Brian McNaughton
Encyclopedia
Brian McNaughton was an American
writer of horror
and fantasy fiction who mixed sex, satire
and black humour. He also wrote thrillers.
and worked for ten years as a reporter for the Newark Evening News
. He later held a variety of other jobs, meanwhile publishing about two hundred short stories
in magazines and several books.
Several of his novels were first published by Carlyle Books under editorially imposed titles implying that they were part of a series. Although Worse Things Waiting follows on from Downward to Darkness, the other books featured completely unrelated characters and situations. Restored texts of these books have been published by Wildside Press
under their original titles.
His work includes literary nods to writers such as H. P. Lovecraft
, Robert E. Howard
, Clark Ashton Smith
and Bram Stoker
. His story "The Return of the Colossus" is a sequel to Smith's "The Colossus of Ylourgne" set during World War I
; while the title of "To My Dear Friend Hommy-Beg
" echoes Stoker's dedication for Dracula
.
The Throne of Bones, a collection of horror-fantasy stories about ghoul
s set in an opulent, decadent world reminiscent of Clark Ashton Smith, won the World Fantasy Award
for best collection and was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer of horror
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
and fantasy fiction who mixed sex, satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
and black humour. He also wrote thrillers.
Biography
McNaughton attended HarvardHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and worked for ten years as a reporter for the Newark Evening News
Newark Evening News
The Newark Evening News was an American newspaper published in Newark, New Jersey. As New Jersey's largest city, Newark played a major role in New Jersey's journalistic history. At its apex, The News was widely regarded as the newspaper of record in New Jersey. It had bureaus in Montclair,...
. He later held a variety of other jobs, meanwhile publishing about two hundred short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
in magazines and several books.
Several of his novels were first published by Carlyle Books under editorially imposed titles implying that they were part of a series. Although Worse Things Waiting follows on from Downward to Darkness, the other books featured completely unrelated characters and situations. Restored texts of these books have been published by Wildside Press
Wildside Press
Wildside Press is an independent publishing company located in Maryland, USA. It was founded in 1989 by John Gregory and Kim Betancourt. While the press was originally conceived as a publisher of speculative fiction in both trade and limited editions, it has broadened out somewhat since then, both...
under their original titles.
His work includes literary nods to writers such as H. P. Lovecraft
H. P. Lovecraft
Howard Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
, Robert E. Howard
Robert E. Howard
Robert Ervin Howard was an American author who wrote pulp fiction in a diverse range of genres. Best known for his character Conan the Barbarian, he is regarded as the father of the sword and sorcery subgenre....
, Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith
Clark Ashton Smith was a self-educated American poet, sculptor, painter and author of fantasy, horror and science fiction short stories. He achieved early local recognition, largely through the enthusiasm of George Sterling, for traditional verse in the vein of Swinburne...
and Bram Stoker
Bram Stoker
Abraham "Bram" Stoker was an Irish novelist and short story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula...
. His story "The Return of the Colossus" is a sequel to Smith's "The Colossus of Ylourgne" set during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; while the title of "To My Dear Friend Hommy-Beg
Hall Caine
Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine CH, KBE , usually known as Hall Caine, was a Manx author. He is best known as a novelist and playwright of the late Victorian and the Edwardian eras. In his time he was exceedingly popular, and at the peak of his success his novels outsold those of his...
" echoes Stoker's dedication for Dracula
Dracula
Dracula is an 1897 novel by Irish author Bram Stoker.Famous for introducing the character of the vampire Count Dracula, the novel tells the story of Dracula's attempt to relocate from Transylvania to England, and the battle between Dracula and a small group of men and women led by Professor...
.
The Throne of Bones, a collection of horror-fantasy stories about ghoul
Ghoul
A ghoul is a folkloric monster associated with graveyards and consuming human flesh, often classified as undead. The oldest surviving literature that mention ghouls is likely One Thousand and One Nights...
s set in an opulent, decadent world reminiscent of Clark Ashton Smith, won the World Fantasy Award
World Fantasy Award
The World Fantasy Awards are annual, international awards given to authors and artists who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the field of fantasy...
for best collection and was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection
Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection
The Bram Stoker Award for Best Fiction Collection is an award presented by the Horror Writers Association for "superior achievement" in horror writing for best fiction collection.-Winners and nominees:...
.
Novels
- In Flagrant Delight (1972)
- Gemini Rising (1977; editorially altered version published as Satan's Love Child; restored text 2000)
- Buster Callan (1978)
- Downward to Darkness (1978; editorially altered version published as Satan's Mistress; restored text 2000)
- Guilty Until Proven Guilty (1979)
- Worse Things Waiting (1979; editorially altered version published as Satan's Seductress; restored text 2000)
- The House Across the Way (1982; editorially altered version published as Satan's Surrogate; restored text 2001)
Short Story Collections
- The Throne of Bones (1997)
- Nasty Stories (2000)
- Even More Nasty Stories (2000)