That GOAT DANCE stepback, though. I own three of Douglas Clegg's books (THE ATTRACTION, THE HALLOWEEN MAN and YOU COME WHEN I CALL YOU), but the only thing I've read of his was his contribution to the first QUEER FEAR anthology. But he seems cool, and anytime a gay horror writer rises to some sort of prominence it gets me excited. Are there even any other gay horror writers who have received any sort of acclaim? I guess in retrospect Poppy Z. Brite would fall into that category, but other than Brite and Barker, I can't think of any others. Anyway, excuse the rambling. :P
Excellent rambling! No, I can't think of any other gay horror writers from that era either. Jane Chambers, a lesbian playwright, wrote a good kinda-horror novel about two women who may or may not have been burned as witches in the past called BURNING in 1978 but that was it. Thomas Tryon was gay but it doesn't feature in his two '70s classics THE OTHER and HARVEST HOME.
Your blog is fantastic. I've been reading it for a while and am always glad to do so. I find your reviews especially helpful when I'm scouting new (old?) horror to read.
Two other openly gay prominent horror authors were Michael McDowell and Michael Talbot.
Will: You learn something new every day! Coincidentally, I just bought HARVEST HOME last week.
Slanted Answer: I had no idea about Michael McDowell, that's pretty awesome.
I wonder if anybody's written a dissertation or something on LGBT horror fans and authors. I find it interesting that a lot of critically acclaimed horror authors (Brite, Barker, McDowell) were or are gay, and in my experience as a gay horror fan, there's a lot more of us than the average person might realize. I wonder why that is.
The biggest selling gay horror writer is probably John Saul. I believe he is now retired but he has sold over 25 million books. He came out as a gay man in a People magazine article sometime in the 1990's. Of his 28 novels only 2 have gay characters.
I knew about Michael McDowell and his book The Elementals is one of my favorites - I have the entire Blackwater series on my Kindle but it didn't grab me as much (I've only read two of the books so far).
Never knew about John Saul - I've read several of his novels but they are all pretty bad. I lump him with V.C. Andrews (guilty pleasure reads that are pure pulp).
Thomas Disch, who was mostly known as a science-fiction writer, wrote four horror novels, so he should count, too. (His best horror novel was called "The M.D.")
9 comments:
That GOAT DANCE stepback, though. I own three of Douglas Clegg's books (THE ATTRACTION, THE HALLOWEEN MAN and YOU COME WHEN I CALL YOU), but the only thing I've read of his was his contribution to the first QUEER FEAR anthology. But he seems cool, and anytime a gay horror writer rises to some sort of prominence it gets me excited. Are there even any other gay horror writers who have received any sort of acclaim? I guess in retrospect Poppy Z. Brite would fall into that category, but other than Brite and Barker, I can't think of any others. Anyway, excuse the rambling. :P
Excellent rambling! No, I can't think of any other gay horror writers from that era either. Jane Chambers, a lesbian playwright, wrote a good kinda-horror novel about two women who may or may not have been burned as witches in the past called BURNING in 1978 but that was it. Thomas Tryon was gay but it doesn't feature in his two '70s classics THE OTHER and HARVEST HOME.
Will,
Your blog is fantastic. I've been reading it for a while and am always glad to do so. I find your reviews especially helpful when I'm scouting new (old?) horror to read.
Two other openly gay prominent horror authors were Michael McDowell and Michael Talbot.
Cheers
Will: You learn something new every day! Coincidentally, I just bought HARVEST HOME last week.
Slanted Answer: I had no idea about Michael McDowell, that's pretty awesome.
I wonder if anybody's written a dissertation or something on LGBT horror fans and authors. I find it interesting that a lot of critically acclaimed horror authors (Brite, Barker, McDowell) were or are gay, and in my experience as a gay horror fan, there's a lot more of us than the average person might realize. I wonder why that is.
Jesse B: I've not read it, but this book might be a good place to start:
http://www.amazon.com/Out-Dark-Interviews-Filmmakers-Authors/dp/159021272X/ref=pd_sim_14_18?ie=UTF8&dpID=412%2BDSXpqAL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR111%2C160_&refRID=11WVHANK0G1B3PG2KMBE
I see that Clegg is interviewed in it.
The biggest selling gay horror writer is probably John Saul. I believe he is now retired but he has sold over 25 million books. He came out as a gay man in a People magazine article sometime in the 1990's. Of his 28 novels only 2 have gay characters.
I knew about Michael McDowell and his book The Elementals is one of my favorites - I have the entire Blackwater series on my Kindle but it didn't grab me as much (I've only read two of the books so far).
Never knew about John Saul - I've read several of his novels but they are all pretty bad. I lump him with V.C. Andrews (guilty pleasure reads that are pure pulp).
BTW - Harvest Home is great - loved that book. I recently picked up The Other and have to move that up the TBR pile.
Thomas Disch, who was mostly known as a science-fiction writer, wrote four horror novels, so he should count, too. (His best horror novel was called "The M.D.")
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