Babel Clash

Hello all!

I love horror. No apologies, no excuses. I’ve loved the genre since I was only enough to have fun being scared (and I think I was still in Underoos at the time). I love when horror is get-the-defibrillator scary and I love horror when it’s bust-your-gut funny. I love it in print, I love it on the silver screen. I love it on TV, in comics, and just about any other way I can get it.

There are some works of horror that I return to over and over again. Like buying another ticket for that same rickety, scary, wonderful roller-coaster every summer. I wanted to share some of those with you. Landmark works of horror that left their claw-marks on me. Here are a few of my must-have horror books (with some comments on the movie adaptations). Read the list, and tell me what you think. If I missed one of your favorites, tell me about it so I can go check it out.

THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE by Shirley Jackson: This was the first truly frightening novel I read, and the original BW movie is still my pick for the scariest horror film ever made. It’s all about the suspense, not about what jumps out at you. The remake is to be avoided at all costs.

THE LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE by Richard Matheson: This was an attempt to modernize the Shirley Jackson model, and Matheson nails it. The novel is scary as hell, tapping into the early 1970s vibe still humming from ROSEMARY’S BABY, THE EXORCIST and THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. The movie is a wonderful adaptation of the novel and holds up pretty well all these years later.

THE MANITOU by Graham Masterton. Though a little dated (and very often copied) nowadays, this was a deeply disturbing novel with an unexpected theme. It has one of the most frightening descriptions of evil that I’ve ever read, and that has not diminished one bit. The movie is fun; the book is far superior. I also recommend DEVILS OF D-DAY and THE WELLS OF HELL.

GHOST STORY by Peter Straub. A true American gothic novel. This should be taught in creative writing and American literature programs. Lush, rococo, and finely crafted; with a killer opening line, a terrific set of villains, and overall superb character development. And though the movie changed several essential plot points, it is a nail-biter of a classic. Scary and sexy.

‘SALEM’S LOT by Stephen King. For me this is a perfect horror novel; superior in my view to THE SHINING. It has some of the most terrifying images—seen and alluded to, and King’s most powerful and effective descriptive language. The first TV miniseries adaptation was terrifying and, though dated, is definitely worth watching. This is one novel I return to every few years.

THE MIST by Stephen King. Though technically a blend of science fiction and Cthulhu-style fantasy, it is one of King’s masterpieces. My only complaints are that it was too short for my tastes, and he never wrote a sequel. Damn it. The movie was really good and had an even more powerful ending –one of which I thoroughly approve.

I AM LEGEND by Richard Matheson: The first true blending of horror with science fiction, and a marvelous piece of social commentary. The essence of the novel’s plot —especially the biting ending—has yet to be translated into film. The Vincent Price version, THE LAST MAN ON EARTH, took a stab at it, but the movie is stultifyingly boring. The Charlton Heston version, THE OMEGA MAN, is cheesy popcorn fun without depth; and though the first half of the Will Smith version had real promise, it veered away from Matheson’s key themes at the end. Oh, and Matheson gave me a signed copy of the book when I was fourteen.

THE RATS, LAIR and DOMAIN by James Herbert. I love this series so much Simple concept: very large, very cranky swarms of genetically modified rats. What’s not to like? Absolutely great storytelling with lean prose and a lightning pace. And…ewwww!

RATMAN’S NOTEBOOKS by Stephen Gilbert. This was the basis for the movie WILLARD (the original was pretty good) and BEN (don’t bother). It’s a psychological thriller about a disintegrating mind that is every bit as chilling as PSYCHO.

PSYCHO by Robert Bloch. Speaking of PSYCHO, the Robert Bloch novel is a lost classic. It informed a generation of slasher and serial killer novels by creating tropes which made other, lesser writers more famous. Bloch wrote it first and best…and he never strayed into cheap shots. The suspense is scream-inducing and the payoff is brilliant. Without this book we would never have had SILENCE OF THE LAMBS.

THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I had to slip this in because it is also an often-copied model in that it is a straight mystery told in the form of a horror novel. Often filmed to varying degrees of success, but always moody and interesting. My personal favorite is the Peter Cushing/Christopher Lee version, but there are many good ones. Read the book first.

SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES by Ray Bradbury. Before there was even a Young Adult genre in fiction, Bradbury crafted a perfect horror-fantasy in which an evil circus (Cooger and Dark’s Pandemonium Shadow Show) comes to town. The same year Matheson gave me a copy of I AM LEGEND, Bradbury gave me a copy of this. I read a copy of this book every year on Halloween.

PHANTOMS by Dean R. Koontz. This is a science fiction novel written as a horror novel. Koontz was never better and few other writers are anywhere near as scary. This is a truly disturbing nail-biter of a read. The movie was okay, but this really needs a miniseries to explore its nuances.

MYSTERY WALK by Robert McCammon. This early novel of McCammon’s has gorgeous and unexpected imagery, including a description of the sound a haunted buzz-saw makes that will definitely stay with you. I came back to this after twenty years and it was every bit as good.

