I’ve been doing a lot of reading since I got here before Xmas and I wanted to try to keep track of as much as I can. A few books were waiting for me: some because shipping to the US was too much especially for contributor’s copies (why punish the publishers?). So very happily reading…
Category: reading
Fur Baby: Live
Premiere! Let’s celebrate Devil’s Night with a devilish little tale of uncanny fear in this season of spookiness and — let’s face it — completely mad conspiracy theories. Consider it a short refuge from the horrors of reality. Fictional horrors end. Live from 2nd Sunday at 2 in Troy: thanks as always to Nancy and…
What I’ve Been Reading
I had a bunch of things on the go; end of summer, last orgy of ‘fun’ reading before the semester starts and reading tends to focus on what lies ahead both in teaching and other work. Good thing I have cut back on conferences — just one this fall — but the semester is off…
What I’ve Been Reading
Because I have to wait on some things — always irksome — I will quickly (very quickly) mention a few things I’ve been reading so you will not think I am simply lazing around (although some of the books are meant to be exactly that). Also doubtless I will leave out all the research-oriented things…
Spook Racket: Psychic Mafia
Oddly enough in the seemingly endless line of grifters and con artists in and around the spook racket, I had not read this volume. I first ran across the BBC radio series on it — part of their ongoing fascination with grifters like Anna Delvey. Lamar tells his story (with Spraggett’s help) with relish, albeit…
Got Gothic? Turney’s The Other One (1952)
The Dell paper back edition: ‘Black magic — and a modern sorceress!’ That ghastly green: I love it. Last week’s film Back from the Dead was based on this mid-century Gothic thriller and scripted by the author, who certainly streamlined the narrative — perhaps a little too much. By coincidence (or due to us both…
Highsmith @ 100: Ripley
TOM RIPLEY: MASTER CRIMINAL? I know I have forgotten to keep up with posting the assignments for my students, but if you want to read along, here’s the intro text for this week: I’m always amazed at the back cover copy of different editions of this book. I’ve got this edition with me. It refers…
Highsmith @ 100: The Course
The fall semester begins today. My courses are still all online. I have changed the Crime Fiction course to be all Highsmith, because obviously being busy already means nothing. I’m resisting overloading them with biographical information at the start, instead planning to parcel it out as they make their own discoveries, though I gave them…
Recorded Live: Fur Baby
I will be busy grading today — probably all day — so if you need entertainment, here’s a live recording from yesterday’s 2nd Sunday Open Mic at the Arts Center in Troy, NY. Yes, I really read this story on Mother’s Day. A bit on the dark and creepy side, so if you don’t like…
New Video: The Rook
See what happens when I have a little extra time? I get colorful. Here’s ‘The Rook’ from Unquiet Dreams. I wrote it the morning of the first day of Alt.Fiction to read at the open mic that day. I recorded this for a future BroadPod (like the December one I’m in, too), but then had the…