Madame G

I've become increasingly consumed of late with the degree to which I seek the dark side of life. The more I come into contact with new people in my real life, the more I feel like a deviant for understanding, knowing or even liking most of the stuff that I do. And I have no interest whatsoever in reading cheery tales of romantic love and happy ever after. It sickens me. I would watch darkness and death a million times over before sitting through a rom-com. I want to know how it is that people hurt. And that's probably why all of my favourite actors inspire me more with their ability to convey insufferable grief and misery than when they are on top of the world. All the writers and authors I most admire are those that deal in darkness and depravity. Don't get me wrong. I'm a devout follower of comedy, a worshiper at the church of humour, but whilst I love a good laugh of late when I settle down to watch a film or read a book or a piece of fiction I'm more likely to seek out something bleak and sinister than something with a happy ending.

I read this article a few months ago when it was posted by a friend, and revisited it recently to remind myself that I'm not alone in seeking out the dark side.

( Christopher Fowler's views on the magnetism of the dark side )

And to follow that, it seems fitting to do a little pimpage of one of the most gloriously dark, unrelenting pieces of fic I've read recently. terraswrath, after reading Red Riding by David Peace, re-envisioned Sam Tyler's experiences in 1973 in a gritty, dark style not unlike that used by Peace in his novel. It's not going to be to everyone's taste, as it references character death and non-canon concepts, but I think it's beautifully sinister. Click here to read 'Out of Time'