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“We’re on in 5 – 4 – 3 – 2…” 

“Good afternoon and welcome. I’m Brian Anthony and this is ‘Anthony Reads’ where each week we look at the world of books and publishing. Today my guest is a world renowned and controversial author whose latest novel, Steinham's Confessions, has brought praise for its straightforward handling of a taboo subject and condemnation from those who see it as a scourge on society. His body of work includes fiction and science fiction, including Millionaire Chatter, which is being made into a movie, as we speak, and the sci-fi thriller Alien Reconnaissance, a highly popular piece, which some consider a classic. I welcome to the program, Jasper McCord.” 

The thin middle-aged man moved closer to the microphone and said, “Thank you for having me on your program, Brian.” 

The host was not impressed by what sat across the table from him. Brian Anthony was in his late fifties and had been on radio for twenty-five years. Over that time, he had seen the great, the near so great, and the phonies who were more interested in the money and the fame instead of literary brilliance. He had already summed Jasper McCord up as a phony. As he had gotten older, he found it harder to disguise his distaste and he realized that today he was doing a poor job of it, but he didn’t care. 

“So, Jasper, your latest endeavor, Steinham's Confessions, is offending a large group of people and, quite frankly, I’m one of them.” 

Jasper wasn’t surprised at Brian’s dislike of his book, as the host had never warmed to any of his writings. What did surprise him was how quick Brian was willing to go after him. So, he just sat there and didn’t say anything. 

Finally, Brian threw his hands up in disgust and said, “You don’t have anything to say about the controversies your novel has caused?”

Jasper smiled and replied, “Oh, I’m sorry Brian. I was waiting on you to ask a question, and, now that you have, I’ll be glad to answer.”

Giving a cold hard look, the host sternly asked, “Okay, then, how do you respond to the criticism?” 

“Well, I didn’t start out to offend anyone,” the author replied. “I had an idea and developed it until it became, what I think, is a compelling story. I’m sorry if you or anyone else is insulted by it. There are many who are not, as seen from the sales and it being on the best seller list.”

“Well, controversy sells,” the host smirked.

“And so does a good story,” shot back the author. “But, the final decision is with the public. They’ll either show their acceptance and buy the book or not buy it and show their rejection. So far, they seem to accept it quite well.”

Brian moved closer to the microphone and eagerly said, “So, it doesn’t bother you that a number of people have lined up to say they’ll never buy Steinham's Confessions and many of them have gone so far as to say they’ll never buy another Jasper McCord book.”

“Yeah, it bothers me,” Jasper confessed. “No one likes rejection. But, I stand by what I wrote and how I wrote it. I put it out there and if people reject it then, at least, I tried.”

“I see.”

“And besides, rejection goes with the business,” the author continued. “You might as well get use to it. If you write something, and you sell twenty million copies of it, people will think you’re one of the greatest writers ever to live. Publishers will be stepping all over themselves just to get to you. But, when you think about it, if you sell twenty million books in the US, there are still three hundred and fifty million people who haven’t bought it. So, in effect, you’re being rejected by hundreds of millions of people.”

“Well, you’re talking semantics,” the host interjected. “I know of people who are visibly upset over your book, and as you know, some of them are right in your very own family. In fact, your aunt and uncle were on the Morning Show with Carl and Darlene this morning saying you’ve brought shame and disgrace upon the whole family.” 

Jasper took a deep breath before replying. “Yes, they did. Some of my family see themselves in the book and have taken offense at the perceived way they were presented. But, I’ll tell you, as I’ve told them, I write fiction and the characters and circumstances do not reflect on anyone I know.”

“Many are calling you a racist and a sadist,” Brian continued. “How do you answer those charges?”

“I wrote fiction!” Jasper said a little more than annoyed. “The story is not about me or anyone I know. It is a figment of imagination. Can a person not write an evil and wicked piece without some people thinking he’s that way himself; without he being typecast?”

“You tell me,” the host smirked.

“I’ve heard people say Stephen King is creepy,” the author explained. “How do they know? They don’t know him. They know his writings but the people that say that don’t know the man. One of the greatest sci-fi writers of the 20th century was Robert A. Heinlein and he writes Sixth Column and Farnham’s Freehold and is labeled a racist. He writes Stranger in a Strange Land and is typecast as a socialist.”

“Well, now, if I remember right, he did campaign for a socialist for governor of California,” Brian interjected.

