I named it Grendel, and I am working gradually to tame it.
It’s part of my Crazy Poet phase. I am trying hard to look like a madman or a Russian dissident.
I’m concerned that what I have achieved is more Unabomber than eccentric writer. And DEAR LORD, THE GRAY. It’s more terrifying than Liam Neeson’s “The Grey.”
Hey Shoaib Kamal … ya can’t touch this.
This blog post contains major spoilers for Stephen King’s “The Gunslinger” and “The Waste Lands.” Please read no further if you haven’t read the series.
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A re-read of “The Waste Lands” has informed me of a switcheroo that might strongly detract from one of the most powerful scenes in “The Gunslinger.” (And I am not sure how the hell I missed this in past readings of the novel … did I just forget? Am I going senile?)
It is actually Jack Mort, and not The Man In Black, who pushes Jake Chambers into traffic in New York. He is (somewhat confusingly) also dressed as a priest.
I much prefer the iconic, terrifying Walter/Flagg as the slayer (sort of) of poor Jake. I might just forget that whole Jack Mort retcon, which served little point in “The Waste Lands” and seemed like a surprise that was just shoehorned in.
“Full Dark, No Stars” is a good, solid collection of horror tales — four strong novellas by Stephen King that had me engrossed. Interestingly, three of the four tales — “1922,” “Big Driver,” and “A Good Marriage” — contain no supernatural elements whatsoever, and deal only with murders. The one tale of the supernatural — “Fair Extension” — is a shorter, faster, superior take on the basic plot device examined by the less-than-stellar “Needful Things.” It was typical King; parts were slow, but the pace didn’t change the fact that this was a great page-turner that was hard to put down. There were a few references to other King novels to please long-term fans, including a reference to “The Dark Tower” series. Even the Afterword was entertaining, as King delivered his down-to-earth recounting of how he got the ideas for each story. There’s some great trivia there, too — King says “The Long Walk” was the first novel he wrote, at the tender age of 18. My copy of “Full Dark, No Stars” had a bonus feature — a damn fantastic short story called “Under the Weather.” Don’t miss it. 
“A book is a loaded gun in the house next door…Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?”
― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451
I wish all of you who share your voices and friendship here the very best of New Years — I hope your 2015 is filled with love, light, laughter, prosperity and peace.
And thank you — friends, colleagues, alums, and fellow lovers of words — for being there in 2014 and for brightening my days, and for being who you are — the best, funniest and kindest group of chums that a man could ask for.
Much love,
Eric
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,300 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 6 trips to carry that many people.
O, wonder!
How many goodly creatures are there here!
How beauteous mankind is! O brave new world,
That has such people in’t!
— Miranda, “The Tempest,” by William Shakespeare
Seriously, it’s huge. I think it might soon require it’s own social security number.
I’m starting to think it might rival the face-manes of pals John Kerr and Pete Harrison. I’ll post pics when I can.
In other news, I am trying to pen a poem about a raven. Someone gave me a funny look and told me that it’d been done … apparently there’s ANOTHER poem about a raven by a well known poet?
I’ve got submissions in to a few online publishers, for flash fiction and poetry — I’ll let you know if anything is accepted.
I wrote a zombie long story that actually DOES have a main character based on me, which is a first. His name is Steve, and he’s inquisitive and physically quick. Also penned my first (and predictably dark) time-travel tale, and I’m very happy with how it turned out.
And I’m hard at work behind the scenes on a major project as well. I hope everyone is having a terrific holiday season!!!
It’s an allegory to Homer’s “Odyssey.”
Wish me luck. I don’t know what my chances are … these things are so hit or myth.
Eric Robert Nolan, Author 