REVIEWS

Contact Stanley Wiater at: StanleyWiater@hotmail.com

“Here is the Stephen King companion to end all Stephen King companions: THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE. …The three authors bring their considerable expertise to a survey of the complete King fictional corpus, grouping novels and tales by setting and theme. An indispensable insider's guide to the influences on King, his plots and characters, TV and film adaptations and more…”

--Publisher's Weekly on THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE

“…Will appeal to serious King fans…but will be an especially useful addition to academic resources on contemporary authors. Recommended for those libraries with a need for in-depth information on King and his work.”

--Library Journal on THE STEPHEN KING UNIVERSE

“ …This volume is a lock not only for dedicated horror fans but also for libraries.”

--Publisher's Weekly on DARK DREAMERS: FACING THE MASTERS OF FEAR

“This is a book only Wiater could have compiled. There may be others who have interviewed and reported on horror for as long or longer; some who have equal or greater knowledge; other writers who have an idea of how the creative mind works--but no one else has ever approached so many masters of the field with not only experience, knowledge, and imagination, but also the unabashed love for horror and its creators that Wiater possesses.”

--Dark Echo on DARK THOUGHTS: ON WRITING

“Ever wonder what scares your favorite horror writers? Want to know who influenced them, or where they get their ideas? Wonder no longer--the answers to these and other questions can be found in this excellent collection. Must reading for horror fans and aspiring writers in all genres.”

--Barnes and Noble.com on DARK THOUGHTS: ON WRITING

“Stanley Wiater’s invaluable DARK THOUGHTS: ON WRITING has hundreds of quotes from horror’s biggest authors, including King, Straub, Koontz, Ketchum, Barker, and all your favorites. Invaluable for both writers and readers alike. Great, great fun. Highly recommended.”

--HorrorNet on DARK THOUGHTS: ON WRITING

“These loosely connected fragments of interviews of famous horror writers has its moments--page 64, about how Michael McDowell literally stumbled into a television writing job, or better yet, the piece de resistance of the collection, the anecdote to end all filmwriting anecdotes by William F. Nolan on the production of The Mummy. Those two alone are worth the price of introduction.

“(There's no plot to this book, no cliffhangers, no movie tie-ins, no TV specials, no walk-in SF convention characters; nothing but pure, unadulterated wisdom of the ages, of special experiences, of hopes and dreams. And what more do you want from a book anyway?)”

--True Review on DARK THOUGHTS: ON WRITING

“Fans will love DARK VISIONS…Wiater is an experienced interviewer. For people who love horror movies, DARK VISIONS provides a good deal of chatty fun.”

--Washington Post Book World on DARK VISIONS

“Wiater's enthusiasm is contagious.”

--Chicago Tribune on DARK VISIONS

“Interesting and entertaining insights into their lives and work. This body of conversations is a must for anyone taken by these creators of the macabre or anyone who wants to pick up a few tips on how to get into the business.”

-- Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel on DARK DREAMERS

“It's a fascinating, inside-the-skull look at people with ‘weird’ minds.”

--Hartford Courant on DARK DREAMERS

“Wiater knows his genre and his writers thoroughly and this familiarity and personal relationship enables him to go to the center of each writer’s work. In the best exchanges, Wiater touches a nerve and stimulates responses that are especially insightful and, on occasion, quite moving… An excellent introduction to the personalities behind today's dark fantasy.”

--SFRA Newsletter #182 on DARK DREAMERS

“A fine collection for either leisure reading or use in research papers about any of these macabre masters.”

--Kliatt Young Adult Book Guide on DARK DREAMERS

“Even though it is thankfully devoid of a theme, AFTER THE DARKNESS does contain one twist which makes it different from all the other anthologies which have come before it: Wiater has asked each contributor to explain where they got the idea for their story. These “After-Words” are interesting to read, as they give insight into the various author’s creative processes, something which the reader is usually oblivious to. If you’ve got the disposable income, and you aren’t afraid that cracking the spine might decrease its resale potential, AFTER THE DARKNESS is worth picking up. Recommended.”

--Afraid on AFTER THE DARKNESS

“Horror novels seem to be in decline, and there are few real markets for short fiction in that genre. This limited edition hardcover includes some of the best short fiction of the year. Joseph Citro’s “Kirby” is a macabre take on an imaginary friend; Graham Masterton's “Making Melinda” is a very fine variant of “The Monkey’s Paw,” and Thomas Tessier’s “In the Desert of Deserts” is a quiet but very effective shocker. J.N. Williamson shows us the consequences of dealing with a fanatic writer in “God’s Mouth to Your Ear,” and Nancy Collins provides the best single story, “Such a Good Baby” with an ending that will catch you breathless.”

--Science Fiction Chronicle on AFTER THE DARKNESS

“COMIC BOOK REBELS is an important book because it consists of fresh and relatively focused interviews with important creative people in the comic book industry…Creators’ rights and artistic freedom are prominent topics of the discussions, but more important is the detail about and insight into individual careers that will be of interest to students of any aspect of the American comic book since about 1965.

“The interview format is of special value to comic book scholarship. Comments of thoughtful creators who do not normally write about their ideas can be enormously suggestive to students of the medium. Interviews have always been important features of comics fanzines, and this book neither replaces nor competes with any previous publications: it presents new information about influences, relationships, and motivations.

“This book will provide raw material for many a research project and should be in every research library and on the shelf of all serious students of comic books.”

--Inks: Cartoon and Comic Art Studies on COMIC BOOK REBELS

“This is a book with an agenda--an axe to grind, if you will. This is a book that sets itself up as a forum for taking pot-shots at the comic-book establishment. It is an attempt to give voice to the dissidents inside and outside of the comic-book mainstream. The editors present the interviews between these covers as examples of creators who have beat the comic-book ‘machine’ at its own game…

“Nonetheless, the interviews themselves are fascinating reading and offers us a realistic look at the lives and inspirations of some of modern comics’ most talented creators.”

--Hogan’s Alley on COMIC BOOK REBELS

“A collection of interviews with a diverse group of artists, writers, and writer/artists. The interviews read like relaxed, chatty conversations and are easy and fun to read. I learned something I hadn’t known from every interview. I recommend it highly.”

--Comic Buyer’s Guide on COMIC BOOK REBELS

“This is a book for any fan interested in what happens behind the scenes of their favorite comic books.”

--Wizard on COMIC BOOK REBELS

“NIGHT VISIONS 7 is the latest in this anthology series (each volume showcases the talents of three horror writers)… with more than enough fine work to make it worthwhile.

“Richard Laymon provides the best stories in the book, each of which packs a solid punch. “Mop Up,” the tale of a handful of soldiers eradicating the ghoul-like victims of a virulently contagious disease, reads like a scenario of a George Romero film and is just as scary. “Wishbone” depicts a trouble relationship give its coup de grace by a much too animated skeleton. “Bad News” considers what might happen if suburbia were invaded by a horde of deadly rat-like creatures, and “Madman Stan” tells of a bizarre baby-sitter who terrorizes her wards.

“The best of Chet Williamson's three contributions is the thoughtful novelette “Confessions of St. James” an interesting character study of a good-hearted but disturbed priest who consumes human flesh when he celebrates the Eucharist. Gary Brandner's lurid short novel, “Damntown,” is set in a village in Wisconsin perpetually frozen in time: a June day in 1933, when the devil showed up to make the town his headquarters…”

--Publisher’s Weekly on NIGHT VISIONS 7

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