Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed (bookshop)
Encyclopedia
Dark They Were And Golden Eyed in London was the largest science fiction
bookshop and comic store in Europe during the 1970s. Specialising in science fiction
, occultism, and Atlantis, the central London shop also played a key role in bringing American underground comics to the UK. It also had US editions of mainstream science fiction books that were not easily obtained anywhere else.
The shop was originally in Bedfordbury before moving to 10 Berwick Street in Soho
. It later moved to a much larger ground floor and basement premises in St Anne's Court off Wardour Street
in Soho
.
", a short story by Ray Bradbury
. The shop was managed by fantasy author Stan Nicholls
, who had worked with Stokes on Gothique.
Nick Landau
, founder of Forbidden Planet
and Titan Entertainment Group
, was also a customer and produced a fanzine on the shop's hand-cranked duplicator. The shop was also the semi-official correspondence address for Fortean Times
(used from #28 - #35), and the magazine's team met every Tuesday afternoon in a room above the shop. The shop was advertised in #28 of the magazine; the advert was drawn by Bryan Talbot
who went on to draw for 2000 AD
.
Dark They Were And Golden Eyed closed in 1981.
. Mike Lake, another of Forbidden Planet's founders, was employed in Dark They Were, and Golden Eyed, as was Paul Hudson - later of London comic shop Comic Showcase. The shop was a key influence on three bookshops in Manchester
run by David Britton and Mike Butterworth: House on the Borderland, Orbit in Shudehill and Bookchain in Peter Street.
Adverts were produced for "Dark They Were and Golden Eyed" by James Cawthorn, Illustrator and Author. Jim's adverts, dated 1977 appeared in Time Out and other magazines. His illustrations were also featured on paper carrier bags used by the shop. Jim Cawthorn's graphic novels were published by David Britton's Savoy Press, Manchester.
The second issue of Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill
's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume 3 ("Century: 1969") features an homage, a comics/science fiction/Forteana store called "There Will Come Soft Rains
".
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
bookshop and comic store in Europe during the 1970s. Specialising in science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, occultism, and Atlantis, the central London shop also played a key role in bringing American underground comics to the UK. It also had US editions of mainstream science fiction books that were not easily obtained anywhere else.
The shop was originally in Bedfordbury before moving to 10 Berwick Street in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
. It later moved to a much larger ground floor and basement premises in St Anne's Court off Wardour Street
Wardour Street
Wardour Street is a street in Soho, London. It is a one-way street south to north from Leicester Square, up through Chinatown, across Shaftesbury Avenue to Oxford Street.-History:...
in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
.
History
Started by Derek 'Bram' Stokes, who previously ran the Gothique fanzine but had left to start a science fiction mail order book service. Diane Lister (later Diane Stokes) joined him in 1969. The shop's name is the same as "Dark They Were, and Golden-EyedDark They Were, and Golden-Eyed
"Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed" is a science fiction short story by Ray Bradbury. It was originally published in the magazine Thrilling Wonder Stories in August 1949...
", a short story by Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
. The shop was managed by fantasy author Stan Nicholls
Stan Nicholls
Stan Nicholls has been a full-time writer since 1981. He is the author of many novels and short stories but is best known for the internationally acclamied Orcs: First Blood series....
, who had worked with Stokes on Gothique.
Nick Landau
Nick Landau
Nick Landau is a British media figure, currently co-owner of the Titan Entertainment Group, which publishes Titan Magazines and Titan Books.-2000 AD:...
, founder of Forbidden Planet
Forbidden Planet (bookstore)
Forbidden Planet is the trading name of two separate science fiction, fantasy and horror bookshop chains across the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States of America, after the feature film of the same name....
and Titan Entertainment Group
Titan Entertainment Group
Titan Entertainment Group is a British retailing and publishing company, owner of the Forbidden Planet bookstore chain, Titan Magazines, and Titan Books. TEG is run by Nick Landau and Vivan Cheung.- Titan Distributors :...
, was also a customer and produced a fanzine on the shop's hand-cranked duplicator. The shop was also the semi-official correspondence address for Fortean Times
Fortean Times
Fortean Times is a British monthly magazine devoted to the anomalous phenomena popularised by Charles Fort. Previously published by John Brown Publishing and then I Feel Good Publishing , it is now published by Dennis Publishing Ltd. As of December 2010, its circulation was approximately 18,000...
(used from #28 - #35), and the magazine's team met every Tuesday afternoon in a room above the shop. The shop was advertised in #28 of the magazine; the advert was drawn by Bryan Talbot
Bryan Talbot
Bryan Talbot is a British comic book artist and writer, born in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1952. He is best known as the creator of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright and its sequel Heart of Empire.-Career:...
who went on to draw for 2000 AD
2000 AD (comic)
2000 AD is a weekly British science fiction-oriented comic. As a comics anthology it serialises a number of separate stories each issue and was first published by IPC Magazines in 1977, the first issue dated 26 February. IPC then shifted the title to its Fleetway comics subsidiary which was sold...
.
Dark They Were And Golden Eyed closed in 1981.
Legacy
Notable customers included Alan MooreAlan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
. Mike Lake, another of Forbidden Planet's founders, was employed in Dark They Were, and Golden Eyed, as was Paul Hudson - later of London comic shop Comic Showcase. The shop was a key influence on three bookshops in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
run by David Britton and Mike Butterworth: House on the Borderland, Orbit in Shudehill and Bookchain in Peter Street.
Adverts were produced for "Dark They Were and Golden Eyed" by James Cawthorn, Illustrator and Author. Jim's adverts, dated 1977 appeared in Time Out and other magazines. His illustrations were also featured on paper carrier bags used by the shop. Jim Cawthorn's graphic novels were published by David Britton's Savoy Press, Manchester.
The second issue of Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill
Kevin O'Neill
Kevin O'Neill may refer to:*Kevin O'Neill , illustrator*Kevin O'Neill , coach*Kevin O'Neill , Australian football player...
's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume 3 ("Century: 1969") features an homage, a comics/science fiction/Forteana store called "There Will Come Soft Rains
There Will Come Soft Rains (short story)
"There Will Come Soft Rains" is a short story by science fiction author Ray Bradbury which was first published in the May 6, 1950 issue of Collier's...
".