Movie Review: Princess Mononoke

Holy places can be dangerous.

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

Anime Review: Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac

From left: Dragon, Pegasus, Andromeda and Cygnus

Anime Review: Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac The Greek gods are real. Well, kind of. They’re actually energy beings that periodically reincarnate in human bodies. Athena in particular is important, since her servants (called “Saints”) help her defend humanity against the more malevolent gods. Except that this time, the rebirth of Athena was accompanied… Continue reading Anime Review: Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac

Magazine Review: Astounding Science Fiction July 1939

Magazine Review: Astounding Science Fiction July 1939 edited by John W. Campbell Astounding Science Fiction is now Analog, which is still being published; see earlier reviews on this blog. Today I’m looking at a key issue from the pulp days, July 1939. First, there’s this classic cover by Graves Gladney. Up front is “Addenda”, an… Continue reading Magazine Review: Astounding Science Fiction July 1939

Book Review: The Mad Visions of Al-Hazred

Book Review: The Mad Visions of Al-Hazred edited by H. David Blalock The Cthulhu Mythos is littered with the names of mysterious books and manuscripts containing forbidden knowledge. The most commonly used one is the Kitab al-Azif, the “Book of Night Insects Buzzing” (among the possible meanings), usually referred to by the Latin translation’s name,… Continue reading Book Review: The Mad Visions of Al-Hazred

Book Review: Swords Against Death

Book Review: Swords Against Death by Fritz Leiber Fafhrd is a tall barbarian from the Northern lands; the Grey Mouser is a relatively short and sneaky fellow who doesn’t know exactly where he was born, but has always lived in cities. They’re best friends, seeking treasure and adventure both in the fabled city of Lankhmar… Continue reading Book Review: Swords Against Death

Book Review: The Complete Stories of Robert Bloch Volume 3

Book Review: The Complete Stories of Robert Bloch Volume 3 by Robert Bloch Robert Bloch (1917-1994) was a prolific author of horror, science fiction and mystery works. (You may have seen, read or at least heard of Psycho.) This volume, originally “Selected Stories” and by no means complete, features 39 stories published between 1960 and… Continue reading Book Review: The Complete Stories of Robert Bloch Volume 3

Book Review: The Edge of Reason

Book Review: The Edge of Reason by Melinda Snodgrass Albuquerque, NM police officer Richard Oort has many things. Good looks, musical talent and training, a fine education and a passion for police work. He even has some dark secrets. But it’s what Richard doesn’t have that makes him special. When Richard saves a young woman… Continue reading Book Review: The Edge of Reason

Book Review: The Storm Lord

Book Review: The Storm Lord by Tanith Lee Raldnor has long known he was different from the other children in his Southlands village. They are fair-skinned, he has dark skin. They can speak mind-to-mind to supplement their words, he appears to be mind-deaf and mute. They seem unruled by their loins, while Raldnor has entire… Continue reading Book Review: The Storm Lord

Book Review: The Vessel of Ra

Book Review: The Vessel of Ra by Catherine Schaff-Stump It is October 1837, and the acqua alta, the fall flooding, has come to Venice. Lucy Klareon has also come to Venice, as part of her Grand Tour, but she doesn’t plan to leave in the usual way. For on her sixteenth birthday, October 31st, All Hallows Eve, Lucy must do battle… Continue reading Book Review: The Vessel of Ra

Comic Book Review: New Crusaders #1: Rise of the Heroes

Comic Book Review: New Crusaders #1: Rise of the Heroes written by Ian Flynn, pencils by Ben Bates & Alitha Martinez, inks by Gary Martin It was supposed to be a fun reunion picnic for the founders of the small town known as Red Circle and their children. After all, their efforts as the Mighty Crusaders had made the world a better place, free from supervillains… Continue reading Comic Book Review: New Crusaders #1: Rise of the Heroes