Every time I watch one of your videos, my list of authors to buy grows.

Couldn't agree more: LOVE Nicholas Royle! 😁 _First Novel_ (2013) is terrific!! 👍 As someone who regularly attended the annual Fantasycon since 2006, I have been an admirer and supporter of the small press. In that regard you have peaked my interest with Gary Budden. I have all of Joel Lane's work (had the pleasure of meeting him a number of times before his sudden untimely death) and therefore Gary definitely sounds right up my street! 👌

I managed to find a copy of Hollow Shores and the prose is exactly as you say in the video. I must say though, it's not easy finding his novels except online and even then sometimes not in stock. But anyway, I would recommend his work. It's good stuff and the prose just rolls over the eyes with ease and grace.

You might want to try THIS DREAMING ISLE, also edited by Dan Coxon, from Unsung Books. It's a good companion collection (of similar spooky short stories) to OUT OF THE DARKNESS.

Funny you mentioned Joel Lane, I just ordered his novella, “The Witnesses Are Gone.” I have been on a weird fiction kick as well! Black Shuck Books has a lot of great writers, mostly UK. Dark Minds Press also has a great series of novellas, all 🇬🇧. I also discovered Paul Meloy who would fit into this category as well. Lots of great reads from your side of the pond. Now I have to check all these out and get more!

I'll order a Gary Budden book based solely on your enthusiasm, Steve. I'll try not to regret it. I used to buy a lot of small press books because, in general, I think we need them. A problem arose when I came to read the books, particularly with regard to those which were weird and horror fiction. Most of the authors didn't know how to tell a story, but instead thought it was sufficient to string together clichés and overused words. It also became obvious that for many small press publishers, the notions of quality control and the need for editing were nonexistent. I stopped buying, unless a recommendation by someone whose critical faculties I trust came my way.

hey, steve. loved this video. i'm always looking for new authors that might fit the bill and your suggestions are always worth considering. i must admit i'm not a big fan of weird stuff but the budden books have caught my interest. those royle novellas seem cool as well and who doesn't like a bit of humor, right? btw, thanks for the encouragement a couple of videos back about persistence with collecting. fate, it seems, heard you. i went book hunting yesterday and finally came across lessing's the marriage of zones... which is something i've been looking after for a few years now. there it was waiting for me. a very good copy at a very reasonable price. love when that happens! cheers, a

Really enjoyed this. Cheers. For anyone who has an audible subscription, both Budden books mentioned are available for free - part of the audible plus catalogue I think its called. (in the uk, im not sure about elsewhere).

Sounds fascinating, and brings back memories of the London Psychogeographical Association, Alan Moore's The Highbury Working and the blockbusting video 'M25: the Movie'.

Hollow Shores is a very good collection of short stories. London Incognita didn't work for me: I found it too contrived, although the second part was better. Joel Lane was a wonderful writer. I'm a fan of Gareth E Rees's work, too. The Stone Tide and Car Park Life are my particular favourites. As for Nicholas Royle (the Manchester Royle as opposed to the Sussex Royle) I have been reading his fiction for a long while - although not either of the novellas you featured here. White Spines is a wonderful musing on book-collecting, and its sequel Shadowlines is on my to-read pile. The Sussex Royle has published one book I have read, The Uncanny, which I can thoroughly recommend; it's a cultural history of Freud's concept.

Watching this before work with a coffee ☕

Another good one. I've noticed you using the term psycho geography. I want to be a psycho geographer but I don't know what it is! Can you educate us not in the know?😅

Current book review and feedback! I love it! I feel like you talked about Gary Budden before. Haven't you?

I'm glad I'm ignorant. I'm always overcome with joy when I happen upon something brand new. Love this. I'm going to start tracking his books down. The short story collection sounds like a perfect start...

I think The "Judder Man" featured in an Aphex Twin video, 'Come To Daddy' or maybe a different one made by Chris Cunningham. Shriekingly weird.

They said that we were trash, well the name is Crass, not Clash, they can stuff their punk credentials, it's them that take the cash Crass, White Punks On Hope