Richard Matheson

 

I love the 'Twilight Zone', with Shatner in the plane and the furry gremlin on the wing. 

Richard Matheson passed away yesterday.  He was 87.  Whether it was in books, TV, or in film - he knew how to tell a story.  Here is an article from NPR's, Bill Chappel about his life: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/24/195317782/author-richard-matheson-i-am-legend-writer-dies-at-87  

 

"Duel" was a tight story directed by some kid named, Spielberg.

Three time-stamped versions of the same timeless story...

 "The Last Man on Earth"

 

"Omega Man"

"I Am Legend"

Richard Matheson.  

He was Legend.

Thoughts & prayers to his family & friends.

Godspeed, sir.

 

Whom I'm Reading Now

“So who is your favorite author?”

I’ve been asked from time to time

I’d have to answer, “Whom I’m reading

Now,” the question is sublime

Perhaps it’s something scary

Tales filled with horror – woe

Perhaps something from Steven

King or Edgar Allan Poe

Or maybe something humorous

To pass away the hours

Some good Mark Twain or Christopher

Moore enchant me with their powers

Or maybe swords & sorcery

With a dragon perhaps or two

Some Tolkien or some R.E. Howard

A Hobbit / Barbarian brew

If I feel mysterious

There are few places that I go

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s nice but

Dame Christie steals the show

Perchance it’s something fantastic

My yen for worlds unseen

Neil Gaiman & J.K. Rowling work

They can truly set a scene

Perhaps a graphic novel?

With true sophistication

Then you want to find some

Alan Moore, he’s your destination

And then there’s science fiction

That just may do the trick

May I suggest some Arthur C. Clarke

Or even Phil K. Dick

And then there are the classics

Too many just to name

Bradbury, Verne, & Stevenson

Deserve their well-earned fame

There’s Hemingway & London

Voltaire to name some more

I can’t forget Kurt Vonnegut

Their voices all still roar

There are many to discover

So many yet to read

I have only scratched the surface

Librarians take heed!

So, ask me who’s my favorite?

Who can I disavow?

The answer is so plain to see

It’s whom I’m reading now.

Bogart's Books ~ My Favorite Bookstore in the Known Universe

National Novel Writing Month 2011

Here is one for the writers out there or for those who out there who want to be.  National Novel Writing Month (i.e. NaNoWriMo) is almost upon us.  That means it just may be your time to shine.  I am seriously thinking of throwing my hat into the National Novel Writing Month ring once again (knowing that if I can do it anyone can) and possibly nudge YOU, Gentle Reader, into joining me on the quest.

“The quest?”  Yes, the quest.  The quest is to write a novel in the month of November – 30 days, 50,000 words.

“That’s not a novel.”

Says who?  Probably all the people who have never written one says I.  Do yourself a favor and push out all that negative energy – you have a novel to write!  To date I have participated in about 4 of them, NaNoWriMos that is.  Twice I crossed the finish line so I know for a fact it can be done.  In days of yore a geocaching friend of mine introduced me to NaNoWriMo and I have spread the love ever since, even in the years that I took off.  I talk to a lot of people; some of them have something to say or a story to tell.  Well, if you believe YOU are one of those people that I am talking about, November may just be the excuse you’ve been looking for.

Tell your story. 

November is coming.  NaNoWriMo draws near.  Make your plans & your provisions; let us Quest together!

An Unreal Estate Agent

Unreal Estate Agent and author, Phillip Jose Farmer passed away in his sleep today. He was 91. If you are a fan of “science fiction” (an ever-blurring and dated classification these days) then you probably know the name. The “Riverwold” series & the Wold Newton Family stuff (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wold_Newton_family) is just plain fun reading.

For further information on Phil Farmer please see the following write ups here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-obit-farmer,0,5906330.story, here: http://www.locusmag.com/News/2009/02/philip-jose-farmer-1918-2009.html, and here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phillip_Jose_Farmer.

He was a writer and a fan (which is evident in his calling card) and he pushed the envelope. He’ll be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.