20 Questions for Me

Web directory, search engine and "knowledge exchange" site Mahalo.com is currently sponsoring a new series for prominent authors called "20 questions for ...." and -- yay! -- I'm next up in the programming queue.

So, if you have any questions you'd like to ask me about writing reference books,  or specifically about Horror Films of the 1970s, Horror Films of the 1980s and Horror Films of the 1990s, this is the opportunity to pose them! 

I'll actually get to answer all twenty questions on video, which should be extremely cool... assuming I don't make a complete fool of myself in the process.

Anyway, follow this link to Reddit, and ask away! 

I'll be recording the video Friday afternoon, and responding to all your questions then.  I'll let you know when the video page is posted.

Now Available For Pre-Order!

My latest book is now up at Amazon.com for pre-order. It's part of a new series by Limelight Editions called "Music on Film." Order your copy today!

New Review of Space: 1999 - The Forsaken

Recently, I discovered on the Inter-Tubes this thorough, highly-analytical review of my 2003 Space:1999 novel, The Forsaken. It absolutely floored and humbled me. The author of the piece, David Welle, delves deeply into the story and the themes that Powys editor-in-chief Mateo Latosa and I worked so hard to enunciate.

Anyway, here's a sample of Welle's review, but if you're a Space:1999 fan, I recommend you read the whole thing (especially if you've read the book):

"This was a very powerful novel, one I thoroughly enjoyed reading (and commenting on too).

There is a considerable amount of characterization, most of it seemed very consistent with prior character development, and where seemingly not consistent, nonetheless convincing (to me anyway) of why. Several characters received the most focus, but there was definitely a balance with other characters getting a good amount of time as well, and a feeling like we're getting to see a lot of perspectives. There was good character development all around, again with some surprises. A sense of Alpha as a growing society. Growing sense of camaraderie (albeit some in a not so good tone, which seemed appropriate too). Some romantic interludes.

The plot is strong and engaging..."

And then there's this, my favorite part:

"We then jump to a fascinating scene of John and Victor talking philosophically about their experiences in space, their longing to leave big questions behind to raise the next generation and leave the questions to them, the urge to explore in humanity that seemed completely absent from the Cryptodira, Alpha's unlikely survival at several turns, the death of the Space Brain, and whether there is a degree of manipulation in some or much of this.

Victor is often blunt here, presumably still feeling the suffering of some but looking at it from a different place, so to speak -- logically, philosophically, as objectively as he can, acknowledging that perhaps the universe is cruel even if it seems to prefer life to flourish every where to which it can get itself. Numerous comparisons are made (inc. the short time from first controlled flight to landing on the Moon -- one of my long-time favorites), comparisons to Biblical passages and people, as well as talk about Alphans (and perhaps especially John) being "tested" in some manner (something I've always thought a curious possibility).

There is even talk, of course, about whether all this discussion points to an imperative to take Pyxidea as their own or whether that would be a "reward for murder," whether John's choice is the right one or is a sort of defiance against the universe, and yet another bleak comparison.

It is an absolutely fascinating, highly thematic discussion tying much of the novel together, and to much of the series, and a number of points in the series to each other. I'm not going to even try to get into all of it (at least not in original posting, but perhaps later), and in part because part of me feels like it is an even deeper layer of "spoiler" that I really don't want to spoil. It is "simply" seven of the most fascinating and masterfully-written pages I've read in some time..."

The Future is Fantastic

Some good news here for long-time admirers of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's mid-1970s space epic, Space:1999!

Powys Media is releasing a number of new, original Space:1999 novels, anthologies and even an audio-book throughout 2010.

Back in 2003, I authored the original novel, Space:1999: The Forsaken (now sold-out and out of print, alas...), but more recently, I also penned a short story called "The Touch of Venus" for the upcoming Shepherd Moon.

The short story anthology also features works by authors E.C. Tubb, Brian Ball, William Latham, Michael A. Faries, Stephen Jansen, and Emma Thomas.

Check out Powys Media's web site to see the other series titles being released this year, including the Maya story Born for Adversity by David A. McIntee -- with a foreword by actress Catherine Schell -- and the Resurrection audio book narrated by the late, great Barry Morse.

