Back to “Sticks” – it’s an incredible execution of an original story that probably was not that good. I strongly disagree that the lead Steven Keats’ portrayal of Colin is lacking. The character was bland – the acting matches it.

I love that over the decades ZBS and Tom Lopez have stuck with the style and obsession of duality, mysticism, metaphysics and humor. I’m sure they did ‘Sticks’ for the money. But the fact that they did it so well – and did it only once – makes it even more special. This piece is far scarier than most films you will see.

I genuinely appreciate your response, and I admire your passion for Wagner’s work. You’re clearly invested in the original story, so let me respond point-by-point to your criticism, as it deserves.

I will freely admit that although I enjoyed reading Lovecraft when I was younger, and still enjoy returning to his work now and then, I’m generally not happy about the long shadow his work has cast over the work of subsequent writers. Basically, no one did the mythos as well as he did, and I feel that relying on Lovecraft has been an easy out for too many writers, who otherwise might have been challenged to give us more original menaces, evils, and ideas about man’s place in the universe. I know that horror giants such as Stephen King count among the Lovecraft inspired, but in my opinion King’s best work departs from Lovecraft in all but his love for the power of the unknown and mutual love for the haunted New England setting. I recognize that I have to be out of step with many other horror / sci-fi fans in wishing Lovecraft would stay buried, but so it goes.

What interests me about your comments is that before I listened to this production and read “Sticks” I would have assumed them true. I didn’t set out to attack Wagner, and I took for granted that I would enjoy the original work more than the adaptation. I was surprised when that didn’t happen and found it interesting, part of the reason I decided to write on the subject.

Again, in the abstract I’d completely agree with you that “Adding a ?love interest? is . . . the lowest-common-denominator of Hollywood demographic crowd-pleasing”. And if I hadn’t heard this production, I’d interpret that change as you did, as a sign that the original work had been butchered. But honestly the effect of the change is subtler than you’d expect, with no Hollywood-style histrionics. All I can say is, it’s worth listening to this adaptation before leaping to conclusions about its quality. (And keep in mind that I’m speaking only for myself, not for Lopez. Any problems you have with my tone or commentary should not be associated with his production.) I did give both versions a fair reading / hearing before commen(ting, and while you might still reach different conclusions, I’d recommend you do the same.

In retrospect I was harsh with Wagner in this article, perhaps too harsh. I think that bitterness came from disappointment. I actually like and admire Wagner’s writing, and I was genuinely let down by “Sticks”, particularly since it was acclaimed and had won awards. I can’t agree with popular opinion that it rates as one of Wagner’s most powerful efforts, as you put it. What frustrates me most about the story is that it starts off with such brilliant originality and concludes with such a routine pulp finale. For me, the tale didn’t deliver on either its reputation or the promise of its beginning.

But yes, that is my opinion. If your post inspires more people to seek out Wagner’s original version of “Sticks” and enjoy it, so much the better.

thanks very much for your comments regarding Coye’s work. May I ask where you got the information about what Coye saw at the house? I remember reading somewhere that Coye himself wrote up the story in a New England newspaper. Do you know if there is anything to that?

Incidentally folks, John is too polite to mention that he is the author of an excellent memorial website to Karl Edward Wagner. You can find it here: http://popcultmag.com/obsessions/profilesingreatness/karlwagner/wagnersplash.html.

You wouldn’t know it from my review of Sticks, but I genuinely admire and enjoy Wagner’s other writings, particularly his Kane cycle. Thanks for your work, John, and sorry for my late response.

In his days as a Weird Tales artist Coye?s signature device was a crescent moon. Many years later Wagner contacted Coye to ask him to do the illustrations for a collection of horror master Manly Wellman?s short stories. He noticed that the crescent moon had been replaced by the stick assemblages and inquired about it. Thus was the short story ?Sticks? born. You can see Coye?s work in that Carcosa collection _Worse Things Waiting_ and its sequel, the title of which I don?t recall.

Coye?s work is not finely rendered but more reminiscent of tribal art, somehow disquieting.

Nice job checking out an off-the-beaten-path ZBS Production. This is definitely one to add to the listening list!

Fred