Category Archives: sff

Wearing the Mask

Posted on September 30, 2023 by JE

I’m rereading Seneca’s De Beneficiis, using Kaster’s shiny new OCT edition, and came across this crunchy line: hanc personam induisti: agenda est.—Seneca, De Beneficiis 2.17.2“You’ve put on this mask; you have to act out the part.” Seneca’s line is almost … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient art, art, language, Rome, sff | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Wearing the Mask

Decisions, Decisions

Posted on September 1, 2023 by JE

It’s a three-day weekend (thanks, Organized Labor!) and I was figuring on catching up with some writing projects. But then I saw Criterion had added Duel and Donnie Darko and a bunch of good stuff. So… maybe yes; maybe no.

Posted in review or meta-review, sff, writing | Comments Off on Decisions, Decisions

Eldritch Lore of Lightning, Stars, and Magic

Posted on August 10, 2023 by JE

On Facebook, Michael Swanwick mentioned a historical (or maybe apocryphal) episode when the Pope invited Etruscan seers to use lightning magic to defend Rome against Alaric and his Ostrogoths. It’s a pretty good story, whether or not it’s actually history. … Continue reading →

Posted in academia, Adventures in the Public Domain, astronomy, books, fantasy, history, language, magic, Myth & Legend, Roman history, Rome, science, sff, social media, sword-and-sorcery | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Eldritch Lore of Lightning, Stars, and Magic

ΧΑΟΣ

Posted on July 12, 2023 by JE

I don’t know if you knew this about me, but I’ll buy a book every now and then. Because I am not a crazy person (anyway, I’ve never been officially diagnosed), before I’ll buy a book I see if I … Continue reading →

Posted in art, books, Chaos, fantasy, fantasy art, Keep it or chuck it?, Minnestoics, music, Myth & Legend, politics, review or meta-review, sff, sword-and-sorcery, werewolves | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Missed Opportunities

Posted on July 5, 2023 by JE

I’ve always liked C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia. But I’m baffled by how many screen adaptations they’ve received, and now they’re slated to get another one via Netflix. At this rate we’ll never get a theme-park thrillride based on Till … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, review or meta-review, sff, television | Tagged , | Comments Off on Missed Opportunities

A Fuzzy Thing Happened…

Posted on June 28, 2023 by JE

Typo of the day is trible (where I intended to type tribe). It caused me a little trouble.

Posted in language, sff, television, Typo of the Day, words | Tagged , | Comments Off on A Fuzzy Thing Happened…

“Numberless Are the World’s Wonders…”: Clifford Simak’s CITY

Posted on June 8, 2023 by JE

Here’s Davis Meltzer’s cover for the 1970s-era Ace edition of Clifford Simak’s City, an early entry onto my “Always Reread” list. I disliked this cover when I was a kid because of the anthropoid greenmetal skull with human teeth. Now … Continue reading →

Posted in books, dogs, fantasy, fantasy art, music, sff | Tagged , | Comments Off on “Numberless Are the World’s Wonders…”: Clifford Simak’s CITY

Napping in the Bookroom

Posted on June 3, 2023 by JE

Reuben Sandwich (PhD, DND, CBD, etc.) takes a brief respite from researching heroic fantasy.

Posted in dogs, fantasy, sff, sword-and-sorcery, werewolves | Tagged | Comments Off on Napping in the Bookroom

Don’t Put an Otch in My Nadder!

Posted on April 29, 2023 by JE

Apparently English notch arises from a word-division error due to the English movable n: it wasn’t originally a notch, it was an otch (cf. French oche “a notch”). So says the AHD and the tyrant OED. This is analogous to … Continue reading →

Posted in art, books, fantasy, fantasy art, sff, sword-and-sorcery, words | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Don’t Put an Otch in My Nadder!

Pointing Toward the End

Posted on April 29, 2023 by JE

Wearing my grading face (which strongly resembles Mung making the Sign of Mung).

Posted in academia, art, books, dogs, fantasy, fantasy art, Myth & Legend, sff | Tagged | Comments Off on Pointing Toward the End