Alright, I have a confession to make. I read crap. It’s not all I read, but in between reading heavier stuff like Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” (boring) or Hunter S. Thompson’s “The Rum Diary” (life changing) I like to break things up by reading brainless mass produced paperbacks set in familiar yet geeky universes. I’ve read almost all of those occasionally good, mostly mediocre, often bad “Star Wars” novels George Lucas authorizes to fill his wallet. Even the “New Jedi Order” ones. I own more “Star Trek” paperbacks than any reasonable adult probably should, and I’ve read a dozen of those really bad Battletech books, though I’ve never once played the board game on which they’re based.
When you’ve spent as much time lurking around the “Genre” shelf and Barnes and Nobles as I have, you get familiar with certain names. There’s a group of writers who pretty much make their entire living writing throwaway genre novels. When you see Peter David’s name on one of those books, you know you’ve got a gem. Grab it, hug it, share it with your friends. If the book says Troy Denning on it, make sure no one you know is around while you buy it.
Michael Stackpole is one of those writers you get to know. When you see Stackpole’s name on a Battletech book, you know it isn’t going to suck. He’s not as brilliant as Peter David, but his work is solid and dependable. He’s a decent writer, one of the ones that deserves better than a spot on a shelf next to Denning. Well good news fellow genre fans. Stackpole getting some credit.
Variety says a horror script called Gone, written by Michael Stackpole and comic author Brian Pulido won Fade Magazine’s grand prize at the 10th Annual Fade Awards. Who what? Yeah, I’ve never heard of it either. But apparently the awards are intended to help new writers and directors get Hollywood’s attention. They’ve done just that for Stackpole and Pulido. The script is on its way to be pitched to top agents this month.
Gone is about a young couple on a weekend desert vacation who end up stranded. On their own miles from civilization, they’re attacked by “super-pack” of vicious wolves. I have no idea what a “super-pack” is. What makes it super? Do they were capes? But the film sounds a little like a land-locked version of the awesome horror-thriller Open Water.
Who knows if this will ever make it to theaters but when I see Stackpole’s name on something, I pay attention. Keep an eye out for Gone.
