Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: The Impossible Fortress
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Gilman, Charles
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://jasonrekulak.com/
CITY: Philadelphia
STATE: PA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
http://lovecraftmiddleschool.com/ * http://www.askmen.com/celebs/interview_300/352_jason-rekulak-interview.html * http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Jason-Rekulak/2088377938
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born 1971, in NJ; married; children: two.
EDUCATION:Pennsylvania State University, B.A., 1993; University of Miami, M.F.A., 1995.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, editor. St Martin’s Press, New York, NY, editorial assistant, later assistant editor, 1995-97; Quality Paperback Book Club, writer then senior writer, 1997-99; Running Press Book Publishers, Philadelphia, PA, editor then senior editor, 1999-2000; Quirk Books, Philadelphia, PA, senior editor, then editorial director and publisher, 2000–.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Armed with an M.F.A. from the University of Miami, American writer and editor Jason Rekulak entered the publishing world as an assistant editor at St. Martin’s Books, moving in turn to Quality Paperback Book Club and Running Press Book Publishers as a senior editor. In 2000, he joined the editorial team at Philadelphia’s Quirk Press, a small publishing house with an offbeat and outsized line of books and publishing successes. Under his direction, the house turned from joke books to bestsellers such as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a blending of a classic novel in the public domain with science fiction and horror mash-up. That title sold almost two million copies. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was another hit for Rekulak. “Quirk … has become something of a rock star in the small publishing world, releasing books across categories and finding blockbusters,” according to Publishers Weekly contributor John Maher. And Rekulak has been a large part of that success, both as publisher and writer. As Alexandra Alter noted in the New York Times Online: “Though you won’t see Mr. Rekulak’s name on the covers, he’s written about a dozen of Quirk’s books, cranking them out at night and on weekends when he is consumed by an idea but can’t find a suitable writer.” A quartet of such books, the “Tales from Lovecraft Middle School” series, are written by Rekulak under the pseudonym of Charles Gilman. Writing under his own name, Rekulak debuted as a fiction author with his well-received, 2017 novel, The Impossible Fortress. “I knew this was something I wasn’t going to be able to commission because it was just about me,” Rekulak told Alter.
"Tales from Lovecraft Middle School" series
The quartet of middle-grade novels Rekulak published as Gilman (and illustrated by Eugene Smith) is set at the new and ultra-modern Lovecraft Middle School in Dunwich, Massachusetts, with its association to the horror author, H.P. Lovecraft. Robert Arthur is eleven and is among the first class to attend the school with its ghoulish connotations. Because of redistricting, his friends are going to Franklin Middle School, and the only kid he knows at Lovecraft is Glenn Torkells, the bully from his former school. The series begins with Professor Gargoyle, and from the beginning, things do not go well for Robert or the other students. A plague of rats scares the student body and then students begin to disappear. Could it be the work of the testy science teacher Professor Garfield Goyle? “Fans of Goosebumps and other lightly creepy fare will look forward to spending more time with a series that even manages to find the dark side of recycling,” noted a Publishers Weekly reviewer. Daniel Kraus, writing in Booklist, also had praise, commenting: “All in all, this is well pitched for reluctant readers.” Similarly, a Kirkus Reviews critic termed this a “slick, scary, funny package,” adding: “Delectable hints of age-appropriate, Lovecraftian Otherness–with none of the purple prose.” Likewise, School Library Journal writer Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., concluded: “The mysteries of Lovecraft offer plenty of excitement, and reluctant readers will likely stick around to see just how this story ends.”
The series continues with The Slither Sisters, in which Robert and Glenn battle to save their school from the twins Sarah and Sylvia Price, who are actually snake girls with eight-inch tongues. Kraus noted of this installment”: “Lovecraftian gibberish (“Y’golonac chaugnar faugn”) and beasties (ably sketched by Smith) keep this fast, fun, and adequately disgusting.” For a Kirkus Reviews critic this addition is “another slightly creepy, often funny read that doesn’t require much of its audience (least of all knowledge of the
works of H.P. Lovecraft).” Brenda Kahn, writing in School Library Journal, had a higher assessment, noting; “The pace as well as the spot art will keep readers hooked, and a cliff-hanger of sorts will keep them asking for more.”
Teacher’s Pest finds Robert and Glenn once again joining forces against the evil Crawford Tillinghast and his minion, newly-elected student body president Howard Mergler, who summon up multitudes of bugs to do battle at the school. “As always, Gilman punctuates the fast-moving action and gross-out set pieces (including a Dumpster full of maggots) with the delicate matters of young friendships,” observed Kraus in Booklist. A Kirkus Reviews contributor noted that this “easy-on-the-brain text will keep readers reading.” Substitute Creature features Miss Carcasse who uses a strange blizzard to destroy the school. But Robert and Glenn, along with the usually awful Crawford Tillinghast foil her dastardly plans. “Love conquers all, the monsters are vanquished, lessons are learned and taken to heart, and the young protagonists survive,” commented Voice of Youth Advocates writer Jane Murphy. Online Starburst reviewer Cara Fielder also had praise, noting: “Fun, freaky and fast-paced, this novel is perfect for those pre-teens who find themselves enjoying a darker style of entertainment but aren’t quite ready for teen content.”
The Impossible Fortress
Rekulak’s debut fiction, The Impossible Fortress, “has a questing narrative at its heart,” according to Washington Post reviewer Steve Donoghue. That quest is wrapped in a coming-of-age tale set in 1987. Featuring the computer geek Billy and his other fourteen-year-old friends, the quest here is the attainment of a prized Playboy magazine that features American heartthrob from the Wheel of Fortune, Vanna White. Billy’s usual schedule of afternoon television and late nights programming video games on his Commodore 64 is interrupted by this publication. With hormones rising, Billy and his buddies do all they can to get their hands on a copy of the magazine. The plan is to copy the photos and sell them to the boys at school. But things start to go badly wrong when Billy befriends Mary, the daughter of the owner of the sole store in town that carries Playboy. To complicate matters, Mary codes better than Billy. Soon they are teaming up to win a prize in a video game coding contest that turns Billy’s attention away from the charms of Vanna White.
Donoghue further noted of The Impossible Fortress: “Although it’s being marketed as adult fiction, it’s full of clueless boys, consequence-free adventures and generous helpings of adolescent humor, all served up with a kind smile.” Writing in Booklist, Erin Downey Howerton termed it an”unexpected retro delight,” and a Publishers Weekly reviewer dubbed it a “fun ride that will appeal to all.” Similarly, a Kirkus Reviews critic observed: “Joyfully evoked with period details and pop-culture references, 1980s nostalgia is the only excuse for marketing this book to adults; otherwise, Rekulak’s debut is a middle-grade novel all the way. A good one!”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, September 1, 2012, Daniel Kraus, review of Professor Gargoyle, p. 124; March 1, 2013, Daniel Kraus, review of The Slither Sisters, p. 61; August 1, 2013, Daniel Kraus, review of Teacher’s Pest, p. 93; December 15, 2016, Erin Downey Howerton, review of The Impossible Fortress, p. 20.
Bookseller, September 4, 2009, Catherine Neilan, “Monster Mash: the Eureka Moment for Jason Rekulak Came While Watching YouTube. Catherine Neilan Meets the Mad Genius behind Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” p. 21.
Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2012, review of Professor Gargoyle; November 15, 2012, review of The Slither Sisters; March 1, 2013, review of Teacher’s Pest; November 15, 2016, review of The Impossible Fortress.
Library Journal, March 1, 2017, Neal Wyatt, review of The Impossible Fortress, p. 103.
Publishers Weekly, August 6, 2012, review of Professor Gargoyle, p. 55; November 28, 2016, review of The Impossible Fortress, p. 40; April 24, 2017, John Maher, “At Quirk Books, Quirk’s the Name and the Game, p. 7.
School Library Journal, November, 2012. Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., review of Professor Gargoyle, p. 105; May, 2013. Brenda Kahn, review of The Slither Sisters, p. 110; May, 2017, Tara Kehoe, review of The Impossible Fortress, p. 111.
Voice of Youth Advocates, December, 2013, Jane Murphy, review of Substitute Creature, p. 74.
Washington Post, March 8, 2017, Steve Donoghue, review of The Impossible Fortress.
Xpress Reviews, December 23, 2016, Dan Forrest, review of The Impossible Fortress, p. 4.
ONLINE
Ask Men, https://www.askmen.com/ (September 11, 2017), Steven Shaw, “Jason Rekulak Interview.”
