140,000 words of Ramsey Campbell's non-fiction form 30 years of writing. This book contains articles written by Ramsey Campbell for a magazine column he used to write, introductions to other people's books, afterwords to his own books and many other pieces. The essays are collected into 6 sections and hence here is a guide to each section.

I. On Horror Fiction
From the opening essay (Fiedler on the Roof) you can very quickly tell that Ramsey Campbell is a man in love with the genre of horror. In this first article he repsonds to an earlier article - the text of a Leslie Fiedler speech printed in a 1984 issue of Fantasy Review. Mr. Campbell takes the article apart attacking (justly) Fiedler's argument against horror by exposing the flaws and errors in the argument. Ramsey Campbell is not a man to mess with.

Quickly following this is a very serious examination of the ghost story (The Crime of Horror) and then in wonderful contrast a comical article on the real meaning of words (A Horror Writer's Lexicon) in which we fid out that a public signing is 'a way of keeping fans away from bookshops' amongst many others.

II. On Horror and Fantasy Film
This section sees Mr. Campbell giving his views on why some horror films are underrated and overlooked, why horror films should not be seen instantly as the cause of violence in society, and then letting us know which films he considers to be the best horror films of all time.

III. On Horror in Society
<This section has been removed following a complaint concerning a reference contained in it. No offence was intended by the original text and I wish to apologise for any caused.>

IV. On Some Writers
This section seems to be a group of books introductions with the occassional longer article amongst them. For the large part Mr. Campbell likes the authors he discusses here - the major exception being Shaun Hutson who suffers a little from the attack of the Campbell wit. The best of the positive articles here for me is the analysis of the writing of James Herbert. Herbert is a favourite of mine from childhood days and from the books I've read since reaching adulthood I still believe him to be a good writer who gets bad press. It's good to here someone else who agrees.

V. On Ramsey Campbell
This section is the higlight of the book for the opening essay ('Near Madness') in which Ramsey Campbell writes about the life of his mother and her slide into insanity is one of the most honest and compelling biographical pieces I have ever read. It is incredible harrowing, in a way far more disturbing than anything I've read of the author's fiction; a fact that can be explained by this being a factual piece.

The rest of this section takes us through the authors reasons for writing horror; his experiences with drug taking; depression; how the idea of fame is not quite what it might be imagined by explaining a few of the more bizarre occurences/conversations it's lead him to have (comical); the reporting of some school children of a school visit by Mr. Campbell (comical again); and on the process of editing an anthology amongst others including afterwords from many of his own books.

VI. Afterword
I suppose following on from a series of Afterwords it makes sense that this book itself has one. This one is short an adds some comments to the essays/articles collected. A relaxing way of finishing an occassionally dark, occasionally amusing book.

This book is big. And with it not being a novel, or having any kind of progressive structure it's not one to read in a single sitting. This is a good thing. There are times when I find that I don't have time (or the attention span) to start a new book, or to read the next section in a detailed plot. That's where this book has proven it's worth, for there are many articles in here aof different lengths and in different styles from intense to lightweight and humourous.

Ramsey Campbell seems to be a passionate advocate of good horror fiction, a man who dislikes prejudice against his genre. He is eloquent and makes a good argument. He is honest (painfully at times), and has an acidic wit - one that I certainly wouldn't like to be on the end of. He can write seriously and is good when he writes humourous articles. He is an accomplished writer and this book gives ample evidence that his talent is not just for fiction.

Synopsis
Ramsey Campbell, Probably collects 140,000 words of Campbell's non-fiction from the last three decades.

The subjects range from the perils of authorship to the delights of amateur fiction and film, from drugs to nightmares, from the Highgate Vampire to the Dracula Society's marching song. Friends are remembered, and so is Mary Whitehouse. A seminal study of English schoolgirl spanking on video is brought up to date. Many thoughts on the history of horror fiction are included. At last it is revealed why Harlan Ellison is responsible.

May the reader variously laugh, weep, ponder, disagree and turn uneasily in bed.