Nightmare of Ecstasy: The Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr.

This book was not what I was expecting. Which I probably should have expected given the subject.

Instead of a standard biography that follows chronologically through the live of Edward D. Wood, Jr, we are instead presented with a series of interviews from the people who knew him best. These interviews from friends and family are put in a rough order, but more based on the subject matter of the moment instead of any distinct timeline of events. This can throw the reader for a loop, as it did me, when the speaker mentions something that tangentially relates to the subject at hand, but happened either long before or long after the event being discussed in the moment. It got a little confusing at points.

The whole book reads more like a show more documentary film would, with the interviews set to footage and images from Wood's life. It's like Grey planned this as a film, couldn't get the proper funding, so just published the interviews in book form instead. How very Ed Wood of him.

Still, this is a fascinating look into the life of Ed Wood, king of schlock. Not only are there in depth, very frank moments from his friends and family, but Grey also includes a full bibliography and filmography of all of Ed Wood's work. Because, hey, if you really want to get into the head of a creative, just absorb their content. show less

Truth is stranger than fiction in this entertaining biography of the eccentric Ed Wood, the maker of the infamous "Plan 9 from Outer Space" among other masterpieces. This book inspired the movie of the same name (which, if you haven't already seen it, you should see AFTER reading the book).

An anecdotal book words the people who knew him. Wood is known as the cross dressing director of some of Hollywood's worst films. Indeed, many are watchable because they are so bad. A quick, enjoyable read.

If you saw the movie you only got half of the story.