“Yes, he did,” Jasper agreed. “But he also worked in conservative Barry Goldwater’s campaign for President in 1964. So, which was he?”

“I don’t know,” the host replied.

“That’s my point exactly,” the author explained. “We of the masses did not know the man. We only know his writings and just because someone writes something doesn’t necessarily mean they believe what they wrote or that, it somehow reflects their lives. It could be they’re just telling a good story and that’s all. That’s what I was doing when I wrote Steinham's Confessions.”

“And yet, some people see something more in what you’ve written,” Brian surmised.

“I know,” Jasper agreed. “It’s interesting, for example, in Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, some were quick to see the author as a socialist, but the book was also about Martians. Maybe Heinlein wasn’t a socialist. Maybe he was a Martian. And let’s not forget Ray Bradbury? Was he a Martian, too?”

“That’s right, he wrote The Martian Chronicles,” Brian mused.

“And then there’s Isaac Asimov,” Jasper continued. “Was he a robot?” 

Brian laughed and said, “Now, that’s funny.”

“Well, that’s what they wrote,” the author explained. “And then you’ve got some people who say I’m like the man in Steinham's Confessions. And yet, I also wrote Alien Reconnaissance.”

“Yeah, that one was creepy,” the host said. “As I recall, it was a sci-fi thriller where a group of aliens are living on earth and gathering intelligence for a future invasion.”

“That’s right,” Jasper nodded in agreement. “And, if you remember, they fed on humans every six months using a hidden proboscis to suck their victim’s brains.”

“I remember the book,” Brian said. “That was your best seller until now.” 

Jasper could easily tell Brian didn’t like Alien Reconnaissance, but he didn’t care. He was making a valid point. “So, why is it, that I can be typecast as evil because I wrote Steinham's Confessions, but no one thinks I’m an alien sucking human brains?”

“That’s an interesting way to look at it,” Brian admitted.

“People do the same thing with actors,” Jasper continued. “When an actor gives a powerful performance people have the tendency to typecast them as being the same as the character. Look at Larry Hagman when he portrayed J. R. Ewing in the show Dallas. People used to love to hate J. R., and many confused the character with the actor.” 

The host laughed again, “Well, Jasper, I must say, you do make a point. I guess we’re quick to dismiss sci-fi as simple fantasy and imagination, but when a story is plausible, we tend to want to know the story behind the story.”

“And, as far as those in my family who have taken offense,” Jasper continued. “They won’t accept the facts. You know, Brian, you can’t pick your family.”

 “So, you think they’re having their fifteen minutes of fame?” Brian asked as he grinned at the prospect of stirring up things a little more.

“I’m not going to condemn family,” Jasper countered. “They’re good people and Steinham's Confessions is not about them or anyone else. Once again, it is simply a figment of my imagination.” 

“All right, then, what about the critics?” the host asked. “Some have called Steinham's Confessions a literary masterpiece of our times, and others have called it trash. What’s your response?”

“It’s probably somewhere in the middle,” Jasper laughed. “Most things are never as good as some people think and not as bad as others say.”

“What’s your general view of critics?” Brian asked.

“Oh, I think they usually serve a good purpose,” the author replied. “There are always varied opinions on everything. I think a critic rarely destroys something that’s good. There’s so many of them today that people can pick the opinion they want and back it up with something a so-called expert said. Of course, the ones I’ve had the most exposure to are literary critics. They’re a different bunch.”

“How so?”

“Well, they have to actually perform the art they’re critiquing,” Jasper explained. “A film critic doesn’t have to be an actor. The same for a music critic. He doesn’t have to be a musician. But, a literary critic has to write his criticism. He has to be a writer.”

“Is there something wrong with that?” the host inquired.

“No, not at all,” the author replied. “It’s just sometimes you can see them getting caught up in their own flowery words instead of delivering a well thought out review.” 

Brian glanced at the clock and said, “Well, Jasper McCord, I want to thank you for visiting us. This was your first visit.”

“It’s been my pleasure, Brian.” 

“The author is Jasper McCord,” the host continued. “The book is Steinham's Confessions. Buy it if you dare. And here’s a personal note: I’ll be at ‘The Shining Star Pub’ later this evening if you want to drop in and buy me a drink. I haven’t been there in awhile and it’ll feel good to kick back and relax with a good beer and good friends. So, until next week, this is Brian Anthony as ‘Anthony Reads.’” 

