Fine Stories and Other Wordy Tidbits
So, what are we doing here? I'm breaking my own rule just a bit, after all. The Phantom of the Opera isn't one of the Canonical Six that I'm supposed to be focusing on. What's the reason for this detour? There are a couple of reasons, actually. The most important is that this movie came … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “Phantom of the Opera” (1943)
Today on Project Gutenberg, we have... The Secret Battleplane by Percy F. Westerman Today we've got ourselves another story written and set during World War One. But this time we're up in the sky rather than down in the trenches, on an adventure that's significantly more pulpy than our previous wartime outing. The available background … Continue reading Today on Project Gutenberg #45
Today on Project Gutenberg, we have... Poems of Paul Verlaine by Paul Verlaine No doubt you've heard of Claude Debussy's famous "Clair de Lune" piano piece from his Suite bergamasque. Why do I bring this up? Because you probably don't know that "Clair de Lune" was based on a work of poetry. And the author … Continue reading Today on Project Gutenberg #44
The cinematic showdown has been around since time immemorial. We've had Batman v Superman. Freddy vs Jason. Godzilla vs King Kong/Mothra/King Ghidorah/etc. Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny...okay, not that one. But you get the idea. One badass fights another badass, with (hopefully) awesome results. And then we have today's film, Frankenstein Meets the Wolf … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man” (1943)
Today on Project Gutenberg, we have... Over There with the Canadians at Vimy Ridge by G. Harvey Ralphson The phrase "over there" is a clue to the subject of today's book, as is the mention of Vimy Ridge and the appearance of an antique tank on the cover. That's right, we're talking about World War … Continue reading Today on Project Gutenberg #43
Today on Project Gutenberg, we have... Heroes of To-Day by Mary Rosetta Parkman "To-Day," in this instance, refers to 1917, when this book was published, and according to author Mary Rosetta Parkman, a hero can mean all sorts of different things. In her mind, the heroes of the late 1910s were "fighting...not against flesh and … Continue reading Today on Project Gutenberg #42
Unwatchable. It's a hefty word, or at least it's supposed to be. In today's digital word, we're more likely to see it tossed around as shorthand for "something I personally didn't like." But what does it really mean? When is a film really, truly unwatchable? The problem is that "unwatchable" can mean a few different … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “The Mummy’s Tomb” (1942)
Today on Project Gutenberg, we have... Hail to the Chief by Randall Garrett I know, I know, we're all sick and tired of hearing about presidential elections. But this one's gonna be fun, I promise. This story comes to us from the February 1962 issue of Analog Science Fact and Science Fiction. It was written … Continue reading Today on Project Gutenberg #41
Today on Project Gutenberg, we have... A Gray Eye or So by Frank Frankfort Moore YOU AGAIN? Soooo you may remember that we have met this guy before in our Project Gutenberg travels. Good old Frank Frankfort Moore, author of The Love That Prevailed, AKA that deeply weird novel where the real-life founder of Methodism … Continue reading Today on Project Gutenberg #40
NOTE: This article will contain mentions of sexual assault and a discussion of anti-Japanese racism, both of which may be upsetting to some readers. TERRIBLE JOKE INCOMING IN 3, 2, 1... What's the best way to get rid of Nazis? You have to use a Not-See! HA HA HA! And now that I've gotten that … Continue reading Horror Is Universal: “Invisible Agent” (1942)
