A Ghost for the Offering

A Ghost for the Offering

Most readers here will be of an age to remember the urban myth fad that made a modest impression on the pop consciousness back in the late 90s/early 2000s. If you were clever, you noticed the subtle but significant change from the former academic term "urban legend" to the media-promulgated…
October 27, 20173 Comments

Penny Dreadful: Geek Gab Episode 59

On this week's episode of Geek Gab, Daddy Warpig delivers a rousing dissertation on the decline of contemporary horror. Exhibit A: Showtime's Gothic horror series Penny Dreadful. Has the horror genre lost its way in recent years? Listen in and find out! When you're done listening, read my top 20…
June 26, 2016
Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 5

Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 5

Capping off yesterday's penultimate installment, I bring you the conclusion of "Izcacus". Eddie Sharp’s Notes – June 9 (?) Lots of climbers die no one knows how or where. Not me I won’t be like them. Im writing so they’ll know. Crawled back to camp. Passed out. Woke up dont…
October 16, 2015
Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 4

Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 4

Picking up where we left off yesterday, here's "Izcacus" Part 4. Eddie Sharp’s Notes – June 7 Summit Day: Overslept a bit. Frankly, I needed it after yesterday’s weirdness. The storm blew over and laid down fresh powder, but the increased avalanche risk is minimal. Temperature holding steady. Air’s so…
October 15, 20151 Comment
Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 3

Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 3

Continued from yesterday: "Izcacus" Part 3 Steve Herzog’s Field Notes – May 31 Saturday. 9 AM: According to this morning’s measurements, the glacier has receded 12 m compared to samples taken from the same location this time last year. DDT, dioxins, and heavy metals are present in higher than normal…
October 14, 2015
Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 2

Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 2

Yesterday I shared the first part of my horror/techno-trhiller story "Izcacus". Here's Part 2. Veronica Fulbright’s Expedition Log – 28 May Wednesday. I watched the eastern sky turn red-gold behind the Bezengi Wall on our descent, but night lingered in the mountains’ shadow until long after landing. The wind was…
October 13, 2015
Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 1

Serialized Short Story: Izcacus Part 1

A friend and respected horror buff once told me that there are only two kinds of vampires: the "supernatural" kind that suffer vampirism due to a curse, demonic activity, etc.; and the "scientific" variety whose infection by some pathogen mimics traditional vampire qualities. He went on to insist that writers…
October 12, 2015
Farewell Wes Craven: The Death of a Reluctant Horror Icon

Farewell Wes Craven: The Death of a Reluctant Horror Icon

"I think what, really, horror films deal with is vulnerability and inattention," director Wes Craven said in a 1996 interview promoting his meta-horror opus Scream. "They show you the penalty of...not admitting to what's really out there." Craven succumbed to cancer on Sunday in Los Angeles. Having been raised by…
August 31, 20151 Comment