It's Here!

* 829 Pages.

* 328 Films reviewed

* 156 photographs

* 6 Appendices

* Interviews with: Rebecca Balding (The Silent Scream, The Boogens), Kent Beyda (Fright Night, Humanoids from the Deep), Kevin Connor (Motel Hell, The House Where Evil Dwells), James L. Conway (The Boogens), Ellie Cornell (Halloween IV: The Return of Michael Myers), Thom Eberhardt (Night of the Comet), Richard Franklin (Road Games, Psycho II, Link), Gloria Gifford (Halloween II), Tom McLoughlin (One Dark Night, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives!), Peter Smokler (Alligator), Lewis Teague (Alligator, Cujo, Cat's Eye) and Ken Russell (Altered States).

The back cover reads: "John Kenneth Muir is back! This time, the author of the acclaimed Horror Films of the 1970s turns his attention to 300 films from the 1980s. From horror franchises like Friday the 13th and Hellraiser to obscurities like The Children and The Boogens, Muir is our informative guide.

Muir introduces the scope of the decades horrors, and offers a history drawing parallels between current events and the nightmares unfolding on cinema screens. Each of the 300 films is discussed with detailed credits, a brief synopsis, a critical commentary, and where applicable, notes on the film's legacy. beyond the 80s. Also included is the author's ranking of the 15 best Horror Films of the 1980s.

CHOICE likes Mercy in Her Eyes

I got a nice review from Choice Magazine regarding my study of Mira Nair. Her latest film, The Namesake just opened in limited release in several parts of the country this week.

Here's what CHOICE had to say: "...Muir (who has written numerous books on film) demonstrates that his subject is worthy of attention. Muir likes to deal with filmmakers whose work is independent and uncompromised - specifically, with what he calls "singularity," the control of an auteur. Muir calls Nair the spiritual heir to Satyajit Ray, the first great Indian filmmaker. Nair's work tends to depict the struggles of clashing cultures; as Muir puts it, Nair seeks a national versus personal identity, "her own personal India." Muir's discussion is chronological, and each chapter deals with one or more of Nair's works, from her first feature-length film, Salaam Bombay (1988), to her most curent, The Namesake (2006). The chapter on Bombay takes the reader on a step-by-step journey through scripting, financing, and casting to the actual 60-day shooting schedule. Muir avails himself of interviews, articles and Internet blogs, and his coverage is thorough. The first full-length study of Nair, the book includes an extensive bibliography (which lists reviews, periodical appreciations, interviews and blogs), endnotes, and stunning color reproductions from the films. Summing Up: highly recommended."

Woo-hoo! An Indian reporter, Amit Sengupta also did a "global sketch" on me and Mercy in Her Eyes for the Saturday edition of the Kolkata Times , but alas there's no Internet edition, so I can't link to it here. D'oh. It's a nice piece...got a picture of me and everything!

More Muir in the Media...

November is already shaping up to be an interesting month here in Muirville.

While I obsessively edit and re-edit episodes of The House Between, I also have an article appearing in this month's Filmfax Plus (available at newstands now!).

It's a very lengthy and detailed interview with legendary writer Dorothy Fontana, and the piece remembers her work from classic Star Trek episodes like "This Side of Paradise" to all her other 1970s genre efforts (which include - amazingly - Fantastic Journey, Logan's Run, Ghost Story/Circle of Fear, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Sixth Sense, and even Star Trek: The Animated Series).

There's also an article about Filmation's 1970s superhero show, Shazam, an interview with Robert Bloch and Dee Wallace, and other terrific stuff. It's really a great issue...

Also, my friend Fred just pointed this out to me, but BCI - the company officially releasing the 1970s Filmation live series Space Academy on DVD - is mentioning me in their promotional material! How cool is that? Readers of the blog will remember I blogged the entire series (all fifteen episodes...) last year, and put up a page on my site, here, devoted to the show.

Last but certainly not least, the cover for my upcoming book, The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia is now up at Amazon...and is very cool! The book will be published May 2007.

Now...back to editing.

Coming Soon: Horror Films of the 1980s.

