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.
FROZEN HELL: The Novel That Formed The Basis For THE THING
A magazine called Astounding Science Fiction was highly influential in bringing the sci-fi genre into the mainstream decades past. One of its editors, John W. Campbell, also wrote for the magazine, and in 1938 he published a novella titled, “Who Goes There?” The popular story, a hybrid combination of science fiction and horror, would later be adapted to the big screen in 1951 as THE THING.
Throwback Thursday: Guilty Pleasures—END OF DAYS
Arnold Schwarzenegger in a horror movie? Yep, he starred in the 1999 clunker, END OF DAYS. Wait, did I say clunker? Well, the reviews were uniformly bad, but since I’m easily entertained, that never bothered me.
Curious Possessions V
With over two centuries in the rearview mirror—okay, seven-plus decades—I’ve had plenty of time to collect a whole lot of neat stuff. Here is a look at some more “Curious Possessions” floating around my domicile.
Throwback Thursday: “You’re Killin’ Me, Smalls!”—Great Lines From Baseball Flicks
With the MLB season well under way, I thought it would be a hoot to revisit a 2018 post that offers some great dialogue from a number of baseball-themed movies. Enjoy!
Part Two: Which Kong Is King?
No secret, I already answered that question last week. Yes, KONG: SKULL ISLAND is my favorite, though I absolutely love the classic 1933 version and Peter Jackson’s awesome 2005 remake.
Throwback Thursday: Myths And Legends—Seven Sisters Road
Why does a rural road in Nebraska appear on current lists of the scariest places in America? How come there is so much documented paranormal activity along this creepy byway? The following scenario offers some clues as to how the legend of Seven Sisters Road might have started.
Part One: Which Kong Is King?
Yes, this is going to be one of those IMHO posts, and you may or may not agree with which King Kong film is my favorite. No problem, we all know what we like. I might also add that I’m only talking about the three American-made films actually titled KING KONG, as well as the 2017 version, KONG: SKULL ISLAND.
Throwback Thursday: Long Live The Iowa Wave!
The Iowa Wave is still going strong! Performed by 70,000+ folks at every Iowa Hawkeye football game in the fall, the Wave honors children at a nearby hospital who are battling some devastating health issues. This post first ran in 2018.
Myths And Legends: The Troubled Spirits Of Colonial Park Cemetery
Some think of it as the most haunted place in the venerable Georgia city of Savannah. Others call it one of the most haunted sites in America. Whatever the case, Colonial Park Cemetery has a long and chilling history.
Throwback Thursday: Guilty Pleasures—RED PLANET
Aside from a noteworthy cast, RED PLANET met all of the criteria for a dud, therefore making it a Guilty Pleasure. This post first ran in 2018.
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