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Author, screenwriter, artist, and occasional actor William Francis Nolan passed away without pain on July 15, 2021, during a brief stay in the hospital following complications from an infection. He was 93 years old. He had no living relatives and was married one time.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Nolan was an only child. His father, Michael Cahill Nolan, was an adventurer and sportsman. His mother, Bernadette Mariana Kelly Nolan, was a stenographer. The family resided on Forest Avenue in a predominantly Irish section of the city. Nolan spent his youth riding his bike up and down nearby Troost Avenue, close to the Isis Theater, meeting with friends to spend hot days in the cool of the movie palace, where they watched Westerns, ate candy, and reveled in the adventures of Tom Mix and other film heroes of the day. An avid reader, he devoured Max Brand, comic books (especially Batman), the pulps, and any other books he could get his hands on. He held very fond memories of his childhood.

Later, the family moved to Chula Vista, California just after World War II (Nolan was unable to serve due to flat feet and poor vision). Though the times were hard, his cherished parents had unflinching Irish roots, and the family endured, eventually winding up in Los Angeles. It was during this time Nolan caught the Science Fiction fandom bug. Talented at drawing, Nolan spent many hours working as an artist (including a stint at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City), still enthralled with pulps such as Black Mask, Weird Tales, and comics, especially Jack Kirby’s output. Movies eventually became his greatest enthusiasm, and for years he attended several a week. Being in L.A. only added to his interest in all forms of genre, from Noir to horror to Science Fiction.

Once established in L.A., he stumbled across a fresh new writer named Ray Bradbury, becoming an instant convert. Seeking Bradbury out, by 1952 he had learned enough about him to compile his first serious book, Ray Bradbury Review. It contained a mix of art, stories, and nonfiction, including pieces by writer Chad Oliver and Bradbury. After a few years of doing art, active semi-pro fanzine work, and other fan-related organizing, Nolan made his first big professional sale, “The Darendinger Build-Up” to Playboy, and decided he wanted to be a writer full-time. Around this time, Bradbury introduced Nolan to the man who would become his best friend for ten years, until his untimely death, Mr. Charles Beaumont. Beaumont, Nolan, Richard Matheson, George Clayton Johnson, Chad Oliver, Charles E. Fritch, Kris Neville, John Tomerlin, Mari Wolf, and several others eventually comprised “The Group”, meeting to discuss stories and hang out together.

Nolan’s career flourished as a writer and later a screenwriter, primarily for Dan Curtis. Logan’s Run, which he co-wrote with the late George Clayton Johnson, propelled both men into the public consciousness in a major way, especially after the release of the classic MGM film adaptation in 1976. Although Nolan has written roughly 2000 pieces, to include biographies, short stories, poetry, and novels, Logan’s Run retains its hold on the public consciousness as a political fable and dystopian warning. As Nolan has stated: “That I am known at all is still astonishing to me, as I can so vividly recall the boy flying down the road on his bike in Kansas City all those years ago. My later years have brought me much happiness, I will note, especially my current family, Jason and Sunni Brock. We’ve been a unit for nearly 15 years, and it has been one of the best times of my life.”

—Jason V Brock
Vancouver, WA

For a limited-time use code NEEDFULTHINGS during checkout and we'll include Needful Things by Stephen King Limited Edition Slipcased Hardcover from PS Publishing as a free bonus ($155 retail value) with your order of Phoenix 451 by Ray Bradbury Signed & Lettered Deluxe Traycased Hardcover! Limited to 9 more redemptions total. Most of our allotment of Needful Things is being saved for Stephen King Mystery Box and subscription customers which is why we are only offering a few copies as bonuses! Click here to preorder Phoenix 451 lettered edition now.

Ray Bradbury was always tinkering with his writing, especially his scripts. Gauntlet Press is proud to be publishing five versions of Fahrenheit-451 he wrote beginning in 1955.

