Dark Pursuits

John C. Tibbetts has established himself as a leading commentator on weird and imaginative fiction, having interviewed many of the leading figures in the field and written incisive essays on writers old and new. But Tibbetts's range extends far beyond the weird, venturing into music, film, and other realms.

In this wide-ranging book, Tibbetts writes on such major authors in weird and science fiction as Ray Bradbury, Peter Straub, Joe R. Lansdale, and Suzy McKee Charnas, exploring the variegated worlds of fantasy and terror they have created. He then tackles the pioneering filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, the actor Jeremy Brett (best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes), and the multitude of adaptations of H. G. Wells's The War of the Worlds.

Throughout this study, Tibbetts is concerned with what drives these diverse artists to focus unremittingly on their chosen careers or subject-matter. Such "dark pursuits" have compelled writers, musicians, and other artists to produce landmark work that remains relevant today.

John C. Tibbetts is the author of The Gothic Imagination (2011), The Gothic Worlds of Peter Straub (2016), The Furies of Marjorie Bowen (2019), as well as books on Peter Weir, Robert Schumann, and other subjects.