Impossible Fortress, http://www.jasonrekulak.com (October 22, 2017).
New York Times Online, https://www.nytimes.com/ (February 5,2017), Alexandra Alter, “Master of Quirk.”
NYX Book Reviews, http://www.nyxbookreviews.com/ (May 7, 2013), review of Teacher’s Pest; (November 19, 2013), review of Substitute Creature.
Simon & Schuster Website, http://www.simonandschuster.com/ (September 11, 2017), “Jason Rekulak.”
Starburst, http://www.starburstmagazine.com/ (October 1, 2017), Cara Fielder, review of Substitute Creature.
Jason Rekulak
Jason Rekulak was born and raised in New Jersey. He has worked for many years at Quirk Books, where he edits a variety of fiction and nonfiction. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children. The Impossible Fortress is his first novel. To learn more and play a version of The Impossible Fortress game, visit JasonRekulak.com.
Jason Rekulak Interview
The Brilliant Man Behind Pride And Prejudice And Zombies
Steven Shaw
Share Tweet
0
SHARES
Page 1 of 2
Quick Bio
Jason’s early life is shrouded in mystery. It may have involved sea monsters and zombies, but we aren’t sure. What we do know is that between 1989 and 1993 he attended Pennsylvania State University, where he received a BA in English. He followed this by attending the University of Miami, and when he wasn’t making the most of the weather, he became a Master of Fine Arts, specializing in creative writing.
Armed with his new qualifications, he became an assistant editor at St. Martin’s Press, based in New York. Two years later, he moved to the Quality Paperback Book Club, where he got paid to read books and write descriptions of them. In 1999, Jason moved once again, this time to the Running Press, where his Writer’s Block book was published.
It was in September 2000 that Jason found his current home at Quirk books, where he now holds the prestigious title of editorial director. It is in this position, on the back of two of his biggest successes, that we caught up with Jason.
What inspired you to launch this series?
Jason Rekulak: The inspiration came from the copyright violations that you see online, places like YouTube, where people create their own interpretations of movies, music videos and other media. I compiled a list of public domain books, basically books which are no longer copyrighted, and looked for ways to add to those books. So I had two lists, one of books and one of new elements, and as soon as I drew a line between Pride and Prejudice and zombies, I knew that was the one. But it was in large part inspired by trying to do something creative, and a desire to not get sued.
What kind of reader would enjoy these books?
JR: When we first created these books, a lot of people we talked to seemed unsure about what people would think. They felt that fans of Jane Austen wouldn’t like zombies, but horror fans would dislike the Austen element. We certainly felt that you would need some knowledge of the classics in order to fully appreciate the humor, but we actually learned that there was a much greater overlap than we had expected.
When we attended comic book conventions, we encountered far more Austen fans than we had expected. Maybe they see it as a fantasy novel in a way, because it is a different time, a different place, people dress differently. An overwhelming number of people were just relieved to see something new. Every couple of years you get a new Jane Austen adaptation, or a sequel where Elizabeth and Darcy have kids or something like that, so a lot of people were just really pleased that we offered them a fresh perspective on things.
What has the critical reception been? Any flak from the old-school reviewers?
JR: We have actually had many wonderful reviews, and most of the slightly less positive reviews have been from horror reviewers who felt there was a bit too much Jane Austen in there. But we have had all kinds of positive feedback, we’ve had teachers, librarians and other people coming up to us and saying that this has been the only way to get 16-year-old boys to read Pride and Prejudice.
Most people get the joke, it’s a familiar story, so when they see the title on the bookshelf, it’s easy for them to imagine how the themes and stories would be woven together.
Beyond the premise of the books, your marketing campaign has been pretty innovative as well. Is this what is required to keep books relevant in the digital age?
JR: The marketing definitely helps to keep the books relevant, although we have tried to manufacture internet buzz and failed many times. This was really a complete accident. In February, our distributor let something slip, although we never really got to the bottom of things, but the front cover and a bit that I had written for the back cover appeared on a blog. It soon appeared on another blog, and another, and lots of Jane Austen blogs started to talk about it as well. When we saw it climb up the sales ranks on Amazon, we knew something major was happening, and then it jumped from the blogs to the mainstream media -- New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, that sort of thing.
The explosion just happened, and it was everything you dream of as a publisher. Once it was underway, we just reacted to it and did what we could to feed and sustain it.
What are the challenges presently facing the publishing industry?
JR: Oh, boy. That’s a really complicated question. There are certain categories of book that are very vulnerable to the internet, for example the encyclopaedia business has been transformed by the internet. I would also be very nervous if I worked at a travel guidebook company. There are other books though, that will probably never make the jump. Why read Pride and Prejudice on a screen, for example? Books like that are probably immune to the threat of digital publishing.
If you think about it, cars didn’t eliminate bicycles. One of the appeals of Quirk Classics is that they are like the books that you read at school. We pay a lot of attention to the design of the book, and we publish strategically, so that the object becomes the selling point, not just the words.
Do you have an e-book reader (and do you believe in them as a successful innovation)?
JR: I don’t know many people who have an e-book reader, and I live in a large, cosmopolitan area. From what I understand, at the moment they tend to appeal to a slightly older demographic, who perhaps read four or five romance novels a week. They make up a large portion of that market.
Do you think then, that people use them when they are embarrassed to let other people know what they are reading?
Jason Rekulak: I’d never thought of that! It’s a possibility, although you can get a lot of great books free on the e-readers. Sherlock Holmes for example, is extremely popular as well.
What advice would you give to someone who has an idea for a book?
JR: That depends; there is a big difference between fiction and nonfiction. With fiction, write the book first. No one buys a fiction novel on spec. It is an awful lot of work for a writer, and you’re going to be disappointed if you chase the money. Most books are lucky to have a three-month life span, and then the publishing world moves on.
You walk into a bookstore and it really is overwhelming, there are thousands of books on the shelves, and you go back two weeks later and they have all changed. So if you are writing a book, write it for yourself, because you want to write it. You can keep it on your shelf, and you have something to be proud of for the rest of your life. Most writers, even the really successful ones, are pleasantly surprised when they actually make money.
Innovative ideas and concepts are more important than ever, because it is so hard to compete for attention, you need something that really stands out. For nonfiction, you can usually sell an idea on proposal, and this can actually be the smart thing to do. It is a lot less work to write a proposal than a whole book, so you don’t need to invest so much of your time.
What's the worst idea for a novel you've ever encountered?
JR: Oh, boy. I’ve had some really crazy book proposals. The one which sticks in my memory was one called Decrapitated, which is about a man whose bowel movements speak to him before he flushes them away, commanding him to go on a killing spree. There may have been other worse ideas, but that one is pretty memorable.
As far as Sea Monsters is concerned, what prompted that choice?
JR: When we saw what a huge success Zombies had been, we wanted to do another one. Everyone said “do vampires, do vampires!” because they are so popular at the moment -- the Twilight series in particular. But I didn’t want to do vampires, and we decided to try to do the complete opposite of everyone else.
Sea monsters meant we could actually mine the works of Jules Verne, which in a way was even more enjoyable than zombies. It allowed us to go back and reread all those classic novels, where with Zombies we borrowed a bit more from film.
And finally, what would you most like to work on next?
JR: Personally, I would love to work on The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It’s the quintessential American novel, and I just think it would be a lot of fun. There are just so many directions you could take it. Unfortunately it is still under copyright protection, so it might be a while before I can do that one.
QUOTE:
Though you won’t see Mr. Rekulak’s name on the covers, he’s written about a dozen of Quirk’s books, cranking them out at night and on weekends when he is consumed by an idea but can’t find a suitable writer.
I knew this was something I wasn’t going to be able to commission because it was just about me,”
Master of Quirk
By ALEXANDRA ALTERFEB. 5, 2017
Continue reading the main storyShare This Page
Share
Tweet
Pin
Email
More
Save
Photo
Jason Rekulak, novelist and the publisher of Quirk Books. Credit Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times
Several years ago, Jason Rekulak, the publisher of Quirk Books, was shopping for furniture with his wife at an Ikea in Philadelphia when he became lost in the mazelike showroom.
Mr. Rekulak, who has a freakishly fertile imagination, promptly came up with an idea for a parody novel titled “Horrorstör,” about a haunted Scandinavian furniture superstore, where employees are trapped overnight with paranormal forces. He hired a writer, Grady Hendrix, to flesh out the story, and packaged the book like a glossy Ikea catalog. It’s now in development as a television series.
