The Dark Stranger

[English Bob]

Love some feedback on this story please - can be found under English Bob in author index

 

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

Hi Bob, I remember talking to you once in the author's hangout in the chat room, although it's been awhile. I read both of your stories today, and enjoyed them very much. First Story Dr Fred, was well done, although incest is not my thing. I know I didn't have to keep reading it, but I did regardless. My choice. I have to say as soon as I read, I am the lock, you are the key, it seemed familiar somehow. I did read another post in here, regarding ppl thinking you work was a ripoff from the Dean Koontz story. I have read this book also long time ago, and it's interesting, that you chose the same statement as he did. I understand you did not read the book, and that is what makes it so interesting... Another Dean Koontz in the works perhaps? I enjoyed your newest story as well, althought Satan is not my fav guy! It was well done, and well thought out. You are a great at writing and should definately keep up the good work. I am looking forward to reading more in the future. I myself am a new writer to this site and I hope you have a chance to read my work sometime. I am found in the romance section. So just by knowing where I am indexed, you know we write very differently. But that is what makes this site so interesting, everyone's unique style. Keep up the good work Bob..Katerina Val-Kyrie =)

 

[English Bob]

Thanks for your articulate comments Katrina. Im glad that you enjoyed the tales! I have posted a few more but the are not on the site yet (I think laural is still trying to catch up after her trip!)

I will definately read your work. I personally do not have an inclination towards any particular type of story, but will enjoy it as long as it is well written.

Thanks for posting....EB

 

[Laurel]

I enjoy your stuff, Bob. I especially like E.F.E. (which will be in the Xtreme section - coming soon!). Good, non-cliched futuristic stories are hard to write. You are excellent at characterization - you bring us into the mind of the punisher. It's violent, yet the reader isn't repelled, perhaps because the recipient of the violence is a criminal who has inflicted harm on a child. I enjoy revenge tales, so E.F.E. is very cathartic. You tell a tale well, bringing the reader into the action with good descriptive passages. While I don't always find your stories particularly erotic - they don't push that button, know what I mean - they are always entertaining reads.

I too enjoy a wide range of fiction - erotic and otherwise. My dad was a sci-fi nut, so as a kid I read Keith Laumer, Madeleine L'Engle, and of course Ray Bradbury. My current faves include William Vollmann, David Foster Wallace, Cormac McCarthy, Martin Amis, William Brodkey, and Edith Wharton, to name a few... I can enjoy Wharton's tales of love and loss as well as the descriptions of depravity and sorrow found in Vollmann's work. (BTW - I saw him speak in a bookstore in Berkeley and the man is insane!) What matters most is not the subject matter, but the story itself. A compelling tale rises to the top of the heap every time.

Yikes.. I doth prattle on... Been editing stories all day - need to go outside for a bit! hehe

 

[Miranda]

Hey Bob, I remember reading a story from this site and emailing the writer asking if she was an Anne Rice fan... she said she was, however, when I asked her about her story line (which I thought was ripped off of the Mayfair Witches) she said she had never read that series but was a big fan of Rice's... So I wouldn't worry about any criticism about ripping someone off... Many ideas aren't original, if one person thought of it someone else has to have... and it's not like Koontz is a fantastic all original writer ;o) (unlike you, of course) I dig your stuff too, Laurel was right, it's hard to write what you do... but you do it well!

Miranda

 

[Laurel]

>>>Many ideas aren't original, if one person thought of it
someone else has to have...<<<

Exactly! There's a difference between influence and plagiarism. And two authors can write on similar topics in similar fashions without ever having read each other. We're products of the world we live in, and are bound to find other people who are touched by the same events, art, and culture as we are.

You don't remind me of Koontz at all. I'm not a Koontz fan - his writing is lifeless, lacking in personality, and his characters are cardboard cut-outs.

 

[English Bob]

Hi Miranda & Laural - Thanks for your comments. I have now read Koontz' Night Chills and have to agree with you in part. I do agree that while the story line does bear some resemblance to my story the style was completely different (I suppose that somewhere in my distant past someone may have told me a little of the story Night Chills and my tired old brain regugitated it years later !!)

It is quite difficult to write this sort of material and i am flattered by your praise. Please dont worry about "prattling on" Laural, (I must be the worst exponant of that!) All criticism, good and bad is necessary to maintain high standards of future submissions. - EB

 

[Katerina Val-Kyrie]

Hi Bob it's me again. Hey, I hope you don't think I was meaning your story was a redo of Koontz, because it was far from it. I loved your work, it was very original. The only thing remotely familiar, was I am the lock, you are the key. Nothing else at all, was the same. The phrase, just struck me, as hey I have heard that before! Personally, I am not all that fond of Koonz's work anyways. I am most patiently waiting to read your new series, do keep up the great work hon.. Kat

 

[Crystal]

Hi Bob!
I just read your story and gave it a "damn good" vote. I liked the style of writing and I think you did well to come up with something different in terms of story line. I couldn't help remembering that US comedian (what was his name, Bill - ?) who used to love doing the "SUCK SATAN'S COCK" routine! It was also nice to have a story set in the UK. Will you write a sequel - maybe involving the spawn of satan? (Imagine what mischief (s)he could get up to. Keep up the good work!
Love,
Crystal
xx

 

[Crystal]

Hicks! Bill Hicks! That's the one!

 

[English Bob]

Many thanks for the comments Crystal!

I have heard of Bill Hicks, but here in the UK it's hard to get to see them perform.

I had not thought about a follow-up to the story, but your idea seems very interesting, I'll give it some thought. Meanwhile check out my other stories on this site. Tell me what you think (good or bad!)

Thanks again - love Bob XX

 

[Crystal]

You might find it quite hard to see Bill Hicks perform anywhere as he is dead.

I'll try to get round to reading your stories soon.

Love,
Crystal
xx