Beware The Shadows

On Monday, I’ll be taking part in an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit Horror. So if you’ve ever wondered about all my dark secrets, now is the time to ask!

If you follow this site, you know that I was a huge fan of True Detective, from the first word to the last. I praised it here, I’ve nominated episodes for Bram Stoker Awards, I’ve told everyone I know to watch it. It’s a great, entertaining show that has seeds of weird fiction sown throughout it. Which is why I was particular disturbed recently to see this headline from the Lovecraft eZine–“Did the writer of “True Detective” plagiarize Thomas Ligotti and others?” I was even more disturbed to read the article. (I’d ask you to read the article now, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned form the subsequent uproar, it is that some people refuse to read the underlying material in a debate, no matter what.)

The rather lengthy article describes in fairly detailed fashion how True Detective lifted ideas and even entire pieces of dialogue from the book, The Conspiracy Against the Human Race by Thomas Ligotti. Ligotti is a somewhat obscure fiction writer with a devoted following who also dabbles in philosophy, particularly the antinatalism Rust Cohle is known to wallow in. This woe-is-me, it-were-better-if-I-were-never-born blather is a favorite of depressed high school students and misanthropes the world over.

As should be clear by now, I do not adhere to this “philosophy.” In fact, one of the reasons I liked Rust Cohle’s character so much is that he seemed to me to be a walking, talking, reason to reject antinatalism. He’s a screwed up, tragically compromised character who relies on a non-orthodox–and ironically self-aggrandizing–ethos to even get through the day. Others seemed to miss this entirely and set up Rust as an anti-hero to be adored and followed, which made their tears of disappointment at *SPOILER ALERT* Rust’s final episode conversion so delicious.

An example of how one acts when hat-tipping another artist.

So while I recognized that Ligotti and other antinatalists influenced the writers of True Detective, that’s where I figured it ended. The article linked above makes it clear I was wrong. I won’t rehash it here–once again, you can read it yourself–but the evidence is unsettling. Is it as blatant and endemic as some famous examples of plagiarism (I’m thinking of Kaavya Viswanathan’s How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life)? No. Is it as thoroughgoing in its borrowing of ideas as Dan Brown was accused of being in The Da Vinci Code vis-a-vis The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail?  Probably not. But clearly, something is going on here.

Is it homage or plagiarism? I can’t say. That line is blurry indeed. But just for the heck of it, compare these examples of now-acknowledged plagiarism from Viswanathan’s book and then what happened with Ligotti and True Detective. In both examples, the first is the original, the second, the alleged plagiarism.

Sloppy Firsts: “He was invading my personal space, as I had learned in Psych. class, and I instinctively sunk back into the seat. That just made him move in closer. I was practically one with the leather at this point, and unless I hopped into the backseat, there was nowhere else for me to go.”

Viswanathan: “He was definitely invading my personal space, as I had learned in Human Evolution class last summer, and I instinctively backed up till my legs hit the chair I had been sitting in. That just made him move in closer, until the grommets in the leather embossed the backs of my knees, and he finally tilted the book toward me.”

Ligotti: “We know that nature has veered into the supernatural by fabricating a creature that cannot and should not exist by natural law, and yet does.”

Cohle: “We became too self-aware. Nature created an aspect of nature separate from itself. We are creatures that should not exist by natural law.”

In Viswanathan’s case, multiple works were found to be plagiarized. In the case of True Detective, when the series concluded, many on the Internet immediately noticed that the end was taken, virtually whole cloth, from one of Alan Moore’s comics. See for yourself.

Reactions to the Lovecraft eZine have spanned the gamut from outrage at True Detective to absolute apathy and shoulder shrugging to accusations that the eZine is engaged in yellow journalism and just out for some cheap site clicks.

I’m not sure where I stand, but I can say that the last accusation is unfair and unfounded. In full disclosure, I am a fan of the eZine and a friend of Mike Davis. I know that Mike struggled with whether or not to publish this article. The eZine has 150,000 followers and produces loads of material; he didn’t need the clicks, and he certainly didn’t need the headaches that he knew would come from sharing this information with the world.

