More Pictures, More Interviews

This is an amazing photograph and I'm extremely proud to be able to post it. The gentleman holding this copy of MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK is Renato Pestriniero of Venice, Italy. Renato, who began publishing in 1958, is one of the seminal figures in the field of Italian science fiction literature, one of the first writers -- perhaps the first -- to submit original stories to the pulp magazines that habitually reprinted English science fiction stories in translation. In addition to writing many novels, he is reknowned as the author of many more short stories, one of which -- Una notte di 21 ore ("One Night of 21 Hours," written in 1960) -- was the literary source for Mario Bava's influential PLANET OF THE VAMPIRES [Terrore nello spazio, 1965].

Some years ago, Renato graciously and generously agreed to my request for an interview, and became one of the more than 100 friends and colleagues of Bava whose recollections help to inform the Bava book. This photo, sent to us by Stefano Cusumano, is compressed a good deal here, but is actually quite large. I have left it that way, the better for you to step into the photo to browse Renato's impressive shelf of Italian science fiction books -- and a charming astronaut toothbrush displayed on the right. Molto grazie, Renato e Stefano!

We also received this proud photo of Paul Zdanowicz, a resident of Roselle Park, New Jersey, who seems to live with as many cats as the medium in BLACK SABBATH! (Just kidding: we have three!) Anyway, Paul has a right to be proud: Donna tells me that he is on record as the 1,000th person who pre-ordered a copy of MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK.

Paul writes: "About one month ago I received my copy of ATCOTD and have had some time since to spend with it. I have to congratulate you both on this extraordinary endeavor you have accomplished. Not only is this THE definitive book on Bava, it is also a view into the author's soul. The amount of time and love that you have put into this work, pours out from the pages in a way that could only have been born of such a passion. I thank you for your tenacity, and for bringing a work into my life that will be passed on for generations." Thank you, Paul!

On the promotional interview front, DVDActive.com has posted an interview with me, conducted by Gabriel Powers, about the Bava book and my involvement in Anchor Bay's new MARIO BAVA COLLECTION VOLUME 2. You can find it on the other end of this link.

YES! Weekly columnist Mark Burger has also filed a brief interview with me, which can be read online here; scroll down to the second half of the column. Mark has also written an enthusiastic review of ABE's BARON BLOOD disc, which is posted here.