Holy Wood (novel)
 The supposed cover art; posted on the internet by Manson in 2000. | |
| Author | Marilyn Manson |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Novel, Satire |
| Publisher | Unpublished |
Publication date | Unreleased |
| Preceded by | The Long Hard Road Out of Hell (1998) |
| Followed by | - |
Holy Wood is an unpublished novel by Marilyn Manson, written between 1999 and 2000 (although Manson has claimed to have been writing selections since 1995). Initially envisioned as a companion piece to the album Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death), it remained unreleased after a series of delays, alleged by Manson to have been caused by a "publishing war".[1]
Plot
Describing the plot of the novel itself, Manson said: "The whole story, if you take it from the beginning, is parallel to my own, but just told in metaphors and different symbols that I thought other people could draw from. It's about being innocent and naive, much like Adam was in Paradise before they fall from grace. And seeing something like Hollywood, which I used as a metaphor to represent what people think is the perfect world, and it's about wanting — your whole life — to fit into this world that doesn't think you belong, that doesn't like you, that beats you down every step of the way, fighting and fighting and fighting, and finally getting there, everyone around you are the same people who kept you down in the first place. So you automatically hate everyone around you. You resent them for making you become part of this game you don't realize you were buying into. You trade one prison cell for another in some ways. That becomes the revolution, to be idealistic enough that you think you can change the world, and what you find is you can't change anything but yourself."[2]
Manson has also stated that there is a character "that's very much a take on Walt Disney," who was a big inspiration in the writing of both the book and its accompanying album.[3] In describing the setting, he compared Holy Wood, the place, to Disney World: "I thought of how interesting it would be if we created an entire city that was an amusement park, and the thing we were being amused by was violence and sex and everything that people really want to see."[3]
Background information
Early talk of the book and film project
In early June 1999, Manson stated at the
By February 29, 2000, however, the project was postponed as Manson feared the film had been tweaked in ways that would have ruined his artistic vision.
Cover art and Chapter 10
During the promotion of the album
Although praised by critics, when the Holy Wood album was finally released it was met with disappointing sales in comparison to Manson's previous albums, taking almost a year to reach
After Holy Wood
In spring 2002 Manson began again to mention the novel in various online journal posts; a release date had been set and that the delay was allegedly due to a certain
Manson commented on the novel in November 2005 saying that he would like to release it as either a graphic novel or narrative video game.[10] Chuck Palahniuk has partially read the novel and describes it as "a magical, surreal, poetic story, crammed with detail and cut loose from traditional boring fiction."[11] Magician and friend of Manson, Rudy Coby, revealed in an interview in October 2010 he has made it "one of [his] missions in life to make sure that Holy Wood is released".[12]
I will not rest until that is turned into a graphic novel, and then turned into a movie ... I will not rest. ... But Manson certainly knows that I do not shut up about it. ... I would like to see a chapter released every other month by an incredible artist/illustrator/whatever.[12]
On August 22, 2014, Kurt Sutter held a live chat that featured Manson via Skype. When a viewer asked if the Holy Wood novel will ever be released, Manson said that he would like to do a video mini-series following the story of the book. A release date has not been set.
References
- ^ a b "Alien Autopsy". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. February 2005. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- ^ Palahniuk, Chuck (December 2000/January 2001). "Destiny's Child", page 75. Gear.
- ^ a b Gargano, Paul (November 2000). "Holy Wars: The Ground Campaign Begins". Metal Edge. Zenbu Media.
- ^ a b c d e f g Basham, David (February 29, 2000). "Marilyn Manson Tweaks "Holy Wood" Plans". MTV News. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
- ^ a b Manning, Kara (November 16, 1999). "Marilyn Manson Discusses Post-Columbine Shell Shock". MTV News. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ Norris, John (November 24, 1999). "'Marilyn Manson To Probe Celebrity And Suffering In New Film, Next Album". MTV News. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
- ^ "Satanic Cult Meeting". NME. November 16, 1999. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
- New Music Monthly(87). College Media Inc.: 46–51.
- ^ McCaughey, Brian (February 2000). "This Is My Holy Wood ...". Kerrang!. Bauer Media Group.
- ^ "Dramatic New Scenes for Celebritarian Needs interview". Mansonusa.com (aka The Heirophant). November 3, 2005. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
- ^ Palahniuk, Chuck (December 2000/January 2001). "Destiny's Child", page 73. Gear.
- ^ a b ""A Three-Minute Act and You Can Tour the World" (Interview with Rudy Coby)". MansonWiki. October 16, 2010. Retrieved November 1, 2010.
