I was very impressed by author james gunns insight, compassion, humor and use of dialogue. The toy collector by james gunn 2001, paperback, reprint. The toy collector, james gunns harrowing heartbreaker of a. Gunn also has a shortform web series for titled james gunn s pg porn. Signed the toy collector by james gunn hb 1st william wu books.
He is from a large catholic family, with irish and czech ancestry. The toy collector is about a guy named james gunn, and is also the author, who is in his adulthood but is still stuck in his childhood. The neverending childhood of guardians of the galaxys james. Screenwriterdirector james gunns first and, to date, only novel should have had the effect of a modernday the. Mar, 2017 no, im talking about james gunn, the addled, damaged protagonist of the toy collector, the real gunns only novel. An orderly at a times square hospital, he buys his toys at exorbitant prices, searching the familiar. James gunn an orderly at a times square hospital, james gunn buys his toys at exorbitant prices, searching the familiar tacky plastic for his childhood dreams in a perverse effort to avoid adulthood. It is the story of a hospital orderly who steals drugs from the. Newest listings of hot wheels and matchbox collectibles at the toy car collector call to order 5039563708, 1968 hot wheels wanted by collector, 1969 hot wheels wanted by collector, 1970 hot wheels with red stripe tires wanted by collector. Gunn names his protagonist, a toy obsessed prescriptiondrug pusher, after himself, which is a gutsy move, as james gunn the character is quite often difficult to like. James gunn has 19 books on goodreads with 6072 ratings. The toy collector by screenwriter and author james gunn is about james, a man that feeds his toy collecting addiction by stealing stolen pharmaceuticals from the hospital that he works at. Some are remarkably sadistic, and others are welllimned moments of erotic abandon that would make d. This novel is written in the same vein as irvine welsh, chuck palahniuk, and james kerouak.
Bill, his dissolute coworker, gets james hooked on collecting toys from their childhood, now pricey collectibles. The toy collector, james gunns harrowing heartbreaker of. Author of the toy collector and writerdirector of slither, super, and marvels guardians of the galaxy ja. Dec 08, 2014 his openness is unexpected and refreshing.
The foundations of science fiction and the novel the immortals, on which the television series the immortal was based. In this book you will find that james finds pleasurable alcohol, sex, and drugs. August 20, 2000 writer james gunn has made his career in hollywood. I kept comparing the novel to what i know and like. All i need to know about filmmaking i learned from the toxic avenger. An orderly at a times square hospital, he buys his toys at exorbitant prices, searching the familiar tacky plastic in a perverse effort to avoid adulthood. The toy collector is a great read that can be enjoyed on various levels. The toy collector is a wickedly funny portrait of a young man who sells stolen. James gunn s the toy collector is not that book for me, but it comes damn close. Gunn isnt just a writer and director, hes also the author of the 2000 novel the toy collector the story of a man who starts stealing drugs from. No, im talking about james gunn, the addled, damaged protagonist of the toy collector, the real gunn s only novel. A tragicomic novel about nostalgia, addiction, and 1970s action f.
The toy collector is a novel written by james gunn, published by bloomsbury publishing in 2000. Jun 02, 2000 the toy collector by james gunn bloomsburyusa, 276 pp. Hes written several screenplays, one of which, tromeo and juliet, has inspired a cult following. Everything i know about filmmaking i learned from the toxic avenger book, putnampenguin, 1998 the toy collector novel, bloomsbury press, 2000 album.
May 22, 2017 gunn isnt just a writer and director, hes also the author of the 2000 novel the toy collectorthe story of a man who starts stealing drugs from the hospital he works at in order to fund his. With memorabilia such a huge business, its food for thought as well. Author of the toy collector and writerdirector of slither, super, and marvels guardians of the galaxy. The neverending childhood of guardians of the galaxys. The james gunn in the toy collector is an emotionally damaged hospital orderly who sells stolen pharmaceuticals to fund an allconsuming toy robot obsession. Gunn did work as a hospital orderly, and he dropped out of loyola marymounts undergraduate film school and moved back home. Mar 17, 2020 someday, james gunn may get his shot at writing a comic book ebook. And in a way, guardians is a hopeful epilogue to the james gunn of the toy collector.
See all books authored by james gunn, including all i need to know about filmmaking i learned from the toxic avenger, and the toy collector, and more on. Him and his friend billy illegally sell stolen pharmaceuticals to pay for their addiction of 1970s action figure toys. A novel centered around the narrators growing addiction to the. Feb 07, 2017 the stephen blackeharts knowhere dispatcher could hold the easter egg for james gunn s book the toy collector or he could be pointing towards elizabeth debickis ayesha, high priestess of. Thats right, all we need is the price of a paperback book to sustain a nonprofit website the whole world depends on. And his first and, to date, only published novel, 2000s the toy collector, follows a hospital orderly and alcoholic named james gunn who sells prescription pills to fund his private stockpile of childhood toys. The toy collector seemed familiar to me, but thats understandable. Gunn has 203 books on goodreads with 29837 ratings. Screenwriterdirector james gunns first and, to date, only novel should have had the effect of a modernday the catcher in the rye for twentysomethings at the beginning of the 21 st century. In 2018, james gunn wrote and executive produced avengers.
