I've been looking around for anthologies to submit to in recent weeks. I've got subs out to some of the usual suspects -- anthos dedicated to Sherlock Holmes and Lovecraft's Mythos.

But it got me thinking about what other anthos I'd like to write for -- and read, in other writers' universes. So, with tongue only slightly in cheek, this is a call for editors/publishers to get their fingers out and announce submission calls for the following:-

Black Mass - A Dennis Wheatley tribute. Wheatley wasn't the world's greatest writer, but his books filled store shelves before Stephen King came along, and did a lot to mould my liking for supernatural fiction. I'd love to have a go at an old school Satanic romp with his characters.

She Who Must be Obeyed - an H Rider Haggard tribute. I've always wanted to do an Allan Quatermain/Lost civilisation story.

Tarzan Returns - How cool would it be to do a Tarzan story? Well for a lad who grew up on the ERB books, it would be geek heaven.

Challenger - Why not a Professor Challenger antho as opposed to a Holmes one? And Challenger was an Ayrshire man, like me. I've got many ideas just waiting for the right antho

Quatermass - And thinking of Challenger brings me straight to Quatermass, one of my earliest heroes. It's surely time for an antho of British science gone wrong?

Fu-Manchu - I -so- want to write an old school criminal mastermind story

And those are just off the top of my head. I'd also love to write in Moorcock's Eternal Champion Universe, or using Gemmell's Jerusalem Man. There are also many TV show characters I'd love to write stories for, from the X-Files to Dr. Who, from Adam Adamant to Supernatural.

Not a single one of these is likely to happen any time soon and I'm not holding my breath waiting for invitations to submit.

But a boy can dream can't he?

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"One of the premier storytellers of our time" - FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND
William Meikle