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| Forums Index -> Best-cellars -> Edward Lee's "Monstrosity" |
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 Posted:
Wed Jun 21, 2006 6:22 am
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Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 319
Location: Texas, The Remake
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I know this has been out for a couple of years, but I had to mention it here. This is my first Edward Lee experience, and I'm having a good time. I'm halfway through, and trying not to race to the finish. He reminds me of Richard Laymon (they're both perverts, god bless em'), but Lee's willing to go a bit further. Any novel where you get inside the head of an "it" is up my alley.
Please don't spoil the ending!
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Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:43 am
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Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 118
Location: Western NC
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If you like that one, Tony, be sure to check out some of his older works. Might be a little harder to find, 'cause most of 'em were published only as small press limited editions, but a few titles you'd probably enjoy: THE BIGHEAD, PORTRAIT OF THE PSYCHOPATCH AS A YOUNG WOMAN, HEADER (my personal fave), COVEN, SUCCUBI, and INCUBI.
Have fun! Lee's the king of hardcore horror, no doubt about it (not to mention a super-nice guy whose humble, polite manner belies his twisted imagination  ) . . . .
J.N.
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| Posted:
Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:47 am
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Dread Central Staff
Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 148
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| I'm ashamed to say I've never read Ed Lee. I'm guessing I would probably dig his shit. |
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| Posted:
Wed Jun 21, 2006 11:03 am
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Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 118
Location: Western NC
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Thu Jun 22, 2006 6:14 pm
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Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 319
Location: Texas, The Remake
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Honestly, I like him because he's a good storyteller. If the "hardcore" label helps him sell a few more books, more power to him. Nothing against monsters putting buxom women through flaming tables wrapped in barbed wire.
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| Posted:
Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:28 am
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Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 259
Location: Poontang, Indiana
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He's not so hard core anymore. But I feel just as good. My favorite Lee books are :
The Bighead, Goon, & Family Tradition w/ John Pelan
His City Infernal was the first thing I read and he quickly rose to one of my all time favorite writers.
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| Posted:
Fri Jun 23, 2006 2:32 am
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Joined: 21 Jun 2006
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Location: Texas, The Remake
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"City Infernal" is next on my Lee list. I picked it up the same day I bought "Monstrosity."
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| Posted:
Fri Jun 23, 2006 8:39 pm
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Joined: 23 Jun 2006
Posts: 8
Location: Kentucky
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You'll need to pick up Infernal Angel after you finnish "City Infernal" It finnishes the story.
Have you tried Jack Ketchum? |
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| Posted:
Sat Jun 24, 2006 3:32 am
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Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 259
Location: Poontang, Indiana
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Ketchum rocks, as well.
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| Posted:
Sat Jun 24, 2006 7:20 pm
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Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 319
Location: Texas, The Remake
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I adore Jack Ketchum. I've read "Red" and "The Girl Next Door," and a few stories from "Peaceable Kingdom." His use of character psychology is amazing, almost as if he's been there. He could be the best all-around writer doing the horror thing right now.
I hope to every god in the book he doesn't decide to go "literary." Same goes for Lee.
If I could be "typecast" as a horror writer, I'd give myself an award.
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Sun Jun 25, 2006 4:57 am
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Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 259
Location: Poontang, Indiana
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The only Ketchum I haven't loved was She Wakes. It could've been the mood I was in, but I didn't feel the emotional connection I usually feel with his books.
RED and THE GIRL NEXT DOOR are exceptional pieces of work. Worthy of every recommendation. Masterpieces, if you will.
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Sun Jun 25, 2006 5:01 am
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Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 259
Location: Poontang, Indiana
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But back to Monstrosity. I think the weakest of the "new Lee". You are really going to love City Infernal. It is so frickin good. I love every page.
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| Posted:
Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:06 pm
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Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 319
Location: Texas, The Remake
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If "Monstrosity" is his weakest, then I'll love the rest of his stuff. What I like about "Monstrosity" is that it doesn't pretend to be something else: this is a monster movie in the form of a paperback. It's structured like a classic monster flick, right down to the hammy exposition.
He doesn't do it this way because he's a bad writer, but because he has a genuine affection for the genre (I think). That said, there are things about monster flicks and novels that tend to suck, like silly one-liners. (The kind of shit you hear teens say in "Halloween" sequels.) Lee could have made with the funny a bit more in that department.
I'm a hundred pages away from the end, and I love it. It's weird, it's trashy, and it's a hell of a lot better than going to the movies.
Plus - and maybe I'm just reading into this a bit too much - there seems to be this ongoing theme of victimization, and how people (Clare) don't have as much of a problem with it if money is involved. Clare has a great career going, then she's raped, the prick gets away with it, and she's homeless for a year or so. She's offered the job, and all kinds of bling.
She goes from a woman with street smarts (and the bullshit detector that comes with them), to someone who will justify any amount of weirdness, the moment they give her the job.
I know the feeling. Except the rape part.
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| Posted:
Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:02 am
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Joined: 20 Jun 2006
Posts: 259
Location: Poontang, Indiana
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Just wait till you get to City Infernal.
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| Posted:
Mon Jun 26, 2006 3:09 am
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Joined: 21 Jun 2006
Posts: 319
Location: Texas, The Remake
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I'll wait for a hundred more pages.
Unless I take a break from Lee and try someone I haven't read yet, like Douglas Clegg or Stephen King.
Just kidding about King.
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