Why

[Pybob]

I was sitting today reading 'Mad Moon of Dreams', I was chuckling quietly to myself at Hero & Eldin's banter and a thought occurred to me...

"What makes BL so fascinating to read? Why him and not Steven King or Clive Barker?"

It's not that I don't like SK or CB (well I think SK is a little bit overly melodramatic) but BL is a bit special, he's the only author who I find myself reading again and again...

Am I the only one, or is there a pretender to the Dark God Lumley's throne?

[Dragutin]

Psychomech twice.

Hero series Twice

Necroscope Three times Getting ready for four times.

[Mike C]

Pybob-- I don't know why BL has created all of us Necroscope addicts, but I think besides the actual quality in his writing, he has created a series that incorporates horror with espionage, legend/folklore with history, and fantasy with fact.

I guess what I am trying to say is whether you like horror (Stephan King or Dean Koontz), fantasy (Clive Barker), or espionage/government conspiracy novels (Tom Clancy); BL puts them all together and has a created a large following. Though I think most of us are horror fans, we get a taste of quite a few kinds of novels in one authors work.

[Patrick]

Hi Mike,

I know what you mean, BL combines the popular subjects of horror and the paranormal/espionage to produce one topic. Whereas I have yet to come across any other author who has even attempted it, never mind succeeded.

One thing though, Mike, I am not normally into Horror(probably the only one on the board), in fact I find most horror books and films quite boring. I prefer spy and history books. So for me to be so engrossed in what BL writes is very unusual. But, I have never been so involved in a book as I am with the Necroscope saga.

[Pybob]

I could't agree more about the Necroscope saga, but how does House of Doors (Maze of Worlds) fit in? And, what about Khai of Ancient Khem? And what about all those short stories that are pure horror (though sometimes comic)?

No other writer has such a website as this, this good in response to the fans of course and the marvelous skills of Shadoe...

So it can't be the variety within one book, it has to be more... that je ne c'est qua...

Ah well, guess I'll never know what kind of spell he's weaved on us all...

...I don't suppose whether anyone knows if BL is a high priest to Cthulhu, do they???

[Lichloathe]

I can't say what really makes me so crazy about Brian's books. The mix of history,espionage & horror like the other guys say is one reason for sure. But I also like short stories, like in the Coven of vampires, that have nothing to do with the Necroscope. The way Brian writes I guess, he's unique!

[Mike C]

Patrick as for you not being a horror fan but crossing over for the Necroscope... well I think that sort of proves my point. I read many different genres (beyond horror), but BL is my favorite over author of all. I am a little bit older than most of the other Lumlians here, but I remember when I was only interested in horror.

Pybob & Lichloathe As for his other works... in my opinion they aren't quite as good as the Necroscope, (I've only read the Psychomech trilogy and Demogorgon) but I expect to read all of his works because he has an incredible writing style. I am also hoping to be surprised and find something else of his that I find as interesting as the Necroscope.

[Pybob]

Mike C...

Many people find the Necroscopes amazing and end up comparing all BL's other works to them. What you have to remember is that every one is unique and should only be judged on there own merits.

FYI- The Necroscope work has evolved out of BL's continuation of the HP Lovecraft Cthulhu Mythos... I thoroughly recommend that you find them out (I believe that Mythos Omnibuses have recently been released in the US & have been out here in the UK for a while now)...

You will find that Titus Crow is a worthy forebear to Harry Keogh

[Mike C]

Pybob I am not saying that I didn't enjoy his other works, I just didn't enjoy them as much as the Necroscope.

I also didn't enjoy the one or two H.P Lovecraft books I have read, which doesn't make much sense because BL is great and everyone else here seems to like both of them... I just never got into Lovecraft the way I did with BL.

[Pybob]

Mike C Fair enough, can't say fairer than that now can I? And isn't that what it's all about, in the end, we are all unique... just some are more unique than others...

[Dragutin]

Horror is not my main passion either, I just like a well written book and Lumley tops the charts for most of his work.

An easy read without going off the subject of the book gets my vote all the time.

[Pybob]

Dragutin: I think you've hit the nail right on the head, when it comes down to it all that anyone wants out of a book is something that, whatever genre, Entertains!

What readers don't want is to get bogged down in the writers pretentions at doing something greater than what they really do (eg: Clive Barkers 'Fantastique' & Steven Kings exteme melodrama).

What BL does better than anyone else is mix mythology, symbolism, damned good plot(s), well rounded but clearly defined characters and humour in a way that excites and entertains.

[Mike C]

Pybob, I would like to say I have enjoyed everything I have read by Clive Barker, and most of what I have read by Steven King... But I don't know if I would call their writing pretentious. I do believe they try to top their previous works (which is difficult since both have had considerable commercial success) by either creating a fantasia or by giving extreme detail (too much sometimes).

What I don't enjoy (John Saul and Dean Koontz come to mind) is an author that uses the sane formula over and over because it has proved a success. Namely the hero overcomes the killer, evil monster, supernatural power, etc.; then wins the object of his affection. I haven't read Saul or Koontz in years because the few books of theirs did read were "predictable". I do enjoy their writing styles, but I am looking for something different. BL always gives something different!!!

I highly recommend Clive Barkers Galilee... I think you will find this is somewhat different from the fantasy novels he had written for a while without falling into the horror genre either.