This is a fascinating publishing story! And I was afraid that I might have been one of the Locus reviewers that rubbished MOVE UNDER GROUND, because I know I reviewed it somewhere! But, I see looking at my records I must have just said a few things about it on my SFF Net newsgroup, in which I was, er, ambiguously positive with two complaints -- I found it a bit slow, and there were lots of typos. And I think you messaged me and said that of course there were typos -- it was an ARC! (And I took those comments to heart! -- you were right, and I was fairly new to the reviewing gig!) (OK, a third complaint -- I live in St. Louis, and at one point you had them driving somewhere in the city that is (at least currently!) impossible. But maybe it was possible in 1962?)
In the end, I wasn't the right reviewer for the book -- I haven't read Kerouac, and I have little to no sympathy for Lovecraft. But I've followed you ever since, and when you are on my wavelength, you are great!
Thank you for this. Your book has had quite the adventure! And the plot sounds very intriguing. I just placed an order, and soon you'll be able to count me as one of your readers. I usually prefer hard cover, but unfortunately, I had to buy a paperback because the hard cover is only available used, and I wanted to make sure you got paid at least something...
The best sentence I’ve read in a long time - “Fans of H. P. Lovecraft, a bunch of completists with money to spare as they never need to buy flowers on Valentine’s Day…”
This is a fascinating publishing story! And I was afraid that I might have been one of the Locus reviewers that rubbished MOVE UNDER GROUND, because I know I reviewed it somewhere! But, I see looking at my records I must have just said a few things about it on my SFF Net newsgroup, in which I was, er, ambiguously positive with two complaints -- I found it a bit slow, and there were lots of typos. And I think you messaged me and said that of course there were typos -- it was an ARC! (And I took those comments to heart! -- you were right, and I was fairly new to the reviewing gig!) (OK, a third complaint -- I live in St. Louis, and at one point you had them driving somewhere in the city that is (at least currently!) impossible. But maybe it was possible in 1962?)
In the end, I wasn't the right reviewer for the book -- I haven't read Kerouac, and I have little to no sympathy for Lovecraft. But I've followed you ever since, and when you are on my wavelength, you are great!
Thanks! And nah, it was Gary Wolfe who reviewed it for Locus.
Thank you for this. Your book has had quite the adventure! And the plot sounds very intriguing. I just placed an order, and soon you'll be able to count me as one of your readers. I usually prefer hard cover, but unfortunately, I had to buy a paperback because the hard cover is only available used, and I wanted to make sure you got paid at least something...
Thanks!
Excellent and sad, yet stirring.
The best sentence I’ve read in a long time - “Fans of H. P. Lovecraft, a bunch of completists with money to spare as they never need to buy flowers on Valentine’s Day…”
Dare I say you can play the home game?
https://store.doverpublications.com/products/9780486841861