Getting To Know Gary A. Braunbeck
American writer Gary A. Braunbeck is our featured author in the Case Notes section of Black Static #12, as those of you with the wherewithal to pick up a copy or who read this blog will already know. We have an overview of the preceding four novels in his Cedar Hill cycle and an in-depth review of the latest entry in the series, Far Dark Fields, plus some sidebar factoids and an interview in which I pitch a whole load of questions about Philosophy and Literature and Other Stuff that usually gets capitalised at Gary.
For the online part of the Case Notes experience, and with my Steve Mosby blog interview as a template, I sent Gary a slew of linked pairs and asked him to choose his favourites. What follows is the result of that exercise.
Someday all interviews will be conducted along these lines, but for those who would rather they were not, I've linked to some 'proper' interviews with Gary at the foot of the page.
I've also, and at no extra charge, posted the rather splendid book trailer for Far Dark Fields, created by John Palisano.
Anyway, those questions...
Q: Ju-on or The Grudge?
A: Ju-on - it doesn't have ham-fisted music to ruin the suspense.
Q: A Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Novel or a three week residency on the New York Times bestseller chart?
A: Believe it or not, the Stoker for Novel.
Q: The Addams Family - TV series or film(s)?
A: Both. John Astin and Raul Julia were equally brilliant as Gomez.
Q: Cats or dogs?
A: Cats. If I say otherwise, they will kill me in my sleep.
Q: The books - Dracula or Frankenstein?
A: Frankenstein; it is a triumph of structure and also a grand tragedy.
Q: The Universal Films - Dracula or Frankenstein?
A: Frankenstein. Yes, it's different from the book, but Karloff's performance is still amazing. Lugosi was fabulous in Dracula, but the pacing is deadeningly slow.
Q: Mexican food or Chinese?
A: Chinese. I consume less Pepto-Bismol afterward.
Q: John Carpenter or George Romero?
A: John Carpenter, because he made two of my favourite horror films: In the Mouth of Madness, and Prince of Darkness, possibly the most misunderstood and underrated horror film ever.
Q: An evening out - the theatre or the cinema?
A: The cinema. Have you seen the price of theatre tickets these days? I'd have to take out a second mortgage on the house.
Q: 'The Lottery' or 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?
A: 'The Yellow Wallpaper', hands-down. 'The Lottery' is a powerful story, no doubt, but 'The Yellow Wallpaper', as far as I'm concerned, created the template for psychological horror.
Q: Round peg or square hole?
A: Round peg. Square holes cause me to suffer flashbacks about a terrifying Lincoln Logs incident from my childhood that still haunts me. Don't ask. Seriously. I'm still in therapy from the trauma.
Q: Zombies or vampires?
A: Vampires. They tend to have snappier dialogue.
Q: Thousand Island dressing or Blue Cheese?
A: Blue Cheese. Because there's not enough blue food in the world.
Q: Scream or A Nightmare on Elm Street?
A: A Nightmare on Elm Street - the first one. The whole thing went into the toilet when Freddy Kruger was turned into a stand-up comedian.
Q: Book adaptations - podcast or graphic novel?
A: Podcast. It puts nearly all emphasis on the written word.
Q: Whisky or brandy?
A: Brandy. It makes me feel sophisticated.
Q: Big Foot or the Loch Ness Monster?
A: Nessie. Big Foot has serious hygiene issues.
Q: East coast or West coast?
A: East coast. I'm not hip enough for the West.
Q: Joss Whedon or Chris Carter?
A: Paul Haggis.
Q: Live music or recorded?
A: Recorded. I can skip over the songs I dislike and don't have to jam in earplugs.
Q: Lovecraft or Poe?
A: Both, but if pressed to choose only one, it would be Lovecraft, simply because I sit in awe of the puzzle-box way he structured his stories.
Q: DVD or Blu-Ray?
A: DVD. Can't afford Blu-Ray.
Q: Vacation - beach or mountains?
A: Beach; I've never seen the ocean, and also I'm terrified of heights.
Q: Online review or print?
A: Online; it's easier to access and then share with others.
Q: Tchaikovsky or Beethoven?
A: Beethoven, for the magnificent Ninth Symphony.
Q: Christopher Lee as Dracula, or Bela Lugosi?
A: Christopher Lee. Lugosi was wonderful, but Lee gave the role a genuine sense of anger and sadness.
Q: Editing the work of others or teaching creative writing?
A: Teaching creative writing - because, eventually, you wind up editing others' work.
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