At Quirk, a small independent publishing house in Philadelphia, the restless Mr. Rekulak has produced a string of bizarre best sellers. He helped engineer unlikely blockbusters like Seth Grahame-Smith’s “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” and has nurtured fledgling writers who turned into breakout stars, including Ben H. Winters and Ransom Riggs, whose creepy young-adult novel “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” and its sequels have sold more than nine million copies.
Though you won’t see Mr. Rekulak’s name on the covers, he’s written about a dozen of Quirk’s books, cranking them out at night and on weekends when he is consumed by an idea but can’t find a suitable writer. His anonymous works include a supernatural middle-grade series, published under the H. P. Lovecraft-inspired pen name Charles Gilman and a choose-your-own-adventure-style romance novel, as Miranda Clarke.
Photo
The lobby of Quirk Books in Philadelphia. Credit Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times
Now, Mr. Rekulak has finally written a novel he wants to take credit for.
His latest book, “The Impossible Fortress,” is not, strictly, a debut. But it’s the first time Mr. Rekulak has put his name on a work of fiction.
Continue reading the main story
“It was only a matter of time before he came up with an idea that he didn’t want to give away,” Mr. Grahame-Smith said. “He’s a creator as much as he is an editor.”
“The Impossible Fortress” was too personal to hand off, said Mr. Rekulak, 45, who is tall and square-jawed with close-cropped gray hair.
Set in New Jersey in 1987, the novel is a deeply autobiographical coming-of-age story about a computer-loving misfit named Billy, who dreams of being a video game designer and hopes to win a big contest with his questlike game, The Impossible Fortress. (Each chapter opens with a few lines of computer code Mr. Rekulak wrote, and the narrative is filled with nostalgic references to TV shows like “Magnum P.I.” and “Alf” and unfortunate ’80s fashion trends like parachute pants.)
“I knew this was something I wasn’t going to be able to commission because it was just about me,” Mr. Rekulak said.
Photo
Some of Quirk’s biggest hits, from left: “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” and “William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back.”
The novel started out as a series of journal entries. About six years ago, Mr. Rekulak’s father had a stroke, and he began going home to New Jersey each weekend to visit. He bought a notebook and started writing down stories from his childhood.
Mr. Rekulak’s father, a former construction worker and furniture salesman, died four months later. Mr. Rekulak kept writing, with occasional long interruptions to work on Quirk projects. Eventually, he had the blueprint for a novel. He felt awkward about publishing it himself, he said. Instead, he pitched it to a literary agent, who sold it to Simon & Schuster in 2015, for a mid-six-figure sum.
“I didn’t want to do it through Quirk because I didn’t want the people who report to me to have to go out and talk about how great the book was, because that would be the worst,” he said.
Like his protagonist, when he was a boy Mr. Rekulak had spent hours creating rudimentary computer games in which players hunted for treasure and fought dragons.
In college, he studied programming, then took a writing elective and realized he was in the wrong field.
Photo
Some of Quirk Books’ volumes, including “Crafting With Cat Hair,” at its offices. Credit Jessica Kourkounis for The New York Times
“I had a really good imagination and could create these big worlds, but I wasn’t such a good programmer,” he said. “Writing was everything I loved about game design and storytelling, without the annoying code.”
He majored in English at Penn State, and later took an entry-level job in publishing at St. Martin’s Press. After moving to Philadelphia to work at the Running Press, a small, independent publisher, he met David Borgenicht, who had just started Quirk Books and hired Mr. Rekulak as an editor. In 2002, the press started with a catalog that consisted of goofy novelty and gag collections, like a book of lyrics from cheesy 1970s and ’80s songs typeset as poetry and “Field Guide to Stains.”
Eventually, the internet eroded that niche, as humor blogs and YouTube videos rendered one-note joke books pointless. (Quirk still acquires some weird kitschy books, including “Crafting With Cat Hair” and “Broetry,” which is exactly what it sounds like.)
Mr. Rekulak wanted to expand into fiction. But it was hard to find novels that fit with the imprint’s offbeat brand. And since Quirk couldn’t offer big advances — the company typically pays them in the $15,000 range — few queries came in from agents or writers. It was easier to come up with the plots himself.
His first idea was to take a public domain classic and splice it with science fiction or horror. He settled on “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies,” a gory and irreverent Jane Austen mash-up, and assigned it to a young writer, Mr. Grahame-Smith, for a $5,000 advance. It went on to sell more than 1.8 million copies.
Photo
Four of the books anonymously written by Quirk publisher Jason Rekulak.
“I get credited with creating the mash-up, but it was Jason’s idea,” Mr. Grahame-Smith said. “It was at once the best and dumbest idea I’ve ever heard in my life, and it came from Jason’s brain.”
After sales for the book exploded, Mr. Rekulak commissioned a few others, including “Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters.” Other publishers quickly jumped on the trend, with books like “Jane Slayre” and “Wuthering Bites.” Almost overnight, Quirk established itself as an unorthodox hit factory.
Quirk, which occupies a multistory office on a narrow cobblestone street in Philadelphia’s Old City, has 21 employees and publishes about 25 books a year. In his office, Mr. Rekulak has large framed posters for a few of the company’s biggest hits, taped up pieces of fan mail from young readers, and several bookshelves packed with Quirk titles and a few classics by Lovecraft and Thomas Hardy. A manila folder on the floor, labeled “Unicorns,” holds random ideas for books that Mr. Rekulak has collected and stashed away.
Several of Quirk’s most successful writers have left, wooed away by bigger publishers that offered large advances. Mr. Riggs, Mr. Grahame-Smith and Mr. Winters have all moved to major publishers and have had their books optioned for TV and film. Mr. Rekulak views those defections as the inescapable plight of a small publishing house, although sometimes it stings.
But he is keeping the talent incubator running. In 2016, Quirk had its most profitable year. Mr. Rekulak is optimistic about a new flock of Quirk writers, including Ian Doescher, whose bizarre and brainy mash-up of Shakespeare and “Star Wars,” “William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back,” has sold more than 900,000 copies, and Fred Van Lente, a graphic novelist who wrote the forthcoming novel “Ten Dead Comedians,” which blends a classic Agatha Christie locked-room mystery with stand-up comedy.
Mr. Van Lente wrote the novel after Mr. Rekulak approached him with the idea and a plot synopsis. “His ethos is, you don’t have to do it my way, but your way has to be better than mine,” Mr. Van Lente said.
Mr. Rekulak has another Quirk book coming out later this year — an original picture book he wrote that is based on the sci-fi show “The X-Files,” which features the agents Mulder and Scully as kids. His name won’t be on the cover.
Monster mash: the eureka moment for Jason Rekulak came while watching YouTube. Catherine Neilan meets the mad genius behind Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Catherine Neilan
The Bookseller. .5398 (Sept. 4, 2009): p21.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2009 The Bookseller Media Group (Bookseller Media Ltd.)
http://www.thebookseller.com
Listen
Full Text:
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
If you've been living in a cave for most of this year, you may just have missed the phenomenon that is "mash-up literature"--a combination of classic novels, or historical figures, juxtaposed with zombies, vampires and demons.
The first book in this trend, which some are already heralding as a new genre, came from tiny American publisher Quirk Books this spring. The initial print run was 12,500--above average for the company but still relatively small. Jason Rekulak, editorial director at Philadelphia-based Quirk and the man behind Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, says by the end of the year the book is likely to have sold one million copies worldwide--roughly 75% of the publisher's sales this year.
"We're reprinting every week or two weeks, 50,000, 75,000 at a rime. We have a printer's rep bringing us champagne later today--we are among their favourites at the moment."
But it wasn't always like this. It was tough convincing the printers that they would be paid for such relatively large runs at first. "But printers become more accommodating when you have a New York Times bestseller," says Rekulak.
Connecting the lines
The idea for the book came about 18 months ago as Rekulak watched a YouTube-fuelled "mashing up" of trailers and films. "I began wondering how I could do this at Quirk," he says. To avoid copyright infringement, he made a list of authors who had died before 1923--Dickens, Austen, Melville--and a list of things that might enhance the original stories--robots, ninjas, zombies--and began drawing lines between them. "When I got to Pride and Prejudice and zombies, that was it."
After commissioning the book (it was written by LA screenwriter Seth Grahame-Smith, though Austen also gets a credit), Rekulak admits he wasn't sure how it would be received. There were "a lot of blank expressions" from the sales team and he was worried the crossover would put off both Austen and zombie fans. But it tapped into something Rekulak had not anticipated. In the US it has spent more than three months in the Top 50, where it has sold nearly 300,000 copies. In Britain it has shifted over 46,000 copies through Nielsen BookScan since being released there on 20th April.
