I have no one to blame but myself. I know better. I've seen it time and time again. Big, or medium big, names in the genre, piling praise on something that isn't worth my time or money. They do it in the name of support. "Support independent writers! Don't punch down!"
Instead they punch innocent readers by inducing them to spend their hard-earned money on something they are likely to hate.
Or maybe they really are being honest? These blurbling promoters, lauding every other work with hyperbolic magnitude? They might really believe The Film You Are About To See is an example of quality horror fiction.
I do know better. However, this one hit me in my weak spot. How can I resist a book that honors drive-in theaters, Vincent Price, and William Castle?
Haley Newlin is probably a fine human being. I am undoubtedly an asshole for writing an honest review of a book I spent money on. Money I can no longer afford since I retired and am subsisting on social security.
Is it my fault? I came up in the genre reading Peter Straub. Shirley Jackson. Richard Matheson. Ray Russell. Dennis Etchison. Charles L. Grant. I don't read novelizations and I don't bother with potboiler "paperbacks from hell". I choose to read the best the field has to offer.
The Film You Are About To See is an enthusiastic homage to drive-ins and classic horror movies. It's a well produced book, with clean copy, and it's nicely put together. That's about all the praise I can come up with.
This is the kind of story that is told by a recitation of events with little style or grace. The fifties setting isn't convincingly portrayed. The characters are weak, the descriptions shallow.
Yet I spent money on it. Once again the hype machine suckered me in. The joke is on me, because I'm pretty sure The Film You Are About To See will sell more copies than my three books put together.
This is the very last time. No more pity purchases at conventions. No more believing the ballyhoo. No more spending money I can't afford to lose only to be frustrated and angry at myself. Because I really did know better.
Written by Mark Sieber
Instead they punch innocent readers by inducing them to spend their hard-earned money on something they are likely to hate.
Or maybe they really are being honest? These blurbling promoters, lauding every other work with hyperbolic magnitude? They might really believe The Film You Are About To See is an example of quality horror fiction.I do know better. However, this one hit me in my weak spot. How can I resist a book that honors drive-in theaters, Vincent Price, and William Castle?
Haley Newlin is probably a fine human being. I am undoubtedly an asshole for writing an honest review of a book I spent money on. Money I can no longer afford since I retired and am subsisting on social security.
Is it my fault? I came up in the genre reading Peter Straub. Shirley Jackson. Richard Matheson. Ray Russell. Dennis Etchison. Charles L. Grant. I don't read novelizations and I don't bother with potboiler "paperbacks from hell". I choose to read the best the field has to offer.
The Film You Are About To See is an enthusiastic homage to drive-ins and classic horror movies. It's a well produced book, with clean copy, and it's nicely put together. That's about all the praise I can come up with.
This is the kind of story that is told by a recitation of events with little style or grace. The fifties setting isn't convincingly portrayed. The characters are weak, the descriptions shallow.
Yet I spent money on it. Once again the hype machine suckered me in. The joke is on me, because I'm pretty sure The Film You Are About To See will sell more copies than my three books put together.
This is the very last time. No more pity purchases at conventions. No more believing the ballyhoo. No more spending money I can't afford to lose only to be frustrated and angry at myself. Because I really did know better.
Written by Mark Sieber
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