But put aside why Mike did it and think about the message we are sending by attacking him for his decision. Frankly, our tendency to attack the messenger simply means that in the future the public will be less likely to learn of instances like this, and less able to draw our own conclusions. I am not sure whether or not the writers of True Detective engaged in plagiarism, but I am glad the Lovecraft eZine brought the matter to light and for debate.

Since the original publication, the eZine has posted this follow-up article.

And for those who are quick to scream, “Fair use!” read this story about Brad Vice, author of the Flannery O’Connor Award winning collection, The Bear Bryant Funeral Train. For acts of plagiarism he thought were fair use and in homage to a work written in 1934, his award was revoked, his contract rescinded, and copies of his book pulped. I may own one of the few that survive.

Note: Obviously, there are many articles taking the opposite view of the eZine, and I’d advise anyone who’s interested in a fulsome view of the issues to read them as well. Here’s one, and here’s another.

Recently sat down with Wag The Fox for an interview on my latest, The Reborn. And with a title like “When Harry Met Talley,” how can you not read it? Check it out here.

So if you’ve been wanting to read my books and can’t afford them, this may be the best news ever. That Which Should Not Be and Limbus, Inc. are both included in the Gallery of Horrors bundle from StoryBundle. This is quite an honor for me, and it’s an amazing opportunity for you. Not only can you get my books–both of them–for as little as three dollars, but you also get SEVEN other horror novels from some of the very best in the business. Below is how the curator describes TWSNB and Limbus, followed by the link to buy the books!

That Which Should Not Be–This book reads like a classic Lovecraftian horror novel, and in many ways is a love letter to that author. The theme, mood, and prose all float above a current of impending doom. I selected this book with fans of classic horror literature in mind

Limbus, Inc.–The writers who came together to make this collection are no strangers to horror. Not only is this collection superbly written, but the stories are expertly told, weaving together, amounting to something reminiscent of old Outer Limits and Twilight Zone episodes.

http://storybundle.com/horror

Awards season is a ways away, but I guess the Kindle Book Awards start early! In any event, found out that Biters and The Reborn have made it to the semifinal round of the 2014 Kindle Book Awards competition in the Horror/Thriller category. I don’t know if there’s a trophy or anything at the end of this, but the top prize is $500 bucks, and I’d rather have that anyway, even if I do have to split it with Harry. I’ll keep you updated, and in the meantime, don’t forget to check out the books. And if you are a member of the HWA, don’t forget to nominate The Reborn in the best novel category!

Lovecraft is all the rage these days, and if you are fan of Lovecraftian fiction, you’ve got about a thousand different choices. At least, if you are looking for short stories. Novels are a different kettle of fish. Maybe it’s because Lovecraft never wrote a novel himself or maybe it’s because it’s hard to sustain that feeling of creeping insanity over two hundred pages, but there aren’t all that many Lovecraftian novels out there (some people even claim that That Which Should Not Be is an anthology, to my eternal displeasure). So to help you in your search, I present to you three full-length novels that you should grab up immediately.

1. The Immortal Body by William Holloway

 The Immortal Body is squarely in the Lovecraftian genre, though Mr. Holloway has created a mythos that is entirely his own–albeit heavily influenced by the great  old one of Providence. The Immortal Body is, in many ways, a mystery novel. It is also a relentless thriller set in the modern world–also a rarity–that grabs on and  never lets go. A real treat.

2. Burning Times by J. G. Faherty

 J. G. Faherty is a prolific writer in many different genres, but this contribution to the mythos may be his best. While The Immortal Body merely hints at the presence  of Lovecraftian deities, The Burning Times embraces them wholeheartedly, speculating on how the coming of a Nyarlathotep-type figure to a small town might  unleash the end of days, while also positing that there are forces that stand ready to fight for humanity.

3. Red Equinox by Douglas Wynne

 I am totally cheating here (even the cover isn’t final). The truth is, Red Equinox isn’t out yet. But when it does come out, it needs to go straight to the top of your to-  read list. Centered in Boston and chronicling the efforts of the Starry Wisdom Cult to unleash Nyarlathotep (he’s a popular guy) so that he can open the  portals between worlds that will allow the Great Old Ones to Return, this novel manages to blend together the modern horro/thriller novel with weird fiction, not easy to do. Many of the classic Lovecraftian deities make an appearance, and the book is simply impossible  to put down. Watch for it, but don’t worry. When it comes out, I’ll let you know.