Yep, it's almost here. The long-awaited sequel to one of my most popular, critically acclaimed and widely-read books (Horror Films of the 1970s).

I toiled long and hard on this one, and hope you'll give it a gander. The stats: 328 movies covered; almost 200 photographs; a dozen interviews; eleven original illustrations. Tons of reviews, horror conventions (or cliches), memorable ad-lines, the 80s hall of fame and much more ghoulish, bloody fun.

This baby's up at McFarland, available now for pre-order. I'll let you know more about the street date, but it looks like this one might arrive in time for Halloween. I'm really excited about this book for many reasons. It's nice to "come home" in a sense, to horror, because I've been away since 2004's The Unseen Force: the Films of Sam Raimi.

Here's McFarland's book description:

John Kenneth Muir is back! His Horror Films of the 1970s was named an Outstanding Reference Book by the American Library Association, and likewise a Booklist Editors’ Choice. This time, Muir surveys 300 films from the 1980s. From backwards psychos (Just Before Dawn) and yuppie-baiting giant rats (Of Unknown Origin), to horror franchises like Friday the 13th and Hellraiser, as well as nearly forgotten obscurities such as The Children and The Boogens, Muir is our informative guide through 10 macabre years of silver screen terrors.

Muir introduces the scope of the decade’s horrors, and offers a history drawing parallels between current events and the nightmares unfolding on cinema screens. Each of the 300 films are discussed with detailed credits, a brief synopsis, a critical commentary, and where applicable, notes on the film’s legacy beyond the 80s. Also included is a catalog of the author’s “star” ratings for both 1970s and 1980s horror movies, as well as his ranking of the 15 best horror films of the 80s.

Singing a New Tune: The Re-Birth of the Modern Film Musical

Hey everybody, my sixteenth book is currently being published, Singing a New Tune: The Re-Birth of the Modern Film Musical, From Evita to De-Lovely and Beyond (Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, $24.95) and is already available for order from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Basically, it's an in-depth study of the movie musical genre from the period 1994 to 2004. The book opens with a history of the movie musical during its glory days (1930s - 1960s) - ticking off such highlights as An American in Paris, Singin' in the Rain, West Side Story, and Sound of Music, - and then examines how the increasingly reality-obsessed world of the 1990s brought the once-proud, but highly-artificial and theatrical genre to a new low.

But after a series of fiascoes like Newsies, Swing Kids, I'll Do Anything and The Fantasticks, there came an unexpected turnaround. Suddenly artists such as Sir Alan Parker (Evita), Woody Allen (Everyone Says I Love You), Todd Haynes (Velvet Goldmine), Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park: Bigger Longer and Uncut), Kenneth Branagh (Love's Labour's Lost) and others began to create interesting variations on the musical format, incorporating comedy and even Shakespeare into the mix. Then came the tidal wave shift: Baz Luhrmann's smash-hit, Moulin Rouge (2001). After that, the hits kept coming with films like Academy Award winner Chicago (2002), and the book concludes with the release of Phantom of the Opera at Christmas, 2004. There's also a chapter that gazes at the musical format on television during this span, including the Buffy the Vampire Slayer musical episode, "Once More With Feeling."

Singing a New Tune features brand new interviews with many of the artists who made this span one of re-birth and growth, including directors Sir Alan Parker, Todd Haynes, John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Keith Gordon (The Singing Detective), Todd Graff (Camp) and Joss Whedon. Writer Craig Pearce (Moulin Rouge) and Jay Cocks (De-Lovely) are also interviewed for their contributions to the genre.

Anyway, the movie musical probably seems a big a departure from my earlier work in books. After all, I've written about superheroes (The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television), film comedies (An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith, Best in Show: The Films of Christopher Guest and Company), horror (The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi, Horror Films of the 1970s) and science-fiction (Exploring Space:1999, A Critical History of Dr. Who,) and so forth. But when I looked at the films from this era -- Everybody Says I Love You, South Park, Moulin Rouge, and the like, I realized that they were great movies too, and certainly ones worthy of book-length study.

So anyway, I hope you'll support my latest work in print, Singing a New Tune. I'll look forward to reading your comments on the book.