Malcolm Devlin is a British writer known for his work in weird fiction. He is the author of And Then I Woke Up (2022) and Engines Beneath Us (2019). His short stories have appeared in Interzone, Black Static and Shadows and Tall Trees.
Devlin's first collection, You Will Grow Into Them (2017), introduced his distinctive approach to speculative fiction. He followed this with Unexpected Places to Fall From, Unexpected Places to Land (2021), a collection exploring shifting realities and narrative uncertainty.
His novella And Then I Woke Up (2022) examines the role of false narratives in shaping perception. Set in an unnamed city, the story follows Spence, a man recovering from a reality-altering illness that resembles a zombie outbreak.
"The idea of whole groups of people denying aspects of reality was alarming," says Devlin, reflecting on the book's themes. Although the book was written before the Covid-19 pandemic, it became increasingly relevant as social divisions deepened.
Devlin has cited George Romero's Night of the Living Dead as an influence, particularly its exploration of horror and social issues. He has also drawn inspiration from authors such as Robert Aickman, Philip K. Dick and Aliya Whiteley. His writing often challenges traditional genre boundaries, blending horror, science fiction and surrealism.
While And Then I Woke Up remains a standalone work, Devlin continues to explore similar themes in his fiction. His second collection, Unexpected Places to Fall From, Unexpected Places to Land, reflects his evolving style. "It's quite strange," he remarked, "but if you liked And Then I Woke Up, you might like some of the stories here."
Malcolm Devlin currently resides in Brisbane, Australia.
Photo credit: www.malcolmdevlin.com
