"After the second ring, God answered the phone and heard a woman's anxious voice. 'Master, it’s me. The war's about to begin'."
"After the second ring, God answered the phone and heard a woman's anxious voice. 'Master, it’s me. The war's about to begin'."
While literally thousands of fictional characters have fallen by the wayside over the past century, Sherlock Holmes remains imperishable. Well, why, exactly? Author Michael Dirda explains the appeal of genre fiction in his new book, "On Conan Doyle, or, The Whole Art of Storytelling." Dirda's attractive little volume manages to range far beyond Sherlock Holmes or even Conan Doyle. The book is a paean to imaginative literature and the profound impact it has over the span of readers' lives, from childhood into older age. TAC's…
In the 21st century science reigns. Some, however still believe magic exists in words. Computer scientist, Anu Garg is one of them. He’s fascinated by the magic of words and created a website dedicated to the “world of words.” He and hundreds others explore such questions “Where do words come from? Who made them up? Who dictated that a rectangular opening in a wall was to be called a window?” His love for words and belief in their magic led him to create Wordsmith.org. You…
This week’s issue begins and ends with G.K. Chesterton. Up first, the “Prophet of Common Sense” on Art, Literature and accepting the status quo: “The beautification of the world is not a work of nature, but a work of art, then it involves an artist.” – Illustrated London News, 9-18-09 “By a curious confusion, many modern critics have passed from the proposition that a masterpiece may be unpopular to the other proposition that unless it is unpopular it cannot be a masterpiece.” – On Detective…
While the Newt flames out after less than a week in the spotlight as the “Big Republican On Campus,” folks might want to think about something other than politics. How about a good story? But first, a few literary quotes on good and evil, and the love of books. “No one who can read, ever looks at a book, even unopened on a shelf, like one who cannot.” – Charles Dickens, Our Mutual Friend “When I am king, they shall not have bread and shelter…
The crowd emitted an audible wail. They shook in superstitious fear as Peetie forced the six strings of his guitar to scream above his moan. Zann smiled as he watched the group, unawares, rise collectively several inches above the ground. He hadn't taught Peetie this parlor trick. Peetie was levitating crowds without their knowledge even before Zann met him.
From Here to Eternity has been in print since Scribner originally published it in 1951. That version won the National Book Award in 1952, a year it was up against The Catcher in the Rye and The Caine Mutiny, among other titles. According to the New York Times, it “is frequently cited as one of the best American novels of the 20th century.” Not content with accepting the novel’s iconic status, James Jones’ heirs have decided this American classic must bow down to the vulgarity…
The Culture Alliance and the American Culture once again present original fiction by W. S. Moore, III. If you think you know what happens next, you’re probably wrong. CELEBRITY The white Cavalier blended indistinguishably into the traffic flow headed north on I-471 into Cincinnati’s downtown. The driver drummed his fingers on the steering wheel during the stop-and-go approach to the bridge across the Ohio. Fifty carlengths behind the white Chevy, an automated message center arched across the highway and told other drivers to expect sudden…
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Enjoy a hearty helping of links to short fiction, news, reviews, criticism, a taste of poetry and other miscellany from around the Web. Short Fiction: “An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving” by Louisa May Alcott “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen” by O. Henry “The Blizzard” by John Dunklee “Back Trail” by Kerby Jackson Reviews: That Jewish Novel – Benjamin A. Plotinsky reviews Gertrude Himmelfarb’s The Jewish Odyssey of George Eliot. Love and War – Alan Mintz reviews David Grossman’s To the End of the World. A…
The Culture Alliance and the American Culture present original fiction by W. S. Moore, III, who “write[s] stories about people who do unpleasant things. Some of these people use the sort of language you might use if you drop something heavy on your foot. You’ve been warned.” LOCAL TALENT When I picked her up at the club, I knew it was going to be fun. She was from out of town, she said. I asked her what her name was. She said it was Susan.…
For your reading pleasure, as the work week comes to a close. Spend some time this weekend with a selection of links from this week’s Fiction Friday newsletter, produced by the Culture Alliance. Here is a miscellany of short fiction, news, opinion, advice and criticism from the publishing world. Short Fiction The Taborin Scale – a novella by Lucius Shepard “The Story Teller” by Saki (H.H. Munro b.1870 – d.1916) Reviews Triple Crown by Dick Francis – A Review by Lars Walker The Prince of Mist by…
I found The Girl Who Played With Fire absolutely compelling, from beginning to end. Most riveting was the character of Lisbeth who (as more than one character notes) is an intense, even compulsive, moralist.
Given my conservative frame of mind, fiction that bucks today’s politically correct dogma attracts me like Paris Hilton to the paparazzi’s flash. So when David Forsmark provides a short list of “Politically Incorrect Fiction” I am incapable of not clicking the link. What I found forced me to ask myself, ‘Am I putting politics above a good story?’ Forsmark’s list includes novels by Joseph Wambaugh, Alex Berenson, Robert Crais, Steve Hamilton, Michael Crichton, and Steven Hunter. The inclusion of Hunter’s I, Sniper is what made…
TV writer-producer-actor and filmmaker Mike Judge has a new TV series premiering tonight on ABC. It sounds like another winner for the politically incorrect satirist, writes S. T. Karnick.
Here’s an interesting question: Why are Hollywood remakes of popular Asian horror films mostly neither scary nor interesting? E! Online suggests an answer here. In summary, the writer, Leslie Gornstein, says the use of CGI makes the American versions less real and involving to audiences.
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