David Britton
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| '''David Britton''' (February 18, 1945 — December 29, 2020) was a [[British author]], artist, and publisher. In the 1970s he founded ''Weird Fantasy'' and ''Crucified Toad'', a series of [[small press]] magazines of the [[speculative fiction]] and [[Horror fiction|horror]] genres. In 1976, Britton and [[Michael Butterworth (author)|Michael Butterworth]] co-founded the controversial publishing house [[Savoy Books]]. | '''David Britton''' (February 18, 1945 — December 29, 2020) was a [[British author]], artist, and publisher. In the 1970s he founded ''Weird Fantasy'' and ''Crucified Toad'', a series of [[small press]] magazines of the [[speculative fiction]] and [[Horror fiction|horror]] genres. In 1976, Britton and [[Michael Butterworth (author)|Michael Butterworth]] co-founded the controversial publishing house [[Savoy Books]]. | ||
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| ==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
| + | Britton was a student at [[St John's College, Durham]], graduating in 1969 with a degree in Education. In 1976, Britton founded the publisher and distributor Savoy Books with [[Michael Butterworth (author)|Michael Butterworth]], who he had met in the early seventies. At the time Britton was running the bookshop The House on the Borderland in Manchester. | ||
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| + | In 1989, Britton wrote ''Lord Horror'' published by Savoy Books, a dystopian horror with a central character based on Nazi collaborator [[William Joyce]], also known as [[Lord Haw-Haw]]. This became the last publication to be banned under the United Kingdom's [[Obscene Publications Act 1964|Obscene Publications Act]] in 1992, with Britton serving a jail term at [[HM Prison Manchester]]. The charge was later overturned on appeal after a defence led by human rights barrister [[Geoffrey Robertson]]. | ||
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| + | ==Work== | ||
| + | Britton was the creator and scriptwriter of the ''Lord Horror'' and ''[[Meng and Ecker]]'' comics published by Savoy. These characters also appear in a trio of novels written by Britton: ''Lord Horror'', ''Motherfuckers: The Auschwitz of Oz'', and ''Baptised in the Blood of Millions''. | ||
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| + | "''Lord Horror''," Britton has said, "was so unique and radical, I expected to go to prison for it. I always thought that if you wrote a truly dangerous book -- something dangerous would happen to you. Which is one reason there are so few really dangerous books around. Publishers play at promoting dangerous books, whether they're [[Serpent's Tail]] or [[Penguin Books|Penguin]]. All you get is a book vetted by committee, never anything radically imaginative or offensive that will take your fucking head off. Ironically, I think it would do other authors a power of good if they had to account for their books by going to prison -- there are far too many bad books being published!" | ||
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| + | According to [[Michael Moorcock]], ''Lord Horror'' series is the only "alternate history" to confront "Nazism with appropriate originality and passion." | ||
| - | Britton is the creator and script writer of the ''[[Lord Horror]]'' and ''[[Meng and Ecker]]'' comics published by Savoy. These characters also appear in a trio of novels written by Britton: ''Lord Horror'' (1990), ''Motherfuckers: The Auschwitz of Oz'' (1996), and ''Baptised in the Blood of Millions'' (2001). The first book, ''Lord Horror,'' is the last book to date to be [[British censorship|banned in the United Kingdom]]. | + | ===Publications=== |
| + | * ''Lord Horror'' (1989, Savoy Books) - Butterworth edited and provided text | ||
| + | * ''Lord Horror: Reverbstorm No.12'' (1996, Savoy Books) {{ISBN|9780861300969}} | ||
| + | * ''Motherfuckers: The Auschwitz of Oz'' (1996) | ||
| + | * ''Baptised in the Blood of Millions'' (2001) | ||
| - | [[Keith Seward]] has produced a book looking at the Lord Horror stories called ''[[Horror Panegyric]]'' which features excerpts as well as a prologue examining the tales. | + | ==Influence== |
| + | [[Keith Seward]] has produced a book looking at the Lord Horror stories called ''Horror Panegyric'' which features excerpts as well as a prologue examining the tales. | ||
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Revision as of 20:55, 11 August 2021
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David Britton (February 18, 1945 — December 29, 2020) was a British author, artist, and publisher. In the 1970s he founded Weird Fantasy and Crucified Toad, a series of small press magazines of the speculative fiction and horror genres. In 1976, Britton and Michael Butterworth co-founded the controversial publishing house Savoy Books.
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Biography
Britton was a student at St John's College, Durham, graduating in 1969 with a degree in Education. In 1976, Britton founded the publisher and distributor Savoy Books with Michael Butterworth, who he had met in the early seventies. At the time Britton was running the bookshop The House on the Borderland in Manchester.
In 1989, Britton wrote Lord Horror published by Savoy Books, a dystopian horror with a central character based on Nazi collaborator William Joyce, also known as Lord Haw-Haw. This became the last publication to be banned under the United Kingdom's Obscene Publications Act in 1992, with Britton serving a jail term at HM Prison Manchester. The charge was later overturned on appeal after a defence led by human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson.
Work
Britton was the creator and scriptwriter of the Lord Horror and Meng and Ecker comics published by Savoy. These characters also appear in a trio of novels written by Britton: Lord Horror, Motherfuckers: The Auschwitz of Oz, and Baptised in the Blood of Millions.
"Lord Horror," Britton has said, "was so unique and radical, I expected to go to prison for it. I always thought that if you wrote a truly dangerous book -- something dangerous would happen to you. Which is one reason there are so few really dangerous books around. Publishers play at promoting dangerous books, whether they're Serpent's Tail or Penguin. All you get is a book vetted by committee, never anything radically imaginative or offensive that will take your fucking head off. Ironically, I think it would do other authors a power of good if they had to account for their books by going to prison -- there are far too many bad books being published!"
According to Michael Moorcock, Lord Horror series is the only "alternate history" to confront "Nazism with appropriate originality and passion."
Publications
- Lord Horror (1989, Savoy Books) - Butterworth edited and provided text
- Lord Horror: Reverbstorm No.12 (1996, Savoy Books) Template:ISBN
- Motherfuckers: The Auschwitz of Oz (1996)
- Baptised in the Blood of Millions (2001)
Influence
Keith Seward has produced a book looking at the Lord Horror stories called Horror Panegyric which features excerpts as well as a prologue examining the tales.