If none of these books meet your fancy, check out the Lovecraft eZine’s recommendations here. Or you know, you could always pick up That Which Should Not Be and The Void…

As anybody who reads this blog knows, I often comment on the fact that the only negative reviews of That Which Should Not Be are from people who are hard core Lovecraftians. This always surprised me, as my worry had been that the casual horror fan might find the book inaccessible. In reality, that hasn’t been the case at all. Now, I knew that some people might take issue with my spin on the mythos, but I was not prepared for the backlash that came from some corners over the inclusion of Christian mythology and iconography in the book. Which was why I enjoyed this review so much. It’s not all lovey dovey by any stretch–he more accepts my tinkering than embraces it–but still, refreshing. Hope you enjoy, and I hope you buy the book!

That Which Should Not Be by Brett J. Talley is an interesting bit of Post-Lovecraftian fiction. I dislike the term pastiche even if that is the best word for the continuing stories of Cthulhu Mythos by other writers than the original “Lovecraft circle.” In many ways, TWSNB is a throwback to the classic tales of the Cthulhu mythos but it also makes several choices which I think will be controversial with Lovecraft purists.

Read the rest of the review here.

Great review of Limbus, Inc. below. Perfect timing, with Limbus II set to drop this fall.

A Review of Limbus, Inc., Book I by Jonathan Maberry et al.

Limbus II, the sequel to the shared-world anthology created by Anne C. Petty that introduced us all to the shadowy world of Limbus, Inc., is finished and in with the publisher. ARCs should be going out soon, and the book is scheduled for a fall release.

The literary world lost Anne last year. She was not only a brilliant author, but an inspiration and a mentor to young writers such as myself. Her review of That Which Should Not Be was one of the first published, and her kind words gave me hope that maybe I could pull this thing off after all.

I am very proud to have inherited the editorial reins of Limbus from Anne. I hope that I have done her proud. But I gotta tell you, when you are editing stories by giants of the industry like Jonathan Maberry, Joe R. Lansdale, Gary A. Braunbeck, Joe McKinney and Harry Shannon, the work pretty much takes care of itself. So to earn my keep, I wrote the frame story, too.

If you enjoyed Limbus, you are going to love this book. If you’ve never heard of Limbus, then it’s time to check it out so you are ready when the sequel hits the stores. You will not be disappointed.

We discuss my new book, The Reborn, along with all the strange things that make me tick.

Here it is. 

A Pretty Mouth is one of those books I had heard a lot about well before I ever decided to purchase it. Molly Tanzer has an obvious talent for the weird and eldritch, and the praise that preceded her and her book was not to disappoint. APM is not exactly what I expected, however. It is not a novel, but rather a sort of connected short story collection, centering around a central novella, all focused on the family history of the house Calipash, told in reverse chronological order. If that sounds confusing, it can be. But if you stick with it, everything becomes clear and you will find yourself with a powerful desire to reread the book from the beginning, lest you not know what you’ve missed.

A definite recommendation for anyone who likes there horror on the weird and Lovecraftian side.

4 stars

At least, for the Lovecraft eZine kickstarter. Look, I rarely ask you to spend money–except on my books, and seriously, why aren’t you buying more?–but this is a truly awesome project that I am supporting. The world is in desperate need of quality Lovecraftian films. Desperate. And what’s more, if we raise the money we need to make them, I’ll get to kill somebody in a new Lovecraftian short story. Did I mention I’ll also be writing a new Lovecraftian short story? That’s sorta my thing. Anyway, you only have a couple more days to give what you can to make this project a reality. If you don’t, the madness of the unknown and unknowable will surely descend upon you! Or something.

Support the project.

It’s awesome.

Great guest blog below from Carl Alves, the author of Reconquest: Mother Earth, a great sci-fi novel I reviewed recently. Check it out, and then buy his book.

I like to describe my novel Reconquest: Mother Earth as a combination of the movies Independence Day, Red Dawn, and Gladiator.  Admittedly, that’s a strange combination.  In this post, I discuss how these three movies relate to my novel.