Those are a few of my must-haves.

So…what scares you?

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Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestselling author, multiple Bram Stoker Award winner, and Marvel Comics writer. His novels include the Pine Deep Trilogy –Ghost Road Blues, Dead Man’s Song and Bad Moon Rising; the Joe Ledger thriller series –Patient Zero, The Dragon Factory, The King of Plagues, and Assassin’s Code; the Benny Imura Young Adult dystopian series -Rot & Ruin, Dust & Decay, and Flesh & Bone; the film adaptation of The Wolfman and the standalone horror thriller –Dead of Night. His nonfiction books include the international bestseller Zombie CSU, The Cryptopedia, They Bite, Vampire Universe and Wanted Undead of Alive. He has sold over 1200 feature articles, thousands of columns, two plays, greeting cards, technical manuals, how-to books, and many short stories. His comics for Marvel include Marvel Universe vs the Wolverine, Marvel Universe vs the Punisher, DoomWar, Black Panther and Captain America: Hail Hydra. He is the founder of the Writers Coffeehouse and co-founder of The Liars Club; and is a frequent keynote speaker and guest of honor at conferences including BackSpace, Dragon*Con, ZombCon, PennWriters, The Write Stuff, Central Coast Writers, Necon, Killer Con, Liberty States, and many others. In 2004 Jonathan was inducted into the International Martial Arts Hall of Fame, due in part to his extensive writing on martial arts and self-defense. Visit him online at www.jonathanmaberry.com, www.twitter.com/jonathanmaberry and www.facebook.com/jonathanmaberry

Today’s secret word is “bittersweet.”  Feel free to scream real loud when you hear it.

Why? 

Because I have a bitter taste in my mouth with this being Sam and Ari’s last day, but a sweet taste because they left us with some great posts.

Because I have a bitter feeling when I say goodbye, but a sweet feeling when I say hello (especially when you hear who’s up next!).

In the interest of making this as painless as possible, Sam, Ari, I think we had a great run, but I think we should just be friends.  That doesn’t mean we won’t still hang out.  In fact, I’d love to hang out again.  In the meantime, please use the rest of the day to plug your old books, new books, future books, blogs, twitter accounts, genre for Japan, etc.

All kidding aside, thank you both for a great two weeks!  We can’t wait to have you back soon!

So, that wasn’t so bitter I guess, right?  If it was, here’s some sweet to wash away the bitterness.

Up next on the blog are two newcomers to the sci-fi and fantasy genres….pause for comedic effect….  

Up first, is the man behind the Dresden Files.  The one.  The only.  Jim Butcher!

Jim is currently hard at work on Harry Dresden’s latest case - Ghost Story - but has decided to spend some time with us on the blog, and for that we thank him!  Ghost Story is slated for a July release, but to tide you over until then, Changes has recently released in mass market paperback!

Feel free to pre-order Ghost Story (currently on sale for 47% off at www.borders.com) now!

Joining Jim, is the newly crowned #1 New York Times Bestselling author Patrick Rothfuss!  Fresh off a tour promoting his new novel The Wise Man’s Fear, Pat has agreed to keep on trucking and promote the book here as well!  You can pick up his new book - here (it’s on sale too)!

Rumor has it, friend to Babel Clash, Anton Strout, will also be peering in from time to time to stir the pot a bit.

Readers, please join me in thanking Sam and Ari again.  They did a great job these past two weeks.  They’ll definitely be a hard act to follow, but if anyone can do it, it’s Jim and Pat (and Anton).

Batman IS NOT magic.  Batman IS fantasy, however.

Lee & I seem to be working with two very different definitions of magic.  In Lee’s definition, magic is synonymous with fantasy and the words can be used interchangeably.  This definition leads inexorably to the conclusion that Batman is magic because a) superheroes are magic and b) Batman is a superhero, therefore c) Batman is magic.  But, in my humble opinion, it is a sweeping generalisation to assume that all superheroes are magic.

In my definition, magic is a subset of fantasy.  To use the language of deductive reasoning, all magic is fantasy, but not all fantasy is magic.  I’m not disputing the fact that Batman is fantastic.  Batman is wicked fantastic.  Some of the stuff he can do is pretty darn unlikely.  But the fact remains that it is unlikely, not impossible.  Yes, it is very, very unlikely that one person could be the best at everything - detecting, disguising, super-sciencing, athleticism, you name it - but it is not impossible.  Yes, it would be bizarre for “real” people to run around dressed like bats, but it is not impossible.  Yes, it is unusual for real people to keep a Rogues’ Gallery, but Allan Pinkerton did and he was a real dude.  If it’s at all possible, no matter what the odds are against or how unlikely or remote, in my definition, it is fantasy not magic. 

Magic is the impossible.  It’s controlling wind (like Shannon Hale’s Goose Girl and Patrick Rothfuss’ Name of the Wind), it’s the ability to fly/levitate (like Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn), it’s shooting bolts of fire (like Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files).  It’s the stuff that us mere mortals constrained by the laws of physics just couldn’t possibly do.