After work on major hollywood tent poles like the suicide squad and guardians of the galaxy vol. Gunn names his protagonist, a toyobsessed prescriptiondrug pusher, after himself, which is a gutsy move, as james gunn the character is quite often difficult to like. He also wrote, with lloyd kaufman, the nonfiction book all i need to know about filmmaking i learned from the toxic avenger, currently in its. Because of this legacy, screenwriter james gunn the protagonist shares his name with the author has a serious problem coming of age. Jul 14, 2014 early in james gunns 2000 novel the toy collector, the protagonist, a drunken, thieving, ragefilled addict, scammer, and toy junkie named james gunn, gets dressed down by his moreresponsible brother tar, who, in a fit of exasperation, tells him, i grew out of toys, jimmy. Jul 02, 2000 the toy collector by james gunn bloomsbury.
In the same year, bloomsbury press released gunn s critically acclaimed novel the toy collector, the story of a hospital orderly who sells drugs to finance his escalating toy collecting addiction. A tragicomic novel about nostalgia, addiction, and 1970s action figures. After work on main hollywood tent poles like the suicide squad and guardians of the galaxy vol. Jun 14, 2000 in james gunn s new book, the toy collector, there are many memorable scenes.
Guardians of the galaxys james gunn reveals comic writing. The toy collector is a wickedly funny portrait of a. The malaysian toy collector is on the verge of going viral thanks to his forced perspective photography with various pieces of his collection. The toy collector quotes showing 14 of 4 god giving man life and taking it away is not nearly so bad as god taking away childhood and giving him life. The toy collector cover screenwriterdirector james gunns first and, to date, only novel should have had the effect of a modernday the catcher in the rye for twentysomethings at the beginning of the 21 st century. Browse author series lists, sequels, pseudonyms, synopses, book covers, ratings and awards. Aug 15, 2000 james gunn, the protagonist of james gunns first novel, the toy collector bloomsbury, 304 pp. The toy collector is an important prologue to james gunn as a writer and filmmaker, and reveals his raw, beating heart in a way that his movies will never be able. Early in james gunn s 2000 novel the toy collector, the protagonist, a drunken, thieving, ragefilled addict, scammer, and toy junkie named james gunn, gets dressed down by his moreresponsible brother tar, who, in a fit of exasperation, tells him, i grew out of toys, jimmy. In 2008, gunn was a judge on the vh1 reality television show, scream queens where 10 unknown actresses compete for a role in the film saw vi, where he directed contestants during acting challenges. Aug 06, 2014 james gunns the toy collector is not that book for me, but it comes damn close.
In the summer of 1995, a 25yearold orderly named james gunn starts pilfering drugs from new york citys saint dominics hospital to finance his addiction to buying the retro toys he loved while. It was published in 2000, after gunn had established himself as a. He has also authored the books all i need to know about filmmaking i learned from the toxic avenger and the toy collector. The toy collector is a wickedly funny portrait of a young man who sells stolen pharmaceuticals to finance his growing addiction to memorabilia. Mar 16, 2020 one day, james gunn might get his shot at writing a comic book. This copy specially inscribed by the author on the title page.
James gunns the toy collector and subversive manchildren tor. Surrounded by such icons of consumer culture, gunn, in his first novel, introduces a fictional james gunn, a 20something college dropout, fluctuating between childhood, adolescence, and adulthood while working as a hospital orderly in new york city. Hes violent and selfish, but he knows it, and even feels guilty about it. James gunn has updated and added 20,000 more words to his celebrated 1962 vampire novel, the immortals, the basis for an abctv movie of the week in 1969. Buy a cheap copy of the toy collector book by james gunn.
One day, james gunn might get his shot at writing a comic book. The toy collector has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Its that poetically and politically incorrect, that unflinchingly honest, and that painfully and brutally funny. He has been writing and performing as long as he can remember. James gunn books list of books by author james gunn. Man creates awesome forced perspective photos with. James gunn is the author of more than thirty books, including the hugo awardwinning nonfiction work isaac asimov. It is the story of a hospital orderly who steals drugs from the hospital which he sells to help keep his toy collection habit alive. Although the work is fictional, the name of the protagonist is james gunn. James gunn has updated and added 20,000 more words to his celebrated 1962 vampire novel, the immortals, the basis for an abctv movie of the week in 1969 and the 1970 television series. Three loosely linked 1950s stories brought together in paperback only, 1961, exploring the scientific pursuit of happiness.