Comic Book Review: Lost Marvels No.1: Tower of Shadows

Comic Book Review: Lost Marvels No. 1: Tower of Shadows edited by Dr. Michael Dean The “Lost Marvels” series of books reprints Marvel Comics publications that have not been previously collected in reprint volumes, looking to be mostly short-run series and one-offs that match a theme. This first volume reprints most of a horror anthology… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Lost Marvels No.1: Tower of Shadows

Book Review: Apocalypse 1952

Cover by Darryle Purcell

Book Review: Apocalypse 1952 by Darryle Purcell Karl Stanley wasn’t a very curious person; if something didn’t affect him personally and it wasn’t pointed out to him, he didn’t pay attention. So when President Lindbergh announced that he’d signed peace treaties with the Axis powers so their overseas wars wouldn’t affect America, Karl just accepted… Continue reading Book Review: Apocalypse 1952

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)

Magazine Review: National Geographic July 1981

Magazine Review: National Geographic July 1981 edited by Wilbur E. Garrett National Geographic was originally titled The National Geographic Magazine when it was first published in 1888. It was the scholarly journal of the National Geographic Society. In 1905, it began including photographs to go with the articles, and began sometimes having color photographs in… Continue reading Magazine Review: National Geographic July 1981

Comic Book Review: Adventure Comics #499

Comic Book Review: Adventure Comics #499 edited by Carl Gafford & Nicola Cuti I managed to find another issue of the digest-sized Adventure Comics from 1983. Let’s take a look at the treasures inside! “Plastic Man” (no chapter title) written by Len Wein, art by Joe Staton and Bob Smith features the obvious character. Plastic… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Adventure Comics #499

Magazine Review: The Drift Fall 2023

Cover by Ivy Sanders Schneider, inspired by Adolph Dehn's cover for "The Liberator" December 1921 issue.

Magazine Review: The Drift Fall 2023 edited by Kiara Barrow and Rebecca Panovka This one’s a relatively new literary magazine, having started during the pandemic. The editorial slant appears to be socialist and class-conscious. Let’s see what this issue has to offer us. The opening editorial is on “Corrupt Organizations”, talking about the use and… Continue reading Magazine Review: The Drift Fall 2023

Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024

Cover art by Julie Dillon

Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024 edited by Trevor Quachri Let’s look at a recent issue of this long-running science fiction (and fact) magazine. The opening editorial by Howard V. Hendrix, “Machines Passing for People Passing for Machines”, which among other things discusses the Turing Test, where a simulated person tries to… Continue reading Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024

Book Review: Gene Autry and the Ghost Riders

Book Review: Gene Autry and the Ghost Riders by Lewis B. Patten Gene Autry (1907-1998) was one of the world’s great cowboy singers, who did well in live performances, record sales, radio, movies and television. You may remember him from such classic songs as “Back in the Saddle Again” or “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Like… Continue reading Book Review: Gene Autry and the Ghost Riders

Book Review: The Planet Explorer

Book Review: The Planet Explorer by Murray Leinster This “novel” is more of a story cycle, a set of four novelettes about the career of Bordman, an officer of Colonial Survey (“Colonial Survey” being the title this collection was first published under.) It’s set in a future where humanity is constantly expanding through the galaxy.… Continue reading Book Review: The Planet Explorer

Book Review: Branded West

Book Review: Branded West edited by Don Ward The Western Writers of America were founded in 1953 to promote literature related to the American West. It started with primarily traditional Western fiction, but also promotes historical and non-fiction works and even songs. It has an annual prize called the Spur Awards. But this collection published… Continue reading Book Review: Branded West