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.
My Favorite MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE Film Is…
Just to be clear, I totally enjoy all eight of the movies in the MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE film franchise. I was even around for the TV series, which ran for seven seasons beginning in 1966, and two seasons in the 1980s. But hands down, my favorite film just happens to be…
Excuses, Excuses
Sorry, no post this week. Just been so busy. I’m about halfway through my new literary opus, MYSTERIES OF THE BIKE PATH (A Jack Miller Senior Moment: Book Seven), and it should be ready for public consumption by the end of the year. And I’m totally invested in the San Diego Padres’ quest for a playoff spot. I even have a defibrillator next to my La-Z-Boy for those stressful moments.
I Kvetch For Dinosaurs
In case you don’t know, to KVETCH is “to complain, grumble, or whine about trivial matters.” So my kvetch today is about the mistreatment of a 33-year-old, classic, much-loved movie. I’m talking about JURASSIC PARK.
Good Neighborhood, Bad Neighbors
The British crime drama from Acorn TV, THE CHELSEA DETECTIVE, recently premiered its fourth season (I watch it on Prime Video), and I could not be happier. This excellent series just keeps getting better and better.
Yes, Jack Miller Will Definitely Ride Again!
An update: my alter ego, Del Mar, California bicyclist Jack Miller, is aging gracefully, and this young fart just can’t stop riding through the cosmic tunnel known as the Ultimate Bike Path. I am currently writing the next opus in my comedy/sci-fi series, MYSTERIES OF THE BIKE PATH (A Jack Miller Senior Moment: Book Seven), and expect to have it ready for public consumption well before the end of the year. Stay tuned.
Pet Chimpanzee Goes Ape
Sorry, couldn’t resist. But in fact, those four words could serve as the entire synopsis for the 2025 “natural horror” film, PRIMATE, a surprisingly watchable film for its genre.
A Devilish Blog Post
According to my STATS page, today’s post is the six hundred-sixty-sixth one in the blog that I began over fifteen years ago. Yes indeed, number 666. Given my penchant for weirdness, I thought it should be noted. I’m sure you know what that number represents.
Sam Neill, A Consummate Actor: Part Two
Moviegoers loved Sam Neill’s portrayal as Dr. Alan Grant in JURASSIC PARK (1993). Were they surprised four years later, in the sci-fi/horror film, EVENT HORIZON, to see his riveting performance as Dr. William Weir, designer of a spaceship…from Hell? I believe so. These roles exhibited the depth of this fine actor’s abilities.
Sam Neill, A Consummate Actor: Part One
Through the decades I’ve enjoyed pretty much all of the films in which Sam Neill performed. Learning of his sudden death last week at the age of 78 saddened me. As an homage I watched three of my favorite films: JURASSIC PARK, EVENT HORIZON, and IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS. Just about everyone knows Dr. Alan Grant in the Spielberg classic, but the other two, geared more toward hard-core horror fans, are where Sam Neill did some of his best work. I wrote about IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS a decade ago and will revisit it here. Surprisingly, I’d not written about EVENT HORIZON, but will rectify that next week.
Myths And Legends: Ghostly Bridges
You normally don’t think of bridges when it comes to hauntings. Bridges are useful structures that get you across busy roads, or train tracks, or even rivers. But many bridges around the world—especially older ones—have grim histories because of bad or weird things that might have occurred on or near or beneath them in the past. Let’s explore a few of these haunted bridges.
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