In reading Tim's latest blog entry regarding the arrival of this highly anticipated biography, an interesting and curious statement was made: "History has forgotten the names of the people who built the great pyramids, but everyone who acquires a copy of MARIO BAVA ALL THE COLORS OF THE DARK, now or generations from now, will know the names of the fans whose patience and investment made it a reality."

What intrigued me is the part regarding how everyone who acquires a copy..."will know the names of the fans whose patience and investment made it a reality."

Unless I'm misreading this it would seem to indicate Tim is going to include the names of those folks, who purchased this in advance, into the book.

Tim, am I wrong on this?

In case Tim doesn't speak up right away, yes, I believe that's true--those who preordered by a certain date will see their names in print.

There is a two-page spread in the back of the book -- pages 1094 and 1095 -- that contains the names of everyone who pre-ordered at the time the book went to press. It was a promise we made when we announced that we were accepting pre-orders, and the names were a perfect fit.

Dave, by my count, your name is 29th in this alphabetical list.

Tim's always saying curious things. Consider yourself lucky that, when he's been up all night banging back the absinthe, he doesn't have you on speed dial.

Is this out yet? I believe I had a different email address when I pre-ordered this and I've been lost in my own world to even know what the latest is... Last I remember Tim released a video of the unveiling of the book.

The book is available now, and the next week to ten days is being focused on mailing out all pre-ordered copies.

Sal, if your address has changed, I advise you to contact Donna at donnalucas@videowatchdog.com right away. We don't want your book sent to the wrong place, and I'm sure you don't either.

Tim's always saying curious things. Consider yourself lucky that, when he's been up all night banging back the absinthe, he doesn't have you on speed dial.

What do you care? You're up all night making formula, changing diapers and watching Lee Marvin movies!

Well...

1. Formula tastes good.
2. Beats getting up to go to the bathroom, and
3. He made a lot of 'em!

If memory serves, I may be on this list too... :)

Your memory is in good working order, Chris.

Not according to my wife - my memory (in her estimation) is more...selective...

Alphabetical? Am I last on the list?

For those who haven't seen it, here's my interview with Tim about the book to keep your appetite whetted:

http://www.digitallyobsessed.com/showinterview.php3?ID=81

Just last night, I happened to re-read one of Tim's VW editorials in which he stated that he was cutting down on his reviews so he could get his Bava book out by the end of the year. The editorial was written in 2000. :P

Better late than never, friend!

Next to last. There's a Zimmerman on the list too.

It was written in all sincerity; the job just took a lot longer than was imagined. I seriously didn't know what Donna intended to do with the book when I wrote that, or that it would take an additional three to four years after my first complete draft was finished. It's all very painful to look back on, truthfully, but at least the story ends well.

Yeah, Bob Zimmerman... shows how long this goddamn book has been coming!

"Oh, hear this Robert Zimmerman
I wrote a book for you
About a strange old man called Bava
With sleight of hand and grue..."

THIS just arrived along with my original pre-order. After flipping through just a handful of pages all I can say is "Wowee Wow Wow Wow!!!!!!"

Dave, I gather that you were one of the ten auction winners, so your order was one of the first to be sent. Congrats, you're the first person I've seen online who has actually received the book. Enjoy the long holiday weekend!

Yay! Mine arrived today!

The postman woke me up this morning and I had to sign for this really heavy box. I didn't have my glasses on, so couldn't read the sender's address and proceeded to open the parcel in a similar state of half-blind semi-consciousness. "What the hell is this? I don't remember buying anything from the US, let alone something that could weigh this much." Suddenly! "Ah, so that's what it is." I don't think 'book' is quite the description of what I lifted from the package. If it's the work of a lifetime (or would that be the entire run of Video Watchdog?), I would say it's one Tim can be very proud of.

Mine has yet to arrive, I envy those of you who've recieved yours :)

Vincent

. . . I was wondering if mine had not arrived due to alphabetic mailing - the first two reporting delivery were an A and a B - now a W is in receipt and my theory is blown to hell . . . perhaps it is a function of mailing distance from Cincinnati (I live in Washington State which, sadly, puts me near the bottom of that list as well) . . . from reading Tim's essential blog, all I know for sure is the WATCHDOG crew is turning them out as fast as they can and this one might replace THE STANLEY KUBRICK ARCHIEVES in the difficult to lift category . . .

