Comments on: What The Author Says – Alan Campbell

By: The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log » Writers With Bite chomp readers in Edinburgh

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 09:17:51 +0000

[...] Edinburgh is known for rich history, architecture, astonishing views and as a powerhouse of Enlightenment learning, where much of the modern systems of the world were laid down. It is, like RLS’ Jekyll and Hyde, also known for an older, deeper, darker side, much of it hidden below the city as with Alan’s superb dark fantasy Scar Night (you can read what Alan had to say about the book here). The Mary King referred to in the name of the writer’s festival is the name of a close (an enclosed alley basically) which lies beneath the City Chambers, a plague street which was supposedly so haunted by the souls of those who were left to perish there it had to be built over and forgotten for many long years; now it is a spooky spot open to the public where my cheerful fellow Scots will frighten the Hell out of tourists for a small currency donation. [...]

By: » Scar Night get thumbs up from JCG

» Scar Night get thumbs up from JCG — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 14:52:17 +0000

[...] Here’s a nice follow-up the the great WTAS post debut novelist Alan Campbell wrote here earlier this week: his book, Scar Night, has just picked up 4 and 1/2 stars in the brand-new SFX’s book review pages. A real endorsement made all the sweeter by the fact the reviewer is the great Jon Courtenay Grimwood and when JCG gives out a ringing endorsement you can take it to the bank. Jon has his own new novel, End of the World Blues, due this August (yay!). My humble suggestion if you are trying to decide which of them to read is simple – read them both. [...]

By: Barney Dellar

Barney Dellar — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 15:35:06 +0000

I had the pleasure of proof-reading Scar Night, and I wasn’t expecting great things. You know, a friend’s first attempt at writing a novel, it’s probably going to be sketchy and not very well thought out. But I was very impressed! I’d been reading loads of Lovecraft right before I read Scar Night, and it fitted right in with that. It was captivating from start to finish. Nice one Alan!

By: Neal Asher

Neal Asher — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 10:59:58 +0000

Well he certainly produced readable prose and an original fantasy. Excellent book.