tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post6525015963850788017..comments2024-03-06T11:11:48.095-08:00Comments on Too Much Horror Fiction: The Kill Riff by David J. Schow (1988): Ain't It a Shame To Be Shot Down in FlamesWill Erricksonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16285306262078600804noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-63047156932715615212015-02-26T21:31:52.257-08:002015-02-26T21:31:52.257-08:00I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one...I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who loved The Shaft. I'm really at a loss as to why it didn't get a lot more word of mouth and recognition from the cognoscente out there, but it is what it is. Personally, I don't think Schow has ever been as good in the long form as his short stories, in fact I've been kind of plodding through his novel Gunwork, but The Shaft Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17530188453997612858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-17575270040858302422015-02-26T20:30:16.500-08:002015-02-26T20:30:16.500-08:00Ooh, this is encouraging me to dig out my cheap us...Ooh, this is encouraging me to dig out my cheap used copy of The Shaft, which frequently glares from the bookshelf in all its euro softcover glory. ishouldbekinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08731202487740290468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-77415699782089032202015-02-25T23:52:58.521-08:002015-02-25T23:52:58.521-08:00If I'm not mistaken, The Shaft started its sho...If I'm not mistaken, <i>The Shaft</i> started its short, fiery life as a short story published in the Spring 1990 issue of <i>Weird Tales</i>. That was the first place I read it, but I ended up tracking down the novel and digging that one even more. I think they're both great. <br /><br />Happy hunting to everyone novel-wise (I borrowed it from a well-stocked university's main libraryAlejandro Omidsalarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15539800558494273368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-91060109683283887312015-02-25T20:33:36.487-08:002015-02-25T20:33:36.487-08:00Been waiting for a cheap copy of THE SHAFT too. I...Been waiting for a cheap copy of THE SHAFT too. I'll even accept a digital one. Whichever comes first.Authorfanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01626566458666454127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-6212828964125763882015-02-25T17:28:26.532-08:002015-02-25T17:28:26.532-08:00Just finished 'The Shaft' last week, and t...Just finished 'The Shaft' last week, and thought it was excellent.<br />Have 'The Kill Riff' on the shelf, but it doesn't really appeal to me, but you may have swayed me, even if your review is only lukewarm.Lincolnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11305014002247084812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-86316709572768736842015-02-25T15:53:20.206-08:002015-02-25T15:53:20.206-08:00Thanks for this one. Just bought a copy on ebay. K...Thanks for this one. Just bought a copy on ebay. Keep it comin. JKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14966158393123415817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-466565374173960892015-02-25T14:35:57.123-08:002015-02-25T14:35:57.123-08:00Lou, according to ISFDB, it was excerpted both in ...Lou, according to ISFDB, it was excerpted both in NOVA EXPRESS and MIDNIGHT GRAFFITI. Will Erricksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16285306262078600804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-39349382599103929552015-02-25T12:59:06.730-08:002015-02-25T12:59:06.730-08:00I think Schow's short fiction is terrific, but...I think Schow's short fiction is terrific, but I've yet to read a full-length novel from him that impresses me as much (and that includes THE SHAFT).Ron Clintonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18433028755791230589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-72035863981588906402015-02-25T12:53:44.754-08:002015-02-25T12:53:44.754-08:00I Know I've read the shaft. Was it exerpted in...I Know I've read the shaft. Was it exerpted in "The Horror Show" or "Cemetery Dance"?Louhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01529978221101175784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-35521897703989960522015-02-25T11:42:14.504-08:002015-02-25T11:42:14.504-08:00I've got a signed first edition too! That was ...I've got a signed first edition too! That was the one I read way back when, but I think it's stored, still these many years later, in my parents' basement. Bought the paperback for my collection. And I loved "Not from Around Here" as well. <br /><br />Sorry I can't say you should get to reading KILL RIFF right away...Will Erricksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16285306262078600804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-825351661748594023.post-28225386762873060102015-02-25T11:38:48.283-08:002015-02-25T11:38:48.283-08:00I've got a signed first edition of this that I...I've got a signed first edition of this that I still haven't read, go figure. <br /><br />Regardless, I'm a HUGE fan of Schow's short fiction and, for my money, Not From Around Here is one of the most genuinely frightening monster stories of the 20th century. <br /><br />And I've read The Shaft and I've never understood why this didn't get published here and why it Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17530188453997612858noreply@blogger.com