Book Review: The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries

Book Review: The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries edited by Otto Penzler While stories that could be considered “mysteries” in some sense have existed as long as writing, and perhaps a bit before, the short story mystery came into its own during the lifetime of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). This volume collects forty-nine notable stories from… Continue reading Book Review: The Big Book of Victorian Mysteries

Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventure Classics #12 Winter

Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventure Classics #12 Winter edited by Sam Moskowitz This is a magazine I could find very few details about. It reprinted 1920s and 1930s tales from Amazing Stories; it’s listed as quarterly, but seems to have been published on a more irregular basis. This issue is apparently from 1970 though there’s… Continue reading Magazine Review: Science Fiction Adventure Classics #12 Winter

Movie Review: The Man with the Iron Fists

The Blacksmith checks out his new fists.

Movie Review: The Man with the Iron Fists (2012) directed by RZA Jungle Village is a lawless town, inhabited by various clans (most named after animals) that engage in frequent turf wars. The Blacksmith (RZA) is one of the few important neutral parties. He uses his skills to make superior weaponry for anyone who can pay… Continue reading Movie Review: The Man with the Iron Fists

Movie Review: Lethal Weapon

Murtaugh and Riggs take a while to warm to each other.

Movie Review: Lethal Weapon (1987) directed by Richard Donner It’s Christmas time in the big city, and it seems the half-naked Amanda Hunsaker (Jackie Swanson) has already been partying a little too hardy as she takes a swan dive from her apartment balcony. Toxicology reports however reveal that her drugs were tampered with, and that makes… Continue reading Movie Review: Lethal Weapon

Book Review: Ding Dong Bell | Certain Sleep

Book Review: Ding Dong Bell | Certain Sleep by Helen Reilly It’s time for another Ace Double, paperbacks with two short books bound upside down from each other. This one, G-528, is from the Giant Double Novel Book series of mysteries. Although it wasn’t advertised as such, this line was entirely devoted to female authors.… Continue reading Book Review: Ding Dong Bell | Certain Sleep

Movie Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Snow White and the animals clean the cottage.

Movie Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) directed by William Cottrel Once upon a time, a princess was born with hair of raven black, lips red as blood, and skin as white as snow. Her mother named her Snow White, but soon died. The king’s second wife was a beautiful woman, but as… Continue reading Movie Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Manga Review: Mao Volumes 1-2

Manga Review: Mao Volumes 1-2 by Rumiko Takahashi Now that I’ve finally caught up to the end of Rumiko Takahashi’s previous series, Rin-Ne, it’s time to look at her new shounen fantasy manga, Mao! Nanoka Kiba was in a horrific accident when she was a child. It killed her parents, leaving her in the care… Continue reading Manga Review: Mao Volumes 1-2

Magazine Review: High Adventure #98: The Crimson Mask

Magazine Review: High Adventure #98: The Crimson Mask edited by John P. Gunnison When Robert Clarke was young, he watched his police officer father be gunned down by criminals. The image of his father’s blood-soaked face never left him. So after training himself in disguise, hand to hand combat, criminology, and becoming a PhG (Graduate… Continue reading Magazine Review: High Adventure #98: The Crimson Mask

Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction Science Fact December 1984

The cover by Jack Gaughan for "The Elemental" is more symbolic than an actual scene from the story.

Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction Science Fact December 1984 edited by Stanley Schmidt Continuing to dig through my pile of stuff that I’ve been meaning to reread, I found this issue from the year I actually subscribed to Analog.. This was an indulgence as I was underemployed at the time, but a magazine in the… Continue reading Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction Science Fact December 1984

Anime Review: Demon Slayer

In the heat of battle, Tanjiro digs deep for more true potential.

Anime Review: Demon Slayer For hundreds of years, oni (“demons” or “ogres”) have infested Japan. These monsters roam at night, finding human victims to kill and eat, usually in that order. Opposing them are the order of Demon Slayers, armed with special swords that are one of the two known ways to kill a demon.… Continue reading Anime Review: Demon Slayer