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: 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. It just so happens that I grab KONG: SKULL ISLAND off my shelf more often than the others.
Val Kilmer: Out Of This World
In my post earlier this month, which chronicled Val Kilmer’s untimely death, I mentioned some of his most noteworthy roles, such as in THUNDERHEART, TOMBSTONE, TOP GUN, THE DOORS, and others. But neither my post, nor the majority of other articles and obituaries, acknowledged that the versatile actor starred in a science fiction movie, RED PLANET (2000). I had written about this underappreciated film in the past and am repeating it here.
Throwback Thursday—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.
It Must Be About The Paycheck
If you’re an aficionado of old movies and TV shows, you’ll likely recognize most or all of the following names. Jack Palance; Martin Landau; Cameron Mitchell; Neville Brand; Sue Ann Langdon; Ralph Meeker; Larry Storch; David Caruso. What is the link? All eight of them played in the 1980 “B” sci-fi/horror film, WITHOUT WARNING.
Throwback Thursday—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.
Val Kilmer: Gone Too Soon
We lost an acting icon—and a personal favorite—last week. Val Kilmer passed away at age 65 after a courageous battle with insidious throat cancer. His last appearance on the big screen—an amazing effort—was a cameo in TOP GUN: MAVERICK (2022), where he reprised his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky from the first movie. At that point he could barely speak.
Throwback Thursday: Even The Most Successful Authors Dealt With The Evil Rejection Slips
You know what they say about “opinions.” I first presented this post in 2022.
Revisited: Thank You, Padres
With the baseball season now underway, I’m running this post from last year. A difficult one for me, to be sure, but necessary.
Throwback Thursday: Updating THE CONJURING Universe
Since I first presented this post in 2022, THE CONJURING Universe has expanded to include THE NUN II in 2023. It will further grow later this year with THE CONJURING: LAST RITES.
Let’s Hear It For Strong Women
In my favorite genres of horror and science fiction of the 1950s, women were great at two things: screaming and fainting. Yeah, the guys were always around to protect them while figuring out how to kill the monster, or prevent the alien invasion, or whatever. Fortunately, there were exceptions to the rule, and some of the best films during that era were ones involving strong, smart women.
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