Born to Fear: Interviews with Thomas Ligotti

Thomas Ligotti is one of the foremost modern horror writers in America. His expertise is in the short horror published in either collections or magazines. A myth has built up around him that he is a recluse, never gives interviews, and rarely travels outside. It seems the truth is stranger than fiction, because what we have is a collection of interviews given by Thomas Ligotti over the years, all collected into one volume. I expected something really short, but instead found something much different.

We find a man that has a lot to say on certain subjects, who is very verbose at times, and other times it seems he hates the world. For the persona that he has built up around him, it is refreshing to see that he is not shy, nor should he be. These interviews range across the years and bring an interesting insight into how he views himself, his panic attacks, writing style, and what he thinks of modern horror writing. But what we do not get, and I am thankful for that, is a man who hides behind a curtain. Thomas Ligotti lets it all go, and at times you wonder if the joke is on us for believing the myth.