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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: Weird fiction
The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The White Worm, by Sam Siciliano
Book 21 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! As is now default for me, my link to the book is through my bookshop dot org affiliate account. Some books look intriguing to me when I first get them, but … Continue reading
Posted in Mystery/thriller
Tagged book review, books, Fiction, mystery, sherlock-holmes
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The Tripods: The City of Gold and Lead, by John Christopher
Book 19 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! As is now default for me, my link to the book is through my bookshop dot org affiliate account. Last month, I read the first book in John Christopher’s classic young … Continue reading
Posted in Science fiction
Tagged book review, book-reviews, books, Fiction, science fiction
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The Tripods: The White Mountains, by John Christopher
Book 17 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! As is now default for me, my link to the book is through my bookshop dot org affiliate account. Before there was The Hunger Games, or Divergent, there was … Continue reading
Twice as Dead, by Harry Turtledove
Book 14 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! Hard-boiled detective stories often start in a similar manner: a gritty private investigator has a gorgeous dame walk through his office door with a case — but that … Continue reading
Posted in Mystery/thriller, Weird fiction
Tagged book review, book-reviews, books, mystery, reviews
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Prince of Annwn, by Evangeline Walton
Book 13 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! A few weeks ago I visited some friends in Rochester and, as always, that was a good opportunity to play some boardgames and snoop around on their bookshelves … Continue reading
Berserker’s Planet, by Fred Saberhagen
Book 11 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! Still going! Suddenly, I found myself back in a Fred Saberhagen mood. Saberhagen is one of those science fiction/fantasy authors who doesn’t get enough attention these days, considering … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy fiction, Science fiction
Tagged book review, books, fantasy, Fiction, science fiction
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Inverted World, by Christopher Priest
Book 10 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! One third of the way through my goal for the year, even though it’s not even one sixth of the year! I am desperate for distractions these days. … Continue reading
Tau Zero, by Poul Anderson
Book 7 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! I love a good science fiction story that really leans into one of the weird aspects of modern physics, and so as soon as I learned the premise … Continue reading
The Andromeda Anthology, by Fred Hoyle and John Elliot
Book 5 for 2025! My goal is 30 this year, and I’m off to a great start. Since I’ve been enjoying the “SF Masterworks” series like Connie Willis’ Doomsday Book, I popped by the store a week ago to see … Continue reading
The Night of the Ripper, by Robert Bloch
Book 4 for 2025! My goal is 30 this year. My friends at Valancourt Books have recently been reprinting the works of horror master Robert Bloch, most famous for penning Psycho (1959) but also an award winning author of many … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Mystery/thriller
Tagged book review, Fiction, History, Horror, review
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Skulls in the Stars 