John Lee Farris (born July 26, 1936) is an American writer, known largely for his work in the

southern Gothic Southern Gothic is an artistic subgenre of fiction, country music, film and television that are heavily influenced by Gothic elements and the American South. Common themes of Southern Gothic include storytelling of deeply flawed, disturbing or ...

genre.

Life

Farris was born in

Jefferson City, Missouri Jefferson City, informally Jeff City, is the capital of Missouri, United States. It had a population of 43,228 at the 2020 census, ranking as the 15th most populous city in the state. It is also the county seat of Cole County and the princip ...

, to parents John Linder Farris (1909–1982) and Eleanor Carter Farris (1905–1984). Raised in

Tennessee Tennessee ( , ), officially the State of Tennessee, is a landlocked state in the Southeastern region of the United States. Tennessee is the 36th-largest by area and the 15th-most populous of the 50 states. It is bordered by Kentucky to th ...

, he graduated from Central High School in

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

and attended Southwestern College (now

Rhodes College Rhodes College is a private liberal arts college in Memphis, Tennessee. Historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), it is a member of the Associated Colleges of the South and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges a ...

), also in Memphis. His first wife, Kathleen,(deceased) was the mother of Julie Marie, John and Jeff Farris; his second wife, Mary Ann Pasante, is the mother of Peter John (P.J.) Farris. Apart from his substantial body of

fiction Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places that are imaginary, or in ways that are imaginary. Fictional portrayals are thus inconsistent with history, fact, or plausibility. In a traditi ...

, his work includes motion picture screenplays of his own books (i.e., '' The Fury''), original scripts and adaptations of the works of others (such as

Alfred Bester Alfred Bester (December 18, 1913 – September 30, 1987) was an American science fiction author, TV and radio scriptwriter, magazine editor and scripter for comic strips and comic books. He is best remembered for his science fiction, inclu ...

's ''

The Demolished Man ''The Demolished Man'' is a science fiction novel by American writer Alfred Bester, which was the first Hugo Award winner in 1953. An inverted detective story, it was first serialized in three parts, beginning with the January 1952 issue of '' G ...

''). He also wrote and directed the film ''

Dear Dead Delilah ''Dear Dead Delilah'' is a 1972 American slasher film written and directed by John Farris and starring Agnes Moorehead, Will Geer, Michael Ansara, Dennis Patrick, Anne Meacham, and Robert Gentry. It follows a group of family members in a dilapida ...

'' in 1973. He has had several plays produced off-Broadway, and also paints and writes poetry. At various times he has made his home in New York, southern California, Puerto Rico, and most recently near

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...

, Georgia.

Film adaptations

Three of his works have been made into film: first ''Harrison High'' became ''

Because They're Young ''Because They're Young'' is a 1960 American drama film directed by Paul Wendkos and starring Dick Clark as Neil Hendry, an American high-school teacher who tries to make a difference in the lives of his students. The film co-stars Tuesday Weld, ...

'' (1960), followed by ''

When Michael Calls ''When Michael Calls'' is a 1972 American made-for-television mystery- horror-thriller film directed by Philip Leacock and starring Elizabeth Ashley, Ben Gazzara and Michael Douglas. It was adapted from John Farris' 1967 novel of the same name. P ...

'' (1972), and then '' The Fury'' (1978) which was directed by

Brian De Palma Brian Russell De Palma (born September 11, 1940) is an American film director and screenwriter. With a career spanning over 50 years, he is best known for his work in the suspense, crime and psychological thriller genres. De Palma was a leading ...

TV adaptations

Farris's short story "I Scream. You Scream. We All Scream for Ice Cream." was adapted for the

Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...

anthology series ''

Masters of Horror ''Masters of Horror'' is an anthology television series created by director Mick Garris for the Showtime cable network. Origin In 2002, director Mick Garris invited some director friends to an informal dinner at a restaurant in Sherman Oaks, C ...

'' in 2007.

Bibliography

Novels (and other fiction)

*''The Corpse Next Door'' (Graphic Books, 1956) (as John Farris) *''The Body on the Beach'' (Bouregy & Curl, 1957, hc) (as Steve Brackeen) *''Baby Moll'' (Crest, 1958, pb) (as Steve Brackeen) *''Danger in My Blood'' (Crest, 1958, pb) (as Steve Brackeen) *''Harrison High'' (Rinehart & Co., 1959) (as John Farris) *''Delfina'' (Gold Medal, 1962, pb) (as Steve Brackeen) *''The Long Light of Dawn'' (Putnam, 1962) (as John Farris) *''The Guardians'' (Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1964, hc) (as Steve Brackeen) *''King Windom'' (Trident, 1967) (as John Farris ''from here on'') *''When Michael Calls'' (Trident, 1967) *''The Girl from Harrison High'' (Pocket Books, 1968, pb) *''The Captors'' (Trident, 1969) *''A Sudden Stillness'' (1970) *''The Trouble at Harrison High'' (Pocket Books, 1970, pb) *''Shadow on Harrison High'' (Pocket Books, 1972, pb) *''Happy Anniversary, Harrison High'' (Pocket Books, 1973, pb) *''Crisis at Harrison High'' (Pocket Books, 1974, pb) *''Sharp Practice'' (Simon & Schuster, 1974) *'' The Fury'' (Playboy Press, 1976) *''Bad Blood'' (1977) *''All Heads Turn When the Hunt Goes By'' (Playboy Press, 1977; published in the UK as ''Bad Blood'') *''Shatter'' (W. H. Allen K1980) (true first) *''Catacombs'' (Delacorte, 1981) *''The Uninvited'' (Delacorte, 1982) *''Son of the Endless Night'' (1984) *''Minotaur'' (Tor, 1985, pb) *''Wildwood'' (Tor, 1986, pb) *''Nightfall'' (Tor, 1987, pb) *''Scare Tactics'' (1988) *''The Axeman Cometh'' (Tor, 1989, pb) *''Fiends'' (Dark Harvest, 1990 imited edition *''Demonios'' (1991) *''Sacrifice'' (Tor, 1994) *''Dragonfly'' (Tor/Forge, 1995) *''Soon She Will Be Gone'' (Tor/Forge, 1997) *''Solar Eclipse'' (Forge, 1999) *''The Fury and the Terror'' (2001) *''The Fury and the Power'' (2003) *''Phantom Nights (2004) *''Elvisland'' (Babbage Press, 2004) *''Avenging Fury'' (2008) *''You Don't Scare Me'' (2007) *''High Bloods'' (2009)

Short stories

*''I Scream. You Scream. We All Scream for Ice Cream.'' *''Story Time with the Bluefield Strangler'' *'' Transgressions: Volume Two''

Screenplays

*''

'' (1972) *'' The Fury'' (1978)

References

* *John William Warren and Adrian W. McClaren. Tennessee Belles-Lettres: A Guide to Tennessee Literature. Morristown, Tennessee: Morrison Print Co., 1977.

External links

Furies & Fiends
Official website * {{DEFAULTSORT:Farris, John 1936 births Rhodes College alumni American horror writers Living people 20th-century American novelists American male screenwriters People from Jefferson City, Missouri Novelists from Missouri Novelists from Tennessee American male novelists PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award winners 20th-century American male writers Screenwriters from Missouri Screenwriters from Tennessee