First, though we’re offering Bradbury’s second manuscript of his acclaimed novel that he typed — in facsimile fashion. The manuscript differs in a number of ways from the published novel.

A 52 copy lettered edition signed by Bradbury (these are not our “classic” tipsheets but sheets he signed for a book prior to his death). The book is also signed by William Shatner who wrote a short introduction.

Use Code NEEDFULTHINGS When Ordering Phoenix 451 Lettered Edition to Get Needful Things by Stephen King Limited Edition from PS Publishing as a Free Bonus! Click Here to Preorder Phoenix 451 Lettered Edition Now

We have a one day coupon active today April 21st 2022 only!

⚡ ONE DAY COUPON Today April 21st 2022 Only Save 33% Off Orders of $333+ from our Rare & Unique Items Category and Sale Category Using Code BOOKSPLEASE33 During Checkout on the DarkRegions.com Website! ⚡

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We are thrilled that artist David Stoupakis has created another fantastic wraparound color painting this time for The Woman by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee Special Edition forthcoming from Dark Regions Press! The Woman Special Edition will be offered for public retail sale when the books are in-stock and ready to ship to customers later this year/early next year and will include multiple interior illustrations and bonus materials as well! Watch for more news on The Woman Special Edition by Jack Ketchum and Lucky McKee in the months ahead! Click the cover art image to view a larger version:

 

UPDATE on Offspring 30th Anniversary Edition by Jack Ketchum: We are happy to let our customers know that printing for Offspring 30th Anniversary Edition by Jack Ketchum is slated to start very soon! Thank you to all of our customers for your patience on this special edition - the past couple of years have significantly added to the delays but we are committed to delivering Offspring 30th Anniversary Edition as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone who supports this project!

We have just 1 extra of both The Exorcist and Neuromancer signed numbered hardcovers from Suntup Editions in stock and shipping now! These editions are sold out from the publisher and are available on the Dark Regions Press website now via the links below. Thank you to everyone who shops with Dark Regions Press!

The Exorcist Signed Numbered Hardcover page: click here

Neuromancer Signed Numbered Hardcover page: click here

The signed limited edition hardcovers of both Everville and Sacrament by Clive Barker are back in stock in very limited supply! Both of these are signed by Clive himself! We also have some extra Imaginer art books available via the Shop Clive Barker button below. Thank you to everyone who shops with Dark Regions Press. 

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⚡ Save 25% OFF Almost Everything on DarkRegions.com Using Coupon Code SALE During Checkout Today July 30th 2021 Only!⚡

All of our newsletter subscribers were automatically entered into our Cujo by Stephen King Special Edition giveaway which was active from June 1st to June 30th 2021. We have randomly selected the winner among all active newsletter subscribers and the winner is (drum roll please)...

Raymond Wong of California!

Congratulations to Raymond, they have won Cujo by Stephen King Special Edition forthcoming from PS Publications!

Thank you to all Dark Regions Press newsletter subscribers for opening and reading our newsletters - watch for another newsletter-exclusive giveaway coming soon!

⚡ 20th Century Ghosts by Joe Hill Limited Edition Slipcased Hardcover from Lividian Publications Going to One Lucky Dark Regions Press E-mail Newsletter Subscriber After Giveaway Ends July 31st 2021! ⚡

 

Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, The Fireman, and Full Throttle. He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long-running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with artist Gabriel Rodriguez. Much of his work has been adapted for movies and television. His second novel, Horns, was translated to film in 2014 and starred Daniel Radcliffe. His third novel, NOS4A2, is now a hit series on AMC, starring Zachary Quinto. The first season of Locke & Key was released on Netflix in early 2020 and became an overnight smash. His story, "In The Tall Grass," co-written with Stephen King, was made into a feature for Netflix, and became a mind-bending cult horror sensation. Most recently, Hill has returned to graphic novels -- his latest comics include Basketful of Heads and Plunge for D.C., and Dying is Easy for IDW.

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