This time around, Rekulak has gone for "more of a mystery adventure" with Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. When the Dashwood sisters are evicted, they are sent to live on a mysterious island "plagued by monstrosities", borrowing from H G Wells and the TV series "Lost".
The book is due out on the same day as Dan Brown--15th September--but Rekulak shrugs off the competition. He describes the publication date as "smart counter-programming". Although the initial print run is a dwarfed by Random House's 6.5 million copies for its global English-language run, the first printing of Sense ... will be "at least 200,000, possibly 250,000". That will be a record for Quirk.
Rekulak demurs over revealing plans for future mash-ups. "We may move away from Austen in the future but it's nothing I can really talk about fight now." One thing is certain: vampires will not be included. He names at least three Pride and Prejudice-related vampire books other publishers are putting out this autumn alone--Mr Darcy, Vampyre (Sourcebooks); Vampire D'Arcy's Desire (Ulysses Press); and Jane Bites Back (Ballantine Books). "I'm so glad we're doing sea monsters--there are definitely no other sea monsters coming out," he says.
Despite the book's success there are no plans to expand the business as yet. Quirk's list has been reduced from 35-40 titles a year to 25 to allow the team to focus more on the hits. "My feeling would be to bank as many acorns as we can because who knows how many are coming next year," says Rekulak. "In this economy, the book has been a godsend."
CV
Born 1971, New USA
1989-1993 Pennsylvania State University, BA English literature
1993-95 University of Miami MFA, creative writing
1995-97 St Martin's Press, editorial assistant, later assistant editor
1997-99 Quality Paperback Book Club, writer then senior writer
1999-2000 Running Press Book Publishers, editor then senior editor
2000-present Quirk Books, started as senior editor, now editorial director
Neilan, Catherine
QUOT:
has become something of a rock star in the small publishing world, releasing books across categories and finding blockbusters
At quirk books, quirk's the name and the game
John Maher
Publishers Weekly. 264.17 (Apr. 24, 2017): p7.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Listen
Full Text:
Fifteen years ago, the Philadelphia based indie Quirk Books, which started as a book packager for publishers such as Chronicle, began publishing its own books, almost exclusively in the gift category. Today, Quirk--still in Philly, away from the industry's New York hub, and with a full-time staff of 22--has become something of a rock star in the small publishing world, releasing books across categories and finding blockbusters in such books as 2009's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and the 2013 YA hit Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.
The original Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children sold more than 663,000 units last year, while the movie tie-in edition sold another 188,000 copies. according to NPD BookScan. Both PPZ and Peregrine have led to additional books, and the third Peregrine novel. Library of Souls: The Third Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, came out earlier this month.
For Quirk, the method behind its publishing philosophy is simple: live up to the company name. Horrorstor--a book about a haunted Ikea-like store designed in the style of its retail inspiration--is as at home on the publisher's list as Rupi Kaur's illustrated feminist poetry collection Milk and Honey or its recent YA title Geekerella. The press is unafraid to take chances, and its staff feels no need to be pinned down to a specific category or trend.
"The lack of a trend is the trend," said publisher Jason Rekulak, a former Publishers Weekly Star Watch finalist. "We never consciously chase trends. We don't have meetings where we say, 'Well, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is doing really well right now, let's make something like that.' And that's what publishing does. Publishing loves that. 'If 50 Shades of Grey is working, let's get our billionaire erotica on. If Harry Potter is working, let's get our boy wizard on.' We don't really do that."
Quirk keeps to a relatively consistent list of 25 books a year (although the quota isn't strict) with subjects and styles across the map. So far, the strategy has worked: in 2013, Quirk broke $10 million sales level and revenue continues to grow.
"We've more than tripled our revenue in the past five years," said Quirk president Brett Cohen. He added that, though the publisher has traditionally performed particularly well in special markets, "the traditional bookstore and online retail channels have been great lately as well. We've been publishing a lot more fiction, so we've seen a lot more through the traditional book channels. 2016 was our best year yet, and that's coming off of 2015 being our best year, and 2014."
Part of Quirk's success comes from catering to the tastes of its audience, which Cohen calls the "bookish subsect of Comic-Con--the people who like to read high-concept but fun books." That audience, in combination with the 25-per-year pseudolimit, provides Quirk with just enough constraint to breed creativity. "I think it gives us a great flexibility," Cohen said. "It allows us to publish into any category as long as it has that Quirky feel."
Key to Quirk's appeal is its status as a hands-on house with a distinct list. At Comic-Con, Rekulak and Cohen man the booth themselves in lieu of publicity assistants, and Rekulak stresses that he loves "looking for the little guy," i.e., authors who might otherwise get overlooked. Part ofthat comes from simply being out of the industry's Manhattan-centric loop; Rekulak "rarely" gets pitches from agents or pays six figures for a book--although he said that he is "open" to it. Yet often that willingness to search for grain among the chaff pays off.
One example? Seth Grahame-Smith, whose books, including PPZ and Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, have led to a lucrative career in Hollywood; the author recently worked on The Lego Batman Movie and is credited as a producer of the upcoming reboot of It.
To celebrate its 15th anniversary, this month the publisher will roll out BookPop, a "plug-and-play" digital kit Cohen compares to those used for events like Star Wars Reads Day, which librarians and booksellers can download and use to host a sort of pop-up Comic-Con-like event. In addition to downloadable activity kits, signs, and a program guide, BookPop will connect stores and libraries with authors for in-store or digital video appearances. The strategy is textbook Quirk--flexible and fan-focused, with an inclination to branch into new terrain.
"The marketplace is in such flux right now--categories are going down and up, and we're sensitive to that," Rekulak said. "Picture books are exploding; if we ever have the opportunity to do picture books, we should be open to that. There's also a growing market to do something with audio. We're not doing anything different with audio--nothing that nobody else is doing--right now, but I'm thinking about it. You're just going where the readers are."
Caption: The Quirk Books booth laid out for sales at Comic-Con.
Stories about stories
Neal Wyatt
Library Journal. 142.4 (Mar. 1, 2017): p103.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Listen
Full Text:
[....]
THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS (S. & S. Feb. 2017. ISBN 9781501144417. $24; ebk. ISBN 9781501144431), a debut by Jason Rekulak, has the charm of the movie The Goonies, the geek chic of Ernest Cline's Ready Player One, and even a touch of Anne Alexander's The Pink Dress--which is to say it is a bright, fun, empathetic coming-of-age story set to the beat of Phil Collins when the Commodore 64 was cutting edge. Billy is programming a game on his computer, while his two best friends are hatching a plot to acquire an issue of Playboy--at first because Vanna White is on the cover but then to rake in cash by copying the photos and selling them to nearly every boy in school. The what-could-go-wrong plot puts Billy into contact with Mary, who codes better than he does and whose father owns the only store in town with the coveted magazine.
QUOTE:
Although it's being marketed as adult fiction, it's full of clueless boys, consequence-free adventures and generous helpings of adolescent humor, all served up with a kind smile.
"The Impossible Fortress" has a questing narrative at its heart.
'The Impossible Fortress,' by Jason Rekulak
Steve Donoghue
Washingtonpost.com. (Mar. 8, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 The Washington Post
Listen
Full Text:
Byline: Steve Donoghue
As the publisher of Quirk Books, Jason Rekulak has brought the reading public a fan favorite: "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," by Ransom Riggs. Riggs's book -- along with all its sequels -- has soared in popularity through the combination of whimsy and stagy nostalgia that fuels so much of the young-adult lit craze. And now Rekulak has taken off his publisher's hat and written a novel of his own, "The Impossible Fortress." Although it's being marketed as adult fiction, it's full of clueless boys, consequence-free adventures and generous helpings of adolescent humor, all served up with a kind smile.
"The Impossible Fortress" has a questing narrative at its heart. The year is 1987, and in the small town of Wetbridge, N.J., 14-year-old Billy Marvin's life is pretty good. His doting mother works a late shift at the grocery store, leaving him free to invite his friends Alf and Clark over to his house for Pop-Tarts, marathon sessions of Monopoly and endless hours of TV. The three are high school misfits, but their world is fairly satisfying . . . until the new issue of Playboy arrives at Zelinsky's Typewriters and Office Supplies.
