Nick Cutter

Date: 2014-05-06 | Duration: 2h 50m

Episode Overview

Episode 496 features a wide-ranging conversation with author Nick Cutter, who delves into his writing career and the influences behind his horror novel *The Troop*. Cutter discusses his decision to use a pseudonym to separate his horror work from his other literary fiction, emphasizing his deep admiration for Stephen King and the classic horror authors who shaped his style. He highlights the challenge of scaring modern readers and praises King’s unique ability to capture childhood experiences and psychological terror, drawing parallels between *The Troop* and King’s *Stand By Me* or *It*. The discussion also touches on the literary world’s occasional snobbery toward genre fiction, with Cutter defending horror as a legitimate and thrilling form of storytelling. The conversation shifts to Canadian culture, particularly the country’s passionate embrace of mixed martial arts (MMA). Cutter shares insights from following fighters’ careers, exploring the psychological and physical demands of combat sports. He reflects on the importance of resilience, the influence of family dynamics—especially sibling relationships—and the brutal realities faced by athletes who fall short of championship glory. The episode also touches on broader social issues, including masculinity, overmedication, and cultural attitudes toward violence and competition, offering a candid and nuanced perspective on what it means to be “manly” in today’s world.

About Nick Cutter

Nick Cutter, a Canadian author, is renowned for his gripping short stories and novels that delve into the realms of horror and suspense. Under his own name, Craig Davidson, he has garnered critical acclaim for works like "Cataract City" and "Rust and Bone," while his pen name, Patrick Lestewka, showcases his versatility in storytelling. Cutter's unique ability to blend psychological depth with visceral thrills has captivated readers and earned him a dedicated following. Notably, his novel "The Troop" has received widespread praise for its chilling narrative and masterful character development, solidifying his reputation as a leading voice in contemporary horror literature. His appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience further highlighted his insights into the creative process and the intricacies of writing.

Key Moments

– Horror Fiction
– Stephen King
– Pseudonyms in Writing
– Literary vs Genre Fiction
– Mixed Martial Arts
– Masculinity and Society
– Mental Health and Medication
– Canadian Culture
– Writing Process
– Sports Psychology
– Gun Control Debate
– Social Hierarchies
– Athletic Career Challenges
– Childhood Influence on Writers
– Media and Public Perception
– Character Study in Writing
– MMA Fighters' Backgrounds
– Cultural Criticism
– Comedy and Social Commentary
0:00:26 – Introduction of Nick Cutter's book The Troop
0:00:56 – Comparison of The Troop to classic Stephen King works
0:01:42 – Discussion of pseudonym use and separating genres
0:03:45 – Overview of author's other literary works
0:04:44 – Conversation about Salman Rushdie and literary fiction
0:06:14 – Preference for entertainment over literary fiction
0:07:16 – Criticism of literary elitism and defense of genre fiction
0:08:29 – Stephen King's mastery of horror and childhood themes
0:13:06 – Stephen King's use of pseudonym Richard Bachman explained
0:15:34 – Discussion of Maine and its influence on Stephen King
0:18:08 – Montreal's MMA scene and notable fighters
0:20:38 – Cultural attitudes toward masculinity and manliness
0:23:07 – Rejection of masculinity linked to societal issues
0:24:22 – Over-medication and its role in violent behavior
0:26:03 – Gun control debate and societal responsibility
0:28:02 – Distinction between jocks, bros, and rapists
0:29:53 – Moral imperative to remove child abusers
0:31:21 – Studying opposing mindsets for writing inspiration
0:33:41 – Discussion of Rob Ford and political controversies
0:36:15 – Donald Sterling scandal and cultural implications
0:39:39 – Using real-life figures to inform fictional characters
0:40:18 – Following an amateur MMA fighter for a magazine article
0:42:42 – Acceptance of personal limits in athletic careers
0:44:32 – Psychological impact of fighting stronger opponents
0:45:58 – Genetics and psychology in athletic performance
0:46:55 – Influence of siblings on fighter mentality
0:48:02 – Challenges of being a second-best champion
0:49:40 – Cain Velasquez's dominance and fighting style

Transcript Excerpt

Starting point is 00:00:00 Joe Rogan Podcast, check it out! The Joe Rogan Experience. Train by day, Joe Rogan Podcast by night! All day! So my pal Matt Staggs, he sends me this book. And he's like, dude, you gotta read this book. This book is fucked up. You're gonna love it. Because he knows I love Stephen King and that sort of twisted genre. Starting point is 00:00:26 So he sends me this book right here. It's in my bag here somewhere. He sends me your book. And I enjoy the fucking shit out of it. Thanks. I want to pull it out because it's so beat up and doggier. It proves that I've actually been reading it. Nothing looks better. Starting point is 00:00:44 Oh, there we go. The Troop. And I guess I'm about 200 plus pages into it. It's really getting juicy. I'm really enjoying it, man. Good. It's really good. Good, good. Starting point is 00:00:56 Thank you. It's really fun. And it's along the lines of Stand By Me or one of those classic old Stephen King books, you know, like The Stand or Pet Sematary where it's just twisted and dark and there's psychological shit going on and there's horrific things happening. There's monsters and it's really fucking cool, man. And when he sent it to me he told me that nick cutter wasn't your real name and i was like well what's what's the deal there yeah what is what's the deal there well um you know i think the the most concerning thing to me would be is that anyone because i mean i grew up like you like stephen king is my idol steve there's no nobody i've read Starting point is 00:01:42 more than stephen king and beyond that like i grew up as a horror reader. I mean, I have read everything now. I mean, you sort of diversify, but I wouldn't even say diversify. Cause that's sort of like, I love the horror genre. So like Clive Barker, obviously Stephen King, Peter Straub, Robert R. McCammon. I mean, the list goes on and on and on. That was sort of who I cut my teeth on. So, um, so really my agent said, listen, you've been writing the...

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Nick Cutter was the guest on JRE #496. This page includes the episode overview, topics discussed, and related resources.

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On Joe Rogan Experience #496 with Nick Cutter, topics include Horror Fiction, Stephen King, Pseudonyms in Writing, and Literary vs Genre Fiction.

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