At this site You will find some information on me, Holger Schnell, the author and webmaster of the "Bibliography of Fantastic Film".
I was born on December 3, 1959, at the Hessian town of Marburg on Lahn, and grew up in Siegen. In 1978 I took my school-leaving examination at the - no longer existing - "Gymnasium am Giersberg" and later the same year I began my academic study at the Siegen University.
The "Nikolaikirche" ("Church of St. Nicholai") in Siegen with the town's landmark, the "Golden Crown"
In 1984 I moved to Heidelberg where I continued my studies in German literature, theology, philosophy, sociology and Judaism. In Heidelberg I also began to work as a freelance editor and publisher. Besides that for many years I worked at a Heidelberg kindergarten and for a while I practiced as a teacher for literature and cultural history at the adult college in Eberbach. It was also in Heidelberg - I still remember the room in a beautiful flat in the Heidelberg "Weststadt" ("Western Town") - where in 1991 I started to work on the "Bibliography of Fantastic Film".
A view from the "Philosophenweg" ("Philosopher's Path") to the Heidelberg Old Town
In 1998 I moved from Heidelberg to Berlin where I proceeded to work as a freelance editor and author. Among others, I took participation in books on the robot motiv in film and on actors like Robert De Niro and Kirk Douglas, all published by the Filmmuseum Berlin / Deutsche Kinemathek. For several years I also wrote film reviews for a Berlin based TV magazine publisher. Apart from my work for earning my living the maintenance of the "Bibliography of Fantastic Film" was - and still is - one of my major activities.
The Berlin Dome by night
Since summer 2005 I now live in the Chinese capital of Beijing together with my son Valerian and my wife Petra Aldenrath who at that time took over the job as radio correspondent for German ARD (the ARD is one of the two public German radio and television broadcasting stations).
The two sides of Beijing: The glass-walled façades of the new postmodern skyscrapers ...
... and the bicycle of a garbage collector who lives from the citY's wastage.
Life in the 17 million metropolis Beijing has its challenges, but no doubt it's an interesting city - especially for a photographer like me in my second profession. If You are interested in exploring more of my photographic work I invite You to visit my photo site at flickr. This is an external link which is not part of the "Bibliography of Fantastic Film" but it's still me and I would appreciate to show You some more examples of my photographic work.
And finally what life in Beijing teaches You is: Even the notorious smog can produce nice pictures ...
... but You should not forget to clean the windows!
My postal adress is:
Holger Schnell
SO-3-1-42 Sanlitun Diplomatic Compound
100600 Beijing
People's Republic of China.
If You found bugs or mistakes, if You have questions not answered at the faq site or if You know literature titles related to Your search that are not yet mentioned in the "Bibliography of Fantastic Film" feel free to send me an email with Your suggestions.