On the cover of that new Playboy is America's sweetheart: "'Wheel of Fortune' was one of the most popular shows on television, and hostess Vanna White was the pride of our nation, a small-town girl from Myrtle Beach who rocketed to fame and fortune by flipping letters in word puzzles."
The boys aren't old enough to buy the magazine, and Mr. Zelinsky is a fierce upholder of the rules, and so begins "Operation Vanna," as Billy, Alf and Clark devise one plan after another to get their hands on their new Holy Grail. They pay a smooth-talking adult to buy three issues for them (he pockets their cash); they try to bluff their way past Mr. Zelinsky's vigilance ("This isn't a toy store," he growls); and they let high school bad-boy Tyler Bell talk them into a roof-hopping plan to break into the shop by night. As Alf says, "Zelinsky finds some extra money in his cash register. We bring home Vanna White. It's win-win."
Of course, all these plans quickly go wrong, but you don't read this novel for its plot twists. Rather, you relish the book's countless callbacks to the 1980s: Every TV show, Hollywood star, snack food, video game, brand name and especially every song is duly name-checked to the extent that Phil Collins could demand a cut of the sales. In the way of so many first novels, this scene-setting is drastically overdone, but the whole thing is brought off with a sweet neatness nonetheless. The only thing missing is the warm "Wonder Years" voice-over.
Steve Donoghue is managing editor of the online magazine Open Letters Monthly.
QUOTE:
unexpected retro delight
The Impossible Fortress
Erin Downey Howerton
Booklist.
113.8 (Dec. 15, 2016): p20.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
* The Impossible Fortress.
By Jason Rekulak.
Feb. 2017.288p. Simon & Schuster, $26 (9781501144417).
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The year is 1987, Billy is happily ignoring his failing grades in favor of teaching himself programming on his home
computer, and his buddies have cooked up a money-making scheme selling copies of Vanna White's newly released
nudes--which they don't yet own. When they throw Billy at Mary Zelinsky, a local shopkeeper's daughter who could
help them get the pictures, he discovers that Mary is an ace programmer after his own heart but also way above his skill
level. The pace beats steadily along, like Hall & Oates' dreams coming true, as the two race towards a contest deadline
for creating a computer game that could break them into the big time. Unfortunately, they each have secrets that
threaten their success. The gang can't believe Billy's been seduced by Mary's coding prowess, and the crude rumors
about Mary might have a basis in truth. Rekulak layers in nostalgic '80s references, like a mixtape created by Mary's
recently deceased mother, an oblique nod to Beetlejuice, and the wacky group of misfit friends with a "really good"
plan. Despite all that, in the end the plot manages to magically subvert the time period while also paying homage to it.
An unexpected retro delight. --Erin Downey Howerton
YA: YA readers should easily find familiarity with this novel's 14-year-old protagonist and his get-rich-quick schemes,
burgeoning romance, and computer-game obsessions. SH.
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Howerton, Erin Downey. "The Impossible Fortress." Booklist, 15 Dec. 2016, p. 20. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA476563443&it=r&asid=baca33db0242f5a7789330cc0ad9e47d.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A476563443
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 2/15
QUOTE:
fun ride that will appeal to all
The Impossible Fortress
Publishers Weekly.
263.48 (Nov. 28, 2016): p40.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
The Impossible Fortress
Jason Rekulak. Simon & Schuster, $26 (288p) ISBN 978-1-5011-4441-7
Infused with 1980s music, pop culture, and plenty of the BASIC computer programming language, Rekulak's debut
offers a charmingly vintage take on geek love, circa 1987 in New Jersey. Fourteen-year-old Billy Marvin's aspiration is
to be a premier video game designer. When Billy and his friends' plans to obtain the desirable Vanna White issue of
Playboy from a local stationery shop backfire, Billy meets his match in the owner's daughter, Mary, a brilliant computer
programmer. She and Billy join forces to improve Billy's flawed game designs in the hopes of winning a contest. Billy's
embarrassed to admit his attraction to somewhat chubby Mary, instead allowing his friends to believe he's just using her
to get close to Vanna. The interplay between Billy and his loser friends is amusing, and Mary's character--quietly
excelling at what's viewed as a boy's pastime--is sympathetically drawn. A late-in-the-game caper to penetrate an
Impossible Fortress (Mary's girls-only Catholic school) ups the ante. Rekulak's novel'will have readers of a certain age
waxing nostalgic about Space Invaders and humming Hall and Oates, but it's still a fun ride that will appeal to all.
(Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"The Impossible Fortress." Publishers Weekly, 28 Nov. 2016, p. 40. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA473149871&it=r&asid=f42775a7ae4788e79174f2f3e5bea3f9.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A473149871
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 3/15
QUOTE:
Joyfully evoked with period details and pop-culture references, 1980s nostalgia is the only excuse for marketing this
book to adults; otherwise, Rekulak's debut is a middle-grade novel all the way. A good one!
Rekulak, Jason: THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS
Kirkus Reviews.
(Nov. 15, 2016):
COPYRIGHT 2016 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Rekulak, Jason THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS Simon & Schuster (Adult Fiction) $26.00 2, 2 ISBN: 978-1-5011-
4441-7
In a small town in North Jersey in the late 1980s, a 14-year-old boy and his Commodore 64 find love and trouble.It all
starts with the Vanna White issue of Playboy, which in the era of Tipper Gore and Jerry Falwell, "no shopkeeper in
America was going to sell...to a fourteen-year-old boy." But Billy Marvin and his two best friends, Alf (looks just like
the alien Alf on TV) and Clark (incredibly handsome but with a congenitally deformed left hand), sure as hell won't let
that stop them. These are boys who have rented Kramer vs. Kramer from the video store more than a dozen times
solely to fast-forward to the "fifty-three seconds of jaw-dropping full-frontal nudity" when Dustin Hoffman's hot onenight
stand gets out of bed to use the bathroom. (It's the very best PG-13 has to offer.) The only place in town that sells
Playboy is Zelinsky's Typewriters and Office Supplies, located in the small, dying downtown. During their first attempt
to get the magazine--they dress in suits and try to pass for businessmen--Billy meets Mary Zelinsky, a "fat girl" who is
as obsessed with computer programming as he is. She is far more advanced. His biggest achievement so far is a game
called Strip Poker with Christie Brinkley (Christie is formed from slashes, parentheses, and other symbols) while Mary
has digitized the music of Phil Collins. Together, they develop a game called The Impossible Fortress to enter in a
contest for young programmers. Working beside Mary is for Billy like "finger painting next to Pablo Picasso." But
while he is falling in love, Clark and Alf have developed a much more complicated and dangerous scheme for
liberating the Playboy magazines. Unfortunately, the criminal caper and the big reveal that follows it aren't believable.
Joyfully evoked with period details and pop-culture references, 1980s nostalgia is the only excuse for marketing this
book to adults; otherwise, Rekulak's debut is a middle-grade novel all the way. A good one!
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Rekulak, Jason: THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2016. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA469865891&it=r&asid=0af4209c59f1d373764859ca0ebd2aa7.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A469865891
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 4/15
Gilman, Charles. Substitute Creature: Tales from
QUOTE:
Love conquers all, the monsters are vanquished, lessons are learned and taken to heart, and
the young protagonists survive
Lovecraft Middle School, No.4
Jane Murphy
Voice of Youth Advocates.
36.5 (Dec. 2013): p74.
COPYRIGHT 2013 E L Kurdyla Publishing LLC
http://www.voya.com
Full Text:
4Q * 4P * M. J
Gilman, Charles. Substitute Creature: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School, No.4. Quirk Books, 2013. 176p. $13.99.
978-1-59474640-6.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
The fourth installment of this fun series is reminiscent of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and the myriad knock-offs of this
genre, this time intended for middle graders and early middle school readers. It is written much like the Goosebumps
series. Black-and-white illustrations grace the pages, and the characters are likable and realistic, albeit fantastic in the
true sense of the word. Young Robert Arthur attends Lovecraft Middle School, founded on the ruins of Tillinghast
Mansion. The fourth volume introduces Miss Carcasse. On Valentine's Day, Robert and his seventh-grade buddy Glenn
find themselves in a near-miss situation and are saved by the trusty school custodian, Mac. Robert's love interest is a
girl named Karina who has been dead for thirty years. She is a ghost. A two-headed rat named Pip and Squeak also
serves as a sidekick. When a mysterious blizzard aids and abets Miss Carcasse in her attempts to wreak havoc on the
school, the children must resolve the dilemma. Lionel, a spoiled, wealthy student must show his true colors, and
Crawford Tillinghast himself intervenes.
