Plot:The authorities find Mr. Thompson, a bookkeeper, “slightly confused, a trifle bewildered, but otherwise apparently normal.” He makes no effort to conceal his conduct, the knife in his hand, or “the pieces in the trunk.” Rather than taking him directly to the slammer, the police bring him to a psychiatrist. Mr. Thompson tells the psychiatristContinue reading “Review of “The Dead Woman” by David H. Keller: Halloween Countdown”
Tag Archives: fiction
Review of “Count Magnus” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown
Plot:The story’s narrator says he has come into possession of some papers belonging to Mr. Wraxall, a traveler and writer of travel guides. In the early summer of 1863, Mr. Wraxall sets off to explore Sweden. At the time, most Britons considered Scandinavia to be a backwater. Snobs. He spends time conducting research at aContinue reading “Review of “Count Magnus” by M. R. James: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown
Plot:Montresor tells the reader that he had borne the injuries from his friend Fortunato as best he could, but when Fortunato insulted him, he vowed revenge. He kept up the pretense of friendship until he could exact his revenge—and he would do so with impunity. Fortunato’s weak point was his belief in his connoisseurship ofContinue reading “Review of “The Cask of Amontillado” by Edgar Allan Poe: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen” By Alex Diaz-Granados
Full disclosure: The author of this short story is a netbuddy of mine going back to sometime in the early aughts. We “met” on the (alas!) defunct site Epinions some twenty-odd (many of them quite odd) years ago. The Stuff: At a party where Jim is more observer than participant, a young woman approaches himContinue reading “Review of “Comings and Goings: The Art of Being Seen” By Alex Diaz-Granados”
Review of “Godzilla vs. Monster Zero” (1965)
For our Saturday pizza and bad movie, we enjoyed a return to the classics—a Kaiju flick that managed to squeeze in an alien invasion. Plot: The World Space Authority is sending two astronauts, Glenn Amer (Nick Adams) and K. Fuji (Akira Takarada), to explore the newly discovered Planet X, located beyond Jupiter. (… maybe wedgedContinue reading “Review of “Godzilla vs. Monster Zero” (1965)”
Review of “Blindness” by José Saramago
The Stuff: Not all the cars take off when the light turns green. The man inside seems to be saying something, but it takes a while before anyone outside pays attention or stops to hear him. He cries, “I am blind.” The blindness struck suddenly and without warning. The man cannot drive any further. AnotherContinue reading “Review of “Blindness” by José Saramago”
Review of “Sssssss” (1973)
This Saturday night pizza and bad movie lived up to its name. I have to be honest and say that I couldn’t finish watching it. The schlock didn’t get to me—though there was plenty of that. Plot: The viewer first sees two men make a deal for an unseen exotic creature to be exhibited inContinue reading “Review of “Sssssss” (1973)”
Review of “The General” (1926)
A friend of my dearly beloved has been involved in the restoration of an old theater in Fullerton, California, for some years. The theater was originally built in 1925, in the days of silent movies. My dearly beloved remembers seeing movies there in the 80s. As a treat for some friends (and in hopes ofContinue reading “Review of “The General” (1926)”
Review of “The Waxwork” by A. M. Burrage: Halloween Countdown
For October 31—Happy Halloween! Plot:Down-on-his-luck Journalist Raymond Hewson has arranged to spend the night at Marriner’s Waxworks Murderers’ Den. Hewson is freelancing, hoping to sell his story to The Morning Echo. The manager of Marriner’s promises him a five-pound note once the story is published. Hewson wasn’t looking forward to the task, but he hadContinue reading “Review of “The Waxwork” by A. M. Burrage: Halloween Countdown”
Review of “Thurnley Abbey” by Perceval Landon: Halloween Countdown
For October 29 Plot:The unnamed narrator, traveling across Europe, meets Alastair Colvin aboard a train. They will then board a ship. Alastair makes an unusual request to the narrator when the two know each other only casually: “Will you let me sleep in your cabin on the Osiris?” The narrator hems and haws and triesContinue reading “Review of “Thurnley Abbey” by Perceval Landon: Halloween Countdown”
Reviews of Old and New Stories. Mostly Old 