The Impostor, A new series in the grand tradition Options

[Richard Lee Byer...]

If you would like to read a new, free fantasy story by me, it's here:

http://storyportals.com/stories/index.php?file=62.swf

It's not an Impostor story, but I was trying to do something somewhat in the vein of Manly Wade Wellman's John Thunstone and Silver John stories, so perhaps you'll think it has a pulp feel to it.

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Just in case anyone's interested, I will be at the Spooky Empire con in Orlando this Saturday (and Saturday only.)

http://www.spookyempire.com/

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Susan J. Morris interviewed me on a subject that may interest pulp fans: writing the mastermind villain. If you'd like to read the interview, it's here:

http://www.omnivoracious.com/2011/10/smart...d-villains.html

[Derrick]

Excellent insight into the workings of the Mastermind Villain. And I agree 100% with a major point in the interview: The Bad Guy doesn't think he's The Bad Guy.

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Glad you liked it, Derrick.

[Richard Lee Byer...]

I'll be at Necronomicon Oct. 21-23 in St. Petersburg, FL.

http://www.stonehill.org/necro.htm

Necronomicon is a fun general-interst sf, fantasy, and horror con with a fair amount of programming likely to interest pulp fans. If you're in the area, you may want to check it out, and if you do, I hope you'll look me up and say hi.

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Some pulp fans may be interested in this. My new column is up at Airlock Alpha. It's my thoughts on old-school vs. recent horror movies.

http://airlockalpha.com/node/8733/astrojiv...ansylvania.html

[Percival Constan...]

Good article, Richard. I don't think zombies and serial killers will maintain a hold on horror forever. Like you said, it goes in cycles. People will get bored with zombies eventually. And eventually (hopefully soon), people will get bored of vampires-as-tween-romance. When that happens, horror will look to something else and we'll probably see a return of classic monsters. With more and more advances in genetics, for example, society is getting geared up for another take on Frankenstein.

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Hi, Percival. Glad you found the article interesting. I agree that there's still gold to be mined from Frankenstein whether filmmakers adapt the original story itself or just take inspiration from its essential ideas. In fact, to be fair, you do see somebody do a Frankenstein-ish movie periodically. Splice was certainly one. The two scientists were even named Clive and Elsa, after Colin Clive and Elsa Lanchester. But as far as I know, there hasn't been a GOOD movie that was essentially a Frankenstein movie in a number of years. If there has been and I just missed it, I hope someone will point me to it.

[Percival Constan...]

I can't think of one myself. But it's good that people are at least trying.

[Derrick]

I've been racking my brains but I can't think of any recent Frankenstein movies and I refuse to cheat and Google it. The last theatrical version of Frankenstein that I can recall is the one where Robert DeNiro, of all people, played The Monster. I think Kenneth Branaugh either co-starred in it or directed it...more than likely he did both, knowing him. I haven't seen it in ages but I do remember enjoying it a lot. "Frankenstein Unbound" with John Hurt was really good as well.

[Ron Fortier]

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is the film you are talking about Derrick, and yes DeNiro was the monster. Really exciting visual adaptation.

[Percival Constan...]

I love that movie as well. It seems to get a lot of flack and for the life of me, I have no idea why.

I recall a recent made-for-TV version starring Vincent Perez as the monster. I cheated and looked it up to confirm if I was remembering things correctly. It was based on Dean Koontz's Frankenstein reinvention and set in the modern day. I haven't seen it but it is in my Netflix queue.

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Just found out that I, Frankenstein, starring Aaron Eckhart, is supposed to come out in 2013.

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Tommy Hancock has kind words for The Impostor in his most recent column. Thank you, Tommy! Check out his most excellent article here:

http://www.comicsbulletin.com/pulp/131836735051650.htm

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Some of you might be interested in this. I have a new blog post: "It's an Instant Netflix Halloween!" I'm recommending horror movies and thrillers you can download from the site in question.

http://rleebyers.livejournal.com/

[Richard Lee Byer...]

Some of you might be interested in this. It was my honor to serve as a source for the article “Zombie Apocalypse: Ten Tech Products You Shouldn’t Be Without.” Check it out here:

http://www.techlicious.com/guide/zombie-ap...dnt-be-without/

[Derrick]

Some of you might be interested in this. I have a new blog post: "It's an Instant Netflix Halloween!" I'm recommending horror movies and thrillers you can download from the site in question.

http://rleebyers.livejournal.com/

Good call on RED STATE. One of the scariest movies I've seen recently and has nary a vampire, zombie, ghoul or long-legged beastie in there. The monsters are all human and that's why it's so frightening.

[Richard Lee Byer...]

In case anyone's interested, blogger extraordinaire Sandra Keys interviewed me:

http://jeanzbookreadnreview.blogspot.com/

[Richard Lee Byer...]

For anyone who's interested, I now have a Q&A with Richard Lee Byers group on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/57592....chard_Lee_Byers