“Ravens in the Library,” by my fellow MisCon Guest of Honor, Rob Carlos. Buy it here.
Amtrak was new, but the station at Rhinecliff was old, one end of it no longer in use, rusted remains of steel walkways and stairs looming upward against the sky like the ruins of an earlier civilization, which is what they were.
“
| — |
— Richard Stark, Backflash If there were any justice, Donald E. Westlake would still be alive, and he’d have a Pulitzer for each of his pseudonyms. |
Primitive man went out with his head full of gods and heroes, because that is the chief use of having a head.
“
| — | G.K. Chesterton, “The Priest of Spring” |
Kids today never say, ‘Man, I’m really into remote-controlled steamboats.’ They never say that.
“
| — | Jack White |
(From part of this post.)
Each blink is a minute long
ended by a shock, eyes flashing
open. The road, still there, the world,
still there. The car hurtling, hypnotizing
through Wisconsin fog so thick, so
solid against the glass, like an underwater
exhibit at the zoo, so white and devoid
that…
Carving by Guy Laramee, for some reason not entitled “The Inside of Kenneth Hite’s Head: A Representation”
You’re supposed to be an author. Well, then, go fuck off and auth.
“
| — | unnamed editor upon being asked for story guidelines, to Peter O’Donnell, creator of Modesty Blaise |
Color Contrast
Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Barsoom novels use color (including the Eighth Ray) as a powerful thematic element. Green and red men, white apes, red sand, purple skies. Hence, Michael Whelan’s Barsoom:
And now, the movie’s Barsoom, which matches the lugubrious Peter Gabriel song in the trailer, at least:
Any questions?
