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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
The Club Dumas, by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
For reasons that I never quite understand, some books that I purchase end up sitting on my shelf, unread, for months or even years. Typically, when I come back to read them, I end up mentally kicking myself for avoiding … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Mystery/thriller
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John Blackburn’s “Nothing but the Night”
I’m happy to announce that another of John Blackburn’s classic horror novels has been reprinted by Valancourt Books, and again it features an introduction by me — Nothing but the Night! When a bus crashes that is carrying orphans … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Personal
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John Blackburn’s “Bury Him Darkly” and “Broken Boy”
Part of why I love writing this blog is rediscovering classic weird fiction that has been lost through misadventure and misfortune. Happily, others share this interest, and some of them are in an even better position to do something about … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Personal
7 Comments
Phantasmagoria: How Étienne-Gaspard Robert terrified Paris for science
Scientists are so often imagined to be bland and unimaginative, slaving away at research and taking away the joy of nature. I’m no longer so irritated by this perception as I used to be, but rather surprised by it: going … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Horror, Optics
15 Comments
The Thing From the Lake, by Eleanor Ingram (1921)
I am continually astonished at the number of truly wonderful books that have been neglected and then forgotten as the years go by. Sometimes the books are simply ahead of their time, sometimes the authors die, leaving no one to … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Richard Sala’s The Hidden
I recently reviewed Richard Sala’s creepy horror graphic novel Delphine on this blog, a modern and dark retelling of the classic story of Snow White from the eyes of the Prince coming to save her. I enjoyed Delphine a lot, … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Richard Sala’s Delphine
I’ve recently had my eyes opened to the possibilities of horror in graphic novels, thanks to a Halloween post on io9 about “short and spooky webcomics.” One standout in that list is the incredible “His face all red” by Emily … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Barry Pain’s “The Undying Thing and Others”
The famed H.P. Lovecraft was not only a masterful author of horror fiction, he was also a connoisseur of it. He eagerly snapped up volumes, new and old, seeking the best work of the genre, both famous and obscure. His … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Lovecraft
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George Soane’s “The Stranger Knight” (1812-14)
Note: In the interest of disclosure, I wanted to mention that Valancourt Books has graciously asked me to write an introduction to an upcoming release, John Blackburn’s Broken Boy (1959)! Very excited, but I don’t think it affects my blog posts … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Valancourt Books’ “Terrifying Transformations”
I’ve been a fan of the publisher Valancourt Books for almost as long as I’ve been writing this blog (my first post on one of their publications can be read here). They have done an amazing job reprinting rare and … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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