Laird Barron's Blog, page 16

Gemma Files on the Outer Dark

Gemma Files is one of my favorite writers. She is one of the best in the business, especially at building tension and creating an atmosphere of oppressive dread. She recently appeared on The Outer Dark.

Her latest novel arrives in December: Experimental Film

Interview with Vol. 1 Brooklyn

Tobias Carroll hit me with a short interview on the subject of Ray Russell’s The Case Against Satan.

THERE IS A FUNGUS CREEPING THROUGH “BARRON’S WOOD”

Laird:

A great write-up on John Langan’s “Ymir” by Mick Albright.

Originally posted on Keep Calm & Write Something:

Today’s post is inspired by the work of writer Laird Barron, and a collection of other writers already spawning their own fungal spores from the loam of “Barron’s Wood”.

The inspiration began with the reading of my first Barron story, “Blackwood’s Baby”. It has continued through my reading of five additional stories by Laird, who is fast becoming the reason I was waiting for to renew my respect for weird fiction.

Which brings me to “Ymir” by writer John Langan, another writer I have enjoyed (Ref. link below to Langan’s collection The Wide Carnivorous Sky.)

I read “Ymir” last night in editor Ellen Datlow’s anthology The Year’s Best Horror, Volume 7. I selected it because I like Langan, and because I am slowly working my way through the Datlow volume as part of my writing “apprenticeship”. See:

https://tellmeastorymick.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/you-are-what-you-imbibe/.

Ymir was conceived by the Norse god jötnar and an elemental poison, a…

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Thomas Pluck discusses Protectors 2

What it says on the tin. Thomas Pluck talks with Crimespree about his latest project, Protectors 2: Heroes. A lot of big name writers got together in support of a worthy cause.

Craig Laurance Gidney in Conversation

Fascinating conversation with Craig L. Gidney on The Outer Dark podcast.

Skin Deep Magic, by Craig Laurance Gidney

image via Rebel Satori Press

The Case Against Satan in Hand

Thank you to Elda Rotor, Sam Raim, and the other good folks at Penguin Classics for sending along my contributor copies of The Case Against Satan by Ray Russell. They also sent along Charles Beaumont’s Perchance to Dream: Selected Stories and Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe by Thomas Ligotti. Class act all the way, Penguin.

The Russell book is gorgeous and I’m proud to have taken part with the foreword.

photo courtesy of Jessica M.

Director Philip Gelatt Interview

Somewhere in the deep, dark woods of upstate New York, a crew led by Philip Gelatt is shooting a film adapted from my novelette “–30–.”

Naturally, I will be compelled to write a story inspired by their grim fate. And in a few years, another hapless film crew will trudge into the woods to shoot that…

From a Deadline plot synopsis:

“…30, the tale of two wildlife biologists, isolated on land once occupied by a Manson-style thrill-kill cult, struggling to find the cause of bizarre animal activity in the region. As their relationship deteriorates, and discoveries mount, they’re besieged by strange forces that seem to come from the very land itself.”

Meanwhile, here’s an interview with Philip Gelatt. And check out pictures from the set of “30–.”

image courtesy Ten Wendlandt

Snorre & Spot Approach the Fallen Rock

The man dreamed of his gray, rheumy-eyed dog, missing for many years now.

“I always loved you!” the dog said. “Even when I did wrong!” The dog did not speak as men speak, of course. His notched ears crumpled and he howled. But it meant the same thing.

“I always loved you as well, you incorrigible asshole!” the man tried to answer. He could not speak because it was a dream.

The man woke and kicked dirt over the ashes of the fire. No more water, no more hardtack or jerky. His snowshoes had gone up as kindling smoke. He leaned his pack and rifle against a tree. He buttoned his coat and tightened the laces of his boots.

Sky and the earth were the same. Cold as the metal of his broadhead axe. Icicles snapped from his beard. Tiny icicle tears snapped from his lashes when he blinked.

The man was no tracker, although he’d lived in the woods and knew how to survive. He limped in ever widening circles along the slope of the mountain and eventually cut across the dog’s trail. Flakes of old blood glittered in the tracks. North.

He’d followed them for a short time when it began to snow.

 

Snurri & Spot Approach the Fallen Rock

The man dreamed of his gray, rheumy-eyed dog, missing for many years now. “I always loved you!” the dog said. “Even when I did wrong!” The dog did not speak as men speak, of course. His notched ears crumpled and he howled. But it meant the same thing. The man tried to answer. “I always loved you as well, you incorrigible asshole!” He could not speak because it was a dream.

The man woke and kicked dirt over the ashes of the fire. Icicles snapped from his beard. Tiny icicle tears snapped from his lashes when he blinked. The sky and the earth were the same. No more water, no more hardtack or jerky. His snowshoes had kindled the evening fire. He leaned his pack and rifle against a tree. He buttoned his coat and tightened the laces of his boots. The man was no tracker, although he’d lived in the woods and knew how to survive. He limped in ever widening circles along the slope of the mountain and eventually cut across the dog’s trail. Flakes of old blood glittered in the tracks. North.

He’d followed them for a short time when it began to snow.

Little Brown Book Errata

I’ve added an Errata page here on the site. First entry is the ending of “D T” that was inadvertently omitted  from A Little Brown Book of Burials. The publisher has apparently discontinued the edition–I think it was mostly sold out in any event.

As a thank you and apology to my fans: this winter I will write an original short story to be distributed exclusively as a PDF to those who purchased A Little Brown Book… I will reserve the right to ultimately collect the story, but its first run will be exclusive to my readers.

Watch this space for details. As always, thank you for your support.