Book cover revealed: TWISTED SHADOWS (a summer 2018 release)

ISBN 978-1-9999817-0-9 (trade paperback)

ISBN 978-1-9999817-1-6 (e-book)

SUMMER 2018

From Huxley and Boye to Orwell

Revisited the historic café Ofvandahls in Uppsala, Sweden. The café, located at the same address since it first opened in 1878, was one of Karin Boye’s favourite hang-outs.

Karin Boye (1900-1941) was a Swedish poet and novelist whose suicide in 1941 reflected her tragic, bleak and depressing writing style. Internationally, Boye is regarded as one of the greatest Swedish poets of all time. She also wrote five novels whereof four were published in the 1930s. Apart from the collected poems, she is best known abroad for her last novel, KALLOCAIN, a psychological dystopia nightmare, which dealt with the same social science fiction themes as did George Orwell’s NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR. Indeed, KALLOCAIN, published in 1940, predated Orwell’s book by eight years.

"KALLOCAIN deserves to take a secure place in the literature of dystopia, among such novels as Aldous Huxley’s BRAVE NEW WORLD and George Orwell’s NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR."

— Richard B. Vowles, Professor of Comparative Literature and Scandinavian Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

Revisiting the café Ofvandahls.

Two Karin Boye novels: ASTARTE (1931) and KALLOCAIN (1940).

Karin Boye (1900-1941). Poet and novelist.

“Happy New Year, Murphy”

It wouldn’t be New Year’s Eve without suspense/thriller/horror/cyberpunk movies set on or around New Year’s Eve. Four favourites of mine:

END OF DAYS (Peter Hyams, 1999). A Wall Street investment banker (Gabriel Byrne) gets possessed by Satan himself, who has come to impregnate a young woman named Christine York (Robin Tunney) on the eve of the new millennium. Only Satan faces a hard-boiled enemy in the form of ex-cop-turned-bodyguard Jericho Cane (Arnold Schwarzenegger).

STRANGE DAYS (Kathryn Bigelow/James Cameron, 1995). In an out-of-control Los Angeles at the turn of the millennium, a former detective (Ralph Fiennes) sells illegal, virtual-reality devices which allow users to experience the recorded sensations of others.

ROBOCOP (Paul Verhoeven, 1987). A murdered cop, Alex Murphy (Peter Weller), is wired into a computer-controlled artificial body and set to the task of policing the soaring crime rate of the near-future city of Detroit.

BITTER MOON (Roman Polanski, 1992). Whilst on a Mediterranean New-Year cruise in this bleak, disturbing and intense tale, English couple Nigel and Fiona (Hugh Grant and Kristin Scott-Thomas) meet Oscar (Peter Coyote), a wheelchair-bound American novelist, and his young French wife Mimi (Emmanuelle Seigner).

The clip: A woman wishes RoboCop/Alex Murphy a Happy New Year and gives him a kiss, leaving a smudge of lipstick on the camera lens, i.e. RoboCop’s visor. (Clip source: getyarn.io)

New blog name - new URL

For the record: This blog just changed name from FantastikThrillerSpace to Johan Fundin. All of the old posts are still here.

Thus, the new URL:

johanfundin.blogspot.com

TWISTED SHADOWS: A thriller of both spine-chilling terror and emotional power

Johan Fundin's Twisted Shadows is full-tilt suspense entertainment jam-packed with explosive thrills. Perfect for fans of Dean Koontz and James Patterson.

Three young women’s interests collide when the founder of a groundbreaking biotechnology company dies under mysterious circumstances.

"Johan Fundin has a gift for creating atmosphere" LandOfWhimsy.com

Catriona is a hot multimillionaire supermodel. But her life is far from perfect. Cat is being stalked by a creature in a black raincoat. Who is he… or it?

Janice, Cat's twin sister, is a deformed and reclusive pub waitress. To most people, Jan is a disgusting monster.

