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.
Guilty Pleasures: 10,000 BC
The 2008 “epic adventure” film, 10,000 BC, would not be a guilty pleasure if judged only by its box office. It made a fair amount of money. But the reviews for its story, which is set in prehistoric times, were uniformly harsh, many citing it as “archaeologically inaccurate.” Give me a break! This is a watchable film, and I intend to view it a few more times before the Mother Ship comes for me.
Hill House: A Scary Place, In The Night…In The Dark…
So what did horror-meister Stephen King think about the Netflix series, THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE, a revisionist version of the 1959 classic ghost story by Shirley Jackson? He tweeted that it was great, practically a work of genius.
The Walking Dude: Some Thoughts
I’ve done lots of walking/hiking over the decades, though in all likelihood not as much as during the past nine years. I had open-heart surgery back in 2009, and subsequently, over time, I realized that I was “Walking Scared,” as I called it. I guess that’s not hard to understand.
Films About Books: Book Club
It seems as though, of late, both the big screen and the small screen are paying more attention to those of us who are, uh, a bit older than most. This is true of the 2018 chick flick, BOOK CLUB, which offers up a quartet of impressive actresses, all of whom have been around for a long time.
Good News For Fans Of “The Thing”
A magazine called “Astounding Science Fiction,” later renamed “Analog Science Fact and Fiction,” was highly influential in bringing the sci-fi genre into the mainstream many 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?
Guilty Pleasures: End Of Days
Arnold Schwarzenegger in a horror movie? Yes, 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. I get a kick out of this film, and in truth it is an action/horror story. And as we all know, the Governator does “action” well…or at least he did.
“You’re Killin’ Me, Smalls!”—Great Lines From Baseball Flicks
With the MLB playoffs in full swing and the World Series looming (please, Great Spirit, not with the Dodgers!), I thought it might be fun to visit a few quotes from some of the most popular baseball movies. Having seen just about every one ever made, I’m sure it would require a whole lot of posts to list all great lines.
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 began.
Long Live The Iowa Wave!
A relatively new “tradition” honors children who are dealing with life-threatening illnesses. Call it The Iowa Wave, The Hawkeye Wave, or simply just The Wave; this event has warmed the hearts—and brought tears to the eyes—of millions during its brief existence.
Guilty Pleasures: Red Planet
Uniformly poor reviews? A box-office bomb? Yes indeed, the 2000 sci-fi thriller, RED PLANET, fits within all the parameters of a guilty pleasure. But as noted many times before, I’m easily entertained, so I have no problem checking it out every once in a while. A solid cast helps the medicine go down.
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