Picture a storyteller who weaves cosmic horror with a smirk—meet William Browning Spencer! This Austin-based author spins tales where Lovecraftian nightmares crash into dead-end jobs, blending dark humor with surreal twists. From his award-winning novel Résumé With Monsters to quirky short stories, Spencer’s work is a wild ride through the bizarre and the mundane.
Born in 1946, Spencer’s unique voice has earned him a cult following in horror and science fiction. His ability to find comedy in the eldritch and satire in the everyday makes him a standout in speculative fiction. Ready to dive into his wonderfully weird world?
The Making of William Browning Spencer
Born on January 16, 1946, in Washington, D.C., William Browning Spencer grew up in Vienna, Virginia, with an early fascination for reptiles that almost led him to herpetology. Instead, his love for storytelling took over. Before becoming a novelist, Spencer worked as a graphic artist and typesetter, often on late-night shifts at places like the Austin American-Statesman, which suited his night-owl tendencies. His eclectic reading habits and knack for spotting the absurd in everyday life shaped his distinctive narrative style.
Spencer moved to Austin, Texas, in 1990, immersing himself in its vibrant sci-fi and fantasy scene. His first novel, Maybe I’ll Call Anna, published that same year, marked his debut with a National Endowment for the Arts New American Writing Award. This thriller about obsession set the stage for his genre-defying career, blending psychological depth with speculative elements.
William Browning Spencer’s Unforgettable Stories
Spencer’s novels and short stories dance on the edge of horror, fantasy, and black comedy. His breakout novel, Résumé With Monsters (1994), is a darkly funny satire where a data-entry clerk battles Lovecraftian horrors alongside soul-crushing office life. It won the 1995 International Horror Critics Guild Award and remains a cult classic for its witty take on corporate drudgery.
Zod Wallop (1995) follows a grieving children’s book author whose fictional characters come to life, blending surreal fabulation with heartfelt emotion. Irrational Fears (1998) takes a satirical jab at 12-step programs, featuring cultists and a man-eating toilet. His short story collections, like The Return of Count Electric and Other Stories (1993) and The Unorthodox Dr. Draper and Other Stories (2017), showcase his range, with tales that mix eerie atmosphere with sharp humor. Stories like “The Death of the Novel,” a 1995 Bram Stoker Award nominee, highlight his ability to turn literary concepts into chilling narratives.
Spencer’s style is unmistakably his own: surreal, darkly humorous, and layered with psychological insight. He draws inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft, Philip K. Dick, and Kurt Vonnegut, yet his stories feel fresh, often exploring themes of loss, obsession, and the absurdity of modern life. His Austin settings add a grounded, relatable backdrop to his fantastical plots.
Why William Browning Spencer Matters
William Browning Spencer’s impact lies in his ability to make the cosmic feel personal. By blending Lovecraftian horror with workplace satire or familial grief, he crafts stories that resonate with readers who’ve ever felt trapped in a job or haunted by their past. His work has influenced contemporary speculative fiction, inspiring authors who embrace genre-blending and dark humor. As a staple of Austin’s sci-fi community, he’s taught novel-writing, served as ArmadilloCon Toastmaster, and nurtured the local literary scene.
Though not a household name, Spencer’s cult status endures through his devoted readers and critical acclaim. His stories, anthologized in The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror and The Year’s Best Science Fiction, continue to captivate those who discover his offbeat genius. For fans of weird fiction, Spencer is a hidden gem worth unearthing.
- Born: January 16, 1946, Washington, D.C.
- Key Works: Résumé With Monsters, Zod Wallop, Irrational Fears
- Awards: International Horror Critics Guild Award (1995), National Endowment for the Arts New American Writing Award (1990)
- Fun Fact: His short story “Pep Talk” was adapted into a film premiered at the 2006 Santa Fe Film Festival.
Snag Résumé With Monsters and dive into William Browning Spencer’s hilariously haunting world of horror and humor!