Ebba, Cat's best friend and supermodel colleague, is living on the edge. Where is the limit?

In connection with the bizarre death of the founder of a pioneering biotech institute, Cat, Jan and Ebba are drawn into a horrifying conspiracy with global consequences.

Release: Summer 2018

What readers are saying about the novels of Johan Fundin:

"Really exciting from beginning to end – a 'page turner'."

"What a shocker! It's really really good! Has everything a suspense novel needs; mystery, murder, red herrings, characters, love, and even a car chase!"

"It's very suspenseful. There's finesse in the train of thought and the use of language differs from that of other thrillers."

"Exciting, entertaining, vividly described, electrifying. I'm impressed. What a finish!"


"What a thrilling story! Impressive!"

MR. MANIAC book review: "An excellent read"

"An excellent read - a real page turner throughout."
– FromAYellowHouse.com

The book review site From A Yellow House has reviewed MR. MANIAC. Full review:

http://www.fromayellowhouse.com/2017/08/book-spotlight-mr-maniac-by-johan-fundin.html

MR. MANIAC is available both as paperback and kindle eBook:
Amazon USA
Amazon UK

HorrorCon UK promotion: "Win a signed copy of MR. MANIAC"

HorrorCon UK blogged:
"WIN A SIGNED COPY OF MR. MANIAC BY JOHAN FUNDIN":

https://www.horrorconuk.com/win-signed-copy-mr-maniac-johan-fundin/

A chance to win a signed copy of MR. MANIAC before general release on 28 June 2017.

HorrorCon UK - Sheffield - 13-14 May 2017

HorrorCon UK is the massive horror convention held annually at Magna Science Adventure Centre in my home city Sheffield. Special Guests this year include Heather Langenkamp (A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 1 & 3 & NEW NIGHTMARE), Sid Haig (HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES, THE DEVIL'S REJECTS) and John Jarratt (WOLF CREEK 1 & 2).

Michael Crichton's DRAGON TEETH

Another forthcoming posthumous novel from the great Michael Crichton. I can’t wait to read DRAGON TEETH. How many unpublished novels remain to be discovered on Crichton's computer?

This week I'm watching two films based on Michael Crichton novels: THE TERMINAL MAN and SPHERE.

The art of description

I’ve never been to Los Angeles, California. But it feels like I’ve been there. Richard Laymon brings me there, again and again—through his fantastic fiction. Reading books like COME OUT TONIGHT, QUAKE or BODY RIDES, I’m transported to L.A. Laymon simply does what the best of writers do: transporting the reader. It’s the art of description.

The publisher's advance information

The publisher's key-point information about Mr. Maniac:

"
A cross-genre suspense thriller with elements of horror, fantasy and science fiction

Combines a gripping and inventive plot with a host of colourful characters

Will appeal to fans of Stephen King and Dean Koontz
"
- Troubador Publishing

MR. MANIAC - my new suspense novel

A novelist gets lost in the zone between fiction and reality when real murders of young women appear copied from his latest, still unfinished manuscript.

Title: Mr. Maniac
Release date: 28 June 2017
Publisher: Troubador
ISBN: 978-1788035323
e-ISBN: 978-1788031448

Someone is murdering female students at a university in northern England. Among the victims is a Swedish girl. Kenneth Sorin, a chemical physics doctor and horror suspense novelist, starts his own murky murder investigation with the help of his cat and his new mysterious girlfriend. The girlfriend turns out to be a spy and secret agent for SCDX, a shadowy international law enforcement organisation. Meanwhile, Kenneth receives strange telephone calls: an old lady who died ten years ago phones the author from her grave, encouraging him to look inside himself for the truth. 

The tracks lead Kenneth to the world of science and mysticism, including a meeting with a professor in Paris. He discovers bizarre elements in his own fiction writing. In addition, he happened to meet the Swedish girl twice: the same evening she was stabbed to death, and a year earlier, in connection with a trip to Sweden. Could he be the killer himself? Is the author a psychotic fictional character who stepped out of his own book?

