Marcus Mastin
Encyclopedia
Marcus J. Mastin is an American author, whose books include the thriller Don't Pay the Ferryman (based on the 1982 song
by Chris DeBurgh) and its sequel Don't Fear the Reaper (named, likewise, for "(Don't Fear) the Reaper
" by Blue Öyster Cult
). These novels were published in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
In 2005, Mastin published a book of poetry entitled Weathering the Storm: The Journey of my Life, Part I. Mastin also contributed to the Spring 2006 edition of "The Black River Review". The book, published by Jefferson Community College, included Mastin's poem "Jekyll and Hyde present: The Coin of Dementia". Mastin published the sequel to his poetry book in October 2008 entitled Battling the Storm: The Journey of my Life, Part II. In November 2007, Mastin released his third novel in the "Carthage Chronicles" series entitled Revenge of the Reaper. The "Revenge" story takes places exactly where the previous story left off and continues the saga of the murderous Reaper.
The "Revenge" story is also noteworthy because of the references to other books and films. For instance, in one chapter, a character is sitting in his hotel room watching Evil Dead II
on the television. What is unique about the scene is that the character in the "Revenge" book is watching the movie just as the clawed glove of Freddy Krueger
, the primary antagonist of the A Nightmare on Elm Street
series of slasher film
s, can be seen hanging in the cabin's basement and toolshed. That scene in Evil Dead II
, at least partially, is a reference to a scene in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street
where the character Nancy Thompson (portrayed by Heather Langenkamp
), watches the original The Evil Dead
on a television set in her room. In turn, that scene was a reference to the torn The Hills Have Eyes
poster seen in the original Evil Dead film, which was itself a reference to a torn Jaws
poster in The Hills Have Eyes.
In 2010, Marcus published a book about parenting from a father's perspective titled, "Cinderfella: My life as a Stay-at-Home Dad."
, the son of Tammy Sue (née
Earle) and James Patrick Mastin, an electrician. He and his family moved to various locations throughout the upstate New York region before finally settling down in Beaver Falls, New York
in 1989. He was captivated by books from an early age, particularly comic books and Hardy Boys adventures, as well as horror and science fiction films of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Salem's Lot and Close Encounters of the Third Kind
and began writing short stories in notebooks and scrap paper while still in elementary school. He attended Jefferson Community College
in Watertown, New York at various times throughout the 1990s and 2000s, earning three Associates Degrees by the time he left in 2003.
Don't Pay the Ferryman
"Don't Pay the Ferryman" is a single by Chris de Burgh from the album The Getaway. It was produced in 1982. In 1983, the single reached #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States....
by Chris DeBurgh) and its sequel Don't Fear the Reaper (named, likewise, for "(Don't Fear) the Reaper
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
" The Reaper" is a song by the rock band Blue Öyster Cult from their 1976 album, Agents of Fortune. It was written and sung by the band's lead guitarist, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser and was produced by David Lucas, Murray Krugman, and Sandy Pearlman. It is built around Dharma's guitar riff that...
" by Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
). These novels were published in 2003 and 2004 respectively.
In 2005, Mastin published a book of poetry entitled Weathering the Storm: The Journey of my Life, Part I. Mastin also contributed to the Spring 2006 edition of "The Black River Review". The book, published by Jefferson Community College, included Mastin's poem "Jekyll and Hyde present: The Coin of Dementia". Mastin published the sequel to his poetry book in October 2008 entitled Battling the Storm: The Journey of my Life, Part II. In November 2007, Mastin released his third novel in the "Carthage Chronicles" series entitled Revenge of the Reaper. The "Revenge" story takes places exactly where the previous story left off and continues the saga of the murderous Reaper.
