Picture a Barcelona-born storyteller who mashes up Scooby-Doo with cosmic horror—meet Edgar Cantero! This writer and cartoonist crafts genre-bending tales in Catalan, Spanish, and English, blending humor, mystery, and chills. From his New York Times bestseller Meddling Kids to the quirky This Body’s Not Big Enough for Both of Us, Cantero’s playful narratives have hooked readers worldwide.
With a knack for badass heroines and ill-timed jokes, Cantero’s work feels like a wild ride through a haunted blockbuster. His unique voice, shaped by comics, video games, and Hollywood, makes every page a delightful surprise. Ready to dive into his world? Let’s explore the man behind the stories.
The Making of Edgar Cantero
Born on May 27, 1981, in Barcelona, Edgar Cantero grew up steeped in Catalan culture but quickly gravitated toward Hollywood blockbusters, video games, and pulpy paperbacks. A Humanities graduate from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, he kicked off his career at 18, winning writing contests with sharp short stories in Catalan. His debut novel, Dormir amb Winona Ryder (2007), snagged the prestigious Joan Crexells and Ciutat de Badalona awards, marking him as a rising star. That same year, he joined the satirical magazine El Jueves, sharpening his wit as a cartoonist and writer.
Cantero’s early work pulsed with youthful energy, but his rebellious streak led him to ditch Catalan literary norms for bolder, genre-driven stories. After his punk dystopian thriller Vallvi (2011) stirred controversy, he switched to English, chasing a global audience. This leap took him from Barcelona to Brooklyn, where he now crafts his eclectic tales.
Edgar Cantero’s Unforgettable Stories
Cantero’s novels are a genre blender—think horror, mystery, and comedy tossed into a vibrant narrative smoothie. His first English novel, The Supernatural Enhancements (2014), is a gothic mystery following A., a European inheriting a haunted Virginia estate. Told through journal entries, ciphers, and eerie footage, it’s a puzzle box of suspense with Neil Gaiman-esque twists.
His breakout hit, Meddling Kids (2017), is a love letter to kid detective stories like the Famous Five, spiked with H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic dread. Set in 1990, it follows the Blyton Summer Detective Club—now broken adults—reuniting to solve a decades-old mystery. A New York Times bestseller, it’s packed with nostalgic nods, tentacled horrors, and Cantero’s signature humor. Then there’s This Body’s Not Big Enough for Both of Us (2018), a noir comedy about A.Z. Kimrean, a twin detective duo sharing one body. It’s a chaotic, hilarious romp through California’s underworld, celebrating pulp fiction with a subversive twist.
Cantero’s style is cinematic, with vivid characters (often fierce women), explosive action, and dialogue that lands like a well-timed punchline. His stories dance between spooky, funny, and heartfelt, earning praise for their originality and charm. In 2024, he returned to Catalan with Ràdio Free Camaco, proving his versatility across languages and genres.
Why Edgar Cantero Matters
Edgar Cantero’s impact lies in his fearless genre mashups and inclusive storytelling. His work subverts tropes—kid detectives face real trauma, haunted houses hide deeper secrets—while celebrating pop culture. Fans adore his diverse casts, from queer heroines to chimeric detectives, reflecting a modern, vibrant world. Though less known in Catalonia due to his English pivot, his global cult following grows with each book.
Cantero’s influence extends to inspiring writers to embrace weird, bold ideas. His ability to weave humor into horror, nostalgia into nightmares, makes him a standout in contemporary fiction. As he continues to write, his legacy as a playful, boundary-pushing storyteller is only beginning.
- Born: May 27, 1981, Barcelona, Spain
- Key Works: Dormir amb Winona Ryder, Meddling Kids, The Supernatural Enhancements, This Body’s Not Big Enough for Both of Us
- Awards: Joan Crexells, Ciutat de Badalona (2007)
- Fun Fact: He’s a cartoonist for El Jueves, blending satire with his literary flair.
Snag Meddling Kids and dive into Edgar Cantero’s wild, witty world of horror-comedy! Whether you’re a mystery buff or a Lovecraft fan, his stories will keep you laughing and gasping till the last page.