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.
History Via Horror
My horror novel, THE MODOC WELL (first published as THE WELL, Bantam Books, 1991), is creepy and gory enough to satisfy any aficionado of the genre. But in one chapter I deviate a bit to present a bit of fascinating—and heartbreaking—local history.
“It’s Weird And Pissed Off…” Quotes From A Horror Classic
Paranoia and claustrophobia: two defining elements of director John Carpenter’s 1982 film, THE THING. Initially panned by critics, it has long since evolved into one of the most respected movies of its genre. Here are some of its memorable lines.
Monstrous Malevolent Mollusks Manufacture Much Mayhem
By now I’ve made it clear that I’m a fan of those 1950s science fiction/horror “B” movies, aka “creature features.” A particular favorite is THE MONSTER THAT CHALLENGED THE WORLD (1957). It doesn’t hurt that the setting for this film is practically in my neighborhood.
Ghosts Of The Inner City
In my comedy/sci-fi series, cosmic mountain bike rider Jack Miller finds himself in some weird and wonderful—and dangerous—worlds through the portals along the Ultimate Bike Path. This holds true in the latest entry, THE MAGIC OF THE BIKE PATH (A Jack Miller Senior Moment: Book Six). He finds himself in a devastated inner-city neighborhood, one that he soon learns is inhabited by ghosts …
“You’re Out Of Order!”
As someone who is rather obsessive (read: anal) about watching a film series in its proper order, I almost never deviate from that approach. THE HOBBIT/LORD OF THE RINGS, JURASSIC PARK/JURASSIC WORLD, HARRY POTTER, all viewed from the first to the last film. But wait. Did I say ALMOST? There are two films from the middle of series that I often watch all by themselves, given their awesomeness. They are…
A Bad Call
One such critic of the ABS Challenge System is Rich Garcia, a former MLB umpire who worked from 1975 to 1999. He calls the system embarrassing, that human umpires will be humiliated in front of tens of thousands of fans if their call is overturned. Does he have a point? Perhaps. Yet there is a cruel irony to this particular retired umpire making that statement.
The Wreck Of The LADY ELGIN
Five freshwater lakes in North America are known collectively as the Great Lakes. Over the centuries, numerous shipwrecks have accounted for a great number of fatalities. There are no exact figures on the number of wrecks, though estimates have ranged from 6,000 to over 20,000. One number, however, is well-known: the largest death toll on a single vessel plying open water belongs to the ill-fated PS LADY ELGIN.
Dinosaurs In The Neighborhood?
Sure, I may be older than dirt, but the “kid” in me will always partake of the Snoopy Dance when the prospect of a new dinosaur movie arises. That brings me to the oddly titled THE END OF OAK STREET, the J.J. Abrams-produced science fiction/survival film, which will debut later this year in August.
The Balm Of Baseball
In a couple of weeks it will be two years since I lost Jacqueline, my beloved bride, to demon cancer. Devastated? I’m sure you can imagine. For a time, I thought I’d follow close behind. So how did I survive the aftermath?
Captain Kirk Versus The…Spiders?
In-between his well-known roles as the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise in the ’60s, and L.A. police lieutenant T.J. Hooker in the ’80s, William Shatner had a starring role in the 1977 creature feature, KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS. If you think this film was more horror schlock, typical of its era…think again.
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