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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. -
Tag Archives: books
The Tripods: The Pool of Fire, by John Christopher
Book 22 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. In each of the modern printings of John Christopher’s The Tripods books, … Continue reading
Posted in Science fiction
Tagged book review, book-reviews, books, Fiction, science fiction
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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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A retrospective on my first published scientific paper
I’ve had a pretty long career in physics, optics in particular, at this point: I have published over 150 peer-reviewed papers and have written 5 books. Looking back to the start of my journey in science, I don’t think I … Continue reading
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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An Echo of Children, by Ramsey Campbell
Book 18 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. Ramsey Campbell still knows how to catch me off guard. The first … Continue reading
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
Crypt of the Moon Spider, by Nathan Ballingrud
Book 16 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! The year is 1923. Veronica Brinkley is landing on the moon to get psychiatric treatment at the Barrowfield Home for the Treatment of the Melancholy. You didn’t read … Continue reading
Rise of the Zombie Bugs, by Mindy Weisberger
Book 15 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! Had a significant hiatus of reading due to life stresses, but still ahead on my goal. Zombies are everywhere in fiction these days, from The Last of Us … 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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My “Why I Love Horror” story!
The other day, I happened to see that my social media friend and super talented horror author Brian Keene is a contributor to a book of essays called Why I Love Horror, coming in September of this year. The book … Continue reading
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