Swords, Specters, & Stuff
Welcome to My World
I started this blog in January 2012 for one simple reason: I love to write. I named it “Swords, Specters, & Stuff” because I especially love to write about writing, about books and movies in my favorite genres, about authors that mean a great deal to me. But there’s more to it than that, which is why I included “Stuff” in the title. It is “Stuff” that gives me carte blanche to write about anything, which is why you’ll see stories about special trips to Cooperstown, Sedona, and other places; about getting older; about baseball; about the otherworldly way in which I met my soul mate; about the loss of good friends, and so much more. Enjoy! And feel free to leave a comment.
Throwback Thursday: Myths And Legends—The Ohio State Reformatory
If you saw the excellent film, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, or the political thriller, AIR FORCE ONE, then you’ve had a glimpse inside the Ohio State Reformatory, located in Mansfield, OH. But you likely didn’t know that this former prison is considered to be one of the most haunted places in America.
Riverside, Iowa: Future Birthplace Of James T. Kirk
My late bride and I used to make one or two trips a year to Iowa. Jacqueline was a born and raised, corn-fed Hawkeye and always enjoyed showing me around the state. One highlight was the small town of Riverside, population a tad over one thousand folks. Its claim to fame: Captain James T. Kirk of the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE will be born there in about 200 years.
Throwback Thursday: “The Play’s The Thing”—SHAKESPEARE AND HATHAWAY
No, we’re not talking about William Shakespeare, or his wife, Anne Hathaway—not exactly, anyway. This is about Luella “Lu” Shakespeare (Jo Joyner) and Frank Hathaway (Mark Benton), stars of the delightful BBC British detective/comedy series, “Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators.”
Last Week I Just About Lost IT
I don’t know, maybe it’s an “age” thing. Out of the blue last week I felt compelled to read (re-read, actually) Stephen King’s 1986 humongous horror classic, IT. I had read the book 25-30 years ago, so why bother? Still, I put it on my Kindle and read all 1,174 pages…took me the better part of the week. And it didn’t end there.
Throwback Thursday: “I Ain’t ’Fraid-A No Ghosts”—Lines From A Great Film Series, Part Two
The GHOSTBUSTERS franchise is a veritable cornucopia of great lines. This post first ran in 2022.
Wait, What? More Dinosaurs?!
If you watched the Super Bowl, you saw the trailer for JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH, the seventh film in the ever-popular, money-making franchise. Though a stand-alone story, it is considered a sequel to JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION (2022). It has an all-new ensemble cast, headed by Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali.
Throwback Thursday: “Ghostbusters, Whaddya Want?”—Lines From A Great Film Series, Part One
Having just watched the fourth film in the forty-one-year-old franchise, GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE, I decided to feature these movies in my next three posts. This week: lines from the first two films. The following week, lines from the more recent entities.
SUPER 8 Is A Super Film
The 2011 science fiction/thriller/coming of age film, SUPER 8, has a great pedigree. It was written and directed by J.J. Abrams, and produced by Steven Spielberg. The winner of numerous awards, it did well at the box office and won the praise of many critics. Not bad for a movie starring a bunch of kids.
Throwback Thursday: More Dinosaurs? Yaay!!!
Well, the best thing I can say about JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION is that it merged the old crew with the new one. This post first ran in 2022.
Guilty Pleasures: VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED
If the underachieving 1995 sci-fi/horror flick, VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED, is remembered for one thing, it is the final appearance in a theatrical film for its star, CHRISTOPHER REEVE. Later that year he would suffer the equestrian accident that would paralyze him and ultimately lead to his death in 2004.
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