Though innumerable biographies have been written about novelists; playwrights; and poets; screenwriters are rarely granted this distinction; even ones as prolific and successful as Richard Matheson. He has occupied a unique position in cinema as the writer or original author of films from The Incredible Shrinking Man in 1957 through I Am Legend in 2007. This book documents his rise to prominence; parallel literary career; and role in the horror and science fiction renaissance. In chronological order; the exhaustively indexed narrative examines each film written by Matheson or based on his work; with sections devoted to episodic television (including The Twilight Zone) and unproduced projects.
#1229325 in eBooks 2010-01-25 2010-01-25File Name: B0044R9HW2
Review
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Groundbreaking Analysis and Insightful HistoryBy ReaderinNewbuyportThis is an extraordinary book...accessible to the garden variety jazz fan but detailed and documented enough to please the stodgiest academic. Sandke tells the history of jazz as he argues his thesis that black musicians drew on a variety of traditions in creating this distinctively American art form. His insiders view of the jazz world is a bracing antidote to critics and professors whose observations are informed not by the reality of the working artist. but by the necessity of proving their theories correct. regardless of the facts. "Where the Dark and the Light Folks Meet" should be required reading for any student of jazz. just as Sandkes CDs should be required listening.14 of 17 people found the following review helpful. Provocative. essential. honest reading - no academic tripe hereBy karen in milfordRandy Sandke has accomplished something that heretofore seemed impossible: he has written a concise history of jazz and made it compelling. insightful. engaging. original. and well-sourced while skillfully weaving greater issues (social. political. financial) seamlessly into the mix. A must for anyone who is truly interested in the authentic history of jazz.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Excellent BookBy bowmanhRandy Sandkes "Where the Dark and the Light Folks Meet" provides a new look at jazz history by emphasizing the importance of the interaction between racial groups in the development and evolution of the music. The idea that interaction between various cultural groups and traditions can foster creative new cultural developments is a fairly common theme in history generally. but this idea has not been widely developed by jazz historians except to say that some European elements were combined with African elements in the development of jazz. Sandke notes that most jazz historians have claimed that virtually all major developments in jazz have come exclusively from the black community and that the music derived its primary support from that community. Ive read a good deal of jazz history and agree that this is a common viewpoint. Sandke acknowledges that most of the greatest jazz musicians have been black but he presents convincing evidence that white Americans have also played an important role in the development of the music as both musicians and as supporters of the music. Sandke argues that the prevalence of what he calls the "exclusionary" view is due to ideological bias on the part of critics and historians who have largely come from the political left.Sandke looks in some detail at the business side of jazz history including what musicians were paid. how they were managed by agents and promoters and how copyrights were handled. He documents business dealings for both black and white musicians and concludes that in many cases. the financial aspects of the business were determined more by market forces than by race. Because Sandke is himself a jazz musician. he explores the nitty gritty of the jazz business in a way that most other historians do not.The book has been criticized by at least one jazz critic for supposedly being primarily devoted to the proposition that white jazz musicians have generally been underappreciated. Although Sandke does mention this in the case of a few specific musicians. this is a minor part of the book. The focus is clearly on racial interaction in jazz so I think this criticism is a red herring.This is a well written and well documented book which explores some new ideas in jazz history. Because it is written by an accomplished jazz musician it presents an original viewpoint and is well worth reading.
