Welcome
Christmas makes its merry mark in December. The lights are up in the high streets along
with the trees and lights in homes. Retailers rub their hands with glee at the thought of all
that lovely lolly coming in from the overpriced trash they sell, children dream their winter
dreams and parents look forward to the dread knock of the loan shark in early January.
So much jolly fun, and we’ve decided to enter into the spirit of things. Actually, more than
one spirit for, as Dickens gave us more than one spirit of Christmas, so are we, dear reader.
Yo-ho-ho, there will be indeed be two issues of FEAR this month. The first now ‘posited in
your shivering bemittened fingers, is a bumper edition of interviews, featuring best-selling
authors, newly honoured British Fantasy award winners, and all manner of spectral goings-on in this our Winter Ghosts issue.
The highlights of this very special issue include an exclusive interview with an old friend of
FEAR, the best-selling author Peter James who returns with his first ghost story for more
than twenty years. Fantasy fans should not miss our very special interview with Stella Gemmell and as well as a republishing of a seminal interview with her husband David
Gemmell. We also talk to best-selling novelist Steven Savile, who is also the author of this
month’s short story, and to Adrian Cole, who recently won the British Fantasy Award for
Best Collection.
I am also happy to announce the return of Mark Morris to FEAR as a regular columnist. I
first met Mark when he was in his twenties and had just launched his first novel. He is now
one of the leading lights in the horror genre, his latest novel, The Society of Blood which is
part of his Obsidian Heart series.
So much in this issue, but it is only part one of our Christmas celebrations. On Christmas
Eve, we will be launching our Krampus Cracker, see the back of this issue for more information - containing a bumper stack of reviews and previews, short stories and commentaries
on the past year and year ahead. We will tell you what to buy in with those gift vouchers
you’ll be receiving over the Christmas period - no, not suggest, command, or we’ll be sending the Naughty Elves around.
In the words of his magnificence Richard ‘Rocky Horror Show’ O’Brien I wish you a truly
miserable, bah-humbug, time.
Regards,
John Gilbert
Managing Editor
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