Author of "Second Movement," and "The Frieze of Life," both honorably mentioned in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND HORROR.
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L I F E g o e s O N . . .
Notable events: Barnes & Noble Books has finally seen fit to issue HORRORS! 365 SCARY STORIES, a book that has lain dormant for nearly three years after I finished my eight stories for it. Not all B&N stores have received their shipments, but the B&N website has 'em. Special order it if you must. It's only $12.98 for a big doorstop of a hardcover! Continuous and never-ending thanks go out to Dian and Craig Rather, Denise and Chris Feist, Mai Anh Crowe, Michael Grimm, Jan Baker, John Layman, Jay and Jeanne Bonansinga, and lotsa other nice folks.
S T O R I E S i n P R I N T
"The Light of Truth," in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories (Barnes & Noble, 1998, edited by Robert Weinberg, Stefan Dziemianowicz and Martin H. Greenberg). At the end of the 20th Century, two FBI agents stumble onto a horrifying truth. No, it ain't the X-FILES.
"Lopez," also in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories. A wrong number leads to a waking nightmare for a Chicago businesswoman.
"Until the next train," also in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories. A disillusioned shoe store owner, on the verge of retirement, discovers the awful secret behind the graffiti on his building.
"Edwina Talbot," also in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories. The last werewolf on Earth sat alone in a room. . . .
"The Snow Globes," also in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories. An English couple discovers that, sometimes, it's safest to pay full price.
"Up Our Block," also in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories. This is one neighborhood you don't want to be caught dead in.
"Being of One Mind," also in Horrors! 365 Scaru Stories. It's a real bad idea to go for a picnic in the hills north of Arkham.
"Road Story," also in Horrors! 365 Scary Stories. There's a killer on the road, his brain is squirming like a toad. Ribbit! No, sorry; not really like a toad, but like something kinda viscous and gooey.
"Wither Horror," an article in the Horror Writers Association's Writing Horror volume (Writers Digest Books, 1997, edited by Mort Castle). "Wither Horror?" is an unflinching interview with several well-known novel editors in the horror field, offering an honest prognosis of the genre's near-future viability.
"Not to Force the Rhymes," in Singers of Strange Songs (Chaosium Books, 1997, edited by Scott David Aniolowski). In Oakdeene Sanatorium, an ancient evil has lain comatose for half a century. But now it has awakened . . . and it may bring the wrath of the Old Ones upon the world. (At nearly 10,000 words, this is my longest piece.) Singers of Strange Songs is a volume in tribute to Brian Lumley and his contributions to the Lovecraft Mythos.
"The High Rollers," (a collaboration with James Robert Smith), also in Singers of Strange Songs (Chaosium Books, 1997, edited by Scott David Aniolowski). Basically, a thinly-disguised Donald Trump meets the Deep Ones. James Robert Smith worked from my outline and wrote two-thirds of the prose; I wrote the juicy elevator hallucination sequence in the middle.
"Frank the Cnidarian," in Return to Lovecraft Country (Triad Books, 1997, edited by Scott David Aniolowski). A Lovecraft Mythos piece, a quasi-sequel (mentioning some of the same events) to "Second Movement" from Miskatonic University. Is it possible to be so obtuse that it winds up saving your life? Frank is about to find out.
"Second Movement," in Miskatonic University (DAW Books, 1996, edited by Robert Weinberg and Martin H. Greenberg), an anthology of Cthulhu Mythos stories taking place at H. P. Lovecraft's famous Alma Mater. In "Second Movement," a professor at Miskatonic just getting over the death of his wife, finds that starting over isn't always that easy, especially when the Great Old Ones get involved. A scene from my story appears on the volume's cover, which tickles the hell out of me.
"The Frieze of Life," in Blood Muse (Donald I. Fine Books, 1995, edited by Esther Friesner and Martin H. Greenberg). Here's what Kirkus Reviews had to say about this story: "Don't miss Benjamin Adams' "The Frieze of Life," about tortured Norwegian painter Edvard Munch's insanity and his famous painting of "The Vampire." Munch re-creates the female form obsessively throughout his life, being the unwitting slave of Melpomene, the Greek Muse of tragedy, who has chosen Munch to be her personal artist."
"Acts," in 100 Vicious Little Vampire Stories (Barnes & Noble, 1995, edited by Robert Weinberg, Stefan Dziemianowicz and Martin H. Greenberg). Vampire teens seduce an Episcopal youth pastor in San Francisco. Happens all the time! Why them pesky vampires just can't keep their hands off . . . uh . . . well, never mind.
"Icing Up," also in 100 Vicious Little Vampire Stories A bad news boyfriend re-enters a young woman's life during a deadly cold spell.
