You'll Enjoy Mr. Barlow...
... and he'll enjoy you.
No, that's not a picture of me after three cups of coffee. It is, of course, The Master from the 1979 TV adaptation of Stephen King's utterly brilliant Salem's Lot. I had the pleasure of watching it for what must be the tenth time (possibly more) last night, and it was just as damned freaky as ever.
If you haven't seen Salem's Lot, and you like a good vampire story, you really owe it to yourself to track down a copy of the DVD. The version I have is the uncut one, lasting a little over three hours, and, for my money at least, there's not a wasted moment in the whole thing. David Soul and James Mason turn in awesome performances. Before The Master arrives, it's a toss-up between them as to who steals the show, with Mason just edging ahead because he's so brilliantly creepy and funny at the same time. Look out for the moment when he educates the fat local cop on the use of the word 'ciao'. Priceless!
If you've seen the film/mini-series, but you haven't read the book (published in 1975), what are you waiting for? I've read a good few Stephen King stories. He's one of those guys who makes writing look truly effortless (though it bloody ain't, King, you deceiver!). Of all the King works I've read, though, Salem's Lot is far and away my favourite. Check it out.
As for my news... Rynn's World rolls on, but I'm not really prone to talking about work in progress. Headhunted has had some fantastic feedback, which is very heartening, obviously. And this week, I sustained a training injury that makes sleeping, breathing and (worst of all) sneezing truly agonising experiences. Every time I move my head, it's like someone is stabbing me in the back with a red hot bobby pin. It's very frustrating since my training has been right on the mark since the turn of the year. I'm now having to miss workouts until my fibres re-knit, which is almost as tortuous as being bitten by The Master and living forever as one of his undead pawns.
Fangs for reading (groan!). ;)
Labels: Horror
posted by Steve Parker at
8:20 AM
5 Comments:
I have to admit that, up until reading Heroes of the Space Marines, that my thoughts on if I'd get Rynn's World was a little up in the air....since I'm not all that thrilled with Crimson Fists.
But with the admirable job that you did of Headhunted and with the good story of Crimson Fists that Mr. Debski-Bowden did.....I'm quite looking forward to it now.
Hey, Xhalax. Good to see you here.
I'm really glad you enjoyed Headhunted. Thanks for the glowing review on the BL forums. As for Rynn's World, here's hoping I can change your mind about the Crimson Fists. I'm curious as to why you're 'not all that thrilled with them.' They're an upright, honourable bunch for the most part (well... most of them are).
Good to be here Mr. Parker, thank you.
And my initial unlove for the Crimson Fists started because the first time I came across them in a novel they were arrogant, self serving swines that bitched and whined a fair bit and got mauled by Scouts and who had no regard for anything but their own ends....which, although not uncommon amongst Space Marines, never sits all that well with me really. Being protectors of humanity, I always expect at least a shade of compassion, but from those Crimson Fists, there was almost outright hostility and dislike of humanity (though the Guard Commander that was fighting along side them hated the Crimson Fist Commander right back with a passion).
It's kinda silly really, but to me, Space Marines are always The Heroes, so they should be humble and virtuous too....and my first taste of the Crimson Fists...wasn't, so I was a little crestfallen.
It also came partly from my hatred of Black Templars, mainly via association (they're both successor Chapter for the Imperial Fists, the Templar are arrogant self-serving swines, and so were those first Crimson Fists), although I do like the Imperial Fists because of Storm of Iron (and later on because of the Heresy because Rogal Dorn always makes me smile), which was the first book I read which had them in (I started off with Dark Angels, then Space Wolves and then to Iron Warriors/Imperial Fist).
Plus I'm a non-codex Chapter fan as those that don't follow the Codex are much less starchy than those that do, which makes for much richer characters.
But when, especially with the shorts in Heroes of the Space Marines, we're getting Space Marines that actually think and feel and have an individual personality and still manage to come off like....well Heroes despite the fact they're still doing their own thing, they're just taking a more scenic route about doing it which involves actually doing their duty to Humanity in the process, it makes me happy.
So my faith in that all Crimson Fists aren't arses is restored. So my hopes are high and all pointed squarely at you Mr. Parker.....so no pressure, no pressure at all.
Ok, I'm rambling so I'll stop talking for now...but, like most dislikes it all comes down to a bad first impression.
Hey Xhalax, so long as you're putting no pressure on me, all is well. (yeah, right) ;)
Thanks for putting your anti-CF case forward so eloquently. I'm guessing Crimson Tears wasn't your cup of tea, then?
Actually, I deliberately avoided reading it prior to starting Rynn's World because I wanted to come at the Fists from entirely my own angle. I've no doubt Ben Counter wrote a good book, but I suspect my Fists won't be anything like they are portrayed in that novel. In fact, judging by what you've said, I can practically guarantee it. The inner (and outer) conflict between doing what is strategically expedient and what is morally right is a problem my Fists are wrestling with even as we speak.
I think it's something everyone will be able to identify with. I wrestle with it every day. :)
I'll always be the first to admit that Crimson Tears hasn't been my favourite out of the Soul Drinkers novels so far (I enjoyed Chapter War the most [Oh, I like Howling Griffons too], though I've yet to open my copy of Hellforged as I was naughty and read Tales of Heresy first....then Black Library Live! got in the way)....though it did produce my favourite character.
Oooooh moral decisions and Space Marines agonising over them....intriguing! I like it, especially since they're the ones with the real moral power since their decisions could save or damn an entire world, if not a sector depending on if they should fight or not (I loved it in the Anphelion Project when the fate of the world pretty much rested on the Red Scorpions rather than the Inquisitor that was sent to sort things out).
But I guess that's also the beauty of writing about a Codex Chapter, there are constraints that could hold them back from the 'right' course of action, in favour of what's been taught.....that sort of thing dances along a line that its pretty interesting from all points of view (codex and non-codex), especially in beings that are both taught to be independent of all except their brothers and yet are bound and restricted, sometimes quite severely by that which they live. Gotta love a dichotomy.
Though you're right, making the right decision is possibly the only thing that joe-average human would ever truly have in common with a Space Marine, and sometimes it's that little touch of humanity, the bit that not even the Mechanicum can get rid of, that helps keep us caught up in the book and interested it what's happening in the story, as well as the character. A shade of realism can go a long way.
However, it's confession time...I can't say I'm fully aware of all of the ins and outs of Rynn's World and what happened there (general idea...more or less...mainly less). So, much like when I started reading BL books, this is going to be new, uncharted territory for me...which is always something I enjoy coming across. But as long as I get good character and a solid story I'm happy.
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