England Once More the Center of the Horror World!
For all the sound and fury America has brought to horror, it’s easy to overlook the fact that the good ol’ United Kingdom was once synonymous with our favorite genre. Yep, before Lovecraft and King poured their demons onto the printed page, authors like Shelley and Stoker were making timeless monsters in Frankenstein and Dracula. And before Freddy, Jason and Mr. Myers stalked cinema screens, the modern horror film—in all its bloody full-color glory—was birthed at England’s Hammer Studios. That’s why it’s such a shock to discover that the World Horror Convention, the genre’s biggest literary con, has never been held in the UK, or anywhere else in Europe! Well, as they say, never say never again.
It was recently announced that the 2010 World Horror Con will at long last be held across the pond, and in the seaside resort town of Brighton, Sussex, on the southern coast of England. According to the convention’s official website, the theme of WHC 2010 is “Brighton Shock! – A Celebration of the European Horror Tradition from Victorian Times to the Present Day.” And to reflect such tradition, the event will be held at the almost two-hundred-year-old Royal Albion Hotel, overlooking the English Channel and home to all manner of vacationing royalty over the years. Hey, Queen Victoria had the right idea – this hotel’s located directly opposite the town’s Palace Pier, known for its “bright arcades, funfair and ghost train”!
Of course all conventions aren’t created equal. But WHC 2010 has a good shot at being the best World Horror Con yet. Its committee consists of three people who know the genre inside-out, and who’ve already crafted some of the most memorable conventions of years past (like the much-talked-about 2007 World Horror Con in Toronto): Chairperson Amanda Foubister (a former Chairperson of Toronto’s celebrated Ad Astra convention), Associate Chairperson Stephen Jones (arguably the most acclaimed and prolific editor working in horror today), and Associate Chairperson Michael Marshall Smith (the award-winning author and screenwriter). These folks have a proven track record, so when they promise a program “covering all aspects of the horror writing and publishing business, film-making and illustration,” we’re inclined to believe them. For more info on the con and the hotel, or to become a member or make a programming suggestion, check out the official 2010 World Horror Convention website now.
