Commonplace Web-Log

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:05:30 -0500

artsparrow: Inside the Portrait Studio: The Women of Mad Men!...

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:40:59 -0400

Inside the Portrait Studio: The Women of Mad Men! For all six illustrations, visit my blog & tumblr here: blog.artsparrow.com & artsparrow.tumblr.com xo, Andrea Sparacio (artsparrow)

thedoubleshadow: This week covers “A Rendezvous in Averoigne,”...

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:10:37 -0400

thedoubleshadow:

This week covers “A Rendezvous in Averoigne,” the second story in Clark Ashton Smith’s Averoigne Cycle. Rendezvous was first published in the April/May 1931 issue of Weird Tales, alongside Robert E. Howard’s “The Children of the Night” and H.P. Lovecraft’s poem “Alienation” (#32 from Fungi from Yuggoth).

You can download the episode here or subscribe in iTunes or via RSS.

The Ray Bradbury quote was from the intro to Arkham House’s 1988 collection A Rendezvous in Averoigne: The Best Fantastic Tales of Clark Ashton Smith. The title is a trifle misleading, as this contains stories from throughout Smith’s career, not just his Averoigne works (nor all of them).

The film The Fearless Vampire Killers was released in 1967 and was written by and co-stars a young Roman Polanski.

And shout out to the Podcast to the Curious, about the works of M.R. James. We’re fans of more than their accents.

Join us again on May 30th as we read “The Maker of Gargoyles.”

thedoubleshadow: The Double Shadow: Episode 2 - “The End of the...

Wed, 02 May 2012 11:47:38 -0400

thedoubleshadow:

The Double Shadow: Episode 2 - “The End of the Story”

You can download the episode here. Or subscribe in iTunes. Or subscribe via RSS.

”The End of the Story” was first published in Weird Tales in May of 1930.

(picture from Dark in the Dark)

If you’re looking for more lamia, “Lamia” by John Keats.

The novel Phil mentioned was The Stress of Her Regard by Tim Powers. This is a novel that concerns lamia and vampires and amounts to in-depth re-working of the lamia/vampire myth using Keats and historical accounts and all kinds of stuff. The title was taken from a CAS poem. (Ruth’s note—looks fascinating!)

Listener @GenusUnknown also pointed out to us when reading for this week that the “the almost vanished and evilly famous ruins of Château Faussesflammes” are mentioned in H.P. Lovecraft’s collaboration with Hazel Heald, “Out of the Aeons.”

Join us in 2 weeks (May 16th) for “A Rendezvous in Averoigne.”

thedoubleshadow: The Double Shadow Episode: 01 -...

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:04:00 -0400

thedoubleshadow:

The Double Shadow Episode: 01 - Introduction

Download the episode (coming soon to iTunes!)

The very first episode of The Double Shadow, a podcast that will explore the life and works of 20th Century weird fiction author Clark Ashton Smith. Episode One talks about Ashton Smith’s importance as a Weird Fiction author, his place in history and an overview of what the show will cover.

Show Notes:

Intro & Outro music courtesy of Kevin MacLeod.

The Averoigne stories in the order in which we’ll cover them (publication order):

The End of the Story

A Rendezvous in Averoigne

The Maker of Gargoyles

The Colossus of Ylourgne

The Holiness of Azédarac

The Beast of Averoigne (published) and the original version rejected by Weird Tales

The Mandrakes

The Disinterment of Venus

Mother of Toads

The Enchantress of Sylaire

The Satyr

A map of Averoigne (click to expand):

The map was created by Tim Kirk and posted on the Eldritch Dark website.

Phil’s quoted interview with Clark Ashton Smith came from Conversations with the Weird Tales Circle. The interviewer was George Haas. Phil notes:

Haas seems to have been kind of an interesting figure, very involved in Fortean activities throughout CA and San Francisco in particular. He wrote two accounts of meeting CAS, in one of them he notes that they got together with Anton Szandor LaVey for a cook out. I find that idea amazing.

The book Ruth mentioned is Selected Letters of Clark Ashton Smith, published by Arkham House, 2003.

More biographical information about Clark Ashton Smith is available on the Eldritch Dark website and on Wikipedia.

housingworksbookstore: Andrea Sparacio is back at it with this...

