The Voice of Arrogance

Early on in Ramsey Campbell's essay about Seán Manchester, he opines: "Having met him twice on television, where I was invited as the voice of reason, I can confirm that no frenzied fluttering is visible." The reference to frenzied fluttering comes from The Highgate Vampire where its author is describing "a force so dight with fearful fascination that even legend could not contain it," and speaks of his revelations as "hopefully the last frenzied flutterings." Such hope proved to be forlorn.

Campbell's arrogance, however, knows no bounds. He believes he was present as "the voice of reason" when on the first occasion he was on the programme, separately, to flog his lurid horror stories in paperback. The two men did not speak to each other beyond, perhaps, a quick "Hello," if even that. Campbell filled an entirely different slot in the programme which had nothing to do with Seán Manchester's much longer interview with both presenters, and later the public ('phoning in their questions) on live television.

How, then, was Ramsey Campbell "invited as the voice of reason"?

The second occasion was a Saturday night live television appearance with Seán Manchester as the guest speaker. The host of the show asked the questions while the studio audience listened. Some questions were put to the evening's special guest, Seán Manchester, by audience members. No questions came from Ramsey Campbell who remained quietly in his seat. His presence was due to the fact that most of the audience comprised all sorts of people with an interest in the supernatural, vampires and Gothic tales etc. Seán Manchester did not notice Campbell seated among the large audience, much less did the two men meet or indeed speak to one another.

Once again, how was Ramsey Campbell "invited as the voice of reason"?

Campbell quickly gets around to telling readers of his essay: 

"I ordered a copy of The Highgate Vampire to review in Shock Xpress. In a letter to the publishers of that august tome, Sean Manchester protested that a 'completely revised and updated' version was about to appear, though he seemed most put out that any version should by analyzed by 'a pulp fiction writer ... a bizarre and singularly inappropriate reviewer ... a hack like Campbell'."

Quite.