I’ve met Peter Straub at ICFA and heard him read a few times from work in progress.  He’s a very nice man and a terrific writer, so I thought I’d try one of his books even though I don’t usually read horror.  I loved this novel for the writing, the characters, the interesting and unusual plot, the clever narrative strategies, and its humane and intelligent themes.  Straub is a true master.  Let this be a lesson to me.  If I had ten bucks for every time I’ve told someone on a plane when asked “I’m a science fiction writer” to receive the answer “I don’t like science fiction,” I could buy a round trip ticket to San Francisco.  My own “I don’t like horror fiction” has kept me away from a terrific writer.  Truth is there’s something in every genre I’ve ever read to admire and enjoy, and all genres produce disappointing predictable work more often than not.  I can’t wait to read more of Straub’s work, even though “I don’t like horror.”