Robert Rick McCammon

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AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
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15,540
It's too bad there were not more folks there. In my opinion, McCammon is closest to King in terms of quality and quantity of his work. Some great books that have been underappreciated until recently. He seems to be catching on in the book collecting market which is a good sign. It seems a bit odd that they would hold this event a couple months before the new book is released.
It was a ‘preview’. McCammon talked about the book and signed preorders were sold.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Just got home from the signing! Had a great time with Dad. McCammon was going to read from his upcoming novel but told us he couldn’t decide on an excerpt to read from. :biggrin2: So he and the crowd (about 10-12 people; it was raining) had sort of a bull session for about an hour or so and he took questions. He is always very interesting to listen to. Afterward he signed books and took pics. I got 8 of my books signed and preordered the upcoming release. He commented on my tattered HC edition of Stinger — “Look at that,” he said. “That’s a throwback.” :)

I'm glad that you had a great time, Cody! I wish that I had been able to go to this event as Rick is one of my most favorite authors. It's too bad that there wasn't a bigger crowd but then again it was nice to have a more intimate setting with an author of his caliber. I remember back when I went to my first Anne Rice signing (it was right after the movie Interview With The Vampire was released) and there were probably 500 people waiting in line to see her. Then, when she converted back to being a Catholic (which she has since denounced) and wrote her first book on the early life of Christ and went on tour to promote that book, there were maybe all of 50 people that went to see her. I felt bad for her, but again it gave us all a chance for a more intimate setting. I got to give her a giant hug, too!
 

Baby Blue

Resident Wise Ass
Aug 16, 2017
874
6,937
Seattle, WA
Bear with me, this is (mostly) on-topic:
I gave my 24 year old son access to my Audible account so he can listen to the books in my library while he's working. He has ADD so he was never a big reader of paper books (I was until the last few years when medical issues and medication side effects have made it more difficult to focus on the printed page) so it has been truly wonderful watching him discover a love of books. He finished Swan Song a few weeks ago but hadn't read (or heard) The Stand yet. He LOVED Swan Song and I said something to the effect of how The Stand was really going to blow his socks off. Well, he just finished The Stand and guess what? He prefers Swan Song! Yeah, yeah, it's a good book but... Anyway, I resisted the urge to disown him right then and there and I heard him out. What it boils down to is that he liked how McCammon focused on the dark imagery so he felt more immersed in the post-apocalyptic world. He thought King focused too heavily on the relationships and didn't illustrate the setting as well. After hearing his critique, I totally get where he's coming from and why he preferred Swan Song. I still think he's wrong, naturally, because the relationships in King's books are why I keep coming back but I love that he enjoyed them both and was able to articulate his preference so well. This is something he was never able to do with paper books. Anyway, he's moved on to The Dark Tower series now and I'm just DYING to hear his reviews on the way through.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
Bear with me, this is (mostly) on-topic:
I gave my 24 year old son access to my Audible account so he can listen to the books in my library while he's working. He has ADD so he was never a big reader of paper books (I was until the last few years when medical issues and medication side effects have made it more difficult to focus on the printed page) so it has been truly wonderful watching him discover a love of books. He finished Swan Song a few weeks ago but hadn't read (or heard) The Stand yet. He LOVED Swan Song and I said something to the effect of how The Stand was really going to blow his socks off. Well, he just finished The Stand and guess what? He prefers Swan Song! Yeah, yeah, it's a good book but... Anyway, I resisted the urge to disown him right then and there and I heard him out. What it boils down to is that he liked how McCammon focused on the dark imagery so he felt more immersed in the post-apocalyptic world. He thought King focused too heavily on the relationships and didn't illustrate the setting as well. After hearing his critique, I totally get where he's coming from and why he preferred Swan Song. I still think he's wrong, naturally, because the relationships in King's books are why I keep coming back but I love that he enjoyed them both and was able to articulate his preference so well. This is something he was never able to do with paper books. Anyway, he's moved on to The Dark Tower series now and I'm just DYING to hear his reviews on the way through.
I feel that Swan Song has more 'heart' to it than The Stand does.
 

kingricefan

All-being, keeper of Space, Time & Dimension.
Jul 11, 2006
30,011
127,446
Spokane, WA
I *think* the Cemetery Dance edition.
I guess since they published 'trade' editions of Gwendy's Button Box that Cemetery Dance is going 'mainstream' with their books now? By mainstream I mean that they aren't going to continue to be a niche publisher and that you will be able to find their books in brick and mortar stores like Barnes & Nobles, etc. Good for them. I hope they don't become too big....
 

RichardX

Well-Known Member
Sep 26, 2006
1,737
4,434
Bear with me, this is (mostly) on-topic:
I gave my 24 year old son access to my Audible account so he can listen to the books in my library while he's working. He has ADD so he was never a big reader of paper books (I was until the last few years when medical issues and medication side effects have made it more difficult to focus on the printed page) so it has been truly wonderful watching him discover a love of books. He finished Swan Song a few weeks ago but hadn't read (or heard) The Stand yet. He LOVED Swan Song and I said something to the effect of how The Stand was really going to blow his socks off. Well, he just finished The Stand and guess what? He prefers Swan Song! Yeah, yeah, it's a good book but... Anyway, I resisted the urge to disown him right then and there and I heard him out. What it boils down to is that he liked how McCammon focused on the dark imagery so he felt more immersed in the post-apocalyptic world. He thought King focused too heavily on the relationships and didn't illustrate the setting as well. After hearing his critique, I totally get where he's coming from and why he preferred Swan Song. I still think he's wrong, naturally, because the relationships in King's books are why I keep coming back but I love that he enjoyed them both and was able to articulate his preference so well. This is something he was never able to do with paper books. Anyway, he's moved on to The Dark Tower series now and I'm just DYING to hear his reviews on the way through.


Dark Advent by Brian Hodge is another good one along the lines of Swan Song and The Stand.
 

AchtungBaby

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2011
3,856
15,540
You Tube video from Alabama. If you are a King fan and have never read McCammon, you are going to be amazed at how good his books are.
Such a fun night. It’s a shame more people didn’t turn out, but I am happy all of us were able to get a little one on one time with him in the signing line afterward. It was a very relaxed evening. I didn’t ask any questions (I was content listening to others ask theirs/his answers) but I did pipe up at around 32:35—when a woman says Mystery Walk is her favorite, I had to agree. :) That one doesn’t get enough love.