Category Archives: USA

all the trains are gone

Posted on June 2, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

The illustration above, appeared in The Fatal Lozenge which was Edward Gorey’s first published “alphabet book”. In the book series, each letter of the alphabet is represented by a character which appears in a four line poem and each poem … Continue reading →

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Amazing Stories in Amazing Stories

Posted on June 1, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I recently stumbled upon a link to this issue of Amazing Stories magazine from 1927. What jumped out for me was the inclusion in this issue of H.P. Lovecraft’s of The Colour Out of Space  and H.G. Wells’  The War of the Worlds. … Continue reading →

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All the misery of manilla folders and mucilage

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

DOLOR Theodore Roethke I have known the inexorable sadness of pencils, Neat in their boxes, dolor of pad and paper weight, All the misery of manilla folders and mucilage, Desolation in immaculate public places, Lonely reception room, lavatory, switchboard, The … Continue reading →

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The Bradbury Chronicles

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

As I have mentioned more than a few times over the years, I was a voracious reader of Ray Bradbury’s novels and short stories as a kid. So, I was excited to see that the American Writers Museum in Chicago … Continue reading →

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Murder At Full Moon

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I don’t remember which book that I read first, Of Mice and Men or The Grapes of Wrath, but both had a lasting effect on me and made me a John Steinbeck fan. Over the years, I think that I’ve read every novel and … Continue reading →

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Maps of States

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

MAPS OF STATES Terrance Hayes  A map indicating the state of the union may Yield the statues, static & statutes of grave White men while a map indicating disrepair may Yield colorful groundbreakers uprooting graves.   A map indicating the … Continue reading →

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When They Haven’t Really Read The Book

Posted on May 24, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Cartoonist Ward Sutton creates classic books illustrated by artists who have clearly not read the books.

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Gorey on Gory

Posted on May 22, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

I was saddened to read that mystery writer and editor Marvin Kaye died on May 13, 2021 at the age of 83. Edward Gorey created wonderful wraparound dust jacket cover designs for eight of the numerous anthologies Kaye produced.  

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What Party

Posted on May 20, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

Street artists have come a long way from guerilla art bombers to darlings of the auction houses. These days it’s not unusual for a one-time “vandal” to get an impressive one-person exhibition at a prestigious museum. Currently, the hot show … Continue reading →

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Living in the Wild West (of Iceland)

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Brian D. Butler

At some point during every trip that I take to Iceland I entertain the fantasy of moving to a small coastal town and opening a little bookshop. But reality always wins out when I remember what Icelandic winters are like. … Continue reading →

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