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:35:55 -0500

housingworksbookstore:

Andrea Sparacio is back at it with this great illustration for our Geek Week next week! More info on events at housingworks.org/events. Everything is free, and all week sci fi, fantasy, computer, comic, science and math books are on sale.

housingworksbookstore: We just announced this event we’re...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:49:15 -0500

housingworksbookstore:

We just announced this event we’re having at Housing Works, with McNally Jackson, The Rumpus, and the newly “out” Dear Sugar herself, the inimitable Cheryl Strayed. It’s going to be amazing. So amazing. Get a ticket soon, it will sell out!

Poster design and illustration by Andrea Sparacio.

housingworksbookstore: The super-talented and amazing Andrea...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:13:02 -0500

housingworksbookstore:

The super-talented and amazing Andrea Sparacio (artsparrow) made this great illustration for our week of Valentine’s-related programming next week! See you every single night, right? Do you like me? Check yes or no.

https://plus.google.com/115371600334699605198/posts/EXjNLBSgCun

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:45:59 -0500

https://plus.google.com/115371600334699605198/posts/EXjNLBSgCun

Role-Players Assemble!

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:47:57 -0500

The Tabletop Wizard joins Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to vanquish role-playing evil!

colinfitzpatrick: reviewofmycat: Cat: █████ Owner:...

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:03:57 -0500

colinfitzpatrick:

reviewofmycat:

Cat: █████

Owner: ██████████

Appearance: █

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Sociability: █

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Usefulness: █

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Huggability: █

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Overall Grade: █

[RomC is blacked out in protest of SOPA and PIPA. Email Congress now to stop Internet censorship.]

Keep reviews of cats alive online. Stop SOPA and PIPA. Sign Google’s petition or call your congress people.

Man, I really wanted to read the review of this cat. DAMN YOU SOPA!!

Photo

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:29:20 -0500

MY 2011 READING LIST. THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE MEH

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:32:00 -0500

I’m a big reader. I love books, I love to get lost in a great narrative, and I love it when a book just grabs me and takes me for a ride. So I try to read as much as I can, and to vary my reading as much as possible.

Here is my pretty much complete reading list from this past year. There are a lot of books here that I’ve started and just haven’t finished. As much as I love reading, I hate being stuck in a narrative that doesn’t speak to me, so I’m eager to swap out to a new book. This list is only the novels and graphic novels I’ve read. I’m not including single issue comics, or short stories. Here we go:

Transformation: The Breakthrough

Strieber, Whitley

Strieber’s follow-up to “Communion.” Just as amazing and revelatory for me. I’m not 100% sure what’s going on with Strieber, but his literary assessment of it is like modern folklore in the making.

Move Under Ground

Mamatas, Nick

A bit of a niche book. Jack Kerouac v. Cthulhu. Sounds like a kitschy idea, but it contains some legitimately horrifying visuals.

Dr. Faustus

Marlowe, Christopher

Some nice language in here, a classic certainly, but I prefer Brecht’s version.

A Mess of Everything

Lasko-Gross, Miss

I recall liking this graphic novel at the time because it was like reading someone’s journal. I don’t really remember too much about it at this point. A great book for young girls.

Dungeon Quest: Book One

Daly, Joe

Good, fun “bro-fantasy”. I really enjoyed this, why haven’t I picked up Book Two?

The Book of Genesis

Crumb, R.

Meh. The art and effort is amazing, but it’s the Book of Genesis. The talent is overwhelming, the subject not so much.

Northlanders, Vol. 1: Sven the Returned

Wood, Brian

Deadwood-type Viking adventure—by which I mean it’s a period piece where they speak in fairly contemporary language. Vicious and visceral. I enjoyed it, but not enough to seek out more.

The Way of Hermes: New Translations of The Corpus Hermeticum and The Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius

Mahé, Jean-Pierre

Never finished this. Very interesting food for thought. Might be good to have in the old library just as reference. Something that I can grab off the shelf and just puzzle over for a bit.

Money Without Matrimony: The Unmarried Couple’s Guide to Financial Security

Garrett, Sheryl

Yeah. Didn’t finish this.

Low Magick: It’s All In Your Head … You Just Have No Idea How Big Your Head Is

DuQuette, Lon Milo

I love magickal theory, and you can do worse than to learn some magick from Uncle Lon. There’s a great chapter in here about how he spent a weekend enchanting a deck of tarot cards. Really highlights the fluidity and personalization of magickal practice.

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? Vol. 1

Dick, Philip K., Tony Parker

The graphic novel adaptation of the PKD classic that inspired Blade Runner. Probably the worst thing I’ve read all year. I didn’t have a huge problem with the art, but the thing includes the entire text of the novel. So there’s a lot of overlapping information. Worst way to adapt anything.