The voice boomed from the control room, “We’re all clear!” 

Jasper stared at Brian as he was busy gathering his papers and not making eye contact. Finally, he angrily said, “Buy it if you dare! Why didn’t you just tell them to not buy it?”

Brian didn’t raise his head but looked up over his glasses and replied, “I should have.”

“Thanks for nothing,” Jasper snorted as he rose from his seat in anger.

“Look, I told you in the opening I was offended by the book,” Brian offered as he crossed his arms in indignation. “I don’t like the book, and after spending this afternoon with you, I don’t particularly care for you either.”

This shook Jasper. “What have I ever done to you?”

“Nothing personally,” the host replied. “It’s just all this hogwash about your book not being about you.”

“It’s not.”

“Save it for your audience,” Brian smirked. “It’s as plain as it can be that the novel is autobiographical. You’re the man in your book. You can spout out all that gobbledygook about King, Heinlein, and Asimov, but I choose to believe different about you. How you can even show your face in public is a mystery to me!”

“You’re wrong,” Jasper coldly said. “I’m not that man.”

“Eh, suit yourself,” Brian shrugged. “You’ll never be on my show again.”

“No, I won’t,” the author agreed. “I guarantee you that.” 

With that, Brian stood and headed for the control room door. He said over his shoulder, “You know your way out.”

“I can find it,” Jasper coolly replied.

Opening the door and looking back, Brian laughed and said, “Then, don’t let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.” 

Jasper stood staring at the control room for a few minutes. In all his interviews, and all the shows he had been on, he had never been treated in such a manner. It was beyond disrespect. It was hateful. This experience had shaken him to his core. Finally, he stormed out amid laughter animating from the control room. 

Later that evening Brian joined the crowd at The Shining Star Pub. Liquor and beer flowed freely and much of the conversation was about his interview with Jasper. He told anyone who would listen what a phony he thought he was and how he had told him so to his face. Everyone laughed and held a contest as to who could think of the most degrading name to tag on Jasper. 

Toward the end of the evening, the bartender brought over a drink and set it down in front of Brian. “What’s this?” he asked.

“I just made it,” the barkeep replied. “It’s a new concoction.”

Brian took a sip and immediately spit it out. “Hey! That taste like shit!!”

“Yep,” the bartender agreed. “I call it the ‘Jasper McCord!’ Does anybody want one?”

The crowd around them roared with laughter and derided the author some more. No one paid any attention to the man in a trench coat sitting quietly in a dark corner of the room. He was not laughing. 

When the bartender made his last call for drinks, Brian decided to go out in the back alley for some fresh air. He hadn’t drunk anything in the past two hours, but he wanted to make sure his head was clear before he attempted to drive home. 

Closing his eyes, he breathed in the night air. He didn’t notice the man in the trench coat come up behind him.

“Brian.”

He jerked around to find Jasper looking at him. “Man, you about scared me to death! Don’t sneak up on people like that!!”

“I didn’t mean to frighten you,” Jasper said. “I just wanted to talk to you.”

“What more can you say?” Brian smirked. “I think you said it all this afternoon.”

“Well, I wanted to apologize to you,” the author revealed.

“Oh, you do, do you?”

“Yeah, I wasn’t truthful about everything,” he continued. “I wanted you to know.”

“So, you admit you’re the scumbag in your novel,” Brian declared. “Get away from me!!”

“No, no, that’s not it,” Jasper corrected.

“Then what is it?” Brian asked as he fought to control his anger.

“The truth is one of my books is about me,” Jasper continued. “And I’ve never told anyone about it. But, I’ve decided to tell you.”

“Why bother me about it?” Brian exclaimed. “I couldn’t care less about your perverted life.”

“Because I really don’t like you either,” Jasper sneered. 

Brian digested that for a moment and then smirked, “Okay, I’ll play along. Which one of your books is about you?”

“Guess,” Jasper replied as he grinned and opened his mouth as wide as he could. Brian gasped in horror as he tried to turn and run but was too terrified to do so. The last thing he saw was a proboscis shoot out of Jasper’s mouth and strike his forehead before penetrating his skull. 

When finished, Jasper pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his mouth. He stepped over Brian’s crumpled body with its skull still shrinking into the empty cavity where the brain once was. With a satisfied smile he sneered, “Besides, I was hungry.”  

THE END

Copyright ©2010 by Jerry W. Crews