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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
Who ya gonna call? Ghost doctor, ghost-finder, or ghost-seer?
“Psychic detectives” are very much in vogue again on television these days. Shows such as Medium and Ghost Whisperer try and entertain viewers with psychic-types attempting to solve crimes and right past wrongs using their supernatural abilities. The idea of … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Lovecraft
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Bentley Little’s The Return
My horror blogging has motivated me to go out and broaden my horizons and read some authors I’ve never considered before. Bentley Little’s 2002 book The Return, which is ostensibly about a legendary Bigfoot-like monster, the Mogollon Monster, and an … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Graham Masterton: Ghosts (and demons) of the past
I knew almost nothing about Graham Masterton’s work when I started this blog. I had read his very first novel, The Manitou, several years previously (and seen the charming yet silly movie version), but knew nothing else about his work. … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Horror Masters
10 Comments
Some unconventional vampire stories (updated)
When I was younger, I was heavily into role-playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons. I also ventured occasionally into other RPGs, and one of the popular ones was (and still is) Vampire: The Masquerade, in which one plays an … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Robert E. Howard
6 Comments
Graham Masterton’s Tengu
I’m reading a number of books by Graham Masterton these days, in anticipation of writing a ‘horror masters‘ post on his work. I had to ‘break radio silence’, though, and rave about one of his early books that I just … Continue reading
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
8 Comments
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