This series is sure to please. Love conquers all, the monsters are vanquished, lessons are learned and taken to heart, and
the young protagonists survive.--Jane Murphy.
Murphy, Jane
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Murphy, Jane. "Gilman, Charles. Substitute Creature: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School, No.4." Voice of Youth
Advocates, Dec. 2013, p. 74. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA353516821&it=r&asid=09a5846f1af0a1ad8bf651cf909ae774.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A353516821
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 5/15
QUOTE:
s always, Gilman punctuates the fast-moving
action and gross-out set pieces (including a Dumpster full of maggots) with the delicate matters of young friendships.
Teacher's Pest
Daniel Kraus
Booklist.
109.22 (Aug. 1, 2013): p93.
COPYRIGHT 2013 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Teacher's Pest. By Charles Gilman. Illus. by Eugene Smith. 2013. 176p. Quirk, $13.99 (9781594746147). Gr.4-6.
This latest entry in the reliable Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series finds the evil Crawford Tillinghast and his
summoned beasts--existing just beyond the living realm of the school--rounding up the troops for the upcoming "Great
War." Who are the troops? Bugs. Lots and lots of bugs. Robert and Glenn first notice the infestation via a horrendous
ice outbreak, but soon the halls are seething with ants, fleas, gnats, mosquitoes, and more. When the creatures disappear
beneath the school to bulk up on meals of trash, the boys, plus ghost girl Karina, scuttle down the service tunnels to do
a little extermination--and rescue their two-headed pet rat, of course. As always, Gilman punctuates the fast-moving
action and gross-out set pieces (including a Dumpster full of maggots) with the delicate matters of young friendships.
Smith's black-and-white illustrations are a big boon, especially when conveying the bizarre (a pile of goo with multiple
eyeballs). The 3-D cover will grab 'em. And you can reassure horror addicts more volumes are slithering our way.--
Daniel Kraus
Kraus, Daniel
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Kraus, Daniel. "Teacher's Pest." Booklist, 1 Aug. 2013, p. 93. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA342873802&it=r&asid=5b5b954330db5ffa44b3b571815bbd1f.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A342873802
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 6/15
QUOTE:
Lovecraftian gibberish
("Y'golonac chaugnar faugn") and beasties (ably sketched by Smith) keep this fast, fun, and adequately disgusting.
The Slither Sisters
Daniel Kraus
Booklist.
109.13 (Mar. 1, 2013): p61.
COPYRIGHT 2013 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
The Slither Sisters. By Charles Gilman. Illus. by Eugene Smith. 2013. 176p. Quirk, $13.99 (9781594745935). Gr. 4-6.
Following Professor Gargoyle (2012), this second outing in the promising Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series
introduces Sarah and Sylvia Price, popular 13-year-old twins who turn into revolting snake girls with eight-inch
tongues once you cross through the portal between middle school and haunted Tillinghast Mansion. It's up to Robert,
Glenn, and ghost girl Karina to stop the "snakesisters" from leading the whole school to doom. Lovecraftian gibberish
("Y'golonac chaugnar faugn") and beasties (ably sketched by Smith) keep this fast, fun, and adequately disgusting.
Great teaser for volume three, too.--Daniel Kraus
Kraus, Daniel
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Kraus, Daniel. "The Slither Sisters." Booklist, 1 Mar. 2013, p. 61. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA322479534&it=r&asid=0b1a33365ed3fbce549dcbaf00e1c528.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A322479534
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 7/15
QUOTE:
easy-on-the-brain text will keep readers reading.
Gilman, Charles: TEACHER'S PEST
Kirkus Reviews.
(Mar. 1, 2013):
COPYRIGHT 2013 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gilman, Charles TEACHER'S PEST Quirk Books (Children's Fiction) $13.99 5, 7 ISBN: 978-1-59474-614-7
Insectile legions led by demons from dimensions beyond threaten poor beleaguered Lovecraft Middle School. When
last readers left seventh-grader Robert Arthur, he had just saved the students of LMS (and by extension, the world) for
a second time from the encroachments of Cthulhuian otherness and the insanity of crazed physicist Crawford
Tillinghast. Unfortunately, Robert had also helped one of Tillinghast's minions get elected student body president. Now
that president, Howard Mergler, seems to have a secret plan to further his master's scheme to take over first the school
and then our whole dimension. Only Robert, his two-headed rat, his erstwhile bully Glenn and ghost girl Karina stand
in the way. Glenn's acting weird (even for him), and Robert fears his mind may not be his own. Is the world doomed?
Gilman's third Lovecraft Middle School title continues the unearthly adventures of Robert and his friends as they
defend the school from extradimensional attack. The motion-activated cover of Howard morphing into a giant fly will
attract attention, and the often funny (and not-too-scary), easy-on-the-brain text will keep readers reading. It is more
advisable with this volume than the first sequel, The Slither Sisters (2012), that readers start with the first, but it's still
not vital. Good, gross and ghoulish. Thankfully Substitute Creature's only a summer away. (Humorous horror. 9-12)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Gilman, Charles: TEACHER'S PEST." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2013. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA320397684&it=r&asid=7f1e262f5203dd83ac27febf8c489921.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A320397684
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 8/15
QUOTE:
It's another slightly creepy, often funny read that doesn't require much of its audience (least of all knowledge of the
works of H.P. Lovecraft)
Gilman, Charles: THE SLITHER SISTERS
Kirkus Reviews.
(Nov. 15, 2012):
COPYRIGHT 2012 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gilman, Charles THE SLITHER SISTERS Quirk Books (Children's Fiction) $13.99 1, 15 ISBN: 978-1-59474-593-5
Ancient squirming evil from dark dimensions beyond threatens to take over the world--starting with the student-council
presidency. In series opener Professor Gargoyle (2012), Lovecraft Middle School seventh-grader Robert Arthur and his
former nemesis, Glenn Torkells, saved their new school from the eldritch demon inhabiting Professor Goyle's body.
Now, crazed physicist Crawford Tillinghast, currently trapped in another dimension, is attempting to take over
Lovecraft Middle School by gaining control of the student council with his minions, two snake-haired demons
disguised as popular girls Sarah and Sylvia Price. Can Robert and Glenn defeat the dimension-hopping monsters with
the help of ghost girl Karina and slightly creepy librarian Ms. Lavinia, or will the cthulhu hordes overrun us all?
Gilman's second entry picks up where the first left off and adeptly sets up the third, to be released two months hence.
It's another slightly creepy, often funny read that doesn't require much of its audience (least of all knowledge of the
works of H.P. Lovecraft). Occasional action-packed and monster-filled black-and-white illustrations and another
motion-activated lenticular cover add eye-catching zest. Though it can stand alone, much is set up in the first book.
Worth a look for fans of Spiderwick and the ever-living Goosebumps. (Humorous horror. 9-12)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Gilman, Charles: THE SLITHER SISTERS." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Nov. 2012. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA308117191&it=r&asid=27f142f3b56f6fb7c4d5467e95c27f6e.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A308117191
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 9/15
QUOTE:
All in all, this is well pitched for
reluctant readers,
Professor Gargoyle
Daniel Kraus
Booklist.
109.1 (Sept. 1, 2012): p124.
COPYRIGHT 2012 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Professor Gargoyle. By Charles Gilman. Illus. by Eugene Smith. Sept. 2012. 176p. Quirk, $13.99 (9781594745911).
Gr. 4-6.
Due to unfortunate redistricting, Robert is starting seventh grade at a brand-new school, and the only kid he knows is
his least-favorite bully. Even worse, Professor Goyle is the meanest science teacher alive. Even worse than that, the
school is crawling with rats, some of them two-headed. At least that girl Karina seems nice--until she vanishes. Then
two other girls go missing. But why is Goyle so unconcerned? And why does he say it's all part of the plan of the
"Great Old Ones"? This first book in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series is slavish in its devotion to its
namesake, introducing the tentacled monsters of which Lovecraft was so fond and entering into Goyle's dialogue such
fun gibberish as "Shub-niggurath! K'hala dorsath fa!" Smith's sketches are mostly earnest, though the drawing of
Goyle's mouth opening very wide to eat a hamster provides good shock value. All in all, this is well pitched for
reluctant readers, and though the final confrontation is anticlimactic, there's a heck of a teaser for book two.--Daniel
Kraus
Kraus, Daniel
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Kraus, Daniel. "Professor Gargoyle." Booklist, 1 Sept. 2012, p. 124. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA302463605&it=r&asid=ac043c538fd721d67eb42bce64f94ee0.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A302463605
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 10/15
QUOTE:
fans of Goosebumps and other lightly creepy fare will look forward to spending more time with a series
that even manages to find the dark side of recycling.
