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.
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.
Another Cheer-Worthy Sports Movie That You Probably Missed
The 2009 film, THE PERFECT GAME, was one of those “came-and went” movies that most folks weren’t even aware of when it breezed through their local multi-plexes. That’s too bad, because this heartwarming baseball story, based on true events, is a gem, easily one of the fifty or sixty movies in my Top Ten.
Myths And Legends: Resurrection Mary, The Hitchhiking Ghost
Chicago and its environs are home to quite a few ghosts and spirits. I’ve already written about one of America’s most haunted places, the Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery, located in the Windy City’s suburbs. But the story of Resurrection Mary might be even creepier.
The Worms Keep Turning…But For How Long?
The 2018 monster movie, TREMORS: A COLD DAY IN HELL, is the sixth in a film series that began with the 1990 release, Tremors, which starred Kevin Bacon as Valentine McKee. Indeed, this series has run for nearly three decades—with an eleven-year hiatus between the 2004 prequel, TREMORS: THE LEGEND BEGINS, and TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES in 2015. The question is, how much longer can we expect to see the giant, worm-like Graboids or the smelly Ass-Blasters decrease the surface population?
Scenes From A Book Festival
The second annual San Diego Union-Tribune Festival of Books took place this past Saturday at Liberty Station. Last year’s inaugural event drew upwards of 10,000 people, and I’m pretty sure the 2018 version outdid that number.
Blowing Shit Up: The Rambo Films
When bestselling author David Morrell wrote FIRST BLOOD in 1972 I’ll bet he didn’t imagine the film series, starring Sylvester Stallone as decorated Vietnam vet John Rambo, extending into 2019. Wait, what?! They’re making a new RAMBO film?
Who Won The Bone Wars?
Also called the Great Dinosaur Rush, the Bone Wars comprises an interesting chapter in American history. The phrase refers to a period of fiercely competitive fossil hunting that took place during the latter part of the nineteenth century. Although many others got caught up in the obsessive hunt for dinosaur remains, its two primary antagonists were paleontologists Othniel Charles Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope. And wow, did these guys hate each other’s guts!
Shh—Don’t Make A Sound…
Just how scary is the 2018 thriller, A QUIET PLACE? Okay, perhaps you’ve seen a Cox commercial where a woman is watching STRANGER THINGS and sitting on the edge of her couch looking seriously freaked out. That’s about what this jaded horror aficionado looked like all through A QUIET PLACE. Yeah, it’s that scary.
“They’re Coming To Get You, Barbara”—Horror Movie Quotes
Ah, scary flicks…no surprise that I love the genre. (What does that say about me?) Here are a few lines from some of my favorites.
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