Film Review of “Predestination” (2014)

pre

Poster for the 2014 film “Predestination.”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Predestination (2014) starring Ethan Hawke as the Barkeep and Sarah Snook as the Unmarried Mother is a seriously messed up movie.

Wait! Let me explain.

I’m still trying to decide if I even like it.

The film really did hold my attention, was highly suspenseful, horrific in parts (the burning face and subsequent disfigurement), and was an able mystery to say the least.

But it was also a seriously messed up movie.

Last night, I was surfing online looking for a film I haven’t seen before and one that I might possibly like. Especially the further we get into the 21st century, those movies are becoming scarce.

“Predestination” had an interesting premise and had fairly good reviews (which don’t necessarily mean anything), so I gave it a shot. I like time travel stories.

It was nothing like I imagined.

Continue reading →

Review of “The Olympian Affair: Book Two in the Cinder Spires Series” (2023)

olympian

© James Pyles

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Yesterday, I finished reading Jim Butcher’s 2023 novel The Olympian Affair. It’s the second in his Cinder Spires series and the sequel to The Aeronaut’s Windlass which I read and reviewed.

Butcher doesn’t disappoint. This is another terrific adventure novel set (supposedly) in the far-future where our own civilization has long-since fallen. People live in floating cities called “Spires” ruled by various presidents, kings, and such. Trade is conducted by skyships powered by fantastic crystals. Those, and many other things, including meat, are grown in vats ruled over by powerful (and not-so-powerful) family houses.

The central character in these tales is Captain Francis Grimm, commander of the light-trader “Predator.” He was once in the Albion Navy but sacrificed his career and his honor for a close friend.

Continue reading →

Changing Reality

lost shoe

PHOTO PROMPT © Ronda Del Boccio

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

“I’m not going to lose her again. I can’t. She’s not even four years old.”

Every time Ron remembered losing her in the parking lot because she ran away, every time he found one solitary shoe behind his car, he died inside.

“Not this time.” He hadn’t used his gift to manipulate reality since he was a teenager. It was too dangerous. But for her, he would.

“Ha, ha. Fooled you, Grandpa.” She peeked around the corner of his car. Thirty minutes ago, a panel van with the four human traffickers had a fatal collision with a semi on I-84.

Continue reading →

My Microfiction Story “Stewie’s Mom” Accepted Into the Anthology “Hex”

hex

Promotional image for the Black Hare Press anthology “Hex.”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

A few weeks back, I saw a prompt over on the Black Hare Press Facebook page inviting people to contribute a 200-word story based on the word “Hex.”

I figured “what the heck” and carved out “Stewie’s Mom.”

I guess I missed the part about there being a competition with five prizes. No, I didn’t win (always a bridesmaid), but my story was accepted into the upcoming anthology “Hex”.

Continue reading →

Whatever Happened to Hyacinth Hippo?

Nancy's hippo

PHOTO PROMPT © Nancy Richy

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Hyacinth Hippo had her rise and fall in 1940. Everyone knew the lead dancer in Disney’s animated film “Fantasia.” She had a few cameos like in “Roger Rabbit,” but there wasn’t much of an audience for a big girl in a tutu.

“So bleeping Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut. This is what it’s come down to, eh?” Private Detective to the Weird, Donny (Sweet and) Sauer whistled at her mournfully.

“Shut up, Donny.” Numerous casual library patrons screamed and ran when the “statue” came to life. “Disney stopped being fun years ago. This was the only gig I could get.”

Continue reading →

Read “Olivia Comes Home” Now at SciFanSat

11

Cover art for SciFanSat issue 11

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Issue 11 of SciFanSat featuring my short story is now available. Read the current issue in viewer, as a PDF, or an ePub.

Although my name isn’t mentioned o the cover or the main page, I did get a nice email this morning listing the seventeen published authors as:

Continue reading →

Only Two Days Left to Support Zehlreg A. Grindstone’s Spectacular Western Oddity Emporium

horror tree

Screenshot from Horror Tree.

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Actually slightly less than 48 hours as I write this. The western/fantasy/horror anthology will include my western, steampunk, vampire tale “Blood Trail” featuring Consulting Occult Detective E.E. Durbin and her partner former-Sheriff Bobby Bill Thornton.

Go to the kickstarter page to add your support or just to see how we’re doing.

Continue reading →

Lending Library

library

PHOTO PROMPT ©Dale Rogerson

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

Angelique walked with beauty and silence into the alleyway. It was overgrown and filled with lost, neglected, and leftover items. She loved it.

These urban lending libraries were common and had been around so long no one gave them a second thought. Bring a book you want to share, open the door, exchange it for something you want to read, shut the door, and leave. What could be simpler?

Removing a tattered fantasy novel, the witch placed her ages old copy of the Necronomicon inside. Cage had exactly twenty-one minutes to fetch it and start the end of their world.

Continue reading →

“The Joker and the Thief ” to be published in “Ruth’s and Ann’s Guide to Time Travel, Vol 2”

guide

Cover art or “Ruth’s and Ann’s Guide to Time Travel”

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

My science fiction short story “The Joker and the Thief” was just accepted for publication into the anthology “Ruth’s and Ann’s Guide to Time Travel, Volume 2.” As I understand it Gemini Wordsmiths is the parent company for Celestial Echo Press.

I’ve worked with Ann and Ruth before and am gratified that they like my small time travel tale. They received so many quality stories that they had to create a second volume to contain them all.

I’ve wanted to have some version of my story published for a while now. Here’s a small sample:

Continue reading →

My Flash Fiction Horror Piece “Olivia Comes Home” to be Published by SciFanSat

11

Cover art for issue 11 of the SciFanSat e-zine

If you like my work, buy me a virtual cup of coffee at Ko-Fi.

My flash fiction horror tale “Olivia Comes Home” has been accepted for publication at the SciFanSat monthly e-zine due to be published online on Saturday, June 29th, 2024, in their eleventh issue (the cover for the tenth issue is above).

This is a wee story with a word count of 545 and follows a goth girl named Olivia who is trying to find someplace where she will be accepted.

Continue reading →