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Post by ian on Jun 20, 2009 16:39:15 GMT
Author of many horror books throughout the 80's and 90's Famous for writing two books about the most unlikeliest of rampaging mutant animals - Slugs!
discuss...
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Post by garryc on Jun 28, 2009 5:34:59 GMT
It amazes me how some of the more high brow writers berate Shaun for what he does, despite the fact that he has constantly been published since the 80's when many of them have fallen into the small press to find any kind of readership.
Not only does he write as Shaun, but also gets at least another two novels a year published under other names.
This is not the sign of a bad writer.
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Post by darrelljoyce on Jun 28, 2009 22:46:27 GMT
It amazes me how some of the more high brow writers berate Shaun for what he does, despite the fact that he has constantly been published since the 80's when many of them have fallen into the small press to find any kind of readership. Not only does he write as Shaun, but also gets at least another two novels a year published under other names. This is not the sign of a bad writer. Agreed, Garry - but that's not why people here and elsewhere berate him. There are a number of reasons, unconnected to his (undoubted) ability as a writer. For example, his decision to desert horror and start writing mainstream crime thrillers. Fans of 'Slugs' and the other early horrors may feel betrayed? Selling out, perhaps?
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Post by ian on Jun 29, 2009 6:32:33 GMT
Think of it this way Darrell. i suspect that Shaun HAD to move away from horror at the time. All the publishers were dropping their horror authors off cliffs. Moving to thriller is a sensible move if you still wish to keep your job.
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Post by garryc on Jun 29, 2009 17:03:44 GMT
Mainstream crime thrillers... nothing mainstream about his thrillers. They are, in his words and I agree, Urban horror.
No one in their right mind would call Deadhead, mainstream.
He has moved with the times and remained successful.
The reason he is berated by those who consider themselves his peers is that he dosen't take 'the art' seriously. This must really stick in their throats as, despite not taking it seriously, he has constantly remained in the public eye.
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Post by Jim on Jun 29, 2009 17:15:08 GMT
Why should someone only write one genre authors should write what makes them happy
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Post by darrelljoyce on Jul 15, 2009 23:44:36 GMT
Which just begs the question.
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Post by erebus on Mar 1, 2010 11:59:52 GMT
The guys a bloody genius IMO. Got attracted to that bloody eyeball on the SLUGS cover years ago and never looked back. Got RELICS next and thought it was amazing and then just had to get all the others. His latest LAST RITES is a vast improvment on BODYCOUNT which I thought was perhaps his worse novel in recent years. I know the man annoys people ( he supports Liverpool and they annoy the shit out of me ) But I was fortunate enough to meet the guy and it was a pleasure and the guy is a true gent and not unlike anything he comes across. Plus he is our only remaining writer from the hey day who stills gives us a book each year .
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Post by ian on Oct 9, 2010 18:16:18 GMT
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Post by steppedonwolf on Oct 9, 2010 20:03:54 GMT
"Shaun is showing his age as a writer and with adding parts that really weren't required or in character left me feeling it was more about satisfying his own expectations rather than listening to the players of the tale." So Shaun's showing his age as a writer...is he still twelve, then?
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Post by funkdooby on Oct 14, 2010 18:58:39 GMT
As Jeffrey Archer and many others have amply proved, being able to sell large quantities of books doesn't mean you're a good writer. Hutson appeals to a certain kind of person (people who would never normally read novels, I always think). The gratuitous violence and horrifically graphic nature of his stories mean they do have a kind of grimly compulsive fascination about them. I still maintain that Spawn is the worst written novel ever to see print, at least from a major publisher. Fair play to Hutson for managing to sustain an undeniably successful career for 30 years, despite everything. I think I would even applaud him for his success in the face of his lack of ability if he wasn't such a prat
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Post by steppedonwolf on Oct 15, 2010 7:21:33 GMT
I still maintain that Spawn is the worst written novel ever to see print, at least from a major publisher. Think that's bad? Try Dying Words...
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Post by Dreadlocksmile on Oct 15, 2010 10:02:30 GMT
'Heathen' is worse. Makes the cardinal sin for a splatterpunk novel of being boring and tiresome throughout.
One of the worst books I've ever read.
But 'Dying Words' is down there with the literary slops nevertheless.
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Post by funkdooby on Oct 16, 2010 18:50:01 GMT
Not read a Hutson novel since around 2001. I'll have to give Dying Words a spin...though I can't believe it could be worse than Spawn, if for no other reason than Hutson will have had 20 years more experience...though that probably doesn't count for much in his case lol
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Post by steppedonwolf on Oct 16, 2010 18:54:21 GMT
Give yourself a treat - avoid Dying Words. Like you, I gave it a go because I haven't read a Hutson novel for years and wanted to see if he'd improved.
Far from it - it's just as bad as his earlier stuff...
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