Mr. Maniac is more than a straight translation of the original Swedish-language edition. It's a reworked story, 25% longer than the Swedish original, features several new scenes and plot points. It's therefore, in many ways, a different, richer book.

Snapshot From the Vast Sea of Books #5

Some writers are unable to write a disappointing book. Such a writer is Bentley Little. His early book The Mailman is downright fantastic - one of my most memorable reading experiences 2016. Consider me a fan.  

Happy Festive Season - New Books 2017

Happy Festive Season, everybody!

New books 2017 I look forward to reading include Dean Koontz's The Silent Corner, Robin Cook's Charlatans, and Christopher Golden's Ararat.

My own new suspense novel, Mr. Maniac, to be published by Troubador, is scheduled for a June 2017 release, and will be available both as paperback and eBook. More info about Mr. Maniac will be posted here in due course. 

Snapshot From the Vast Sea of Books #4

Jack Ketchum's Ladies' Night. Also one of my best reads of the year 2016.

Snapshot From the Vast Sea of Books #3

Suffer the Children (John Saul) and Shutter Island (Dennis Lehane) - to me, another two great reads this year.

Snapshot From the Vast Sea of Books #2

There are so many terrific stories in Joe Hill's collection 20th Century Ghosts, it's difficult to pick a favourite. "The Cape", "Bobby Conroy Comes Back From the Dead" and "My Father's Mask" are superb. I also love the opening piece, "Best New Horror", and "Scheherazade's Typewriter". Smashing stuff! 

Snapshot From the Vast Sea of Books #1

David Morrell's Long Lost is the best book I've read this year so far.

Horror Master John Carpenter visits UK (London, Manchester and Bristol) for Halloween event 2016

John Carpenter, master horror filmmaker and film music composer, will perform live a musical retrospective of his horror soundtrack work, including his debut studio album Lost Themes, and brand-new compositions. As all horror movie fans know, John Carpenter created the soundtracks for nearly all of his own films, e.g. Halloween, Escape From New York, Assault on Precinct 13, They Live, Vampires, The Fog, Christine, Prince of Darkness, or The Ward, his last film to date.

Among the many fine and memorable soundtracks that John Carpenter composed, my absolute favourite is the one for Prince of Darkness.

The UK events - four performances by John Carpenter in person - will take place in three cities:

Bristol: 23 Oct 2016; venue: Colston Hall
Manchester: 28 Oct & 29 Oct 2016; venue: The Albert Hall
London: 31 Oct 2016; venue: The Roxy

The John Carpenter musical retrospective tour is an extensive US and European tour. Other European cities on the tour are Copenhagen, Denmark; Barcelona, Spain; Neuchâtel, Switzerland; Helsinki, Finland; Oslo, Norway; Turin, Italy; Rome, Italy; Malmö, Sweden; Dublin, Ireland; Vienna, Austria; Oberhausen, Germany, and Paris, France.  

For details, see the official John Carpenter website:

http://www.theofficialjohncarpenter.com/tour/

A welcome return to top form for Paul Verhoeven

The new film by Paul Verhoeven, one of my favourite filmmakers, is currently playing at Cannes International Film Festival. His thriller Elle is in competition for the top award The Golden Palm (Palme d'Or). I can't wait for the UK release.

So far, my top-6 Paul Verhoeven films are, in arbitrary order:

Hollow Man

Total Recall

Basic Instinct

Starship Troopers

The Fourth Man

Flesh and Blood

I do want to make space for RoboCop among the top-6, and if I made the mini-list on another day, RoboCop might be on it.

Voices from the film world on Elle:

"This thriller is Paul Verhoeven at his very best and Isabelle Huppert gives the performance of a lifetime. Elle promises to be a hit with audiences."

- Sony Pictures

"A striking return for the Dutchman. We didn't dare dream of such an audacious, generous film."

- Cahiers du cinéma, Paris, France