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: Nice Folks…So What If They’re All Dead?
I’m happy to report that I am writing again! The new book is titled, THE MAGIC OF THE BIKE PATH and is the sixth entry in my comedy-science fiction series that began many years ago with BICYCLING THROUGH SPACE AND TIME. In the meantime, enjoy a scene from my Sword & Planet spoof, THE HORRORS OF HARRMEL.
A Mighty Good Movie
In my misspent youth, when I wasn’t outside playing with the dinosaurs, I would watch these newfangled things called movies. One of my absolute favorites was the 1949 fantasy-adventure, MIGHTY JOE YOUNG, a story about a ginormous gorilla taken from its habitat to be displayed in America for the edification of the masses. Wait, does that sound familiar? Well, it should.
Throwback Thursday: “Never Argue With Stupid People…”—More Gems From Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910), known by his pen name of Mark Twain, is considered this country’s greatest humorist. William Faulkner even went as far as calling him “the father of American literature.” Here are some more of his best and most meaningful quotes.
Go Climb A Rock…Or Not
I finally figured it out. I finally understood why, given my fear of heights and an even greater phobia about falling, I watched just about every mountain-climbing movie out there. It was because—from the safety of my couch or the theater seat—I wanted to understand the mindset of people who risked their lives to reach a summit.
Throwback Thursday: The Last Dinosaur (Movie?)
Well, since this post first appeared in 2022, another dinosaur film is on the horizon. JURASSIC WORLD REBIRTH will be out in July.
Guilty Pleasures: INFESTATION
At this stage of my life it’s nice to discover a new Guilty Pleasure, and the 2009 comedy/horror movie, INFESTATION, fits the bill. My usual parameters—box office and reviews—don’t actually apply here, because I’m not even sure it had a box office, and the only reviews I found were on IMDB—and they were pretty good.
Throwback Thursday: “Dinosaurs Eat Man…Woman Inherits The Earth”
JURASSIC PARK is not only the best film in the classic series, it also has many of the best lines. This post first ran in 2022.
From Concentration Camp To Film Stardom
The late actress, Ingrid Pitt, gained a great deal of notoriety while starring in a number of 1970s horror films from Britain’s Hammer Film Productions and other studios. But no fictional movie could match the unthinkable, real-life horror she experienced as a child.
Throwback Thursday—Myths And Legends: “America’s Most Haunted Hotel”
What? The MOST haunted? That is what the Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas perceives itself to be. And whether we believe it or not, there is an extensive history of paranormal activity at this venerable building.
“Ode To Joy”—Exercising To The Oldies
A question: does Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” which is the fourth movement of his Symphony #9, qualify as an oldie? Well, he wrote it between 1823 and 1824. Old enough for you?
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