I’ve loved this painting by John William Waterhouse for a long time. The many layers of detail and symbolism, not uncommon in Waterhouse’s work, leave so much to consider and see. The Magic Circle is so open that it can leave you with one idea of what is happening in a viewing, and inspire a... Continue Reading →
Throwback Thursday: J.R.R. Tolkien Reads from The Hobbit (Circa 1953)
Back in April I shared audio of J.R.R. Tolkien reading from The Lord of the Rings. This rare treat was thanks to the Professor’s enjoyment of recording personal readings of his work on some of the first home-use tape recorders after being introduced to them by a friend in 1952. These short stretches of audio... Continue Reading →
Throwback Thursday: “What do You Mean, We’re Lost?”, by Keith Parkinson (1986)
The great Keith Parkinson has been featured several times on the blog, and he will most assuredly be featured again in the future. He left a wondrous legacy of fantasy and science-fiction art behind after passing from the world too soon in 2005, and it remains a testament to his talent. This piece done in... Continue Reading →
Throwback Thursday: Dechara’s Tree, by Larry Elmore (1990)
When Dechara's Tree graced the November 1990 cover of Dragon Magazine #163, it didn’t make an immediate impact on me. It is, of course, a piece done by legendary fantasy artist Larry Elmore and shows his mastery of skill. Yet, it’s not a showy painting of epic fantasy, and I think for that reason it... Continue Reading →
Throwback Thursday: Saving the Best for Last, by Daniel R. Horne (1987)
This painting by Daniel R. Horne premiered as the cover of Dragon Magazine issue 126, which arrived in my mailbox in October of 1987. Thereafter, it would reappear in several other TSR products and advertisements. My thirteen-year-old reaction? “Wow!” Back in the day, Dragon had a excellent track record for Halloween (and April’s Fools) themed... Continue Reading →
Throwback Thursday: The Sword And The Sorcerer (1982 Trailer)
The Sword And The Sorcerer is b-grade film-making at its finest. It scared the heck out of me as a little kid when my brother rented it on LaserDisc or Betamax around 1983 or so. But the sheer coolness of a THREE BLADED SWORD THAT CAN SHOOT TWO OF ITS BLADES enchanted my nine-year old brain.... Continue Reading →
Throwback Thursday: The Gate (1987 Trailer)
The Gate gets a one line nod (like a lot of geeky 80s stuff) in my novel Vivian's Last Cigarette, which is set in 1989. I had to explain the reference to friend and author Lauren L. Garcia when she encountered it during critique... Kids today, what are you watching on VHS? ;-) Sigh. At... Continue Reading →
Throwback Thursday: Odysseus, by Norman Lindsay (1925)
Norman Lindsay (1879 – 1969) is considered by many to be one of Australia's greatest artists. He worked in a bewildering number of mediums and produced a vast amount of work including drawings, etchings, watercolors, oil paintings and sculptures. Many of these had fantastical and classical elements. Lindsay was also not shy with the use of... Continue Reading →
Throwback Thursday: ‘Lucky Catch’, by Norman Rockwell (1955)
Norman Rockwell is an iconic American illustrator, and I love this piece because my father is a Lobsterman and known to be a teller of tall-tales. This reminds me of how I visualized some of those tales as a child. ;-) On this piece, The Saturday Evening Post website has the following to say: Rockwell... Continue Reading →
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