Picture a British storyteller who conjured a world where cosmic horrors and apocalyptic plagues collide—meet Rich Hawkins! Hailing from the wilds of Southwest England, Hawkins has carved a niche in horror fiction with his gut-wrenching, emotionally charged tales. His debut, The Last Plague, kicked off a trilogy that hooked readers with its bleak yet gripping vision of survival. Ready to dive into his nightmarish universe?
With a knack for blending visceral horror with human resilience, Hawkins draws you into worlds where hope is scarce but fiercely fought for. Let’s explore the life, works, and chilling legacy of this rising star in modern horror.
The Making of Rich Hawkins
Born in a rural village in Somerset, England, Rich Hawkins grew up surrounded by the eerie beauty of the countryside—a perfect backdrop for his dark imagination. As a kid, he was captivated by John Carpenter’s The Thing, a film that sparked his lifelong love for horror. Sneaking downstairs to watch monster flicks while his parents slept, young Rich was hooked on the strange and terrifying. Influenced by giants like Stephen King, H.P. Lovecraft, and Conrad Williams, he began scribbling short stories at school, though his teenage years were more about football and fun than finishing manuscripts.
It wasn’t until his twenties, spurred by his then-girlfriend (now wife), that Hawkins took writing seriously. After early rejections, he found success with short stories in anthologies, paving the way for his breakout novel. Now settled in Salisbury with his wife and their dog Molly, Hawkins channels his fears of crowds and sharks into stories that confront the darkest corners of the human psyche.
Rich Hawkins’s Unforgettable Stories
Hawkins burst onto the horror scene with The Last Plague (2014), a British Fantasy Award-nominated novel that blends post-apocalyptic dread with cosmic horror. The story follows four friends returning from a stag weekend to find Britain ravaged by a virus turning people into mutated cannibals. Critics praised its raw intensity, comparing it to 28 Days Later meets Lovecraftian terror. The trilogy continued with The Last Outpost (2015) and The Last Soldier (2016), deepening the saga’s exploration of survival and loss.
Beyond the trilogy, Hawkins’s cosmic horror novella Black Star, Black Sun weaves a haunting tale of isolation and existential dread, showcasing his ability to evoke atmosphere with sparse, poetic prose. His vampire novel King Carrion reimagines the undead as primal, rotting beasts, far from the sparkly stereotypes. Hawkins’s style is unrelentingly bleak yet emotionally resonant, balancing gruesome body horror with characters who feel achingly human. Whether it’s the apocalyptic chaos of Deathcrawl or the folk-horror vibes of Scavengers, his stories plunge readers into worlds where survival is never guaranteed.
His influences—Lovecraft’s cosmic indifference, King’s character-driven horror, and the gritty survivalism of David Moody—shine through, but Hawkins’s voice is distinctly his own. His short, impactful sentences and vivid imagery create a claustrophobic tension that lingers long after the final page.
Why Rich Hawkins Matters
Rich Hawkins has become a vital voice in modern horror, proving that indie authors can rival the genre’s heavyweights. His British Fantasy Award nomination for The Last Plague marked him as a talent to watch, and his growing catalog continues to push boundaries. By blending apocalyptic horror with cosmic and folk elements, Hawkins offers a fresh take on familiar tropes, appealing to fans of both zombie thrillers and Lovecraftian dread.
His work resonates because it’s not just about monsters—it’s about humanity’s fight to endure against overwhelming odds. Readers and critics alike praise his ability to craft relatable characters who face unimaginable horrors, making his stories both terrifying and deeply moving. As small presses like The Sinister Horror Company champion his work, Hawkins is cementing his place as a cult favorite in the horror community.
- Born: Somerset, England
- Key Works: The Last Plague, Black Star, Black Sun, King Carrion, Scavengers
- Award: British Fantasy Award nominee (2015, Best Horror Novel)
- Fun Fact: He’s terrified of sharks but writes about monsters fearlessly!
Snag The Last Plague and dive into Rich Hawkins’s spine-chilling world of apocalyptic horror! Whether you’re a horror junkie or new to the genre, his vivid nightmares will keep you up all night.