be the month that many people indulge in the viewing of Horror films, I thought I would take advantage of the season by compiling a list that I feel is important. 
There are many who bemoan a supposed lack of quality Horror movies in today's world, claiming that the genre has exhausted itself and is lost in a cycle of endless remakes. I offer this list as both a rebuttal to the genre's naysayers and also as suggested viewing. The titles on this list run the genre's gamut, from disquesting suggestiveness to sheer relentlessness. They share only two factors: 1. They are films that I feel are innovative and of quality. 2. They have all been made in the 21st Century. 
While I have published criticism and meditations upon the Horror genre, I am also an unabashed fan of the form, in every medium. I have been watching the field evolve and mutate since the 1970s and even in its fallow periods Horror never fails to shock and delight me. 
I urge you to seek out some or all of these films, to purchase the DVDs, to stream them on Netflix. Tell your friends. Do what you can to support the artists behind them.
The films (circa 2000 - 2015)
1.       [REC]2.       A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night3.       À l'intérieur4.       Antichrist5.       Audition 6.       Berberian Sound Studio7.       Calvaire8.       Ginger Snaps9.       Haute Tension 10.   Horror  11.   House of the Devil12.   Ils13.   It Follows14.   Ju-On15.   Kairo16.   Lake Mungo17.   Livide18.   Mr. Jones19.   Paranormal Activity 20.   Right at Your Door21.   Session 922.   Snowtown 23.   The Babadook24.   The Curse (directed by Koji Shiraishi)25.   The Dead 26.   The Descent 27.   The Last Exorcism28.   The Last Will and Testament of Rosalind Leigh29.   The Mist30.   Trick 'r Treat31.   Wendigo

Stephen Jones has revealed the striking cover art and imp...

Stephen Jones has revealed the striking cover art and impressive Table of Contents for Best New Horror #26. As previously mentioned here, this year's edition includes my story "The Patter of Tiny Feet," which was first published in S.T. Joshi's Searchers After Horror: New Tales of the Weird and Fantastic (Fedogan & Bremer, 2014).
Look for Best New Horror #26 this October via PS Publishing:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS  INTRODUCTION: HORROR IN 2014 The EditorSECONDHAND MAGIC Helen MarshallTHE CULVERT Dale BaileyTHE PATTER OF TINY FEET Richard GavinTHE FOUR STRENGTHS OF SHADOW Ron WeighellTHE NIGHT RUN Simon Kurt UnsworthHOME AND HEARTH Angela SlatterDUST Rebecca LloydSUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN Robert ShearmanTHE NIGHT DOCTOR Steve Rasnic TemTHE DESECRATOR Derek JohnTHE WALK Dennis EtchisonDIRT ON VICKY Clint SmithSKULLPOCKET Nathan BallingrudTESTIMONY OF SAMUEL FROBISHER REGARDING EVENTS UPON HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP CONFIDENCE, 14-22 JUNE 1818, WITH DIAGRAMS Ian TregillisAT LORN HALL Ramsey CampbellSELFIES Lavie TidharMATILDA OF THE NIGHT Stephen VolkTHE COLLECTED SHORT STORIES OF FREDDIE PROTHERO, INTRODUCTION BY TORLESS MAGNUSSEN, PH.D. Peter StraubBURNT BLACK SUNS Simon StrantzasNECROLOGY: 2014 Stephen Jones and Kim Newman

Coming Soon: FUME

It has been confirmed that Jordan Krall's very fine publishing house Dunhams Manor Press will be releasing a limited edition chapbook of my latest Horror story, "Fume." The chapbook will be available in January 2016. Pre-order information shall be posted here in due course.

My NecronomiCon Providence schedule

As previously noted, I am a guest at this summer's NecronomiCon Providence conference, which is taking place in Providence, RI during the weekend of August 20th to 23rd. My schedule of activities is rather robust. I hope to meet many of you there. I can be found at the following events:

Friday August 21st
2:30 - 3:45pm:
AH-CULT! MAGICK IN ELDRITCH AND PRACTICE – Omni Hotel, Hall 2:
“Magic” is a large part of Lovecraft’s writings even if it is not meant to be magic in the traditional sense. How did Lovecraft use the concepts of magic in his fiction? How close is it to ritual traditions? Is there a connection?
Panelists: Richard Gavin, Scott R. Jones, Richard Stanley, Douglas Wynne
Moderator: Anthony Teth


Saturday, August 22nd
9:00 - 10:15am:
ONLY IN DREAMS – Garden Room, Biltmore 2nd Floor
An examination of Lovecraft’s Dreamlands and the characters, creations, and places therein.Panelists: Jason Thompson, Richard Gavin, Dan Mills, Cody Goodfellow, John LanganModerator: Simon Strantzas

9:00 - 11:00am:Innsmouth Nightmares & Cult of the Dead, two book author readings and discussions
Innsmouth Nightmares features original stories by leading writers of weird fiction, including John Shirley, Lavie Tidhar, Laird Barron, Paul Kane, Tim Lebbon, Richard Gavin, Steve Rasnic Tem, Wilum H. Pugmire, John Langan, Joe Pulver, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Bill Nolan, Jim Moore, S.T. Joshi, and many more. This is an all-star lineup of The Weird edited by Lois H. Gresh. Cult of the Dead is a special collection of Lois’ weird stories with an Introduction by S.T. Joshi, who writes, “Over the last decade or so, Lois H. Gresh has done some of the most scintillating work of any contemporary writer of imaginative fiction.”
Copies of both books will be available for sale and signing at this session, Snacks provided! Readings and discussion with Lois H. Gresh, Caitlín R. Kiernan, Laird Barron, William F. Nolan, Richard Gavin, S.T. Joshi, Joe Pulver, Jim Moore, Jason V. Brock, Jonathan Thomas, and more
[Note: My participation in this launch is tentative as it overlaps with the Dreams panel...]

1:00 - 2:15pm:
AUTHOR READINGS – L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Richard Gavin, Tom Lynch, Simon Strantzas, Jeffrey Thomas

4:00 - 5:15pm
Aickman’s Heirs author readings and discussion - L’Apogee, Biltmore 17th Floor
Aickman’s Heirs is an anthology of strange, weird tales by modern visionaries of weird fiction in the milieu of Robert Aickman, the master of strange and weird tales. Join editor Simon Strantzas and contributors Michael Cisco, Richard Gavin, John Langan, David Nickle, Daniel Mills, and Michael Wehunt for short readings, snacks, and a book signing.

BEST NEW HORROR #26

Stephen Jones is unquestionably one of the Horror genre's most distinguished and decorated editors. He is also someone I have long admired.

I am very pleased to report that Steve has chosen my story "The Patter of Tiny Feet" (which was originally published in S.T. Joshi's Searchers After Horror: New Tales of the Weird and Fantastic) to appear in Best New Horror #26. This is the longest-running series of Best Of anthologies in Horror and has recently been taken up by PS Publishing, who will release the twenty-sixth volume this autumn.