Jeff Wayne’s Musical version of The War of the Worlds
Combining music and a classic Science Fiction story, Jeff Wayne’s album found amazing success In 1978, I was thirteen years old. Star Wars had been Read More
Month: January 2018
Winter is Here
And it certainly is. I am currently buried under several feet of snow! However, depictions of winter in Science Fiction and Fantasy are usually more Read More
Why Ghosts Must be Scary
Ghosts, as a monster of interest to horror fans, have fallen on hard times. Films, cartoons and comic books like Casper the Friendly Ghost and Read More
Can Occult Detectives Actually Be Scary 2?
I want to look at two stories that could argue either side of this debate: can occult detective stories actually be frightening? Ultimately, each reader Read More
Can Occult Detectives Actually Be Scary 1?
M. R. James, undoubtedly the finest ghost story writer in the English language, disparaged the occult detective story. This is very odd for James was Read More
Sword & Sorcery: Fossil or Fuel?
In 2006 I wrote a story called “Black God’s Burden” which eventually appeared in Flashing Swords #11 (November 2008). The editorial comments on the piece Read More
More Than Just Silver Underwear: The History of Space Opera
The term “Space Opera”, used to define a certain branch of Science Fiction, was coined by Wilson Tucker in 1941. It was not meant to Read More
GW and Jack Shoot the Poop: Writing Habits
GW: How did you ever decide to become a novelist? Certainly there are easier ways to express yourself. Finger painting. Interpretive dance? Jack: Well, as Read More
The Veiled Woman or Let Me Spillane it to Yah!
In a previous article I talked about how Robert Leslie Bellem had attempted to blend Science Fiction with a murder mystery before Isaac Asimov. In Read More
Why Write Horror?
Why write horror? Why not the socially more accepted Science Fiction or Fantasy, in which the reader experiences wonder and the heights of imagination? Why Read More