BFS Online: Something Monstrous

“Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” — Stephen King

Saturday 4th October 2025, 10am to 6:30pm BST

From the earliest days, when humans painted on cave walls and told stories round campfires, monsters have formed part of our narrative. Whether representations of our emotions and fears, cautionary tales, or opportunities to overcome, monsters are an essential component of the human condition. Join the BFS for ‘Something Monstrous’ and discuss the origins and evolutions of monsters in SFFH.

Introduction & Welcome (10am–10:10am)

Panel 1 (10:10am–11:10am): Monster Building. Monsters come in all shapes, sizes and forms, but how do you build the perfect one? What characteristics make them pop out of the page? Why do they stay in our consciousness long after we’ve closed the book? Join moderator Eleanor Pender and panellists M F Alfrey, Sarah Maria Griffin, and Catherine Yu as they discuss the best/worst monsters and their own Dr Frankenstein process. Find out more about our panel here.

Readings (11:15am–11:45am): Paul Dalton (11:15am–11:30am), M F Alfrey (11:30am–11:45am)

Break (11:45am–12:10pm)

Book Party (12:15pm–1pm): The BFS celebrates the launch of The Daughters of Nicnevin (Flame Tree) by Shona Kinsella. Join interviewer David Green as he chats to Shona about witches, Jacobites and sisterhood. Find out more about Shona and Daughters of Nicnevin here.

Readings (1:05pm–1:35pm): Wayne Goodchild (1:05pm–1:20pm), Joseph Elliott-Coleman (1:20pm–1:35pm)

Lunch (1:35pm–2:10pm)

Reading (2:15pm–2:30pm): Alethea Lyons

Panel 2 (2:30pm–3:30pm): Creating Tension & Fear. Sometimes, you just need to put a book in the freezer, but what is it that creeps into our psyche and won’t let go? How do you create that perfect storm that keeps readers glued to the page, even when they want to hide under the covers? Join moderator David Green and panellists David Barnett, Lindz McLeod, and Ayida Shonibar for their insights on crafting tension and fear. Find out more about our panel here.

Reading (3:35pm–3:50pm): Sandhya Jain-Patel

Break (3:50pm–4pm)

Panel 3 (4pm–5pm): Dark Fantasy v Horror. SFFH fans are no strangers to genre bending, or arguments about what defines a genre. In this panel, we walk the line between dark fantasy and horror – asking what are the key components of each? Is it setting? Is it tone? Is it the big bad? Join moderator Lauren McMenemy and panellists Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Marko Hautala, and Lorraine Wilson as they debate the borders of dark fantasy and horror. Find out more about our panel here.

Reading (5:05pm–5:20pm): Susie Williams

Author Interview (5:30pm–6:30pm): BFS Chair Shona Kinsella interviews #1 New York Times bestselling author Scarlett St Clair. Find out more about Scarlett and Shona here.

Find more information on our fabulous readers and where to buy their books by clicking here.

Please note: You should receive a confirmation email when you buy your ticket, plus a second email with the Zoom link to join. If you don’t, please contact Pam via email: onlineevents@britishfantasysociety.org