ALT. FICTION 2011
DVD region 2. Momentum.

Alt. Fiction has, over the last few years, developed into one of the UK’s leading fantasy literature events – a great gathering of science fiction, fantasy and horror writers that now takes place over two days at Derby’s impressive Quad cinema.

This year, the event had expanded to include film screenings, organised by Mayhem, and it was with Mayhem men Chris Cooke and Gareth Howell that I headed over to Derby at 9am for the start of what promised to be a long, though entertaining day.

After negotiating nightmarish traffic that suggested the entire population of Derby was fleeing the city and avoiding the exhibition of police, fire and ambulance services that also gave the city centre something of an apocalyptic feel, we arrived at Quad, had a caffeine boost and then settled in to watch the first film show of the day, the classic BBC ghost story The Signalman. Of all the BBC’s Ghost Story for Christmas stories produced throughout the 1970s, this is probably the best known – it’s certainly the one most often shown – and rightly so, as the story of a ghostly figure that prophesies disaster has aged rather well, losing none of its creepy effectiveness. Shot entirely on film (something rather unusual at the time for British TV), it also looked good on a cinema screen.

The film was introduced by Ghostwatch writer Stephen Volk, who also appeared on the only panel I managed to catch at the event. Throughout the weekend, the festival was host to assorted panel discussions and reading, on subjects as diverse as ‘is there anywhere new for science fiction to go?’ and ‘is the ghost story dead?’, but the one that seemed most interesting to me was the scriptwriting panel, where Volk, Mark Chadbourn, Paul Finch, Jonathan L Howard and Robert Shearman discussed the problems of trying to write genre material for British television, and which included the memorable phrase “it’s like riding a merry-go-round where the horse is trying to fuck you”.

After that panel, it was time to negotiate the streets of Derby in search of food and beer, before returning to the Quad for more beer and a screening of Cat People (the 1944 version) and Curse of the Cat People. At least, that was the plan for some of our party, which by now had expanded to the full Mayhem crew. However, I didn’t much fancy either film and so popped out to a couple of ridiculously huge local pubs before heading back in time for the much anticipated midnight preview showing of Hobo with a Shotgun.

The screening of the film got off to an inauspicious start, with projection difficulties causing the film to be stopped mid-credits and the audience told to move to screen two, where thankfully the film played without a hitch.

I feel I should watch this film again to fully make up my mind about it – but on the basis of this viewing, admittedly filtered through beer goggles, I was less than impressed. For all it’s alleged ‘grindhouse’ feel, the film seems closer to a mid-1980’s, somewhat reactionary and right-wing action movie that could’ve easily been made by Michael Winner during his Death Wish sequel period. Now, if you like that sort of thing, fair enough – but to me, it seemed too close to the sort of terrible films Rutger Hauer found himself starring in after the glory days of The Hitcher and Flesh + Blood began to fade. A shame, because I really wanted to enjoy this – and who knows, maybe I’ll reassess it when I see it again. For now though, it feels like a major letdown.

Alt. Fiction continued the next day (in fact, it's taking place as I write this), without me – tempting as the rare showings of Tom Baker reading Nigel Kneale’s The Photograph on Late Night Story and acclaimed 1972 story The Exorcism (from the Dead of Night series) were, a second trip to Derby was not something I really felt up to.

As an event, Alt. Fiction has much to recommend it – and the addition of film screenings certainly expanded its horizons. If I have a criticism, it would be that, like some other literary events, it feels a little insular – I suspect that most people attending the events were either fiction writers or wannabe fiction writers; there’s little evidence to suggest that there are festival goers who are simply fans, in the way you’d find at a film event. I’m not sure why this is, or if there is anything that could be done to change that - perhaps more promotion outside the writing commity - but as it stands, the festival might seem a bit intimidating for anyone who doesn’t know anyone else there. And that's a shame, because I suspect there is much here to interest the reader who has no ambition to write but is nonetheless a fan of the genre.

That observation (and it is an observation, not a criticism) aside, Alt. Fiction actually has plenty to offer, and is certainly worth a visit next year for any fan of genre literature.

DAVID FLINT

UPDATE: In the interests of fairness - given that I'm not entirely convinced that my comments of Hobo with a Shotgun are an entirely valid interpretation of the film - here's what Chris Cooke had to say:

It's part of that horrible Grindhouse 'brand' of course, but the film transends that and is a sincere up-turning of the very things you criticise it for, in my opinion, and though a reference of ...80's films it has much to say about inequity and inequality - while being fun, mental, addled and entertainingly surreal - The Plague are ace, a mad creation: And Hauer channels Olmi (Legend of the Holy Drinker, surely his greatest performance?), while describing what would happen if you ever hugged a bear. Great film!!