The "Revenge" story is also noteworthy because of the references to other books and films. For instance, in one chapter, a character is sitting in his hotel room watching Evil Dead II
Evil Dead II
Evil Dead II, also known as Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, is a 1987 horror comedy film directed by Sam Raimi. It is a retcon sequel to the 1981 film The Evil Dead. The film was written by Raimi and Scott Spiegel, produced by Rob Tapert and starring Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams...
on the television. What is unique about the scene is that the character in the "Revenge" book is watching the movie just as the clawed glove of Freddy Krueger
Freddy Krueger
Frederick Charles "Freddy" Krueger is a fictional, horrifying character from the Nightmare on Elm Street series of horror films. He first appears in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street as a disfigured dream stalker who uses a glove armed with razors to kill his victims in their dreams,...
, the primary antagonist of the A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street (franchise)
A Nightmare on Elm Street is an American horror franchise that consists of nine slasher films, a television show, novels, and comic books. The franchise began with the film series created by Wes Craven. The franchise is based on the fictional character Freddy Krueger, introduced in A Nightmare on...
series of slasher film
Slasher film
A slasher film is a type of horror film typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a knife or axe...
s, can be seen hanging in the cabin's basement and toolshed. That scene in Evil Dead II
Evil Dead II
Evil Dead II, also known as Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, is a 1987 horror comedy film directed by Sam Raimi. It is a retcon sequel to the 1981 film The Evil Dead. The film was written by Raimi and Scott Spiegel, produced by Rob Tapert and starring Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams...
, at least partially, is a reference to a scene in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street
A Nightmare on Elm Street is a 1984 American slasher film directed and written by Wes Craven, and the first film of the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. The film features Heather Langenkamp, John Saxon, Ronee Blakley, Amanda Wyss, Jsu Garcia, Robert Englund, and Johnny Depp in his feature film...
where the character Nancy Thompson (portrayed by Heather Langenkamp
Heather Langenkamp
Heather Langenkamp is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her role as Nancy Thompson from the A Nightmare on Elm Street films...
), watches the original The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead
The Evil Dead is a 1981 horror film written and directed by Sam Raimi, starring Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, and Betsy Baker. The film is a story of five college students vacationing in an isolated cabin in a wooded area...
on a television set in her room. In turn, that scene was a reference to the torn The Hills Have Eyes
The Hills Have Eyes (1977 film)
The Hills Have Eyes is a 1977 American horror film directed by Wes Craven and starring Susan Lanier, Michael Berryman, and Dee Wallace. It is about a family on a road trip who become stranded in the Nevada desert, and are hunted by a clan of deformed cannibals in the surrounding hills...
poster seen in the original Evil Dead film, which was itself a reference to a torn Jaws
Jaws (film)
Jaws is a 1975 American horror-thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name. In the story, the police chief of Amity Island, a fictional summer resort town, tries to protect beachgoers from a giant man-eating great white shark by closing the beach,...
poster in The Hills Have Eyes.
In 2010, Marcus published a book about parenting from a father's perspective titled, "Cinderfella: My life as a Stay-at-Home Dad."
Early life
Mastin was born in Carthage, New YorkCarthage, New York
Carthage is a village located in the Town of Wilna in Jefferson County, New York. The population was 3,721 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the historic Carthage in North Africa....
, the son of Tammy Sue (née
Married and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Earle) and James Patrick Mastin, an electrician. He and his family moved to various locations throughout the upstate New York region before finally settling down in Beaver Falls, New York
Beaver Falls, New York
Beaver Falls is a hamlet in the Town of Croghan, west of the Village of Croghan, in Lewis County, New York. The hamlet is home to a population of around 500 . The hamlet is split into two sections, divided by the Beaver River, which flows down from the village of Croghan...
in 1989. He was captivated by books from an early age, particularly comic books and Hardy Boys adventures, as well as horror and science fiction films of the 1970s and 1980s, such as Salem's Lot and Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, and Cary Guffey...
and began writing short stories in notebooks and scrap paper while still in elementary school. He attended Jefferson Community College
Jefferson Community College (New York)
Jefferson Community College, a two-year college located in Watertown, New York, was chartered in 1961 and was initially accredited in 1969. It is one of the 30 community colleges that make up the State University of New York system.-Students:...
in Watertown, New York at various times throughout the 1990s and 2000s, earning three Associates Degrees by the time he left in 2003.