Starfarer’s Cafe recently sat down to talk with science fiction author Robert Grains, whose short story Dark Starlight is among the first to appear in our digital magazine. Robert Grains is a contemporary independent author, occultist, and elite aesthete hailing from Germany. This short story was first published in Ossuary of Dreams: Twenty-Five Tales of German Horror and Weird Fiction in June 2023. In addition to classic hair-raisers, a rich cauldron of sophisticated weird fiction stories steeped in metaphysical and arcane allusions is presented to the gentle readers, a collection that will certainly enrich your personal eldritch studies and expedite your descent into madness.

Q: How did you come to be a writer?
I have always written, for various reasons and in collaboration with various people. As for my horror and weird fiction stories, I’ve published several books and short story collections over the years, and my complete works are now available in German-speaking countries under the title Liber Lotan. Over time, some of these stories have been narrated by the talented Austrian voice actor Gregor Schweitzer (@GmFactory). So, writing has always been a part of my life, that’s why I couldn’t say that I consciously chose to become a writer.

Q: Your story seems to be both science fiction and horror. How different in your mind is science fiction from horror or fantasy?There are many possible answers to this, but one thing is certain: within creation and in the spaces where we experience it, that “Other Side”—”The Unknown”—is always present and resonates with us. Some encounters with this elusive force are perceived as threatening, and in some cases, they may well be. Therefore, I would argue that “horror,” in its elevated as well as in its profane form, is necessarily a part of fantasy and science fiction—just as “The Unspeakable/The Numinous” is a part of creation. So I think these genres complement each other more than they can be separated.

Q: Fill in the blank: “People will like your book if they like stories about…”
Cosmic horror, dark cults, and metaphysical allusions to the powers of eldritch gods—without the author coming across as preachy.

Q: You are from Germany. Do you think your writing reflects a more “German” or “European” view of the world?
That’s quite possible, because ultimately, every person is, to some extent, a product of their environment. I think it can’t hurt, since many areas of European art are heavily influenced by Ideas and worldviews from the United States, to present a different perspective for a change. That isn’t necessarily the case with Dark Starlight, since it alludes to a supposedly global phenomenon; in other stories of mine, this more Central European view of things may shine through a bit more.

Q: How do you balance your regular job and personal life with writing?
Since I work as an editor, among other things, this fits in well with my schedule. And when I feel the urge to put something down on paper—perhaps even something that others can benefit from or that might serve as inspiration for them—I naturally make the time for it.

Q: What are your reading habits?
Depending on my mood and what interests me right now. When I want to read something well-written in proper German, I always turn to Hesse and Jünger, as well as to Fallada or Benn.

Q: Do you ever go back to your childhood readings?  
It’s rare, but I seem to recall having done so with H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, the first book I ever read in English.

Q: What are your hobbies, and do they play a role in your writing?
Not necessarily. However, I notice a lot of details, and sometimes I feel like someone is having fun teasing me with my overly keen sense of perception. For example, when I go on a long hike with my friends (which could count as a hobby), nature blesses me with certain impressions that definitely find their way into my stories. In any case, hardly anything other than nature (besides the sacred and the arcane) is able to create truly marvelous impression and to reveal interesting connections, even in what appears, at first glance, to be an everyday occurrence.

Q: What’s something about you that fans might find surprising?
I prefer a vegan diet. (A reference to How the Gods Feast, one of my translated short stories narrated by Ian Gordon (@Horrorbabble).

Q: What are you writing now? 
Currently, I am working on the translation of a book about the parallels between the initiation paths of certain occult groups and accepted religions.