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: Myths And Legends—The House Of Death
I grew up in the Big Apple and I didn’t even know about this! I first presented this post in 2022.
JAWS: Half A Century, And Still Scary
Last Friday, in addition to it being the Summer Solstice, Steven Spielberg’s classic thriller, JAWS, celebrated the 50th anniversary of its 1975 release. Naturally, I had to watch the awesome movie for the…let’s see, 783rd time, give or take. I never get tired of what is considered to be the first summer blockbuster.
Throwback Thursday: Hear A Parishioner’s Confession, Then Solve A Murder
Despite our affection for British mysteries, my bride and I had passed on FATHER BROWN for quite some time. I mean, a Catholic priest who acts as an amateur sleuth, solving all manner of crimes, mostly murders? It just didn’t sound like our cup of Earl Grey. Wow, were we wrong!
King Kong Had A Kid?!
With rare exceptions, a sequel to a popular movie seldom lives up to the original. There is one main reason why sequels are even made: money. It is true these days, and it was true back in 1933, when SON OF KONG was released barely nine months after the insanely popular KING KONG.
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.
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