Heyyyy gang! You all okay? Back when the Kolchak Chronicles shipped, this board lit up like a Christmas tree with posts and comments and stuff. We've all been waiting for the Casebook, it arrives, and you can hear the crickets chirping in here! Was it that bad? Ooch! C'mon, make us feel better over here! :grin:
Hi Dave,
I posted a few messages on the old board but this is the 1st on the new one.
Let's see what's on my mind regarding Moonstones Kolchak offerings of late. First and foremost, thanks for providing a steady stream of Kolchak. You have a loyal reader in me.
Kolchak Ghost Stories was quite enjoyable. Not quite as enjoyable as Black & White & Read All Over. But the black and white does create an appropriate mood that color just cannot. So I hope more B&W stories are planned.
The Frankenstein Agenda has been outstanding. The story is enjoyable and the scenes between Carl and Tony were right in line with the interplay from the TV show. Can't wait for the concluding issue.
I've gotten through the first 4 stories in the Casebook. Sorry to say the first 3 were weak. "Bones from the Past" is quite revisionist in Carl's history. Come on, Carl is a former government agent! That flies in the face of the Carl that was established in everything that came before. The 4th story ("Vishnu Springs") was very enjoyable to read. The ending is a bit disappointing but overall it is a nice scary tale! I'm looking forward to continuing my reading of the Casebook.
Keep up all the good work. Any chance Jeff Rice will be contributing to the Moonstone Kolchak stories? Hints for what's coming up? A Night Strangler or Night Killer graphic novel?
Paul
Hey! Someone responded! Cool!
There is such a variety of stories in there, it makes sense that you'll like some more than others. I hope it gets better for you as it goes along. I hope you enjoy "And" in particular. This really cool guy wrote it. I forget his name...
We're in the early stages of discussing it, but it's very possible that we may be reprinting the long out-of-print Jeff Rice novels, The Night Stalker," and "The Night Strangler." These would be in novel-form, though, most likely with both stories in one book.
As far as any other JF work, there's nothing in the works at the moment, but it's something I'd love to see, myself!
Hi Dave,
When the Chronicles shipped, I think we were all so excited at new Kolchak material that we probably went a little overboard. I know I did.
That said, I am enjoying the Casebook. I've only read the first five tales, but Vishnu Springs is definitely the favorite so far. Bones of the Past I'm still scratching my head over though. It was a good story, but it read much more like an X-Files tale rather than Kolchak. If the story had closed before the MIBs showed up, I think it would have been much more solid.
More to come once I've finished; hopefully this week!
Hey, that's great news about reprinting the Jeff Rice novels! Hope it pans out for Moonstone and us.
Ticktock
Very cool! Keep kepping us posted! We're starved for attention, after all!
Just read "The Day of Her Return". Now that was a heck of a good Kolchak story. It had the tone of the TV movies and show. Kudos to Tom DeFalco on a job very well done.
"They Came From the Dark Ride" suffered from poor editing. The character of Freddy Danvers became Andy Danvers then back to Freddy and finally settled back to Andy. Sloppy. But another good story notwithstanding.
Certainly Vishnu Falls and Her Return are the stellar stories thus far.
Rockin'! "The Day of Her Return" was a favorite of mine, too... which is one of the reasons I decided to provide the illustration for it, myself. Plus, I'm a big Tom D fan, anyway, so I expected good things from him, anyway. Glad ya liked it!
And thanks for continuing to check in!
I was going to wait until I finished the book, but I keep getting interrupted by piddling stuff like work.
So, here goes with the intro and first five. I had to adjust on 'Vishnu Springs' though.
The Introduction – Mr. Dawidziak struck every single chord about why so many of us find Carl Kolchak such a compelling character. The excerpts from his interview with Darren McGavin show why the actor is just as compelling.
If there is any “justice” in how selections are made, Kolchak’s straw hat and The Old Man’s bathrobe will be in the Smithsonian with Archie’s chair and Fonzie’s leather jacket. Oh, and Mark will receive that Pulitzer.
Power Hungry – PN Elrod really enjoyed writing this and putting Carl though his paces. You can just tell. His description of the monster made me think of the Matheson Scriptbook. I’d love to see Philipa again someday, although not without a grounding cable and a backup generator.
Stealing Fire – Kolchak and Dracula or Sherlock Holmes? All good, maybe even obvious team-ups. An adventure with Prometheus though? Rachel Caine is a genius. I think I was actually rooting for ‘Dean’ to give up for a moment there, she wrote him with that much empathy.
Bones of the Past – I’ve already made my comments about how this felt like an X-Files tale rather than one of Carl’s stories. Mr. Starr wrote a good story, I just wish that he had left out the MIBs and Carl’s past role (?) with them.
Strange Events at Vishnu Springs – I read through it again, and while it is a great tale, I have to say it's not my favorite, but the description when Carl first met Kirin sent chills up my spine and back down again when he jumped back in fright. That is excellent writing!
The Day of Her Return – This one is my favorite! Tom DeFalco pretty much turned in a lost script from The Night Stalker. I could just see Darren McGavin racing down aisle five with a gallon jug of salt and an Aztec Priestess on his tail. The only thing missing was Carl trying to take a picture over his shoulder while running.
More to follow!
They Came From The Dark Ride – This was a fun story and I enjoyed how Elizabeth Massie worked in Thomas Edison as being the ‘cause’ of the haunting. The bits of Coney Island history really pulled me in; this is definitely one I’ll read on a rainy day or when the lights go out.
Fish Story – Hard drinking reporters, monsters and Mike Baron; is there a better combination? I’m scratching my head on this on because it was just OK with me. Never said that about a Mike Baron tale before. Even so, Carl was in character throughout; especially at the end when calling 911 and talking with Tony. The introduction of Delacroix University was slickly done and bears a repeat appearance.
I'm just starting to read this now. I had to process through the big stack of libary books before I could do it. I'm really looking forward to this.