Nick Barrens

I am a writer who was raised by a librarian who was an ardent fan of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. She fed her children a steady stream of shlock 1950's and 60's era science fiction and horror. I became an obsessive Twilight Zone fan, and still regularly read reprints of Tales From the Crypt comics from before Congress ruined that industry in the 50's. Inspiration, of course, comes from everywhere, but style is a hallmark of our influences, and these are mine.

My favorite humans are the late great Harlan Ellison and Christopher Hitchens. Men who elevated brilliance to an art form, who raised the average IQ of any room by merely having their name cross the consciousnesses of any single person therein. I think Stanley Kurbrick may be the greatest film director of all time, even while acknowledging my love of John Carpenter, Rod Serling, and George Romero.

I may never be as good as these individuals, though I shall always strive to.

Like Rod Serling, I do not stick with a single genre. A great story works within it's genre, and the genre needs to matter to the narrative. It shouldn't take place in a spaceship just because it sounds cool. There should be a good reason. Character motivations should fit the setting, the genre should impact the narrative as much as the narrative benefits the genre. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan may well be the height of science fiction in film.

I am also a gamer, game developer and former tester, a graphic designer, and an occasional cartoonist.