Posts Tagged ‘horror’

Mini-Update

Posted: October 31, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Oh, I’ve been a bad blogger, letting weeks go by and the prose go stale here. I have, however, been doing some guest posts, so here’s a round-up of recent contributions.

On Civilian Reader’s blog, I took part in his series on “My Favourite Novel”: http://civilian-reader.blogspot.ca/2012/10/guest-post-my-favourite-novel-by-david.html

Bookworm Blues has had another series, this one on avoiding writer’s block, and here’s my bit: http://www.bookwormblues.net/2012/10/04/thoughts-on-writers-block-david-annandale/

And just today, for Halloween, I’m part of the Mind Meld at SF Signal on the relationship between the Gothic and Urban Fantasy: http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2012/10/mind-meld-the-intersection-between-gothic-horror-and-urban-fantasy/

And now I have to get back to work on this here novel thing.

On Seeing My First Horror Novel in Print

Posted: August 13, 2012 in Uncategorized
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I have always loved horror.

This statement is both true and false. When I was very young, I didn’t necessarily like frightening entertainment. I think I was about four when I first encountered skeletons in a funhouse. They were just glow-in-the-dark, orange drawings on a wall, but that was enough to have me squeezing my eyes shut in mortal fear, and clutching my father’s hand for dear life until we were free of that horrible place. I did NOT like that AT ALL. (But now I treasure the memory.) I wasn’t much older when I found one of my mother’s old fairy-tale books in the basement. It had illustrations by Arthur Rackham. I slammed the book shut at the first decapitated giant. I did NOT like that AT ALL. (But now I wish I knew where that book was.) (more…)

Gyro Park

Posted: June 20, 2012 in Uncategorized
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[This is a (very) short horror story I wrote some years ago. I’m posting it now for International Short Story Day.]

Imagine the city. And now a small park: a block in area, green space, trees on the perimeter, hockey rink, playground. Monkey bars, swings, slide. Carousel. Got it? Good. Now listen. There was a grad student. Owen Astor. He was auditing an evening class. When he walked home, it was natural for him to use Gyro Park as a shortcut. But he walked home at night, and the neighbourhood was a bit sketchy, and he wasn’t a big guy. So he always gave the park a quick scan before actually setting foot in it. Sensible. Smart.

Usually there was no problem. Plenty of events at the rink, with people around. But then October came, and everything died. (more…)

Notes Toward a Consideration of Prometheus

Posted: June 11, 2012 in Uncategorized
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Alien is my favourite movie.

I don’t know if I could tell you my favourite novel, song, video game or play. But I have no trouble pointing to one movie and saying, “There. That one. That’s my favourite.” As I suspect is the case with most people who have a definite fave, how and when I saw the film play a significant role in shaping its importance for me. My father took me to see it on my 13th birthday. Once the face-hugger popped out of the egg, and especially once Kane had that bout of indigestion, I was curled into foetal position for the rest of the picture. It was an experience of terror that I have treasured ever since. My love for the film has never abated. Over thirty years on, I appreciate the film’s accomplishments in a new, but no less fond, light. Earlier this spring, for example, as I was teaching a course on remakes and sequels, Aliens was one of the films we looked at. And much as I love Cameron’s film, too, I was struck by how some of its special effects are showing their age, while those in Alien remain almost seamless. (more…)

Summer of Whedon

Posted: May 8, 2012 in Uncategorized
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So. Cabin in the Woods and The Avengers. The last two movies I’ve seen (and I know I’m not alone in this), both of them bearing the Joss Whedon imprimatur (producer and co-writer of one, co-writer and director of the other). Even if there wasn’t anything else to look forward to this summer, even if there weren’t the looming shadows of Prometheus and The Dark Knight Rises, this would already be a pretty strong season. A few thoughts on them both below. These are not reviews. I’m assuming you’ve seen both movies, so there are spoilers ahead. If you haven’t seen them, then stop reading this and hit the theatres.

No, I’m serious. Go away. (more…)

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