New issue of WONDER magazine
I first met the creators of WONDER magazine, Lint Hatcher and Rod Bennett, at Cornerstone Festival and its Imaginarium venue many years ago. I developed a friendship with Lint as we share a love for all things Geek culture with a connection to the sacred. For the last few years this has included my meager […]
New review of The Oxford Handbook
The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters has received a positive review in Laval Théologique et Philosophique journal. It’s in French, of course. https://revues.ulaval.ca/ojs/index.php/LTP/en/issue/view/229](https://revues.ulaval.ca/ojs/index.php/LTP/en/issue/view/229
Space Travel, Aliens in Sci-Fi, and Xenomythology
This week I made some cool discoveries in Substack with new authors addressing topics I’ve followed for years. The first has application to the recent success of the Artemis II mission. I watched the rocket blast off into space and kept tabs with its mission over the days that followed, and like millions of other […]
Identity Construction and the Other-Than-Human
In the past one of the areas of study and commentary on this blog has looked at identity and popular culture narratives in the form of vampires and Otherkin. I hadn’t come across this recently until I started reflecting on philosopher Charles Taylor’s influential work related to secular modernity. In his book A Secular Age […]
Monster Theory at 30
Those familiar with the discipline of monster studies are aware of the seminal work of Jeffrey Cohen and his influential book Monster Theory: Reading Culture. This book is now thirty years old! Cohen recently made an announcement on Facebook that he has edited a forthcoming volume titled Monster Theory at Thirty published by the University […]
Titles of Interest: Routledge Handbook of Dark Events
Someone in my social media feed announced their contribution to this new volume. It looks great. Routledge Handbook of Dark Events: Celebrations, Heritage, and Customs of Death and the Macabre. From the Routledge website: This handbook explores and critically evaluates key debates and controversies in the emerging field of Dark Events. It brings together leading […]
Titles of Interest: LAIKA: The Magic Behind a Stop-Motion Dream Factory
I am a huge fan of the work of Laika Studios in Oregon. They are the premier torch bearers for the legacy of stop-motion animation. They have continued to push the boundaries of technology in animation as it is wedded to artistry and storytelling. For these reasons, I was excited to receive their new book […]
Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters is a Stoker Award finalist
I am honored to announce that The Oxford Handbook of Biblical Monsters (Oxford University Press, 2025), is a Horror Writers Association finalist for a Stoker Award in the category of Superior Achievement in the Category of Long Non-Fiction. I had the privilege of co-editing this volume with Brandon R. Grafius, and working with a great […]
Star Trek’s implosion: Why not embrace fan creativity?
I’ve posted previously about the decline of Star Trek as a franchise, perhaps more accurately described as a self-caused implosion. In the video included with this clip I was reminded of the great work done by fans in creating their own material, from a series to plans for a film. This material was so good, […]
Titles of Interest – Sick Houses: Haunted Homes and the Architecture of Dread
Haunted Homes and the Architecture of Dread by Leila Taylor (Penguin Random House, 2025) Explores the architecture of haunted houses, uncanny domestic spaces, and how the horror genre subverts and corrupts the sanctity of home. Horror begins at home. From family homes in Amityville to Gothic mansions in Los Angeles and the Unabomber’s cabin, houses […]