Independence Day

I remember when Independence Day came out, the trailers and promotion for the movie were tremendous.  The buildup of the movie was so great that instead of releasing the movie on July 3, 1996, they released it a day earlier, which coincided with when the movie starts.  The buzz was huge, and the movie became one of the all-time biggest blockbusters.

It’s not the deepest, most thoughtful movie ever made, and you had to suspend your disbelief in many places, but it was a lot of fun.  I enjoyed the portrayal of human spirit that the movie displayed, when against all odds, in an impossible situation, the humans used intelligence and ingenuity against a far more powerful enemy.

Those are elements that I adopt in my novel Reconquest: Mother Earth.  In my novel, I incorporate a very different kind of large scale invasion that the movie uses, but that is a small part of the novel.  The much larger part of the novel is the response by former Navy SEAL Mitch Grace, who wakes up from a coma five years after the initial invasion.  He personifies that same never-say-die attitude that even though the humans are badly overmatched, they can still find a way to defeat the alien conquerors.  Mitch must do so in a planet conquered by the aliens, where humans are used as slaves in mine, but much like in Independence Day, he will not stop fighting the aliens as long as he is still breathing.

Red Dawn

I was in the fourth grade when Red Dawn came out in theaters.  As a kid, this was an amazingly cool concept for a movie, and I was psyched to see it.  I didn’t get to watch too many movies in the theater when I was a kid, so it was a few years later by the time I finally watched it.  Despite some of the silliness in the movie, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Admittedly, the execution in this movie didn’t always work.  There are many aspects of it that aren’t particularly believable, and there were many testosterone filled scenes in the movie, but as long as you don’t delve too deep, it’s a fun and enjoyable film.  It fit the attitude of the time well, but it doesn’t particularly hold up many years later.

My novel, Reconquest: Mother Earth, shares some elements with Red Dawn.  In my novel, aliens take the place of the Soviets, and they have now overrun the planet.  Mitch Grace is devastated to find that most the world’s population has been decimated, and humans have been thrust into slavery in mines working for the aliens.  He can’t accept this and gathers followers to start his own guerilla war against the aliens.  They have vastly superior technology and weaponry and he must go into hiding, but much of that never say die feeling is captured in the novel.

Gladiator

Gladiator is simply put one of the best movies I have ever seen.  It is epic in scope, the story of Roman general Maximus Meridius, played by Russell Crowe.  Maximus is loyal to the emperor, but is thrust into slavery when Commodus, expertly played by Juaquin Pheonix in one of the greatest acting roles I have ever witnessed, kills his father and seizes the throne.  Through his incomparable skills as a warrior, Maximus becomes a renowned gladiator with one thing on his mind – vengeance.

When I first came up with the concept of my novel Reconquest: Mother Earth, before I even started writing it, I had an image in my head of my main protagonist, former Navy SEAL Mitch Grace, in an arena battling it out with aliens.  I didn’t know how I was going to incorporate this into my book, but one thing was certain, somehow, someway it was going to be part of it.

In my novel, Mitch Grace, during his guerilla campaign, is captured and enslaved much like Maximus.  He becomes an intergalactic warrior, even taking the moniker of “The Gladiator”.  He becomes an intergalactic sensation, a human that can kill aliens in single combat.  Much like Maximus, he is single-minded in his focus, which is to reconquer the planet.

Latest review of Harry Shannon’s Biters and my The Reborn is in, this time from Horror Drive-in, one of the best sites for horror reviews on the web. To spoil it for you, they really liked both books. Check out the review here, and go buy Biters/Reborn here.

If you know me, you know that I love all things Lovecraftian, and you know that I am particularly fond of the Lovecraft eZine. Well they are currently in the planning stages of their most amazing project yet. It’s called Whispers from the Shadows. The Zine is taking three of their best stories–none of mine sadly–and turning them into short films. And they are doing it the right way. Doug Jones of Pan’s Labyrinth  and the beautiful Katie Parker of Absentia and Oculus are staring. All we have to do now is raise the money to get it done. And that’s where you come in.

Here’s the Kickstarter campaign with lots of amazing awards for various levels of support. At one time, you could pay $125 and I would make you the star of one of my stories. Unfortunately, that’s sold out. But I want to write that story for whoever was crazy enough to pay that much for the honor. That means we need to raise $18000. We are already more than a quarter of a way there. Help us get the rest of the way.

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