Demonology Book

His use of italics gets really annoying after awhile. In an interview he said it was one of the hallmarks of his style, although he didn't say why he did it. It must mean something to him, but I have to say that most of the time (the only exception being when he uses it to indicate dialogue) I don't see what that emphasis accomplishes for him, especially when he overuses it so much. Not sure, but'with the possible exception of the novellas'I don't think there's a single story in this collection that one could label "traditional." In fact, several of these stories break the very rules that creative writing books and teachers'as well as editors of literary journals'say a writer shouldn't. Of course, those rules always get broken by a few determined to prove a point, and Moody is definitely one such writer. Many of these stories are interesting because he flaunts the form and the rules. He's strutting his stuff for all to see and, for the most part, pulling it off. I can admire that. But I didn't find much that resonated emotionally (even "Demonology" the heavily anthologized prize winner seemed too telegraphed too me, and that weakened the affect.) I was always too aware of technique, too aware that artifice was in my hand. He never made me forget that I was reading. Ok, so that's the point.