Curious Incidents: Mark Haddon

What makes us human – and what happens when that humanity begins to unravel? From the bestselling author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time comes a startling new collection of short stories that peer into the darkest corners of life. In Dogs and Monsters, Mark Haddon turns his razor-sharp gaze on masculinity, power, tech, privilege and fear – offering tales that are strange, brutal, poignant and sometimes disturbingly funny.

Billionaire tech founders, failing men, fractured identities and creeping absurdity all stalk these pages. And yet, through the grotesque and the uncanny, flickers of tenderness and truth still remain. A rare and riveting conversation about fear, fiction, and the moral dissonance of modern life – and why the short story is the perfect form for discomfort. This is one of Britain’s most original literary minds, digging deep beneath the skin of the everyday.

This event will be chaired by Zoe Gilbert. Zoe is the author of Folk and Mischief Acts, and co-founder of London Lit Lab, where she teaches fiction inspired by folklore, myth and landscape. A passionate champion of the short story, her tale Fishskin, Hareskin won the Costa Short Story Award. Zoe’s writing intertwines nature, imagination and the uncanny, bringing ancient magic into the modern world.

Please note: this event lasts for one hour, followed by an opportunity to purchase the book upstairs in The Clearing and have it signed by the author

FIND OUT MORE

Folkestone Book Festival is our annual celebration of books, bold ideas and the power of storytelling – by the sea. Curated by award-winning author and journalist Sophie Haydock (The Flames, Madame Matisse), this year’s programme features more than 50 events over 11 days, bringing together world-class writers, radical thinkers and unforgettable conversations – all inspired by Folkestone’s spirit of enabling creativity and transformative change.

We want the festival to be for everyone. That’s why we’ve introduced a £5 ticket – a no-questions-asked option for anyone who might be struggling to afford events.

And if you’re planning to come to more than a handful of events, don’t miss our great-value Festival Pass, which gives you access to all events (excluding classes, which need to be booked separately) for just £140.

There’s so much to discover – from headline talks to intimate workshops, big ideas to local voices. Check out the full programme, including our much-loved Local Talent Showcase and a new series of Creative Writing Workshops designed to spark your imagination.

We delighted that our onsite bookseller this year is Waterstones Folkestone.

We thank our major sponsor Saga and supporting sponsors Eurotunnel, Holiday Extras and Friends of the Folkestone Book Festival along with our Education Partner, Canterbury Christ Church University for making this year's festival possible. Creative Folkestone is also supported by Arts Council England, Folkestone and Hythe District Council and The Roger De Haan Charitable Trust.