A couple years ago, my dad and I wrote a short story together for an anthology celebrating the work of Richard Matheson. Our thing was called “Throttle,” and is the story of a biker gang persecuted by a faceless trucker… our riff on Matheson’s classic, “Duel,” which also features a homicidal trucker with a mysterious agenda.
The story appeared in that Matheson tribute (HE IS LEGEND), had a turn as an audio book, was recently adapted by Nelson Daniel and Chris Ryall as a two-part comic, and as of today, you can now find it in the eBookstore of your choice as a standalone:
As an added bonus, the eBook includes some of Nelson Daniel’s concept sketches for the story. It’s illustrated just like yer little kid’s favorite picsure book, hoo hoo! Only don’t show this story to your little kid, on account of all the people gettin’ run over and macheted and butchered and so on.
Thanks much and if you haven’t had a chance to check “Throttle” out, hope you will, and hope it gives you a good ride.
Hi Joe! Sorry I haven’t been around…had some serious family issues to deal with…with which to deal? Anyway, I miss you. I want to read your new book sooooooo badly. Is there anything I can say or do to get you to release it earlier?
BTW, “Throttle” is awesome. I bought the audio awhile back, but I just may download it for my nook as well. MARCH VIOLETS may have to wait a bit.
You do understand that when I say “I miss you” I mean in a literary sense? I know I’m weird, but not crazy weird.
Good to have you back, Betsy, and I hope everything’s okay on the home front. And I know what you mean about hanging out for NOS4A2 – but at least we have plenty of wonderful stuff to tide us over until then (more L&K, By The Silver Water Of Lake Champlain …)
And Joe, for what it’s worth, I know you copped a pretty f**king shitty question about your Dad on Twitter, and while I know my opinion doesn’t count for much (and while I generally try to avoid speaking for others), I just wanted to let you know that there are people that not only love and treasure your work, but also appreciate and respect the fact that to you, he’s not just the world’s greatest horror writer … he’s your Dad and the centre of your world. I’m leaving it there – I’m sure you don’t want to dwell on it – but I just wanted to reassure you that not everyone thinks like that.
Just downloaded it for my Kindle. Illustrations look great! Can’t wait to read it tonight. Thanks Joe (and Steve)!
I didn’t know you and your dad wrote a story based on “Duel”…
You do realize that if Steven Spielberg’s son adapts this into a movie, that all of you will be trapped in an eternal pop culture feedback loop.
Joe,
I am so very happy have Throttle to read. I bought the audio book as soon as it came out, and have listened to it no less than 30 times (really, 30 times… at least). I love the audio version, but I also love to read. I often find your sentence construction very interesting, and frequently use your work as a reference for my own.
Anyway, thanks for putting this out (and at such a sweet price).
Darrell
Joe,
I’ve read this already in the Matheson tribute book, but hell, I’m going to download a copy soon and read it again. Loved it!
Charles Day
Thanks BK…although several of the things you referenced I am unfamiliar with. What happened on Twitter? And what is “By the Silver Water…etc”?
Ah, sorry Betsy: Joe wrote a story called By The Silver Waters of Lake Champlain; I believe it’s in an anthology titled Shadow Show – a tribute to Ray Bradbury – and I think it’s out very soon, if not already. And as for Twitter … ah, someone just asked a really inappropriate and direspectful question about Joe’s Dad. I know I have a thin skin but stuff like that really bugs me (though Joe handled it well).
And yeah, I feel like a hyper-sensitive douche – I know Joe’s perfectly capable of fighting his own battles. I just can’t believe how flat-out rude some people can be.
See…I feel like the crazy girl again who keeps too many of the same stories. It is my hope that people will understand when I am dead and gone that numerous copies of the same tale are NOT the same! All these various editions, audio, ebooks…Ok, so the husband will be happy when I download the standalone since he is attached to my kindle downloads
Thanks for sharing that it’s out there!
(HI Betsy!!! Happy to “see” you. Truly have missed you.)
Ah, you guys are making me so envious – I still don’t have a Kindle or eBook of any description. It’s crazy. Can’t help but feel I’m missing out, big time.
BK
Eh, the book is still the most natural and tangible form in which to experience a story (outside of campfire tales). Smell of the paper; bend of the binding; the dogeared paperbacks. eBooks—Bah! Who needs ‘em? I mean, can you imagine a parent only enjoying their child’s drawing on a screen? Not getting to touch it the page, run a finger over the waxy residue of the crayon? Wouldn’t look quite the same on the refrigerator, now would it?
Grumbled the set-in-his-ways dinosaur.
Ah Tinker, I hear you. Truth be told, it’s why I haven’t succumbed to the lure of the eBook yet: because I’m old-fashioned and I love the heft of a good book in my hands, how they look in my bookcase and the history of the stories I’ve read over and over. No tablet can compete with that. That said … I’ve seen enough enticing short (and long) downloadable stories that have nudged me towards justifying getting an eBook. Of course, I’m almost certain to get the only one on Earth with a battery life of four minutes, which will pretty much limit my reading to Twitter comments.
And the scary thing about technology: I’m sure that, somewhere, they’ve actually designed a fridge with a LCD screen set into the door so parents can scan and display their children’s drawings. Probably filled with virtual food, so you don’t have to worry about that messy, fattening real food.
Tinker, I agree 100% with you! The kindle was a gift so I felt using it a must. Then when I had an iPad that I carried the kindle account over to…I used it out of convenience. I prefer a book in hand and not a device that alerts me mid sentence that so-and-so passed gas and put it on Facebook
And BK, the thought of not having the actual child’s drawing is sad and scary.