Professor Gargoyle
Publishers Weekly.
259.32 (Aug. 6, 2012): p55.
COPYRIGHT 2012 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Professor Gargoyle
Charles Gilman, illus. by Eugene Smith. Quirk, $13.99 (176p) ISBN 978-1-59474-591-1
The Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series launches with a story that pays tribute to the tentacled horrors from the
imagination of H.P. Lovecraft. Seventh-grader Robert Arthur (nods to Heinlein and Clarke, perhaps?) is part of the first
class to attend state-of-the-art Lovecraft Middle School; unfortunately for Robert, the only kid he knows is a bully from
his old school, Glenn Torkells. It's soon apparent that things at Lovecraft are not what they seem: a plague of rats freaks
out the student body on the first day, and Robert discovers a mysterious attic in the school's expansive library. When
students start to disappear, Robert, Glenn, and Robert's new friend Karina try to figure out what's going on and what it
has to do with surly science teacher Professor Garfield Goyle (the book's eye-catching lenticular cover shows Goyle
morphing from bearded teacher to red demon). Smith's occasional b&w spot illustrations contribute to the otherworldly
atmosphere; fans of Goosebumps and other lightly creepy fare will look forward to spending more time with a series
that even manages to find the dark side of recycling. Ages 9-up. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Professor Gargoyle." Publishers Weekly, 6 Aug. 2012, p. 55+. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA299061737&it=r&asid=cc1565092a07baa3bc095d60d3d641cd.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A299061737
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 11/15
QUOTE:
slick, scary, funny package. Delectable hints of ageappropriate,
Lovecraftian Otherness-with none of the purple prose.
Gilman, Charles: PROFESSOR GARGOYLE
Kirkus Reviews.
(Aug. 1, 2012):
COPYRIGHT 2012 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Gilman, Charles PROFESSOR GARGOYLE Quirk Books (Children's Fiction) $13.99 9, 25 ISBN: 978-1-59474-591-1
Can unnameable forces of ancient evil be recycled? Eleven-year-old Robert Arthur has been redistricted. While his
friends in Dunwich, Mass., attend Franklin Middle School, he has to attend Lovecraft Middle School. Lovecraft is
brand new (though some fixtures and other building materials came from a demolished, possibly haunted local
mansion), and everything in the school is state of the art, but Robert is totally alone-except for Glenn Torkells, who
daily extorts a dweeb tax from Robert (just like he did all through elementary school). Strange occurrences start on day
one, when every student finds a rat in their locker. A trip to the school library lands Robert in a strange, dusty attic,
where he acquires a two-headed stowaway in his backpack. Pip and Squeak (the polycephalic rat) infuriates the science
teacher, Professor Garfield Goyle, who turns out to be much more (scary) than he at first appears. Can Robert and his
new friend Karina solve enough of the mysteries surrounding their school to survive? Gilman's debut and series kickoff
will be great fun for fans of light horror. The changing image on the cover will snag interest, and the spookily
realistic black-and-white illustrations throughout complete this slick, scary, funny package. Delectable hints of ageappropriate,
Lovecraftian Otherness-with none of the purple prose. (Humorous horror. 9-12)
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
"Gilman, Charles: PROFESSOR GARGOYLE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Aug. 2012. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA298255681&it=r&asid=a0123ca2f93c673ba463e03198affc08.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A298255681
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 12/15
Rekulak, Jason. The Impossible Fortress
Tara Kehoe
School Library Journal.
63.5 (May 2017): p111.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
REKULAK, Jason. The Impossible Fortress. 304p. S. & S. Feb. 2017. Tr $24. ISBN 9781501144417.
It all starts with 14-year-old Billy and his friends scheming to get their hands on the Vanna White edition of Playboy
magazine, and, not surprisingly, it all goes downhill from there, as Billy readily admits. It's 1987, when computers are
still running BASIC and the Internet as we know it does not exist. But there's sex, drugs, and rock and roll--and
computer games. During the boys' first harebrained scheme to acquire the magazine, Billy is intrigued by Mary, a girl
he notices programming on one of the display computers in the store. The two strike up a tentative friendship as they
rewrite Billy's computer game, the Impossible Fortress, for submission in a gaming contest. By now Billy has
completely lost interest in the magazine heist and begins to believe that he might have a chance at winning the contest
and the girl. But his buddies get caught up in ever more elaborate and ultimately dangerous scenarios, eventually
dragging Billy down with them. Teens will relate to the protagonist and his friends as they stumble their way through
the byzantine world of high school, girls, and their own dawning sexuality. Chapter headings include a section of code,
which will attract aspiring programmers, and there is a live version of the game available on the author's website.
VERDICT Strongly recommended for fans of nerd culture and 1980s throwbacks such as Stranger Things, though
Billy's wry narration and the novel's crazy shenanigans may draw in a broader audience of readers looking for
irreverent humor.--Gretchen Crowley, formerly at Alexandria City Public Libraries, VA
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Kehoe, Tara. "Rekulak, Jason. The Impossible Fortress." School Library Journal, May 2017, p. 111+. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA491032196&it=r&asid=f1d576368b8ef58e5dc4e07a53f5117a.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A491032196
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 13/15
Gilman, Charles. The Slither Sisters
QUOTE:
The pace as
well as the spot art will keep readers hooked, and a cliff-hanger of sorts will keep them asking for more.
Brenda Kahn
School Library Journal.
59.5 (May 2013): p110.
COPYRIGHT 2013 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
GILMAN, Charles. The Slither Sisters. Bk. 2. illus, by Eugene Smith. 172p. (Tales from Lovecraft Middle School
Series). Quirk. 2013. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-159474-593-5; ebook $13.99. ISBN 978-159474-594-2.
Gr 6-8--This book picks up where Professor Gargoyle (Quirk, 2012) left off. The Price twins are back, but something is
decidedly not right about them and seventh-grader Robert Arthur and his new friends Glenn and Karina are determined
to get to the bottom of it all. But first, he needs to run for student-council president, because Sarah Price is running
against the dorky Howard Mergler, who doesn't stand a chance against her. She and her sister, Sylvia, are both
slithering snake monsters in disguise. It seems that the school was built with materials recycled from remnants of a
haunted mansion, and monsters are conspiring to take over the school. Only Robert, Glenn, and Karina, who is a ghost,
know about it. This fast-paced, humorous tale will appeal to fans of horror along the lines of R. L. Stine. The pace as
well as the spot art will keep readers hooked, and a cliff-hanger of sorts will keep them asking for more. It is best to
start with book one, but not totally necessary.--Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ
Kahn, Brenda
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Kahn, Brenda. "Gilman, Charles. The Slither Sisters." School Library Journal, May 2013, p. 110. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA328418655&it=r&asid=14bf2dae6b57c5a2d294dcfa626d4a57.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A328418655
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 14/15
QUOTE:
The mysteries of Lovecraft offer plenty of excitement, and reluctant readers will
likely stick around to see just how this story ends.
Gilman, Charles. Professor Gargoyle
Wayne R. Cherry, Jr.
School Library Journal.
58.11 (Nov. 2012): p105.
COPYRIGHT 2012 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
Full Text:
GILMAN, Charles. Professor Gargoyle. Bk. 1. illus, by Eugene Smith. 160p. (Strange Tales from Lovecraft Middle
School Series). Quirk. 2012. Tr $13.99. ISBN 978-1-59474-591-1; ebook $13.99. ISBN 978-1-59474-592-8.
Gr 6-8--It's the first day of school for Robert Arthur. Lovecraft Middle School is housed in a brand-new building with a
vast library, a state-of-the-art technology lab, and quite a few secrets. The first secret it reveals, unfortunately, is that
Robert's childhood nemesis, Glenn Torkells, is there, but all of his friends have been sent to another school. After the
day begins with an unexpected surprise in the student lockers, Robert arrives in science class and meets Professor
Garfield Goyle, the strangest teacher he has ever had. When he finds the last (and greatest) of Lovecraft's secrets in the
attic of the library, the truth behind the school emerges and Robert and his new ally, none other than Glenn Torkells,
must join forces with an unlikely group of kids to battle the ghosts of the past that lurk in the shadows. This first entry
in a series is a fun read and leaves readers guessing about what may come next. Occasional pencil illustrations
complement the story quite well. The mysteries of Lovecraft offer plenty of excitement, and reluctant readers will
likely stick around to see just how this story ends.--Wayne R. Cherry, Jr., First Baptist Academy Library, Houston, TX
Cherry, Wayne R., Jr.
