Minister Faust’s books

Posted on by

I don’t remember how I found Minister Faust’s books. I’m assuming that From the Notebooks of Dr. Brain popped up on an Amazon Recommendation list because it’s somewhat similar to other books I read at the time. Or possibly because Dr. Brain and his next novel The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad we finalists for the Philip K. Dick Award. But I’m glad I read them both. These books are well done and come from a different point of view than other similar novels (and not because he’s Canadian).

Continue reading →

Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress

Posted on by

Steal Across the Sky by Nancy Kress (author of Beggars in Spain and Probability Space) is a different type of alien contact novel. Where most alien contact novels have the aliens either warring with Earth or helping shepherd Earth to the future, these aliens have come to apologize and atone for their actions 10,000 years ago. No one knows what they did, but the aliens (called Atoners) want to help Earth find out.
Continue reading →

Swamp Thing Part 3: Post Alan Moore

Posted on by

In the mid 80’s, over a series of 45 issues, Alan Moore redefined Swamp Thing as well as the comic book series. When he decided to leave the book, what would happen to the character as well as the book. Swamp Thing actually enjoyed a brief rise due to a new movie, a TV series, a short animated series as well as the continuing  comic book series. How long did it last?

Continue reading →

Swamp Thing Part 2: The Alan Moore Years

Posted on by

In 1984, Alan Moore took over Saga of the Swamp Thing from Marty Pasko. Moore had made a name for himself in England with his work on 2000AD and Warrior (where he had two ongoing series: Marvelmanand V for Vendetta). The book was headed for cancellation with low sales and DC saw no harm in letting Moore try a revamp of the character. What DC didn’t anticipate was the ramifications that Moore would have on DC and the whole US comic industry.
Continue reading →

Swamp Thing Part 1: Dark Genesis

Posted on by

The character of Swamp Thing has always been a personal favorite of mine. I saw the first movie, enjoyed the several of the comic book series and might even have seen a few episodes of the TV show. So today is the first of a 3 part look at Swamp Thing and his many incarnations. Today we’ll look at the beginnings of the character through the end of the Martin Pasko run on the comic books, a stretch which includes the Wes Craven movie.

Continue reading →

Drood by Dan Simmons

Posted on by

Drood by Dan Simmons (author of Iliumand Olympos) is a pseudo historical novel about Charles Dickens and his fellow author Wilkie Collins and a mystery figure (who may or may not exist) named Drood. The book mixes real life people and events with a fantasy overlay to tell a wonderful story that is part mystery and part horror.

Continue reading →

Alice in Wonderland (in 3D) review

Posted on by

Tim Burton, one of my favorite directors, takes on Alice in Wonderland. But, it’s not the story you expect. It should have been called Alice Returns to Wonderland since this is a sequel (set 10 years later) rather than a new take on the original story. But the real question: Is it worth the time and money?

Continue reading →