Will have to pick this one up when I swing by the comic store for the new Saga. I first read the story in the Matheson tribute book, which I received as a Christmas present (from my then girlfriend). She got me one of the limited, numbered, signed editions. Joe and his dad signatures right by each other.
Very well put, This Girl – Facebook is like the anti-book; a perfect distillation of the dumbing-down of society (just to borrow Tinker’s set-in-his-ways dinosaur hat for a moment). I probably will get a Kindle – I can actually see their appeal – but nothing will ever replace the books I have, or the books I’ll continue to get.
And I couldn’t agree more about real child’s drawing v virtual child’s drawing. Shudder. Even the phrase ‘virtual child’s drawing’ sounds horrible.
Joe
Put up another OH, SNAP photo post. I had a lot of fun with the invent-your-own-storyline/caption game.
Imagine a story where you had a virtual child who put his virtual pictures on the refrigerator to show you how much “love” he had for you. The story is in the not to far distant future where because of government control only the privileged can have real children. The virtual child only works if you have the money or “credits” to make him function. This child can have happy days, (the most expensive) regular days (middle of the road cost) where he is just relatively unemotional but still there to talk to, and sad days (cheep) where he is unhappy with this life but at least you can have a boy of your own, unhappy and crying but still yours. The way to earn credits is by being a good worker and not protesting which is still allowed, but only when it is scheduled by the government. The story opens with the father getting out of bed early in the morning, going to the fridge and reading the virtual message on the monitor. It reads “I want to be happy today Dad do you have enough credits?” I’m telling you, you guys this whole virtual drawing on the refrigerator has got me to thinking. I to believe it’s creepy but think it could be a great story. I wish I was a writer and had the skill set to put this thing together maybe I’ll give it a shot anyway. The title is 150 Credits.
Ah Phill17Larry33, don’t sell yourself short. That’s a great scenario you’ve come up with, and I get the feeling you’d expand it into a killer story. The hardest part of writing any story is simply getting the words down. Once you’ve done that, you can shape and polish them any way you want. I reckon you should go for it!
Phill17Larry33
In most successful stories—short stories, novels, movies—there is, what I like to call, A & B stories, which tie in at the end. Take for example Joe’s “Cape”…
A: The cape itself (catalyst that sets the wheels in motion and grabs the reader’s attention)
B: Eric’s love story with his girlfriend
The two stories tie in at the end (and I won’t give away how).
For you, Phil, there is a very strong father/son component at work in your rough summary, could be the constant threat that propels the father (ticking time bomb): losing his child(B story). So your protagonist’s “want” is to protect his son, or save him. As for the (A) story, here’s another example that your story reminded me of…
“Swordfish,” starring John Travolta
(A) Hugh Jackman reluctantly hacking for Travolta, an illegal heist job. (Maybe what your story needs?)
(B) Hugh Jackman wanting to gain custody of his little girl, a goal that can only be achieved with the help of a high-priced attorney, whom he can retain with the millions he’ll earn if he pulls of the hacking job.
But like Joe says, ‘Outlines are tools of the Devil.’ So just write the story recklessly (i.e. don’t force the A&B stories…let them characters determine that naturally).
*Anyway, I like what you have so far. The recipe is there for a fun story.
Phill17Larry33
I forgot to add that one of the reasons Joe’s “Cape” works so is because of his main character’s “want,” something very relatable: Eric is trying to find his identity, what he’s good at, a purpose in life.
looking for lock and key keys….the sold out one’s
Thanks BK and Tinker I will give it a shot. I actually got a variant issue of The Cape issue #2 because I bought the deluxe Welcome to Lovecraft with the entire script in the back. I can tell all of you it is wonderful and a little depressing at the same time. I have begun reading the script and never thought there was so much detail needed for the panels (pictures). But it is inspiring never the less. Thanks for the help and encouragement but Joe is right, outlines are the work of the devil. I have a number of good ideas but don’t try to write them. The devil may have me and I’ve got to break free. Again thanks.
Joe
Can find the ebook on amazon.co.uk
I’ve read it before in the Tribute book but really want a portable version
Throttle – Excellent – Keep ‘em coming. hard copy, paper back or ebook don’t care will read them all.
Live pretty or die laughing. Ha. Love it.
Phill17Larry33
I really like your story idea and it reminded me of the dystopian novels of the great writer Margaret Atwood. She recently published a Kindle “single” (short story) called “I’m Starved for You” that while it does not share the plot of your story at all, shares a feeling that your plot conveys. I think it was only $1.99. If you have a Kindle (or the app for iPhone, Android, etc.) you may want to check it out. It also employs the A and B story lines Tinker is referring to.
Richard Matheson, I think, is up there with Edgar Allan Poe in skill and talent. He’s someone lots of writers will imitate but not very many will equal his skill and talent in the finished product.
I’ve only read one of Richard Matheson’s short stories but, like I always tell everybody that my threshold for being scared is high b/c of the work I do, this story rose to the occasion and then some.
Which is how I know he’s both skilled and talented, and I believe that his talent is ranking alongside people like Poe and Shirley Jackson.
I can’t remember what it was called. It was in some anthology, I think by a writer whose first name is Marvin, and it had to do with ghosts.
I won’t detail my personal reasons for reading about “true” ghost stories, but the guy broke the rules of “true” stories to include Matheson’s, b/c it read like it could have been true. It was an excuse but a forgivable one, b/c the story was almost seamless in that area. If you didn’t already know it never happened, you might have believed someone really had that experience.
Any chance of this actually getting published n a physical book format? I am not on the e-reader train and don’t see it happening. When I go into a B&N and half of the stacks have been replaced by a gigantic nook kiosk I want to vomit.