Brian Domonic Muir, or Whatever Happened to the Guy Who Wrote "Critters?"

"A writer for film during the first two decades of his professional career (he worked with Roger Corman and wrote the script for the film Critters), he turned to prose fiction just six short years ago. In that time, he produced dozens of first-rate stories and two novels. I considered him one of EQMM's most promising newer writers and never expected to hear that this rising talent, still in his forties, was gone." -- Janet Hutchings, "From the Editor's Desk," Ellery Queen, www.themysteryplace.com/forum

Brian in a nutshell, then: Started making films -- and acting in them -- in his teens (above is a pic from a short called "Traffic Vigilantes" -- the buffest he ever got). Moved to Hollywood right out of high school and found success with Critters a few years later. He continued to work as a screenwriter for the next quarter-century, recently contributing to the acclaimed indie "neo-noir," Broke Sky. In that time he also launched a second career as a mystery author, breaking through Ellery Queen's slush pile with his first tale about a female private eye in about 2004.

For most of his life Brian continued writing in the face of his own mortality -- as does any writer -- but with the doctors' prophecy after his first recovery from cancer when he was not yet of drinking age in some states, "It will come back" floating around in the back of his brain.

At his funeral reception, ranged on tables, were Brian's Critters memorabilia and magazine covers alongside stacks and stacks of scripts, stories and novels he wasn't given the time on earth to get optioned or published. But while he lived he made good by the motto on his pen tray, "Don't Just Sit There, Write!"

So for anyone reading this page, I hope I've shed some light on "what happened to that guy who wrote Critters?" Hopefully, with all the works still waiting to thrill readers, there's more to happen yet.