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Nightmare
With shades of an erotic Jack the Ripper, Nightmare is the story of an African physician, set against the backdrop of race relations in the UK in the '50s. Dr. Patterson first witnesses and intervenes against whites out to committ acts of barbarity against women, then, when he finds himself on trial despite the station, feels the pressures of race and anger building up inside, until the day that he becomes a rapist and killer. Stunning title not often reprinted.
- GenresFiction
185 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1960
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28 people want to read
About the author
Marcus Van Heller
51 books10 followersJohn "Steve" Stevenson (July 10 1930 - Nov 27 2017) was a British writer who, under the pen name Marcus van Heller, wrote erotic fiction for the Traveller's Companion series of Olympia Press publisher (1955–1961). Later he also wrote under the pen name Stephen John
In 1954, at the age of 23, John Stevenson arrived for a sojourn in Paris, where he socialised with the expatriate community behind the modernist literary magazine Merlin. He soon became the business manager for Merlin. As the magazine was not well known to the public, the job consisted mostly of selling copies on the street.
The main editor of Merlin, Alexander Trocchi, used to write erotic fiction for Olympia Press publisher to supplement his After returning to Britain, John Stevenson became a civil servant, working as press officer for the Central Office of Information. On Trocchi's suggest and due to his meagre income, he start to write erotic novels for Olympia Press.
The first erotic novel written by John Stevenson, Rape (1955), surprised Maurice Girodias (the founder of Olympia Press), who described it as "almost too brutal". The book was published under the pseudonym Marcus van Heller, a pen name which Stevenson continued to use for the subsequent novels, making it one of the most famous brand names published at Olympia Press. The success of the first novel was followed by other books, written in the years 1955–1961, making Stevenson the most prolific writer for the "Traveller's Companion" series of this publisher.
The second novel, The Loins of Amon (1955), was set in Ancient Egypt, marking the beginning of a specialisation in erotica with grand historical settings. The elaboration of the story was based on his schooling in ancient history, supplemented by research at the British Council Library from Paris. Continuing in the same vein, Roman Orgy (1956) presented an intimate account of the private life of the rebel leader Spartacus, and The House of Borgia, parts 1 and 2 (1957, 1958), a fictional biography of the 15th century Italian noble family with an emphasis on their considerable depravity.
The novels The Wantons (1957), Terror (1958) and Nightmare (1960) have a contemporary setting of social discontent, while Cruel Lips (1956), Kidnap (1961) and Adam and Eve (1961) are thrillers.
In a few years, Marcus van Heller became the most prolific and mysterious pen name from the "Traveller's Companion" series. "In the netherworld of erotica, the name Marcus van Heller approaches the stature of legend" (portrayal by John de St. Jorre in his book about the history of Olympia Press).
At one point, John Stevenson and Alexander Trocchi found out that Maurice Girodias reprinted their works under another imprint, Ophelia Press, to avoid giving them more money. This fact and also a negative remark from Girodias regarding the effort he put into writing his most recent novel determined Stevenson to end the collaboration with Olympia Press and return to Britain in 1961. Afterwards, Girodias used the fact that the real identity behind the pen name Marcus van Haller was largely unknown, commissioning other writers to publish new novels under this pen name.
He ghostwrote a biography of Michael X (aka Michael Abdul Malik), From Michael de Freitas to Michael X, published in 1968. In 1969, under the pen name Stephen John, he began publishing new novels at Berkley Books. I Like It That Way (1969) started a series of seven erotic novels, published in the years 1969–1976 and based on a fictional art dealer named Albert Divine.
In 1954, at the age of 23, John Stevenson arrived for a sojourn in Paris, where he socialised with the expatriate community behind the modernist literary magazine Merlin. He soon became the business manager for Merlin. As the magazine was not well known to the public, the job consisted mostly of selling copies on the street.
The main editor of Merlin, Alexander Trocchi, used to write erotic fiction for Olympia Press publisher to supplement his After returning to Britain, John Stevenson became a civil servant, working as press officer for the Central Office of Information. On Trocchi's suggest and due to his meagre income, he start to write erotic novels for Olympia Press.
