Monthly Archives: March 2026

The War Over Middle-Earth

Posted on March 18, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

In 1965, The Lord of the Rings came out in the U.S. in paperback form, courtesy of sci-fi publisher Ace Books—and it did so without the authorization of Tolkien himself. Ace editor Donald A. Wollheim claimed that the works weren’t copyrighted in the United … Continue reading →

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A simple act of kindness

Posted on March 17, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

While I was watching the Academy Award show Sunday night, the appearance of Oscar winning actor Adrien Brody reminded me of this amazing story of a glimmer of humanity during the Hell of war. It is September 1939, bombs are … Continue reading →

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At Eternity’s Gate

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“In a week when the eyes of the world are turned towards the suffering in the Middle East, a Van Gogh print locked away in the vaults of the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art has assumed a new symbolism. Van … Continue reading →

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The World’s Shortest International Railway

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

I’ve traveled on some obscure railways, but nothing quite as interesting (and short) as the line featured in this fascinating short video. “What’s the shortest train journey you’ve ever been on? Yes, that Stourbridge branch line is very short, as … Continue reading →

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Don’t Steal This Book

Posted on March 14, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

Visitors to the London Book Fair this week may have stumbled across a curious new title that contains no plot, no chapters, and not a single line of prose. Nearly 10,000 authors have joined forces to publish an intentionally blank book … Continue reading →

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Cuckoo’s Nest

Posted on March 13, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

“High high in the hills , high in a pine tree bed. She’s tracing the wind with that old hand, counting the clouds with that old chant, Three geese in a flock one flew east one flew west one flew … Continue reading →

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The Floating Admiral

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

1931 saw the publication of a remarkable detective novel. The Floating Admiral had been written by 12 members of the Detection Club, London’s society of mystery writers: Victor Whitechurch G.D.H. Cole and Margaret Cole Henry Wade Agatha Christie John Rhode Milward Kennedy … Continue reading →

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Shape of Paris

Posted on March 11, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

The Shape of Paris is a balletic short film of skateboarder Andy Anderson zooming, grinding, spinning, and floating around Paris in the summertime. It is also beautifully shot by Brett Novak; Paris has never looked better. NB: if the video does not open in … Continue reading →

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Hey kids, let’s design a book cover

Posted on March 10, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

 

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Only wait a while and listen.

Posted on March 9, 2026 by Brian D. Butler

I recently had a sad conversation with my sister about someone who we both loved who took his own life many years ago. It reminded me of this moving poem by Pulitzer-winning poet Galway Kinnell  addressed to a student of his … Continue reading →

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