"The Politically Incorrect Witch," in 100 Wicked Little Witch Stories (Barnes & Noble, 1995, edited by Robert Weinberg, Stefan Dziemianowicz and Martin H. Greenberg). An early American witch winds up in a Ford Pinto. She doesn't like it much. And could you blame her?
"Alexa, Skyclad," also in 100 Wicked Little Witches. A young pagan mother is blackmailed with photos of herself nude at worship. Bewitched updated for the '90's. -- "[A] most likeable witch." -- Adam-Troy Castro
"The Pain Eater," in Midnight Shambler #13 (Winter 1997, edited by Robert M. Price). A Lovecraft Mythos tale dealing with a sadistic avatar of the Great Old One, Nyarlathotep.
"Snakedance," in Cthulhu Codex #14 (Winter 1997, edited by Robert M. Price). The Servants of Yig desire the psychic powers of a young girl. Can shaman Jack White Feather save her?
"Moving to the Rear," in Midnight Journeys (Ozark Triangle Press, 1995, edited by Bill Allen, Gary Jonas and Davi Dee). A graphic artist, devastated by the meaningless death of his girlfriend, starts having bizarre hallucinations while on public transit. Hey, I used to live in Chicago. I know how it is.
"Nathan's Phase," in Heliocentric Net Magazine (Summer 1994 issue, edited by Lisa Jean Bothell). A long-suffering author discovers that her ex-lover is a god of sorts. A fat, obnoxious God.
"The Legend of Cowboy Bob," in The Official Robert E. Weinberg Forty-ninth Birthday Commemorative Ashcan (compiled by Karen Taylor, Tina Jens, Nancy and Dennis Ford and diverse hands). Cowboy Bob meets his match. But -- could it be -- ? The merry-go-round broke down!
"Raña," in The End #4 (edited by Jeffrey Thomas). Working on a dam project in an Amazonian valley, an American project foreman discovers you just don't mess with Mother Nature.
L I N K S G A L O R E
GI Joe Links. The original 12" GI Joe was my favorite toy as a child. Now that I'm an adult with a somewhat disposable income (gasp, choke) I'm collecting them once again. There's no shortage of fascinating Joe sites on the web, and this link will take you to Richard Knepper's own compilation of Joe links. And if you happen to have any old Joes around, think of me!
A pair of original 1964 Joes.
The Legion of Super-Heroes. The original super-hero team, still going strong after several decades.
Robyn Hitchcock. There aren't enough superlatives to describe Robyn, my favorite endearingly eccentric English singer/songwriter.
Mark Burgess / The Chameleons. I'm proud to announce that the 1980's British cult band, The Chameleons, are my favorite group of all time (besides The Beatles). Their songwriter, singer and bass player, Mark Burgess, wrote tunes that shake me to the core of my soul. Mark's still releasing records on his own, though lately he's gone in a lighter, more acoustic vein.
Julian Cope is yet another of my favorite British artists. Copey has rather endearingly gone off his nut in public over the last twenty years; stop by his official site to see what he's up to now.
The UnHome Page. What is it? I have no idea, except that it's anti-DIVX, which is always a good thing.
Computer Technical Services provided by Craig Raether. Craig's an absolute PC whiz, and is the guy who set up my current system. I highly recommend his work.
Jay Bonansinga is one of the foremost action thriller writers of our time, and I'm proud to count him among my closest friends. We're currently collaborating on what may turn out to be a full-length novel.
The Reader's Guide to the Cthulhu Mythos. Edward P. Berglund is undertaking the massive task of updating the classic guide he coedited with Robert Weinberg. Before it hits print, the new version of the Guide is available online. Stop by and take advantage of this invaluable resource for Mythos fans. You may even see my name in there somewhere. . . .
Mike Arnzen's Arbor Vitae. Mike has one of the finest horror-related pages on the web, with lots more links to take you to places of which you've never dared dream. Matter of fact, Mike's links are so good, they're the reason why I have so few horror links.
Karen Taylor is one of my favorite people in the whole gosh-darn world. She's an accomplished novelist and an all-around delightful person. Pay her a visit!
The Horror Writers Association. Tell 'em I sent you, because then all kindsa hell will break loose.
Dick Duck has a request for any women with brown hair and glasses to drop by his web page. Dick is an old buddy of mine and a music reviewer for a San Diego daily paper. He really isn't a loser; he just tends to quack uncontrollably when he's excited . . . so make him quack, ladies!
A final horror link: Creaturette's Darke Palace. Creaturette is actually author Yvonne Navarro, best known for the novelizations of the SPECIES films. Von designed the last version of my web page, and I'm eternally grateful to her.
Designed and installed 4/28/98 by Benjamin Adams, with a little help from Claris.