R Chetwynd Hayes Appreciation

[Burrunjor]

Sadly this British Horror author is all but forgotten about. I haven't read much of his work yet, but what I have has really stood out as being really special.

My favourite book of his is Monster Club which was adapted into a film in 1980 starring Vincent Price. The film was good fun, but the book is even better. The best thing about Hayes is the way he creates new types of monsters. Monster Club for instance introduces a monster family tree. We see what happens when Vampires, Werewolves and Ghouls mate with one another, you get WereVamps, WereGoo's etc, and then we see what happens when they mate, you get monsters like Maddy's Shaddy's and Raddy's and then when they mate you get a mock, and then if a Mock mates with any of the other hybrids you get a Shadmock.

All of the monsters have their own unique ways of killing. (The Shaddy for instance that's my favourite has a massive long tongue that it uses to skin its victims alive, whilst the Raddy has a Yawn like scream that is uses to steal its victims soul.)

Hayes is just waiting to be rediscovered. There's a whole unique mythology he created with Monster Club alone.

 

[BAYLOR]

Sadly this British Horror author is all but forgotten about. I haven't read much of his work yet, but what I have has really stood out as being really special.

My favourite book of his is Monster Club which was adapted into a film in 1980 starring Vincent Price. The film was good fun, but the book is even better. The best thing about Hayes is the way he creates new types of monsters. Monster Club for instance introduces a monster family tree. We see what happens when Vampires, Werewolves and Ghouls mate with one another, you get WereVamps, WereGoo's etc, and then we see what happens when they mate, you get monsters like Maddy's Shaddy's and Raddy's and then when they mate you get a mock, and then if a Mock mates with any of the other hybrids you get a Shadmock.

All of the monsters have their own unique ways of killing. (The Shaddy for instance that's my favourite has a massive long tongue that it uses to skin its victims alive, whilst the Raddy has a Yawn like scream that is uses to steal its victims soul.)

Hayes is just waiting to be rediscovered. There's a whole unique mythology he created with Monster Club alone.

Ive seen that film, loved it and had no idea it was based off a book. Ive not heard of this author.

 

[BigBadBob141]

Have read a few of his stories and greatly enjoyed them especially "The Wailing Waif Of Battersea" among others, it's sad to see him being forgotten, hopefully he may be rediscovered in the future, one can but hope!

 

[dask]

I have The Monster Club and The Other Side and enjoyed them immensely. A fabulous writer whose books are few and far between but I snag them whenever I can.

 

[BigBadBob141]

Apart from his novels and short stories he also edited the Fontana Great Ghost Stories series plus Welsh/Cornish/London Tales Of Terror & Tales Of Terror From Outer Space, all published by Fontana and also the juvenile Armada Monster Book series!

 

[dask]

Have to keep my eyes open for these. Had no idea he was an editor.

 

[BigBadBob141]

Fontana is a British imprint, I have no idea if these were published under an American imprint or simply imported, either way good luck and good hunting!

 

[JJewel]

I remember the horror compilations he put together, read them a long time ago. One had a poem in it called I stand apart about Emperor Nero that I remember, that was a brilliant piece of writing.