Book Review: Dead Men’s Plans by Mignon G. Eberhart Sewal Blake is the stepdaughter of Julius Minary, the child of his first wife. Only a few years into their marriage, Sewal’s mother died, and Julius almost immediately remarried. She bore him a daughter, Amy, and a son, Reg, before passing away herself. Bereft and knowing… Continue reading Book Review: Dead Men’s Plans
Movie Review: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla dir. William Beaudine Crooner Duke Mitchell (himself) and comedian Sammy Petrillo (himself) are on their way to a USO performance in Guam when they get lost on their way to the restroom and walk off the airplane. Good thing they were wearing parachutes! The pair land on the tropical… Continue reading Movie Review: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
Book Review: Among Others
Book Review: Among Others by Jo Walton It is 1979, and Morwenna Phelps is no longer blessed with a living twin. The same accident shattered her hip and leg so that she cannot run or dance, or even exist without pain. Her beloved grandfather had a stroke, and cannot care for her, and her mother… Continue reading Book Review: Among Others
Movie Review: The Ape Man (1943)
Movie Review: The Ape Man (1943) directed by William Beaudine Jefferson Carter (Wallace Ford), wise-cracking reporter, is waiting at the docks for a ship to come in. A mysterious fellow (Ralph Littlefield) tips him off that one of the people waiting is Dr. George Randall (Henry Hall), who recently reported his research partner Dr. James Brewster… Continue reading Movie Review: The Ape Man (1943)
Manga Review: Tuxedo Gin Vol. 11
Manga Review: Tuxedo Gin Vol. 11 by Tokihiko Matsuura Things were looking up for Ginji Kusanagi. He’d just won his first professional boxing match at age seventeen and was finally going to have a date with his crush Minako Sasebo. Unfortunately, he’d also angered a gang, and was run over by a car. Dying, Ginji… Continue reading Manga Review: Tuxedo Gin Vol. 11
Book Review: Dangerous Visions and New Worlds
Book Review: Dangerous Visions and New Worlds edited by Andrew Nette and Iain McIntyre Subtitled “Radical Science Fiction, 1950-1985” this book is a collection of essays about how science fiction (or perhaps “speculative fiction” is a better phrase) changed and adapted to reflect the changing issues and social concerns of the Cold War period, and… Continue reading Book Review: Dangerous Visions and New Worlds
Movie Review: The Ape (1940)
Movie Review: The Ape (1940) directed by William Nigh Twenty-five years ago, Dr. Bernard Adrien (Boris Karloff) was expelled from the Robinson Institute for unauthorized experiments with spinal fluid. He moved to an obscure small town and started a practice as a humble country doctor. marrying and starting a family. Ten years ago, there was a… Continue reading Movie Review: The Ape (1940)
Anime Review: Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department
Anime Review: Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department Wherever there are evil organizations trying to take over the world, brave heroes will rise to oppose them. And wherever brave heroes oppose evil organizations, there will be monsters created by those organizations to battle those heroes. Evil Organization Agastia, opposed by Divine Swordsman Blader, is… Continue reading Anime Review: Miss Kuroitsu from the Monster Development Department
Book Review: The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro
Book Review: The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro by Edogawa Rampo Edogawa Rampo was the pen name of Hirai Tarou (1894-1965), who I last talked about as the author of The Fiend with Twenty Faces. That children’s book featured Akechi Kogoro as the Detective Boys’ adult mentor, but he was already an established series character… Continue reading Book Review: The Early Cases of Akechi Kogoro
Manga Review: The Trial of Kitaro
Manga Review: The Trial of Kitaro by Shigeru Mizuki This is the final volume in Drawn & Quarterly’s reprints of selected Gegege no Kitaro stories. The history section wraps up with Mizuki dealing with the pressures of fame by taking a long trip to Rabaul, where he had been stationed in World War Two, and… Continue reading Manga Review: The Trial of Kitaro