ADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE TWILIGHT ZONE HAIKU

“Considering the vast number of books written about Rod Serling and The Twilight Zone that already occupy the shelves and imaginations of enthusiasts, Chad Boykin has done the impossible and come up with a unique way of honoring Mr. Serling and, especially, the groundbreaking series we know and love. Episode guides and scholarly tomes have provided us with Twilight Zone summaries in the past, but never in such a fun and captivating fashion. By paying homage to Serling and The Twilight Zone in haiku form, Mr. Boykin guides faithful fans as if for the first time through the fifth dimension and beyond and allows us the welcomed opportunity to take in Serling’s panoramic landscape, no matter how familiar the territory, through the lens of his refreshingly creative vision which is sure to delight even the most well-versed or jaded of readers on the subject.”

Christopher Benedict, author of The Twilight Rounds: Rod Serling Explores the Dark Side of Boxing

“In Chad Boykin’s “The Twilight Zone Haiku,” his creative brilliance masterfully captures the bones of each episode from the 1960s TV masterpiece. Boykin astonishes us with “aha” moments that entice readers to revisit the series, unveiling the eerie prescience of Rod Serling’s imagination. Within the pages of this gem of a book, the haiku serve as a launching pad for an enhanced voyage into The Twilight Zone. With a multitude of episodes to explore, one could immerse themselves in this enchanting realm for years.”

Cathryn Shea, author of the poetry collections Genealogy Lesson for the Laity, and Backpack Full of Leaveshttps://www.cathrynshea.com

“Rod Serling was a master of storytelling and Chad Ellis Boykin is his poet protege in The Twilight Zone Haiku. This fantastic read, this brilliant gift, this reference-keepsake is Boykin’s profound homage to Serling and his television masterpiece. What a treasure to readers and fans everywhere.”

Carol Owens Campbell, author of Look Away No More

“The Twilight Zone has long captured the USA’s psyche—its precarious power, its hypocrisy, its hyper-focused individualism—through riveting storytelling. Boykin’s haiku conjure the trappings of each haunting plot, but more astutely, its scalpel-edged soul.”

Sommer Browning, poet, artist, and author of Good Actors and You’re on my Period. https://www.sommerbrowning.com

“I always try to seek out new, fresh ways to approach legendary pop culture subjects in non-fiction tomes, and this book is a superb textbook case of that. Deliriously insane, and in all the best ways, I think you’ll do what I did–seek out your favorite episodes first to devour them, then go back to savor the rest. May you have time enough at last to enjoy what Chad has wrought here. But get yourself an eyeglasses strap before you do. You’ve been warned. You don’t want to miss a single line, whether five, seven, or five.”

Jim Beard, author and editor, The Subterranean Blue Grotto Essays on Batman ’66 and Planet of the Apes: Tales From The Forbidden Zone

“With 17 syllables per episode, Chad Ellis Boykin boils the Twilight Zone and its progeny down to its essential truths and builds an overall effect of complexity and awe. The brevity of haiku encourages a quick read, but the depth of thought compels the reader to slow down and savor this book.”

Hayden Childs, author of Richard and Linda Thompson’s Shoot Out the Lights (33 1/3)

“Chad Boykin’s The Twilight Zone Haiku is a masterpiece of poetry and cultural criticism. As I read each poem, I could see the black-and-white episodes replay in my mind. The first thing I did when I finished this book was flip back and start reading it again.”

Jason McBride, author & illustrator of Wild Divinity, and creator of WeirdoPoetry.Substack.com

“So much depth and joy in so few words. As I read The Twilight Zone Haiku, I found myself wanting to race right to my favorite episodes, but I didn’t because that would ruin the experience that I was having with each one. It’s like traveling through The Twilight Zone again for the first time. It’s that good. Chad captures the very essence of each episode in only a few, short, powerful words. Appropriate for a show that has stood the test of time by standing on magnificent writing. This is a must own for any Twilight Zone fan.”

Jason Schwartz, Host of Twilight Zone Sandbox, TwilightZoneSandbox.com, @ZoneSandbox

“The Twilight Zone is perhaps the most thought-provoking piece of creative work ever made. 60 years later people like Chad keep finding new ways to present and think through Rod Serling’s seminal work. Being an artist myself, his work here – including its presentation and layout, is nothing short of inspiring.”

Uncommon Nasa
Owner of Uncommon Records and Only Child Audio, rapper, poet, and author of Withering: A Collection of Poems and Short Stories.
https://www.uncommonnasa.com

“I remain mesmerized and horrified by The Twilight Zone. This Haiku/Senryu book is a clever metamorphosis of those brief episodes into an even shorter burst of the fireball. Like the shows, and the candies of my past, these poems grip the mind and then send it crashing, forever craving more yet never fully finding satisfaction. “If onlys” come to life and crumble within seconds, force a second read, and then scurry away like a fascinating but grotesque spider. Such a clever book.”

Cynthia Herbert-Bruschi Adams, Psychologist, Professor Emerita, author of The Farmhouse on Cemetery Hill Rd., The Portal, Ah, Grace!, and The Red Toque, Love and Loss in the Time of Tito

“For the lucky reader, Chad Boykin’s The Twilight Zone Haiku conjures up a kaleidoscope of brilliant images delightfully presented in the venerated Japanese truncated poetic structure of haiku. The book is patterned chronologically after episodes from the early 60s sci-fi classic TV series The Twilight Zone that was created and hosted by Rod Serling, one of America’s all-time classic sci-writers, whom Boykin himself skillfully describes as “Distinctive cadence/Poetic predilection/A timeless presence.” That says it all.”

Ron Roman, Author of the critically acclaimed doomsday thriller Of Ashes and Dust www.writerronroman.com

Rod Serling’s spirit,

Infused with fresh energy

Is brought to new life

Chad unlocks a door

To a new way of viewing

Serling’s masterpiece.

Jerry Grillo, author of the biographical The Music and Mythocracy of Col. Bruce Hampton and the upcoming Big Cat: The Life of Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Mize.

“Fans of The Twilight Zone will love this wonderful collection of haiku based on episodes of the classic series. Like Rod Serling’s doppelganger, Chad Ellis Boykin distills the theme of each episode into seventeen perfect syllables. Even if you’ve never seen an episode, the haiku can be enjoyed for the precision of the language and the lessons they share about the human condition. This book is smart, playful, and a joy to read. Be warned: once you step into that slippery dimension between time, space, and the open page, you’ll have a hard time leaving The Twilight Zone Haiku.”

Chuck Augello, author of Talking Vonnegut: Centennial Interviews and Essays and The Revolving Heart, a Best Books of 2020 Selection by Kirkus Reviews.

The Twilight Zone ® is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc., The Twilight Zone name is used by permission. The Twight Zone Haiku is a work of homage, scholarly review, and critical analysis reflecting the perspectives and interpretations of the author. It is not endorsed, licensed, or sponsored by CBS Broadcasting, Inc.