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Cherry, Wayne R., Jr. "Gilman, Charles. Professor Gargoyle." School Library Journal, Nov. 2012, p. 105+. General
OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA308003838&it=r&asid=3d9719c065ab99e2ce2ef11bff6e6fac.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A308003838
10/1/2017 General OneFile - Saved Articles
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MARK_LIST&userGroupName=schlager&inPS=true&prodId=ITOF&ts=1506880353382 15/15
Rekulak, Jason. The Impossible Fortress
Dan Forrest
Xpress Reviews.
(Dec. 23, 2016): p4.
COPYRIGHT 2016 Library Journals, LLC
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews-first_look_at_new.html.csp
Full Text:
Rekulak, Jason. The Impossible Fortress. S. & S. Feb. 2017. 304p. ISBN 9781501144417. $24; ebk. ISBN
9781501144431. F
[DEBUT] In 1987, freshman Billy Marvin is flunking out of high school because when he's not hanging out with his
fellow misfits, he is creating computer games on his Commodore 64. But his life changes when a friend reveals his
latest get-rich-quick scheme, which involves the new Vanna White issue of Playboy and the color copier at his mom's
office. In the process, Billy meets Mary Zelinsky, who is as equally passionate about computers as he is. Fortunately,
the scheme provides an excuse for Billy to hang out with Mary and even collaborate on a game for an upcoming
contest and a chance to win a brand new IBM PC and the princely sum of $4,000. In navigating new feelings and
hidden obstacles in his quest, Billy finds his life growing ever more complicated. Readers who came of age in the
1980s will enjoy the many period references (such as the percussive genius of Phil Collins's solo work), but these do
not intrude enough to deter younger readers.
Verdict This debut novel by the publisher of Quirk Books feels like a sort of spiritual prequel to Ernest Cline's Ready
Player One, with a young protagonist adrift in a sea of pop culture and new technology, trying to figure out his future.--
Dan Forrest, Western Kentucky Univ. Libs., Bowling Green
Source Citation (MLA 8
th Edition)
Forrest, Dan. "Rekulak, Jason. The Impossible Fortress." Xpress Reviews, 23 Dec. 2016, p. 4. General OneFile,
go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA476730318&it=r&asid=6dcfe3661e81e6ecc0f33e9f704d73d0.
Accessed 1 Oct. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A476730318
Review: Substitute Creature by Charles Gilman
19/11/2013, CelineNyx, Review , 0 Comments
Title: Substitute Creature
Author: Charles Gilman
Series: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School
Rating: 4/5 Stars
171 pages
Published September 24th 2013 by Quirk Books
Review copy received from publisher
Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
My favourite book in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School yet!
A huge blizzard traps Robert and his mother together with the concierge and a substitute teacher in Lovecraft Middle School. Soon Robert and Karina, the ghost of a girl that can’t leave the school, discover that the blizzard is a cover unnatural creatures to enter the world.
I loved the monsters in Substitute Creature. They’re scary and adorable at the same time, and the illustrations made my day. After all the gross insect-like monsters we’ve encountered so far, it was great to have a bit more cuddly monsters. I liked the setting of the snowed in school, being unable to have contact with the outside world makes it all seem more real somehow.
There is some slight romantic development between Robert and Karina which is absolutely adorable. Middle grade book romance is the best. YA books should take a page from this on how to have a sweet but non-scary crush on someone.
I also feel like the stakes are getting higher in every book. Although Substitute CreatureM doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, there are a lot of unresolved questions that I’m sure will be addressed in the next book. I’m looking forward to the next book, I feel that Mr Gilman is improving his writing in every new release.
Blurb
When a giant nor’easter dumps a blanket of snow on the village of Dunwich, Massachussetts, Robert Arthur and his friends find themselves marooned inside Lovecraft Middle School. The kids have no choice but to spend the night—while snacking on cafeteria food, sleeping on classroom floors, and facing off against a mysterious substitute teacher who may have a sinister secret. The latest adventure in the Lovecraft Middle School series features more adventures, more outrageous monsters, and another terrifying lenticular cover!
QUOTE:
Fun, freaky and fast-paced, this novel is perfect for those pre-teens who find themselves enjoying a darker style of entertainment but aren’t quite ready for teen content.
Book Review: SUBSTITUTE CREATURE (TALES FROM LOVECRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL #4)
PrintE-mail WRITTEN BY CARA FIELDER
Substitute Creature Review
Review: Substitute Creature – Tales From Lovecraft Middle School #4 / Author: Charles Gilman / Publisher: Quirk Books / Release Date: Out Now
Substitute Creature is the fourth in the Tales From Lovecraft Middle School series by Charles Gilman but can also be read as a standalone novel. Aimed at approximately 9-11 year olds, the collection follows the continuing adventures of twelve-year-old Robert Arthur.
We meet Robert and his best friend Glenn Torkells as they balance precariously on a narrow ledge, four floors up at Lovecraft Middle School. As you may have guessed, this isn’t your average academic institution. The boys have discovered that the school was built on the remains of Tillinghurst Mansion, the home of mad physicist Crawford Tillinghurst. His bungled experiments have led to the mansion still existing in a parallel universe which can be accessed by portals scattered throughout the school. Through these gates numerous creatures such as snake people and giant insects have appeared to wreak havoc in the school. In this latest instalment, the danger comes from a new librarian who might well be a zombie. What terrible creatures is she trying to free into the school?
Horror for pre-teens is a small genre but when composed well has the potential to reach cult status, as was achieved by the well loved Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. Tales From Lovecraft Middle School has all the ingredients to follow in the same footsteps with superb characters, imaginative creatures and fabulous illustrations. The first thing you’ll notice is the cover, a holographic image of the ‘substitute creature’ herself that turns from normal lady to grinning demon in a way that could unnerve an adult let alone children. Fun, freaky and fast-paced, this novel is perfect for those pre-teens who find themselves enjoying a darker style of entertainment but aren’t quite ready for teen content.
7/10
Review: Teacher’s Pest by Charles Gilman
07/05/2013, CelineNyx, Review , 0 Comments
Title: Teacher’s Pest
Author: Charles Gilman
Series: Tales from Lovecraft Middle School
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
170 pages
Published May 7th 2013 by Quirk Books
ARC received from the publisher
Goodreads | Author | Publisher | Amazon Paperback| Book Depository
The third book in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School, Teacher’s Pest features alternate dimensions, portals, a ghostly friend and a two-headed pet, and a ton of creepy crawlies on top.
The school seems to be overridden with bugs lately. The teachers say it’s because the janitors are on a strike – but Robert knows there is more to the pest than meets the eye. Together with his friends he sets out to stop a crazy scientist from overthrowing humanity.
The Tales from Lovecraft Middle School are extremely fast reads. It takes me about an hour, maybe two to finish one of them. The writing style is very clear and easy to follow, and I think these books would be great for kids that have difficulty reading. They have a nice clear-cut science-fiction/horror kind of plot. All of the books follow a self-contained story, but now the series is starting to span more books the over-arcing plot line is starting to show too. I love following the progress of both the plot and the characters throughout the books. Things are getting more and more interesting, and I’m quite looking forward to the next instalment, Substitute Creature.
The other side of the coin is that the first few chapters of Teacher’s Pest still felt a bit choppy. It takes a while for the central plot line to kick in, but once it does the book is great. I do see improvement in writing throughout the books, but there is still just that little bit to be done until these books will turn from good to awesome for me.
A fair warning: Teacher’s Pest is not for the squeamish or insect-o-fobes. Remember the scene in Fellowship of the Ring where the hobbits hide under a tree and the insects are crawling all over them? Well, there is a lot of that. I personally hate everything with more than four legs, so I shuddered quite a lot during Teacher’s Pest.
Blurb
DON’T BE FOOLED by his friendly smile, his perfect manners, or his shiny red apple. Student council president Howard Mergler is actually a sinister bug-monster in disguise—and he’s summoning swarms of roaches, wasps, fleas, and head lice into the corridors of Lovecraft Middle School! Twelve-year-old Robert Arthur is the only student who can stop him–but he’ll need help from his best friends: the school bully, the school ghost, and an extremely courageous two-headed rat.
This third novel in the Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Professor Gargoyle and The Slither Sisters ended—with more action, more adventure, and more outrageous monsters!