The first erotic novel written by John Stevenson, Rape (1955), surprised Maurice Girodias (the founder of Olympia Press), who described it as "almost too brutal". The book was published under the pseudonym Marcus van Heller, a pen name which Stevenson continued to use for the subsequent novels, making it one of the most famous brand names published at Olympia Press. The success of the first novel was followed by other books, written in the years 1955–1961, making Stevenson the most prolific writer for the "Traveller's Companion" series of this publisher.
The second novel, The Loins of Amon (1955), was set in Ancient Egypt, marking the beginning of a specialisation in erotica with grand historical settings. The elaboration of the story was based on his schooling in ancient history, supplemented by research at the British Council Library from Paris. Continuing in the same vein, Roman Orgy (1956) presented an intimate account of the private life of the rebel leader Spartacus, and The House of Borgia, parts 1 and 2 (1957, 1958), a fictional biography of the 15th century Italian noble family with an emphasis on their considerable depravity.
The novels The Wantons (1957), Terror (1958) and Nightmare (1960) have a contemporary setting of social discontent, while Cruel Lips (1956), Kidnap (1961) and Adam and Eve (1961) are thrillers.
In a few years, Marcus van Heller became the most prolific and mysterious pen name from the "Traveller's Companion" series. "In the netherworld of erotica, the name Marcus van Heller approaches the stature of legend" (portrayal by John de St. Jorre in his book about the history of Olympia Press).
At one point, John Stevenson and Alexander Trocchi found out that Maurice Girodias reprinted their works under another imprint, Ophelia Press, to avoid giving them more money. This fact and also a negative remark from Girodias regarding the effort he put into writing his most recent novel determined Stevenson to end the collaboration with Olympia Press and return to Britain in 1961. Afterwards, Girodias used the fact that the real identity behind the pen name Marcus van Haller was largely unknown, commissioning other writers to publish new novels under this pen name.
He ghostwrote a biography of Michael X (aka Michael Abdul Malik), From Michael de Freitas to Michael X, published in 1968. In 1969, under the pen name Stephen John, he began publishing new novels at Berkley Books. I Like It That Way (1969) started a series of seven erotic novels, published in the years 1969–1976 and based on a fictional art dealer named Albert Divine.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 12, 2011
Vivid, gritty and unashamedly barbaric, this book shows the best and worst of humanity as individuals and as a mob. It begins with Dr Patterson intervening in a mob attack on two coloured men by a group of white youths. In doing so he is attacked and humiliated and to top it off during the trial of four of the attackers, he is made out to be the aggressor as a 'key' witness steps forward with an alternative to reality. And so begins Dr Patterson's descent into rape and murder, driven by his own memories of racial discrimination and hatred and the ongoing battle between the black and white communities of London.
Despite the graphic and violent nature of this work, or more likely because of it, this work is utterly chilling as Heller shows how destructive hatred in any form can be and how it can fester and grow within even the most gentle and educated of people. The attitudes of both the main and background characters are captured superbly and with a realism that is gut wrenching as it manifests itself in the guise of inaction as well as outright violence. This is not a book for the faint of heart as Heller holds nothing back in his writing and his words but once you've started reading, there is no stopping until the final page.
The sad thing is, despite being written over 50 years ago, this is still a very relevent work that has its reflection in some areas of society today. And that is the most chilling thought of all.
Despite the graphic and violent nature of this work, or more likely because of it, this work is utterly chilling as Heller shows how destructive hatred in any form can be and how it can fester and grow within even the most gentle and educated of people. The attitudes of both the main and background characters are captured superbly and with a realism that is gut wrenching as it manifests itself in the guise of inaction as well as outright violence. This is not a book for the faint of heart as Heller holds nothing back in his writing and his words but once you've started reading, there is no stopping until the final page.
The sad thing is, despite being written over 50 years ago, this is still a very relevent work that has its reflection in some areas of society today. And that is the most chilling thought of all.
Displaying 1 of 1 review