In conclusion, I would like to offer this Venn diagram as irrefutable proof that Batman, while he is fantasy, is most decidedly not magic.

You’re absolutely right, Lee.  It’s not that I don’t like magic in my stories.  I just don’t like ill-defined magic.  I rebel against the use of magic as deus ex machina, but at the same time, I dislike book that provide a litany of rules and regulations regarding the uses of magic.  I want something that strikes a balance between magical free-for-all and plot-stopping thirty thousand commandments  governing the capabilities of and uses for magic in any particular world.  I don’t need to know that Superman can’t peel a cellophane S off his chest (because in my world he can’t.  Period.) unless it’s critical to the plot.  As a reader, I want to be able to assume that if you’re telling me magic can’t raise people from the dead, it’s because it has bearing on the plot somewhere down the line.  And if it doesn’t, I’m gonna be frustrated.

What I want is a book that convinces me that, while the author may not see the need to give out every detail & bit of minutiae about the rules governing magic, she or he knows what they are & is committed to playing by them.

There are two things I have to disagree with, though.  1) Batman is not magic.  I think Sheldon put it quite admirably.  The Green Lantern is magic.  Batman is a deep voice, a fortune that could rival Bill Gates’, and a crap ton of training.  Don’t get me wrong, I love the Dark Knight, but he’s not magic.  2) VCRs are totally obsolete.

As sort of an aside and since Lee brought up weird things going on with the magic of Superman . . . Does anyone out there watch Smallville?  Can someone explain to me what on earth wish-fulfilling kryptonite is?

Thanks, Tom & Joel for contributing to Babel Clash!  Please take this opportunity with your last couple of posts to share any information you’d like regarding The Grave Thief and Petrodor.  Or to just get the last word in on gods and their uses . . .

And for all you readers, tune in tomorrow for the beginning of our next conversation with A. Lee Martinez.

Tom’s point about the idea of infallible & omnipresent gods being a relatively recent innovation in human history got me thinking about deities in fantasy that are no where near perfect or omniscient.  Some of my favorites from the list I came up with are Galactus, Devourer of Worlds, Cthulhu who brings to light the insignificance of humanity, and the Authority from Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials Trilogy (the Authority happens to be my personal favorite fallible deity).  Why do I love these deities?  Because they’re not perfect.  They’re destructive or frail or overwhelming or chaotic.  I find them more compelling because they’re not perfectly knowledgeable or perfectly benevolent.  I guess I want a little snap and pizazz and uncertainty from my deities.

Anyway, thinking about the last two also led me to this fun poll . . . Cage Match 2010.

Being female, I have a visceral reaction to the idea that women are frail.  Once I’m past that initial flare, I have to admit that most of the men I know could take me in a fair fight.  That’s just the way it is.  But the fact remains that there are plenty of women in fantasy & science fiction who kick butt and take names (my personal favorite being Eowyn - I will admit to having her speechto the Nazgul memorized), which makes me wonder if I shouldn’t propose a third possibility beyond counter-balance or highlight.  What if women often serve the same sort of role tricksters fill in folklore?  Could butt-kicking women be there to demonstrate that sometimes being clever, quick, or more skillful can allow you to triumph over brute strength?  What do you say?

Our new topic comes to you in the spirit of the Olympics.

From Hercules to Frodo, how important is it that authors present physical prowess believably? How strong is too strong?  As we take a look at our heroes in fantasy and science fiction, do you want their athleticism to be realistic or is superhuman power (magical, cybernetic, etc.) expected?

Also in the Olympic spirit, I’m passing the torch to a new moderator here on Babel Clash.  Please welcome Terry.   She is a collaborator in all things science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels & horror here at Borders.  I’m personally very excited to see where she takes Babel Clash next.

Since this is a transitional period, now is a great time for us to collect feedback.  We have many ideas for updates and improvements that we hope to implement in 2010.  We want to create a site and a community that you enjoy and respect, so we’re happy to collect your feedback. Please post your comments with suggestions.

I’d like to thank the staff of Circle of Seven Productions for their technical assistance and creative support. Please check out their page.

I’m now managing the Borders Ink Facebook page, our site dedicated to the graphic novels & young adult categories.  If you’re a fan, please check it out.

It’s been fun.  Good luck, Terry!  Now, please welcome Tom and Joel.

Thanks again to Amber and Anton.

Tune in tomorrow to find out the topic of our next conversation with Tom Lloyd and Joel Shepherd.

Also, there’s some exciting Babel Clash news to share.  Find out more tomorrow.

Amber and Anton, thank you for contributing to our discussion on Babel Clash.  Please take this opportunity with your last couple of posts to share any information with us that you’d like regarding Cat’s Claw and Dead Matter.  Also, please feel welcome to share any news regarding other upcoming projects.

Both titles are now available online or at your local Borders or Waldenbooks store and on Borders.com.

In the spirit of our conversation about “reluctant adults,” please check out the urban fantasy blog where Anton contributes, the League of Reluctant Adults.