I ordered mine about a day before the pre-publication price was no longer valid. I just presumed they'd be shipped in the order in which orders were placed, and am not expecting mine for a while, yet. My mail carrier isn't so good with large packages, though, so I'm fretting a bit about the condition of the box when it does arrive.

Has anyone in the United States received their pre-ordered copy? From posts at DVD Maniacs, it seems like Tim & Co are going alphabetically by country. Nothing wrong with that, you have some kind of system. I'll just have to be patient waiting after all those Bava fans in Thailand and Turkey.

Reading Tim's blog, I'm very impressed by the workload and Tim's new weight-training regiment. Maestro, any chance of hiring a temp? Or two? Five?

You can get to DVD Maniacs? I haven't been able to for the better part of a week now...

I had no problem logging into DVD Maniacs just now. And it looks as if the Bava doorstop has been seen in Indiana!

I pre-ordered my copy back in the early days of the pre-orders and got my copy today at my post-office box. I'm in Louisville, KY for those curious, and the book came Priority Mail.

Still haven't opened the box yet - my wife can't seem to wrap her head around the size of the book, so I thought I would have the fun of opening it with her later tonight.

Just received mine today in Los Angeles. I was at home, but the mail carrier didn't even buzz me and left a pick-up notice in my mailbox instead. (I assume the box was too heavy for her to even bother trying to bring it to the door!) Luckily, I checked my mail and noticed she was still parked down the street so I got the package. Hallelujah!

What a joy to behold after all these years. This has got to be the best $100 ever spent. Now I wish I had bought multiple copies before the post-publishing price increase. Congrats to Tim and Donna - what a beautiful product you have delivered after all this time. It was worth the wait. Now I just need to set some time aside and revel in it.

I spoke too soon.

As I was getting ready to leave for work just now, the doorbell rang and there stood a mail carrier who looked like he wanted to tell me to stop ordering lead ingots by mail.

It'll be interesting to see the headlines, "Rash Of Back Injuries Among Postal Workers Puzzles Post Office."

Well, what the frack then?!

Martin Scorsese's office received his copies yesterday. B)

. . . Marty got COPIES!! . . . mine appeared today as well - it is so exceptionally well packaged that I doubt any person's copy will arrive in less than fine order; it is very big . . . now, to the reading of it ---

My copy has just arrived in Redmond, WA, across the pond from Wade in Seattle. The book came via Priority Mail flat rate, securely packaged.

Unfortunately for me, I am scheduled to leave for an overnight trip tonight, so I won't be able to crack the book until sometime tomorrow. That's okay, it will give me a reason to look forward to returning home. I'll sleep better tonight, having simply opened the shipping box.

The postman brought a Priority Mail box to my door this afternoon, which I tore open to find... lousy birthday presents. Sheesh.

I could use some presents Richard, send em my way!

Got mine at the office today (MA). I was leaving for a business trip and took it along. I couldn't bear to leave it sitting on my office desk unread. Heading back to the hotel room now to break the spine.

Also reporting in from Los Angeles, I received mine today. I haven't had too much time to go through it yet but so far, I'm in awe. I can't wait for the weekend to spend lots of time with it. Seeing my name on page 1094 was a thrill.

Received my copy today. The priority mail box was pretty battered, but the inner box was in fine shape and the book was minty mint. Very effective job of packing!

I spent about an hour slowly flipping through this beautifully designed book. Yow! I would guess that you could extract a very sizeable history (and probably the definitive one) on peplum from this book.

It was fun going through the two page list of early patrons of the book and seeing other Mobians, many people I recognize from zines, and several celebrities - Jon Davison, James Bernard, and Gary Giddins. (I read his "Natural Selections" a couple of months ago. Highly recommended for his astute DVD reviews and a wonderful article on Jack Benny.)

I look forward to starting the book tomorrow and re-watching all of the cited films on DVD in the upcoming months.

Eesh - hope I'm classified as resident in England rather than United Kingdom...