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Mark Gatiss is The Man in Black
Having inherited the job of Man in Black from such horror luminaries as Vincent Price and Edward de Souza, Mark Gatiss had a large black cloak to fill. But being the horror disciple he is, he does so with such quiet unassuming ghastliness he is the natural successor to Price’s glam anecdotal style or De Souza’s suspenseful confidence.
The tales themselves are exquisitely written, delightfully twisted and diverse- you never see the twist coming and the tension builds to the horrific denouement. From zombie apocalypses and cursed nuptials to voodoo, spice girl t shirts and lives that could have been- this is perfect for anyone interested in the darker side of life.
The tales themselves are exquisitely written, delightfully twisted and diverse- you never see the twist coming and the tension builds to the horrific denouement. From zombie apocalypses and cursed nuptials to voodoo, spice girl t shirts and lives that could have been- this is perfect for anyone interested in the darker side of life.
- GenresHorror
Audible Audio
First published September 17, 2020
4 people are currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Mark Gatiss
144 books783 followersMark Gatiss (born 17 October 1966) is an English actor, screenwriter and novelist. He is best known as a member of the comedy team The League of Gentlemen, and has both written for and acted in the TV series Doctor Who and Sherlock.
Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Gatiss has written three episodes for the 2005-revived BBC television series Doctor Who. His first, "The Unquiet Dead", aired on 9 April 2005; the second, "The Idiot's Lantern", aired on 27 May 2006 as part of the second series. In addition, Gatiss was the narrator for the 2006 season of documentary series Doctor Who Confidential, additionally appearing as an on-screen presenter in the edition devoted to his episode. Gatiss did not contribute a script to the third series, but appeared in the episode "The Lazarus Experiment", as Professor Lazarus. After his submitted script for the fourth series, involving Nazis and the British Museum, was replaced at the last minute with "The Fires of Pompeii", he eventually returned to the programme in 2010, writing the (also World War II-themed) episode "Victory of the Daleks" for the fifth series, in which he also appears uncredited as the voice of "Danny Boy". It has also been confirmed that Gatiss will be writing an episode for the 2011 season of Doctor Who, although details about the story are yet to be revealed.[19]
Gatiss wrote an episode of Sherlock, a modern day Sherlock Holmes series co-produced by him and Steven Moffat. The unaired pilot was shot in January 2009 and a full series was commissioned. This was aired in August 2010 and consisted of 3 episodes. Gatiss also starred in these as Holmes' older brother Mycroft. A second series has been confirmed, but dates have yet to be decided, since both Gatiss and Moffatt have additional commitments.[20]
Gatiss also wrote and performed the comedy sketches The Web of Caves, The Kidnappers and The Pitch of Fear for the BBC's "Doctor Who Night" in 1999 with Little Britain's David Walliams, and played the Master in the Doctor Who Unbound play Sympathy for the Devil under the name "Sam Kisgart", a pseudonym he later used for a column in Doctor Who Magazine. (The pseudonym is an anagram of "Mark Gatiss", a nod to Anthony Ainley, who was sometimes credited under an anagram to conceal the Master's identity from the viewers.) The pseudonym was used again in television listings magazines when he appeared in episode four of Psychoville, so as not to spoil his surprise appearance in advance.
In mainstream print, Gatiss is responsible for an acclaimed biography of the film director James Whale. His first non-Doctor Who novel, The Vesuvius Club, was published in 2004, for which he was nominated in the category of Best Newcomer in the 2006 British Book Awards. A follow up, The Devil in Amber, was released on 6 November 2006. It transports the main character, Lucifer Box, from the Edwardian era in the first book to the roaring Twenties/Thirties. A third and final Lucifer Box novel, Black Butterfly, was published on 3 November 2008 by Simon & Schuster.[21] In this the protagonist finds himself serving Queen Elizabeth II, in the Cold War era.
Gatiss also wrote, co-produced and appeared in Crooked House, a ghost story that was broadcast on BBC Four during Christmas 2008.
Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Gatiss has written three episodes for the 2005-revived BBC television series Doctor Who. His first, "The Unquiet Dead", aired on 9 April 2005; the second, "The Idiot's Lantern", aired on 27 May 2006 as part of the second series. In addition, Gatiss was the narrator for the 2006 season of documentary series Doctor Who Confidential, additionally appearing as an on-screen presenter in the edition devoted to his episode. Gatiss did not contribute a script to the third series, but appeared in the episode "The Lazarus Experiment", as Professor Lazarus. After his submitted script for the fourth series, involving Nazis and the British Museum, was replaced at the last minute with "The Fires of Pompeii", he eventually returned to the programme in 2010, writing the (also World War II-themed) episode "Victory of the Daleks" for the fifth series, in which he also appears uncredited as the voice of "Danny Boy". It has also been confirmed that Gatiss will be writing an episode for the 2011 season of Doctor Who, although details about the story are yet to be revealed.[19]
Gatiss wrote an episode of Sherlock, a modern day Sherlock Holmes series co-produced by him and Steven Moffat. The unaired pilot was shot in January 2009 and a full series was commissioned. This was aired in August 2010 and consisted of 3 episodes. Gatiss also starred in these as Holmes' older brother Mycroft. A second series has been confirmed, but dates have yet to be decided, since both Gatiss and Moffatt have additional commitments.[20]
Gatiss also wrote and performed the comedy sketches The Web of Caves, The Kidnappers and The Pitch of Fear for the BBC's "Doctor Who Night" in 1999 with Little Britain's David Walliams, and played the Master in the Doctor Who Unbound play Sympathy for the Devil under the name "Sam Kisgart", a pseudonym he later used for a column in Doctor Who Magazine. (The pseudonym is an anagram of "Mark Gatiss", a nod to Anthony Ainley, who was sometimes credited under an anagram to conceal the Master's identity from the viewers.) The pseudonym was used again in television listings magazines when he appeared in episode four of Psychoville, so as not to spoil his surprise appearance in advance.
In mainstream print, Gatiss is responsible for an acclaimed biography of the film director James Whale. His first non-Doctor Who novel, The Vesuvius Club, was published in 2004, for which he was nominated in the category of Best Newcomer in the 2006 British Book Awards. A follow up, The Devil in Amber, was released on 6 November 2006. It transports the main character, Lucifer Box, from the Edwardian era in the first book to the roaring Twenties/Thirties. A third and final Lucifer Box novel, Black Butterfly, was published on 3 November 2008 by Simon & Schuster.[21] In this the protagonist finds himself serving Queen Elizabeth II, in the Cold War era.
Gatiss also wrote, co-produced and appeared in Crooked House, a ghost story that was broadcast on BBC Four during Christmas 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 11, 2022
This was a BBC radio drama of creepy tales. I enjoy gothic horror, no guts or gore, an this had a number of different story types introduced by the Man in Black, Mark Gattiss. Cast was excellent, along with the production values. Stories were easy to follow without narration. My favorite was the Internet newbie, that was a rather funny one. The rest were good old fashioned scares. I hope they do more.
September 12, 2021
Entertaining short dramatised tales of supernatural horror, introduced by the Man in Black,
The various authors provide consistently high quality, and Mark Gatiss is a suitably creepy host.
Recommended.
The various authors provide consistently high quality, and Mark Gatiss is a suitably creepy host.
Recommended.
December 29, 2024
Audiobook. Some great short stories in here with a creep factor, but quite a few either missed the mark or ended up abruptly without a real explanation. Another fantastic production and well acted audiobook though!
March 25, 2025
Excellent original stories. Well written, well produced. Mark Gatiss has a delightfully dark presence about him.
The only problem is that sometimes there is too much action occurring at once, which makes the narrative confusing.
The only problem is that sometimes there is too much action occurring at once, which makes the narrative confusing.
August 6, 2025
Some good ones and some not so good ones.
January 11, 2026
Enjoyed more of the earlier stories. As they progressed, they seemed to become more predictable. Enjoyed most, disliked several and some will stick with me for a long time.
October 14, 2021
I was drawn to this audio book as the brilliant Mark Gatiss is involved and I am aware of his love of all things gothic. I am not disappointed. Mark Gatiss presents the stories and then hands over to full cast productions of creepy stories to satisfy the horror and gothic fans alike. Some stories are a little predictable, but they are well written and acted and are perfect to listen to in the car whilst I'm driving about. Could do with more Mark Gatiss though!
January 20, 2024
Engaging stories that bring horror into the modern age by harnessing anxieties about the increasing role of technology. The ghosts often inhabit phones or computers and show how being connected might not make us as safe as it seems, it can make us a target. There is an all-seeing nature to some of the supernatural events.
The acting was done with gusto and I liked how Mark Gatiss’s deadpan comments contrasted to the rest of the narration.
The acting was done with gusto and I liked how Mark Gatiss’s deadpan comments contrasted to the rest of the narration.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews