Magazine Review: Spicy Mystery Stories June 1936

Cover is symbolic; the "cat person" in the story is male.

Magazine Review: Spicy Mystery Stories June 1936 by various creators As I’ve previously mentioned, the “spicy” pulps were racy for their time, with descriptions of women’s breasts and thighs, and it being obvious that the characters are having sex, but never actually describing the sex or genitals. This particular magazine, despite the title, has little… Continue reading Magazine Review: Spicy Mystery Stories June 1936

Movie Review: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Dr. Caligari has little patience for government bureaucracy.

Movie Review: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) directed by Robert Wiene The frame story begins with Franciz (Friedrich Feher) having just been told by another man (Hans Lanser-Ludloff) about the supernatural events that drove him from his home. Franciz replies that the events he and his fiancée Jane Olsen (Lil Dagover) experienced were even more… Continue reading Movie Review: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Movie Review: Parasite (2019)

The Kim family is so destitute they welcome poison gas.

Movie Review: Parasite (2019) directed by Bong Joon-ho When we first meet the Kim family of Seoul, South Korea, they’re living in a cramped, insect-infested basement apartment. No one currently has a paying job, so they’re having to steal wi-fi from the neighbors to try to get any quick temp assignments they can, like folding pizza… Continue reading Movie Review: Parasite (2019)

Comic Book Review: The Best of DC #2: Batman

Cover by Wally Fax

Comic Book Review: The Best of DC #2: Batman edited by Paul Levitz 1979 was the fortieth anniversary of the first published Batman story. Thus this special digest, showcasing interesting stories from each decade of the hero’s publication history. It comes with an essay by Mike W. Barr explaining each story’s significance. “The People vs.… Continue reading Comic Book Review: The Best of DC #2: Batman

Movie Review: Gone With the Wind

Scarlett is breaking under the stress of working with war wounded.

Movie Review: Gone With the Wind (1939) directed by Victor Fleming Gerald O’Hara (Thomas Mitchell) is an Irish immigrant who got lucky in a card game many years ago, winning a substantial tract of farmland in Georgia. He married a woman of French extraction named Ellen (Barbara O’Neil) and by hard work and being a decent… Continue reading Movie Review: Gone With the Wind

Book Review: The Art of Prophecy

Cover by Hunter & River Inc.

Book Review: The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu Centuries ago, the Oracle of the Tiandi prophesied that a Destined Hero would arise to unite the Five States and defeat the Immortal Khan of the Katuia people. This prophecy has shaped the Five States’ culture and politics ever since. Relatively recently, the Destined Hero, a… Continue reading Book Review: The Art of Prophecy

Movie Review: Creatures the World Forgot

The Crone leads the way.

Creatures the World Forgot (1971) dir. Don Chaffey The Dark-Haired Tribe hunters have had a successful day, bringing down an antelope while only losing one of their number to its mate. But as the tribe is divvying up the meat, The Crone (Rosalie Crutchley) directs their attention to the nearby twin mountains–which turn out to be… Continue reading Movie Review: Creatures the World Forgot

Movie Review: Three on a Ticket

Movie Review: Three on a Ticket (1947) directed by Sam Newfield Private investigator Michael “Mike” Shayne (Hugh Beaumont) has just arrived at his office when his secretary Phyllis “Phil” Hamilton (Cheryl Walker) tells him he has an appointment with a prospective client, Jim Lacy (Brooks Benedict). Lacy is a private eye from the East Coast that… Continue reading Movie Review: Three on a Ticket

Book Review: Way of a Buccaneer

Book Review: Way of a Buccaneer by Davenport Steward It is 1663, and young Wayne Thorp, late of Cambridge University, is assisting his father Captain Thomas Thorpe in a smuggling voyage to Spanish-controlled Panama. Unfortunately, their trading partner, Irish-Spanish minor government official Don Timóteo O’Bannion y Salazar, has decided he can make even more money… Continue reading Book Review: Way of a Buccaneer

Book Review: Worst Hero Ever

Book Review: Worst Hero Ever by Archer Thorn Disclaimer: I received a download of this book through the Booksirens program for the purpose of writing this review. No other compensation was offered or requested. Jim Riven used to be a minor superhero along with his sister Summer. She was Lock, with computer powers, while he… Continue reading Book Review: Worst Hero Ever