2023-12-03 18:33:31
All horror writers seek the blessing of the master Stephen King, but very few get it. One of the lucky ones is Paul Tremblay (Colorado, United States, 1971), author of some of the best works of the genre in the last decade. In 2015 Tremblay published ‘A Head Full of Ghosts’, which won the Bram Stoker Novel Prize, awarded by the Horror Writers Association of America, and in 2018 he wrote ‘Disappearance on Devil’s Rock’. But his biggest success was ‘The Cabin at the End of the World’ (2021), made into a film by the king of horror movies, M. Night Shyamalan, with the title ‘There’s a knock at the door’. In his latest novel, ‘En el club de los coffin bearers’ (published by Nocturna, like all of his work), Tremblay goes back to the time of his adolescence, the 80s. The American novelist has just visited Spain to participate in the Sui Generis Festival.
-How does it feel to be named by Stephen King as one of his successors?
-I feel very honored that Stephen King has enjoyed my books. I became a reader, and above all, a writer, thanks to Stephen’s books and films. Honestly, sometimes I have to pinch myself and ask, ‘Did I dream that Stephen King would say something nice about my books?’ But it really has happened. In fact, I have some of his tweets printed and hanging on the walls of my house.
-Why is the horror genre fashionable?
-Sometimes I find it funny to say that it is fashionable because that will imply that it will end soon. I believe that part of the reason for its success is because writers like Stephen King, Anne Rice and Clive Barker have been fundamental in shaping modern popular culture. There isn’t as much stigma attached to the genre now as there was in the ’80s and ’90s. Of course, there is still a stigma, particularly among some stubborn people who believe that this is not a serious genre, but those prejudices are diminishing. There is a great generation of writers, like Mariana Enríquez, Victor LaValle, John Langan, Stephen Graham Jones or Sarah Langan, so it is a very exciting time to be a horror writer and reader.
-What is the secret of a good horror novel?
-The best thing about the genre is that there are infinite ways to write a horror story. That said, my favorite horror novels are the ones that challenge me and make me uncomfortable, while revealing truths about the world that I didn’t know or didn’t dare admit I didn’t know. The best horror novels not only join a 200-year-old genre, but also see previous writers and stories in a new and different light.
-What did you think of the film adaptation of ‘The Cabin at the End of the World’?
-I really enjoyed the performances. Overall, I like the movie, but I hate its ending, which is much bleaker than mine. It changes the meaning of the novel.
-You were one of the first writers in the world to sue ChatGPT in defense of your copyright. How is the case?
-I’m sorry, but I can’t talk about this matter because everything I say could be used in court.
-As a writer, are you afraid of artificial intelligence? Do you think that fantasy imagined for centuries of machines rebelling against humans can happen?
-I’m afraid of everything. My novels begin in my tormented brain, which always imagines the worst scenarios. Of course, machines will rebel against humans. Most of us are idiots, why wouldn’t they be? (laughs). Maybe I’ve seen ‘Terminator’ too many times. I don’t know if artificial intelligence will cause the apocalypse, I am clear that it will not prevent it.
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