By Karolina Gruschka
As the title of the publication implies, The Monsters’ Almanac is a calendar that contains important dates and facts about monsters. The ‘monsters’ authors Nige Burton and Jamie Jones refer to are the fictional villains and notorious abjects within the horror universe. The guide is part of a larger printed and electronic resource, which centres around classic monsters; the brand was launched mid-2014 by monster obsessed Burton for fellow classic horror fans.
How do we actually define a monster as being ‘classic’? Burton tackles the question in the book’s foreword (“Goreword”), and it appears to be a far more complex debate than it presents itself at first. The two vital elements that usually establish a work of artistry as ‘classic’, are value and time. However, both concepts only open up further inquiries such as ‘of how much value to whom,’ and ‘how much time needs to pass?’ Burton seems to have chosen to focus on the idea of nostalgia – a somewhat more sentimental and individual intersection between the passing of time and the value of a creation – since it is more in line with the conceptions of fandom. Thus, younger generations might be enthralled with the soulful Angel the same way others are with Lugosi’s Dracula. Though an inclusive approach might appear controversial and worrying to the followers of the older classics, Burton states that those treasures of the past, nonetheless, will always remain at the heart of Classic Monsters.
Further interesting articles that can be found in The Monsters’ Almanac include ‘The Stalwarts of Horror,’ a celebration of the dedicated and charismatic support actors in monster movies; ‘The Masters Of The Macabre,’ a reminiscence on a time when horror stars were closely associated with their monster role; and ‘Afterlifeword,’ in which Burton shares how he developed his cherished love for horror.
Nevertheless, the main focus of this publication is the horror trivia surrounding every day of the year (including leap-day 29th February). I must admit it provides great pleasure and many “aha!” moments to look at what happened in horror history on today’s date, or my birthday, or your birthday, or Halloween. One can find information on births and deaths of cast and crew, book publications as well as film/TV release/airing dates. The latter go by original studio schedules and country of origin, since various sources provide conflicting dates. The almanac is, however, so much more than just fun facts. It assisted me in remembering long forgotten gems and suggested movies I have yet got to see (how awesome does 1944 horror-comedy musical Ghost Catchers sound?!) On top of that, there are some fantastic quality images – with descriptions – of movie posters, film scenes and shots from the set that beautifully enhance every single page of The Monsters’ Almanac.
Published in 2015, The Monsters’ Almanac consists of 36 colour pages in A4 high quality paperback and is available for £7.99 from the Classic Monsters online shop. It is a very good price for a guide that can become a lasting part of a fan’s horror collection. Please also check out the Classic Monsters website for a vast (and growing) informational index of a variety of monsters, horror films and horror cast/crew as well as further fascinating publications.
The Monsters’ Almanac is on sale now at Classic Monsters.