It was an eventful convention. Rather than write it out in prose, I'll just do a bulleted list so you guys can go through it faster.
TRANSPORTATION
-My flight was canceled
-My next flight was delayed
-Then I slept in the Atlanta airport (did you know that they keep those announcements going on the intercom all night, even though there are no flights?...*sigh*)
-Finally made it to the con 1.5 days late
(sorry, had to vent...moving on)
FINALLY MADE IT
-Hung out with Mark Sieber all weekend, who is always fun to be around, is super knowledgeable, and just a generally nice guy. (And I would've said that even if he wouldn't have bought an expensive pizza for me when I got there)
-Jonathan Janz: Is still really tall and a really nice guy
-Brian Keene: As usual, was generous with his time and was fun to talk to
-Jonathan Maberry: Still tells great impromptu stories
-John R Little: Is a really nice guy and a wonderful writer, and even though I'm telling everyone to read him, no one is listening
-Dacre Stoker: As if being the great grandnephew of Bram Stoker isn't enough, he is also an expert-level "court tennis" player
-Jeremy Wagner: Was the only guy there that likes SLAYER more than I do. Also, you should read RABID HEART
-Robert McCammon: Is one of the greatest living fiction writers and still seems to be both surprised AND excited that you want him to sign your books
-Josh Malerman: Whom I first met in 2015 seems unaffected by his newfound fame, in the best way possible
Ok, onto the books. I read 12 this month:
1: CARDINAL BLACK by Robert McCammon. **B** The publishing of a new McCammon book is always an event for me. If you like him, you'd like this.
2: ONE FOR THE ROAD by Wesley Southard http://horrordrive-in.com/serendipitynew/index.php?/archives/1022-One-for-the-Road,-by-Wesley-Southard.html
3: THE SPECIAL by James Newman/Mark Steensland **A** see below
4: WHO MADE STEVIE CRYE? by Michael Bishop. **B** If you like meta-fiction, you've gotta read this.
5: THE MAKING OF GABRIEL DAVENPORT by Beverley Lee. **D** see below
6: Batman, Night of the Monster Men by Steve Orlando (graphic novel). **C** One of my least favorite Batman graphic novels
7: SPICY CONSTELLATION AND OTHER STORIES by Chad Lutzke. http://horrordrive-in.com/serendipitynew/index.php?/archives/1024-SPICY-CONSTELLATION-OTHER-RECIPES-by-Chad-Lutzke.html
8: THE NIGHTMARE ROOM by Chris Sorenson. **D** see below
9: ANIMAL MAN by Grant Morrison (graphic novel). **C** I usually love Morrison's work, and although I admit this was unique...it just didn't grab me.
10: WHISPERS IN THE DARK by Laurel Hightower. http://horrordrive-in.com/serendipitynew/index.php?/archives/1025-Whispers-in-the-Dark,-by-Laurel-Hightower.html
11: PLANETARY by Warren Ellis (graphic novel). **C** Definitely a thinking man's graphic novel. Maybe I didn't feel like thinking.
12: BLEED by Ed Kurtz. **C** Reminded me of Barker's THE HELLBOUND HEART. Some good ideas in there, but too long.
WORST OF THE MONTH: (3-way tie)
THE MAKING OF GABRIEL DAVENPORT by Beverley Lee, THE NIGHTMARE ROOM by Chris Sorenson, and WHISPERS IN THE DARK by Laurel Hightower.
I've already picked on Hightower's book enough, so I will focus on the other two.
I read a positive review of THE MAKING OF GABRIEL DAVENPORT that exclaimed, "This is not the kind of book you dive into and stay up all night until you've finished." My response to that would be, "But I like the books that make you want to stay up all night!" In a nutshell, this was my problem with the book. Also, 1: too long. 2: had a hard time being sympathetic towards the characters 3: too long
THE NIGHTMARE ROOM was the best out of these three, and frankly, due to its hype I expected to like it more. In defense of this book, I will admit that the haunted house trope is one of my least favorite in horror. One of the telltale signs of a failing narrative for me is when I'm 60% through the book and I have no problem putting the book down. That's how I felt with this one. I really do not know why. Concept was ok. Writing was good. The story did not hook me for some reason.
BEST OF THE MONTH: THE SPECIAL by James Newman/Mark Steensland
I read this in one sitting, which is very rare for me, even for novellas like this one. It's a simple story that reminded me of both Faust and The Monkey's Paw in theme. The story is only 108 pages, so disclosing anything about the plot is too much. There is also a film adaptation in the works, if you like cool stuff.
Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
TRANSPORTATION
-My flight was canceled
-My next flight was delayed
-Then I slept in the Atlanta airport (did you know that they keep those announcements going on the intercom all night, even though there are no flights?...*sigh*)
-Finally made it to the con 1.5 days late
(sorry, had to vent...moving on)
FINALLY MADE IT
-Hung out with Mark Sieber all weekend, who is always fun to be around, is super knowledgeable, and just a generally nice guy. (And I would've said that even if he wouldn't have bought an expensive pizza for me when I got there)
-Jonathan Janz: Is still really tall and a really nice guy
-Brian Keene: As usual, was generous with his time and was fun to talk to
-Jonathan Maberry: Still tells great impromptu stories
-John R Little: Is a really nice guy and a wonderful writer, and even though I'm telling everyone to read him, no one is listening
-Dacre Stoker: As if being the great grandnephew of Bram Stoker isn't enough, he is also an expert-level "court tennis" player
-Jeremy Wagner: Was the only guy there that likes SLAYER more than I do. Also, you should read RABID HEART
-Robert McCammon: Is one of the greatest living fiction writers and still seems to be both surprised AND excited that you want him to sign your books
-Josh Malerman: Whom I first met in 2015 seems unaffected by his newfound fame, in the best way possible
Ok, onto the books. I read 12 this month:
1: CARDINAL BLACK by Robert McCammon. **B** The publishing of a new McCammon book is always an event for me. If you like him, you'd like this.
2: ONE FOR THE ROAD by Wesley Southard http://horrordrive-in.com/serendipitynew/index.php?/archives/1022-One-for-the-Road,-by-Wesley-Southard.html
3: THE SPECIAL by James Newman/Mark Steensland **A** see below
4: WHO MADE STEVIE CRYE? by Michael Bishop. **B** If you like meta-fiction, you've gotta read this.
5: THE MAKING OF GABRIEL DAVENPORT by Beverley Lee. **D** see below
6: Batman, Night of the Monster Men by Steve Orlando (graphic novel). **C** One of my least favorite Batman graphic novels
7: SPICY CONSTELLATION AND OTHER STORIES by Chad Lutzke. http://horrordrive-in.com/serendipitynew/index.php?/archives/1024-SPICY-CONSTELLATION-OTHER-RECIPES-by-Chad-Lutzke.html
8: THE NIGHTMARE ROOM by Chris Sorenson. **D** see below
9: ANIMAL MAN by Grant Morrison (graphic novel). **C** I usually love Morrison's work, and although I admit this was unique...it just didn't grab me.
10: WHISPERS IN THE DARK by Laurel Hightower. http://horrordrive-in.com/serendipitynew/index.php?/archives/1025-Whispers-in-the-Dark,-by-Laurel-Hightower.html
11: PLANETARY by Warren Ellis (graphic novel). **C** Definitely a thinking man's graphic novel. Maybe I didn't feel like thinking.
12: BLEED by Ed Kurtz. **C** Reminded me of Barker's THE HELLBOUND HEART. Some good ideas in there, but too long.
WORST OF THE MONTH: (3-way tie) THE MAKING OF GABRIEL DAVENPORT by Beverley Lee, THE NIGHTMARE ROOM by Chris Sorenson, and WHISPERS IN THE DARK by Laurel Hightower.
I've already picked on Hightower's book enough, so I will focus on the other two.
I read a positive review of THE MAKING OF GABRIEL DAVENPORT that exclaimed, "This is not the kind of book you dive into and stay up all night until you've finished." My response to that would be, "But I like the books that make you want to stay up all night!" In a nutshell, this was my problem with the book. Also, 1: too long. 2: had a hard time being sympathetic towards the characters 3: too long
THE NIGHTMARE ROOM was the best out of these three, and frankly, due to its hype I expected to like it more. In defense of this book, I will admit that the haunted house trope is one of my least favorite in horror. One of the telltale signs of a failing narrative for me is when I'm 60% through the book and I have no problem putting the book down. That's how I felt with this one. I really do not know why. Concept was ok. Writing was good. The story did not hook me for some reason.
BEST OF THE MONTH: THE SPECIAL by James Newman/Mark Steensland
I read this in one sitting, which is very rare for me, even for novellas like this one. It's a simple story that reminded me of both Faust and The Monkey's Paw in theme. The story is only 108 pages, so disclosing anything about the plot is too much. There is also a film adaptation in the works, if you like cool stuff.
Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
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