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The author of Skulls in the Stars is a professor of physics, specializing in optical science, at UNC Charlotte. The blog covers topics in physics and optics, the history of science, classic pulp fantasy and horror fiction, and the surprising intersections between these areas. -
Category Archives: Horror
Emmie Mears’ Storm in a Teacup
It’s a new year, and time to get back on the blogging train! (It is a train, right? I am so bad with metaphors these days.) Some time back, I realized that I was definitely not reading enough fiction by … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Weird fiction
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Christine Campbell Thomson’s Not At Night (1925)
When I started to think about it recently, it occurred to me that I didn’t know much about horror fiction between the time of Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) and H.P. Lovecraft (1890-1937). There are a number of obvious standouts — … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Weird fiction
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“Science Chamber of Horrors” talk at the Schiele Museum
On October 29, 2015, I was invited to present a Science Cafe at the Schiele Museum in Gastonia, NC, based on my “Science Chamber of Horrors” Tumblr! I think it went well and I appreciated the invitation to speak there. … Continue reading
Posted in General science, History of science, Horror, Personal
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Halloween Treats 2015
Once again it’s time to post a collection of “Halloween Treats”: classic ghost and horror stories to be read in the dark of night! I’ve been doing this since 2007, and you can read the old editions here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Robert R. McCammon’s The Border
It’s nice to see Robert McCammon return to writing weird horror novels! From the late 1970s to the early 1990s, McCammon was one of the best writers of the dark and weird out there; some time ago I blogged about … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Science fiction
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Dead Reckonings #17 is available!
For those who are interested in reading analyses of the latest in horror literature and cinema, I’m happy to announce that Dead Reckonings No. 17 is now available! It includes articles by some of the best writers and scholars … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Ghosts Know, by Ramsey Campbell
The British author Ramsey Campbell has long been my favorite writer of horror, and one of his novellas — Needing Ghosts — has the unusual distinction of being the only story I’ve ever read that made me doubt my sanity when … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Mystery/thriller
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The Sea of Ash, by Scott Thomas
A short break from my China posts to catch up on some weird fiction blogging! In 1870, a spiritualist named Simon Brinklow disappears as he is pulled into a barrel full of leaves at a farm in Vermont. In 1920, … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Weird fiction
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Michael Talbot’s The Bog
A novel about an archaeologist digging up 2000 year-old bog bodies in the UK that have been mauled by some mysterious ancient creature? A supernatural creature that is awakened by the excavations and begins to stalk and kill again? Yes, … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Horror
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Mary SanGiovanni’s “Chaos” and “Thrall”
My first encounter with the work of Mary SanGiovanni was her dark and elegant chapbook No Songs for the Stars, and it left me intrigued and interested in reading more. Fortunately, I had a short vacation to Mexico a few … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Skulls in the Stars 