the words and worlds of John Robinson
I knew I wanted to write in July of 1987. I didn’t know it consciously at the time-- it took a while for me to really catch on to what my brain was doing. I was ten-years-old and I was at the Capri Twin Theater to see RoboCop. It was probably too intense and graphically …
“Who wants a library full of books you've already read?”-- Harlan Ellison, Angry Candy Not so long ago, I bought a new bookcase. We needed one-- between my son and I (mainly me) our books were overflowing the available shelf space. I bought a nine-cube thing that more than suited our needs. With it, and …
Last weekend, Sunday morning to be exact, I woke early. It was my day off from work, my son was with his mom for the weekend and, being left alone to my own devices, I felt like being lazy. I didn't really want to write (I know, it's a cardinal sin) and I was not …
I've made it a point with Curio Macabre to only talk about things I like: the artists who have inspired me and those works which have influenced me, no matter how small the degree. I don't want to spend time talking about things I don't like-- life's too short for that kind of stuff. I …
Does Ira Levin get enough credit? Not just as a horror/thriller writer, but as a great writer overall? Think about it, when was the last time someone said, "Oh, I really love, or like, Ira Levin and his work," in reference to being asked their favorite authors or novels? When was the last time he …
On a routine morning, a man reads the front page of the newspaper and is reminded of his time as a student, eight years previously, at New Sharon Teachers' College. Those were the days when a strawberry spring descended before a severe cold snap afflicted the region. It brought with it thick nights of fog, …
I’ve never been scared by an Easter themed, or Easter set, horror movie. Honestly, I’ve not seen a good one, or one which was even remotely interesting, other than Critters 2: The Main Course (it’s amusing). Most have been played for laughs and are bottom-of-the-barrel, no budget affairs. The one movie that did scare the …
I've been reading quite a few short stories lately. One of the more interesting, and entertaining, ones I read was Annie Proulx's "The Blood Bay" from her 1999 collection, Close Range: Wyoming Stories. Proulx is best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Shipping News, and for "Brokeback Mountain", which can be found in Close …
Certain images are iconic and stay with us throughout our lives. Some are universally known like Batman's symbol or the Rolling Stones' lips and tongue logo. For me, my brain has never forgotten Captain America knocking Hitler's block off on the cover of Captain America Comics No. 1, published way back in March of 1941. …
Continue reading "The Adventures of Captain America, Sentinel of Liberty"
"Censure no more shall brand my humble name The child of passion and the fool of fame" Cancelled lines from "Childish Recollections" (1806) Recently, during a group discussion of poetry, I mentioned I have always loved Lord Byron's work. This received a laugh/groan from my friend, and fellow writer, Lacey. When I asked her what …
Continue reading "Byron: Child of Passion, Fool of Fame by Benita Eisler"
Curio Macabre 