Back when I was doing some research for my SFSignal essay on Lovecraft and racism, I came across an essay on a fascist website lauding Lovecraft's views, written by one David Riley. There is also a David Riley involved directly in the Lovecraftian/weird small press whose public utterances I would characterize as normal UK Tory and not hardcore racist, so I asked a friend (lj's own ![]()
lokilokust), who keeps up on this sort of thing more closely than I do, if they were the same.
Nah, they were different people, he told me.
Then this week, he contacted me again. David A. Riley*, who is a major part of re-launching Weirdbook, has come under renewed scrutiny, and indeed, as it turns out he was involved in the whites-only fascist organization National Front, including running for office. A pro-fascist blogpost from 2006 identifies him as one-time regional organizer as well. As a rule, we do not link to fascist websites*, but you can Google as well as anyone else.
Riley, for his part, explained to a few people that he was young, and naive, his politics have changed, and that he may even vote Labour to preserve the NHS this time around etc.
On Facebook, I launched this blind item:
Anyone can turn their act around. I really believe this. But if your act was "regional leader and candidate for office of a fascist party", a proper turnaround requires public repudiation of past politics, and turning "people's evidence" by publicly detailing any crimes or thuggery you and your fash pals may have participated in.
Literal organized fascism is not something one can just casually leave behind as part of a political evolution. Well, one hopes not anyway—the mainstream right used to guard itself against close connections to the fascist right, but these days they seem far more amenable toward accepting anyone who talks a good game, has a few bucks, or is willing to do political scut work. At any rate, it hardly matters in this case: David A. Riley was spotted posting to white-supremacist message boards as late as 2012.
Anyway, the upside is that he is now out of Weirdbook:
![Screen Shot 2015-04-01 at 8.18.13 AM]( "Screen Shot 2015-04-01 at 8.18.13 AM")
is noted white supremacist (and three time political candidate for the national front) david a. riley still involved with 'weirdbook' in any capacity?
Weirdbook Magazine: No.
Good. Fascism is the line. There is enormous room for political disagreement, and I'm not one of these middle-class moralists who seek to exclude people from the publishing world based on libertarianism or trolling or slurping up to dangerous cults*** or anything else. Just being a literal fucking fascist for years and years. (And also being a shitty writer, but that battle was lost at the dawn of time.) No platform for fascists!
I also have some other news. I was interviewed on the Miskatonic Musings podcast and I have complaints! And shout-outs, and mostly complaints! Shout-outs include Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland, and Borderlands in SF, both of which are great if you would like a signed copy of The Nickronomicon.
And speaking of my collection, it's on sale! Hard copies direct from the publisher are only ten bucks for the next two weeks! Not signed, but cheap! The choice is yours, and whether you go for Diesel, Borderlands, and Innsmouth Free Press, you're supporting local, independent, non-Nazi businesses!
*There is also a David B. Riley and a David M. Riley participating in genre publications in the small and micropress. Both are American and not to be confused with the British David A. Riley.
**This is not an invitation to tell me about donotlink.com or other methods to bring traffic to a fascist website without it registering as traffic.
***Did you see Going Clear on HBO? Join me in my Clear Puppy slate to get it on the Hugo Award ballot next year for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form!
lokilokust), who keeps up on this sort of thing more closely than I do, if they were the same. Nah, they were different people, he told me.
Then this week, he contacted me again. David A. Riley*, who is a major part of re-launching Weirdbook, has come under renewed scrutiny, and indeed, as it turns out he was involved in the whites-only fascist organization National Front, including running for office. A pro-fascist blogpost from 2006 identifies him as one-time regional organizer as well. As a rule, we do not link to fascist websites*, but you can Google as well as anyone else.
Riley, for his part, explained to a few people that he was young, and naive, his politics have changed, and that he may even vote Labour to preserve the NHS this time around etc.
On Facebook, I launched this blind item:
Anyone can turn their act around. I really believe this. But if your act was "regional leader and candidate for office of a fascist party", a proper turnaround requires public repudiation of past politics, and turning "people's evidence" by publicly detailing any crimes or thuggery you and your fash pals may have participated in.
Literal organized fascism is not something one can just casually leave behind as part of a political evolution. Well, one hopes not anyway—the mainstream right used to guard itself against close connections to the fascist right, but these days they seem far more amenable toward accepting anyone who talks a good game, has a few bucks, or is willing to do political scut work. At any rate, it hardly matters in this case: David A. Riley was spotted posting to white-supremacist message boards as late as 2012.
Anyway, the upside is that he is now out of Weirdbook:
is noted white supremacist (and three time political candidate for the national front) david a. riley still involved with 'weirdbook' in any capacity?
Weirdbook Magazine: No.
Good. Fascism is the line. There is enormous room for political disagreement, and I'm not one of these middle-class moralists who seek to exclude people from the publishing world based on libertarianism or trolling or slurping up to dangerous cults*** or anything else. Just being a literal fucking fascist for years and years. (And also being a shitty writer, but that battle was lost at the dawn of time.) No platform for fascists!
I also have some other news. I was interviewed on the Miskatonic Musings podcast and I have complaints! And shout-outs, and mostly complaints! Shout-outs include Diesel, A Bookstore in Oakland, and Borderlands in SF, both of which are great if you would like a signed copy of The Nickronomicon.
And speaking of my collection, it's on sale! Hard copies direct from the publisher are only ten bucks for the next two weeks! Not signed, but cheap! The choice is yours, and whether you go for Diesel, Borderlands, and Innsmouth Free Press, you're supporting local, independent, non-Nazi businesses!
*There is also a David B. Riley and a David M. Riley participating in genre publications in the small and micropress. Both are American and not to be confused with the British David A. Riley.
**This is not an invitation to tell me about donotlink.com or other methods to bring traffic to a fascist website without it registering as traffic.
***Did you see Going Clear on HBO? Join me in my Clear Puppy slate to get it on the Hugo Award ballot next year for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form!