Julian Lloyd Webber is a world renowned Cellist and has released 11 collections; Unexpected Songs being his latest in 2006. He has a passion for the short horror story. He also holds affection for the Pan Book of Horror series and in particular, the work of author Conrad Hill . So much so that his admiration once led to writing an open letter for the Sunday Express - calling for Conrad to get in touch. Julian released a book entitled Short Sharp Shocks in 1990 which featured two stories by Mr Hill. Here he talks to Allthingshorror about his search for Conrad and Short Sharp Shocks.

JOHNNY: Where did your love from horror come from and what books were on your bookshelves when you were growing up?

 
JULIAN: My father would take me to horror movies like 'The Phantom of the Opera'. In his teens he used to play cinema organ to the silent movies to earn some pocket money.
 
JOHNNY: What were the first genre specific anthologies you came across?
 
JULIAN: The Pan Books - closely followed by the Fontana's.
 
JOHNNY: At what age did you first read the Pan Book of Horror Stories? What drew you to them first?
 
JULIAN: Probably 10 or 11. I had a short attention span and preferred short stories.
 
JOHNNY: How many anthologies would you say you own?
 
JULIAN: Many hundreds - but I sold a lot at the Fantasy Centre in Holloway Road about a year ago as I didn't have any more room!
 
JOHNNY: Who were your favourite authors and stories from the series?
 
JULIAN: This is going from memory. I preferred the contemporary tales rather than old stories. I loved Marghanita Laski's story 'The Tower' which was actually in one of their Ghost Story collections. It's in SSS and is a truly creepy tale! Are there some Harry Turner's in the Pan's? I liked him too.
 
JOHNNY: What grabbed you about Conrad Hill's Bushmaster?
 
JULIAN: I thought it was gruesomely hilarious! The characters were very believable and he has this cynically observant eye which sets him apart - a sort of horrific Tom Sharpe.
 
JOHNNY: And what does his writing have that made you go to such lengths to track him down?
 
JULIAN: He was operating in a 'black humour' vein that seemed unique. I wish he could be encouraged to produce more.
 
JOHNNY: Can you run us through how you went about trying to get Conrad?
 
JULIAN: Like you I exhausted every avenue. I knew Graham Lord - the literary editor of the Sunday Express. I told him of my love for this 'missing' author and he suggested I wrote an open letter in the paper. Lo and behold Mr Hill materialised!
 
JOHNNY: How did Short Sharp Shocks come about?

JULIAN: I seem to remember purely by chance as I mentioned my interest in the genre to one of the editors at Weidenfeld who said “why don’t you put together an anthology?". Of course they were completely the wrong publishers for something like that as they were more used to producing weightier political tomes whereas SSS is the sort of book which should have gone straight to paperback.
 
JOHNNY: The anthology has a very considered and well thought out content. How did you pick your stories?

JULIAN: I simply chose the stories I liked best. I’m not sure, on reflection, that I should have selected the Machen. Although he is one of my favourite writers I think his style is too different to the other more contemporary authors.
 
JOHNNY: How many didn't make the grade?
 
JULIAN: All the many thousands I must have read!
 
JOHNNY: Were you thrilled by the story Conrad supplied, and do you think it stands up with his other work?

JULIAN: Yes. It showed a new maturity of style, I think. Very dark and lacking the humour of most of his earlier tales.
 
JOHNNY: From the other stories there - which is your favourite?

JULIAN: I honestly like them all. But Marghanita Laski’s tale really gave me the creeps when I was young.
 
JOHNNY: How was the book received by family and friends?

JULIAN: They thought it was a typically quirky idea!
 
JOHNNY: And how was it received by the British public? Did it sell well, and were the reviews of it kind?

JULIAN: There was very little reaction although everyone I know who’s actually read it say they like it. It only received one review in a round-up of horror in the Sunday Times which was very favourable. As I said Weidenfeld were the wrong publishers.
 
JOHNNY: How do you think the book stands up now? Do you still dip into it?

JULIAN: I still think they are great stories. I don’t reread them. I like to read new things.
 
JOHNNY: Why hasn't there been a SSS 2? And would you ever consider doing another anthology?

JULIAN: There was a plan – in fact I had selected all the stories for a follow-up. I never pushed the idea. I was always too busy with musical projects.
 
JOHNNY: Are you still as ardent a horror fan as you were when SSS was released? And what do you think of the state of horror today?

JULIAN: I have to say no. I read more thrillers now. I found that there was an awful lot of dross being turned out by contemporary horror writers. You had to read loads of stories to find one good one.