Magazine Review: Strange Fantasy Spring 1970 “Strange Fantasy” was a short-lived reprint digest-sized magazine from Ultimate Publishing. This issue’s stories were originally published between 1959 and 1964, which somewhat belies the cover text. “The Shrine of Temptation” by Judith Merril starts us off with an anthropologist’s tale of a mysterious shrine on an isolated island.… Continue reading Magazine Review: Strange Fantasy Spring 1970
Month: October 2020
Book Review: Swords for Charlemagne
Book Review: Swords for Charlemagne by Mario Pei For seven long years, brother knights Thierry and Huon of Anjou have served their liege lord Roland of Brittany in Emperor Charlemagne’s war to free Spain of Islamic rule. They are proud to have done their bit for chivalry and Christendom. Now, only one Moslem stronghold remains,… Continue reading Book Review: Swords for Charlemagne
Movie Review: Kitaro (2007)
Movie Review: Kitaro (2007) directed by Katsuhide Motoki The Miura family has been going through some tough times. Mrs. Miura died a couple of years back, and Mr. Miura (Go Riju) never got over it. He’s developed a bit of a drinking problem, so teenage daughter Mika (Mao Inoue) has had to step up as caretaker… Continue reading Movie Review: Kitaro (2007)
Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73
Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73 by Gosho Aoyama Recap: Shinichi Kudou (Jimmy Kudo in the dub) is a teen genius detective who has been shrunk by a poison and now poses as grade-schooler Conan Edogawa, but still solves crimes. Thus the Japanese title that translates as “Detective Conan.” See my earlier reviews. This volume… Continue reading Manga Review: Case Closed, Vol. 73
Book Review: Our Man Flint
Book Review: Our Man Flint by Jack Pearl When the utopian organization Galaxy gains the ability to control the weather and threatens to take over the world, only one man has the necessary skills to take them down. Derek Flint, soldier of fortune, doctor, ballet dancer, lawyer, five time Olympic champion, master of the martial… Continue reading Book Review: Our Man Flint
Comic Book Review: Sword Princess Amaltea #1
Comic Book Review: Sword Princess Amaltea #1 by Natalia Batista Princess Amaltea of the Queendom of the Green Highlands has always been overshadowed by her elder sister, Princess Dorotea. Since their society practices primogeniture through the female line, Dorotea is the heir to Queen Galatea. If Amaltea wants a queendom, she must find a prince… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Sword Princess Amaltea #1
Movie Review: The Brain that Wouldn’t Die
Movie Review: The Brain that Wouldn’t Die (1962) directed by Joseph Green The father/son surgical team of Dr. Cortner (Bruce Brightner) and Dr. Bill Cortner (Jason Evers) has just saved a patient with a radical technique involving direct brain stimulation, but this does not sit well with the older Cortner. He disapproves of human experimentation, wanting… Continue reading Movie Review: The Brain that Wouldn’t Die
Manga Review: Rin-ne #35
Manga Review: Rin-ne #35 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: Rinne Rokudo is a part-human shinigami (death spirit) who helps lost spirits find the proper afterlife. Due to unfortunate circumstances, he’s poor and destined to stay that way for the indefinite future. He’s assisted by his black cat familiar Rokumon, and a female classmate named Sakura… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-ne #35
Book Review: The Diamond Cave Mystery
Book Review: The Diamond Cave Mystery by Troy Nesbit Chuck Bennett’s father runs the Trading Post near Carlsbad, New Mexico, home of the famous Carlsbad Caverns. Being out in the sticks, Chuck doesn’t normally have kids his own age (fifteen) to hang out with, but this summer he’s joined by Hal Cassidy, son of oil… Continue reading Book Review: The Diamond Cave Mystery
Movie Review: Princess Mononoke
Movie Review: Princess Mononoke (1997) directed by Hayao Miyazaki When Prince Ashitaka’s remote village is attacked by an accursed boar monster, he is forced to slay the creature. But this passes the curse along to him in the form of scarring on his right arm that gives him superhuman strength, but sometimes takes control of the… Continue reading Movie Review: Princess Mononoke