My friend and fine author of strange stories, Simon Strantzas, has posted a wonderful review of The Darkly Splendid Realm, which you can read here.
One of the most flattering comments Simon made was:
"I honestly believe there is no one writing like Richard Gavin today..."
That's always exhilarating to see.
You see, I have a near-fanatical desire to only publish stories that are unlike anything else in the genre, past or present. I may not always succeed, but will always make an earnest attempt. My tales may contain familiar themes or images from time to time, but I strive to address the issues and convey the ambiances that are important to me, the kinds of elements that are deep-rooted in my consciousness. This is not some "Me vs. The World" syndrome, it is something far more positive. I'm obsessed with honing and refining my weird horrors until the final product is something a reader is not likely to find elsewhere. I feel I owe it to myself, my readers, and the field of horror in general to avoid echoing that which has already been written, either by myself or by others.
Simon's comments are a great vindication of these efforts.
