Join Allan Bryce on a hilarious and nostalgic journey through 1968, featuring schoolboy adventures, horror fandom, first jobs, first loves and growing up in Britain.
£10.00
5 in stock
Before he became the long-serving editor of The Dark Side and Infinity, Allan Bryce was simply a horror-obsessed teenager trying to navigate the chaos of growing up in Britain during one of the most fascinating years of the twentieth century.
1968: Diary of a Monster Kid is a wonderfully funny, nostalgic and often surprisingly moving look back at the year Allan turned fourteen and a half. Drawing upon his original schoolboy diary, this unique memoir captures the triumphs, disasters, discoveries and embarrassments of adolescence with honesty, wit and plenty of self-deprecating humour.
For Allan Bryce, 1968 was a year of firsts.
It was the year he landed his first job, found his first girlfriend and finally became old enough to attempt entry into Britain’s notorious X-certificate films. Admittedly, success was not always guaranteed, especially when the stick-on beard intended to make him look older decided to part company with his face at the cinema box office.
These amusing memories provide a vivid snapshot of teenage life during the late 1960s, a period of enormous social and cultural change.
The heart of this book lies in Allan’s original Letts Schoolboy Diary.
Using entries written at the time, he recreates the world of a working-class teenager growing up in Surrey during an era when horror films, pop culture and youthful adventure seemed to be around every corner.
Readers accompany him through family moves, school life, weekend jobs, long walks, awkward encounters and all the joys and disasters that come with growing up.
The result is a memoir that feels authentic, funny and deeply personal.
Fans of Allan Bryce’s writing will recognise the sharp wit and storytelling style that have made him a favourite among horror readers for decades.
While the book is not exclusively about horror films, cinema and popular culture are never far away. Alongside stories of everyday life, readers gain a fascinating glimpse into the experiences that helped shape one of Britain’s most respected horror journalists and magazine editors.
The book captures a vanished Britain while remaining relatable to anyone who remembers the awkwardness and excitement of adolescence.
1968 was a remarkable year around the world, but for Allan Bryce it was equally significant on a personal level.
Whether recounting his Duke of Edinburgh adventures, his early experiences of independence or the memorable life lessons passed down by his father, Allan reflects on a period of life that was both carefree and transformative.
Many of the stories are laugh-out-loud funny, while others carry a surprising emotional weight.
More than anything else, 1968: Diary of a Monster Kid is a celebration of youth, memory and the strange journey into adulthood.
Written with warmth, humour and honesty, it offers an affectionate look back at a world that has largely disappeared. At the same time, it reminds us that some experiences—first jobs, first loves, youthful ambitions and occasional embarrassments—never really change.
Whether you’re a fan of Allan Bryce, a reader of The Dark Side, or simply enjoy nostalgic memoirs packed with character and humour, this charming volume is sure to entertain.
