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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
Seth Pfefferle’s Stickman
Nowadays, I tend to be pretty picky when it comes to reading horror fiction. Much of the work out there is shoddy, even exploitative, and completely bereft of scares. I’ve consequently kept my focus primarily on established authors and a … Continue reading
Cloverfield leaves viewers spewing!
Thanks to the ‘shaky-cam’ filming method of Cloverfield, apparently a significant number of viewers have been getting sick during the film: Scary movies are supposed to leave patrons feeling a bit scared and jittery, but the newest horror flick is … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Horror
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My “Cloverfield” Review (sans spoilers)
The girlfriend and I just got back a little while ago from seeing Cloverfield and, this being a horror blog among other things, I thought I would give my impressions of the film (along with probably half the blogosphere).
Posted in Entertainment, Horror
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Reincarnation in horror…
While on vacation, I stumbled across one of Brian Lumley’s early novels, Khai of Khem, a fantasy adventure story set in pre-historical ancient Egypt. One of the major plot points of the story is the idea that Khai has, in … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy fiction, Horror, Robert E. Howard
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Max Brooks’ The Zombie Survival Guide
One of the unexpected gifts my girlfriend got me this Christmas was Max Brooks’ Zombie Survival Guide, a how-to manual on surviving encounters with the living dead. It was a sweet gift, and one she’s already suffered for greatly: I … Continue reading
Roald Dahl: Master of macabre misdirection… and children’s stories!
Our next horror master is Roald Dahl (1916-1990), Welsh author and screenwriter. Most people probably know Dahl as the author of such famous children’s books as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda. A lot … Continue reading
A new Cloverfield video…
A new clip for the movie Cloverfield has come out, revealing a bit more of the party scene leading up to the beginning of the end of New York City. Cloverfield, for those who haven’t heard yet, is a movie … Continue reading
Clive Barker’s Mister B. Gone
Clive Barker is back with a new novel! Mister B. Gone is now available in a lovely hardcover edition. The dust jacket labels it a ‘tour de force of the supernatural.’ That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but … Continue reading
The crappiest horror movie endings I can think of… and some of the best!
My recent rant about the ending of The Mist made me start thinking of various horror films which have really atrocious endings. Horror films seem particularly susceptible to crappy endings, as many writers and directors think that all horror movies … Continue reading
Movie Review: The Mist (updated)
Frank Darabont should be slapped. He’s the writer/director of The Mist, the film adaptation of Steven King’s classic novella. I just got back from seeing it with my friend Mike a few minutes ago. We’ll come back to Darabont in … Continue reading
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