Picture a British storyteller who weaves nightmares with a gentle touch of dread—meet Jonathan Sims! Known for his chilling novel Thirteen Storeys and the award-winning horror podcast The Magnus Archives, Sims is a master of the macabre. From his Walthamstow home, shared with two cats and a towering stack of books, he crafts stories that linger like shadows.
Sims isn’t just a writer; he’s a performer, game designer, and voice actor whose work dances between eerie and human. His unique blend of supernatural horror and societal reflection has captivated audiences worldwide, making him a standout in modern horror.
The Making of Jonathan Sims
Born in November 1988, Jonathan Sims grew up in Bournemouth, England, losing both parents young and being raised by his grandmother. A bright but restless child, he found solace in books, particularly M.R. James’s ghost stories, which sparked his love for the uncanny. At St Hilda’s College, Oxford, Sims dove into amateur dramatics with the Oxford University Light Entertainment Society, honing his performative flair.
His career kicked off in 2010 with The Mechanisms, a steampunk musical cabaret where he played Jonny D’Ville, narrating reimagined myths. This storytelling passion led to writing, voice acting, and game design, setting the stage for his horror legacy.
Jonathan Sims’s Unforgettable Stories
Sims’s work is a tapestry of creeping dread, blending visceral horror with human truths. His debut novel, Thirteen Storeys (2020), reimagines the haunted house as a London tower block, exploring class divides through 13 interconnected tales. Critics hailed it as a “modern horror classic” for its chilling climax and social commentary.
Family Business (2022) dives into grief, following Diya, a death-scene cleaner, as she unravels eerie mysteries. Its focus on mourning and forgotten lives resonates deeply, with fans praising its “frightening yet cathartic” ending. Sims’s podcast, The Magnus Archives (2016–2021), is a horror anthology turned meta-narrative, reaching 100 million Spotify downloads by 2025. Its “side-quel,” The Magnus Protocol (2024–), continues his legacy with fresh characters.
Sims’s style—rooted in M.R. James and horror films—uses supernatural elements to mirror societal fears, from inequality to loss. His game design with MacGuffin & Co. and voice acting in Slay the Princess showcase his versatility, always with a nod to the eerie.
Why Jonathan Sims Matters
Jonathan Sims has redefined horror by grounding it in human experience. His stories don’t just scare; they reflect our deepest fears—poverty, isolation, forgotten legacies. The Magnus Archives built a global fandom, inspiring fan art and fiction, while his novels tackle timely issues like class disparity. Sims’s ability to weave personal and societal dread makes him a voice for our anxious age.
His influence extends beyond horror, with game designs and performances that invite audiences to confront the unknown. Living in Walthamstow, Sims continues to create, his backlog of books a testament to his curious mind.
- Born: November 1988, Bournemouth, England
- Key Works: Thirteen Storeys, Family Business, The Magnus Archives
- Awards: British Fantasy Award for Best Audio (2021, The Magnus Archives)
- Fun Fact: Lives with two cats and narrates classic horror stories on Bandcamp
About Jonathan Sims
Snag Thirteen Storeys or binge The Magnus Archives to dive into Jonathan Sims’s spine-chilling world of horror!