-
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
“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
1 Comment
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
3 Comments
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
Leave a comment
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
4 Comments
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
Leave a comment
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
1 Comment
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
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
My favorite “classic” horror stories
Even though I blog about horror fiction of all eras, regular readers of this blog know that I particularly love older stuff. There’s something about the ghost and horror stories of the late 1800s and early 1900s that is particularly … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
2 Comments
A.M. Burrage’s Waxwork and Other Stories
I’ve long been a fan of the work of A.M. Burrage — that little of it that I’ve been able to find, that is. His ghost stories, originally published in six volumes from the 1920s to the 1960s, have been rarely … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
2 Comments
