Tag Archives: Eric Robert Nolan

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Goodbye, Seacobeck Dining Hall.

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Mary Washington College (I and other 90’s kids refuse to refer to it by its longer moniker) will close Seacobeck Dining Hall this Spring.  Thanks to vigilant alum Len Ornstein for passing along this article from Fredericksburg.com:

http://m.fredericksburg.com/business/umw-opening-dining-hall-to-public-before-closure/article_50306ad8-c07c-5e5a-a184-179af51fc781.html?mode=jqm

The college will actually open the dining hall to the public several times before closing its doors for the last time; see the article for details.

I can’t imagine Mary Washington without Seacobeck.  I worked a work-study program there for all four years; it was as much a part of my college experience as any academic building.  My memories of it are vivid and many.  Seacobeck IS Mary Washington.

Sigh.

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Publication Notice — Aphelion Webzine features “The Cyclops.”

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I am honored to be able to report that a poem of mine, “The Cyclops,” has appeared in the February issue of Aphelion, The Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy.  I am honored to see my work featured alongside the many talented contributors there.

Aphelion is just full of cool voices and fun stuff (I myself find my interest piqued by the shared-universe “Aphelion Project”).  Head on over there and find out what the creators there have in store for you.

http://www.aphelion-webzine.com/poetry/2015/02/Cyclops.html

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“First Smoke,” by Eric Robert Nolan

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First published in Dead Snakes, November 16, 2013:

http://deadsnakes.blogspot.com/2013/11/eric-robert-nolan-three-poems.html

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“Man and Cigarette,” by George Hodan, public domain

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A Review of”The Moth Diaries” (2011)

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“The Moth Diaries” (2011) is actually a decent vampire movie. Yes, the protagonists are teenage girls at a boarding school, but this is much more “The X-Files” than it is “Twilight.” It actually reminded me a lot of the fantastic “Let Me In” (2010), the Americanized version of “Let the Right One In” (2008).

Rebecca (capably played by the talented Sarah Bolger) grows concerned when her best friend is seemingly enthralled by the creepy new girl (Lily Cole). Vampire mystery ensues.

This is a really good movie for the first hour and 15 minutes or so, even if the sparing flashback sequences are a little awkward. Regrettably, its chances of being a truly great horror film are foiled by a quick and underwhelming anticlimax, complete with special effects that are about at the same level we would expect from network television. It’s like the screenwriter and director ran out of energy and decided to wrap up the whole shebang so they could grab lunch.

It’s still a fairly good movie, though – I’d give it a 7 out of 10.

Postscript: you know you’ve seen a lot of horror movies when their titles all begin to sound alike: The Moth Diaries, The Mothman Prophecies, The Vampire Diaries, The Zombie Diaries, Diary of the Dead, etc.

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“Amanda,” by Eric Robert Nolan

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It’s a poem about January, among other things, so I wanted to link to it before the month is out:

http://dagdapublishing.co.uk/2014/03/03/amanda/

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My review of “Star Trek” (2009)

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I was never as into the “Star Trek” franchise as much as its real fans, but I did enjoy the tv show and films.  And like so many people, I was really disappointed at how the lackluster and continuity-crushing “Star Trek: Nemesis” (2002) seemed to sound the death knell for a franchise that has been around since 1966.

I was happily surprised, the, when I finally got to see J.J. Abrams’ “Star Trek” (2009) in its entirety.  It captured all of the magic of the original series, and updated it with 21st Century special effects, set design and sound editing.  The all-star cast was uniformly good, even if Eric Bana (as Nero) got too little screen time.  It was amazing how Chris Pine and Karl Urban seemed to channel William Shatner and DeForest Kelley, respectively.

One or two things might make viewers scratch their heads …  The coincidence of Kirk’s discovery on the ice planet is pretty mind-boggling.  And why was he exiled there instead of just thrown in the brig? Also, Nero’s doomsday device appears in the skies over Vulcan and Earth.  Does neither planet have the equivalent of an air force?  Why is the Enterprise the only ship in the battle?

Still, this was a really good hard sci-fi flick.  Check it out if you haven’t seen it already.

star trek movie poster 2009-7877

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Stephen King’s “Joyland”

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“Joyland” is a surprisingly average novel by an otherwise amazing novelist.  Its ghost story is actually pretty scary, but it occupies so little of the book that it seems like a brief subplot.  The bulk of the book is a coming-of-age story about its protagonist, with tons and TONS of expository information about “carny” life, work, and culture.  I actually found myself skimming pages that detailed the carny dialect (or “Talk”), or the descriptions of daily work.

The characters of Devin, Tom and Erin were relatable and likeable — Annie and Mike were a little less so.

This book was okay, but I doubt it belongs at the top of anyone’s must-read list.

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Tremble before the terrible and mighty beard!

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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.

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“Brave New World”

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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

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My beard has a name, and it is Grendel.

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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!!!