William W Johnstone and cheesy horror novels

[Enoch1981]

I like to browse used book stores, and lately I've come across an unexpected discovery. I've recently developed a fondness for those pulpish horror novels published by Pinnacle or Zebra. Especially, the works of William W. Johnstone. I recently finished two of his books, 'Cat's Cradle' and 'Them'.

I loved the former, though the latter wasn't so hot. I had my mother order two more from Amazon, 'Toy Cemetary' and 'Sandman'. I love these kind of cheesy novels, and I wish they published them. Anyone else like his work? Any recommendations of more I should look for?

[Nay]

1. I met Johnstone at a writer's conference years ago. He writes

Westerns, too, did you know that? He's quite a prolific writer, and an interesting speaker. He basically told all the writers in the room to sit their asses down and write, and stop agonizing over everything. He parked his butt in the chair every day and wrote, even if he didn't feel like it.

[Enoch1981]

2. That's pretty cool

I knew about the westerns, too. I don't read that genre but I suppose there's always a first time for everything. I totally agree with what he said...I'm a writer and I've found that it's better to just start writing then to worry too much about some writing difficulty.

That's very cool you got to meet him.

[Orrex]

3. Cat's Cradle? Is that the one about Ice-9?

:evilgrin:

I'm wholly unfamiliar with Johnstone, but I have a fondness for the uber-pulpy HP Lovecraft (though it can take some effort to get past his sickening racism).

[Enoch1981]

4. Don't know about Ice-9, but...

Yeah, I love Lovecraft too! He was pretty racist...I think he wrote a book about his views, though I could be wrong. I don't read him too much anymore, but I was a big Lovecraft fan for most of my teens and early twenties. In case you're wondering, I like 'Dreams in the witch house', 'The Unnameable', 'The silver key', but I like a lot of his others too.

These days, besides those cheesy horror novels from the 80s, I like Thomas Ligotti. You should check him out...pretty strange.

[China_cat]

5. No, Ice-9 is a figment of Kurt Vonnegut's imagination.

In HIS book by the same name (which probably came first)

[Enoch1981]

6. Oh, ok

I haven't checked out Vonnegut's work. I probably should though. I'm sure it came first.