Concrete Volume 1: Depths

Concrete Volume 2: Height

Concrete Volume 3: Fragile Creature

Concrete Volume 4: Killer Smile

Chadwick, Paul

Kinda went Concrete crazy. This is one of those classic comics that I’ve always wanted to read, so I grabbed them all from the library and devoured them. Really great stuff, sometimes a bit preachy, but some amazing storytelling.

Prison Pit: Book One

Prison Pit: Book Two

Ryan, Johnny

Bleh. Some funny panels here and there, but ultimately a shit-show.

The Shadow out of Time

Lovecraft, H.P.

This was a re-read, I didn’t love it as much as I did the first time. I could have done without the full run-down of how the Elder Things society worked. Space commies.

The Trillion-Dollar Conspiracy

Marrs, Jim

Jumped around a bit with this one. As always, spooky stuff.

The Contract With God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue

Eisner, Will

Another classic that I had to read. Great stuff, but probably not something I’d grab again.

Sleeper Season One

Brubaker, Ed

I thought I’d love this, but I just didn’t. I couldn’t really connect with any of the characters, and ultimately didn’t really care who was double agenting for whom. Some cool action pieces though.

The Warded Man (Demon Cycle, #1)

Brett, Peter V.

Good, quick, fantasy read. Almost super-hero fantasy. The concept is interesting: every night demons come out of the ground, the only thing that can stop them are magical wards, but humanity has forgotten the secret behind making wards. One guy discovers the secret of combat wards, and then things get interesting.

Love and Rockets: New Stories #1

Hernández, Gilbert

I went on a huge Los Bros Hernández binge last year. Most of it was amazing stuff, but I just couldn’t get into the newer stuff.

The 1979 Annual World’s Best SF

Wollheim, Donald A.

I don’t think I actually finished anything from here.

Wonders in the Sky: Unexplained Aerial Objects from Antiquity to Modern Times

Vallée, Jacques F.

Great as a reference book. I didn’t really have a reason to finish it.

The Book of English Magic

Carr-Gomm, Philip

Skipped around here. Pretty good reference title.

UFO Abduction at Botucatu

Caselatto, Rodolfo R.

Craziness. Just utter nuts. In a good way.

Preacher, Vol. 1: Gone to Texas

Preacher, Vol. 2: Until the End of the World

Ennis, Garth

Another re-read. Do I really need to say anything about Preacher? I don’t think so.

Kraken

Miéville, China

This was a tough read for me. Ultimately I liked it, but it felt a little scattered, and I lost interest a few times while reading.

The Zombie Autopsies: Secret Notebooks from the Apocalypse

Schlozman, Steven C.

Pretty darn interesting. Probably the bleakest of the zombie fictions I’ve read. The illustrations are great.

Rasl Pocket Book One

Smith, Jeff

Weird in a very good way. I have to grab the rest of these if they’re out yet. Jeff Smith is thumbs up.

Kid Eternity

Morrison, Grant

I kind of hated this. The art was nice to look at, but very difficult to get into. This was a re-read too.

Shortcomings

Tomine, Adrian

Another re-read! Also another one that I didn’t like as much the second time around. The art was amazing, as always, but I found myself frustrated with the main character.

Dhalgren

Delany, Samuel R.

I feel like I’ve been reading this book most of my life. I still haven’t finished it. This book is like getting lost in a world. Dream-like science fiction/fantasy that quickly incorporates its ideas into your own head. This is the Skyrim of books, no arrows in the knee though.

Blackout (All Clear, #1)

Willis, Connie

I loved Willis’ “Doomsday Book.” This is no “Doomsday Book.” Haven’t finished it yet.

A Clash of Kings (A Song of Ice and Fire, #2)

A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)

Martin, George R.R.

I watched the first season of Game of Thrones on HBO, so I skipped the first book. “Clash of Kings” and “Storm of Swords” are some of the most highly readable, addictive books I’ve read in a long time. The fact that they’re fantasy novels just makes the experience even more incredible.

The Prague Cemetery

Eco, Umberto

I was so looking forward to this book. I’m a HUGE Eco fan; I love his early novels, with “Foucault’s Pendulum” being my favorite. “The Prague Cemetery” was kind of a let-down for me. The first few chapters held amazing promise, but the rest just didn’t play the way I thought they should have.

Dune (Dune Chronicles, #1)

Herbert, Frank

I finally read Dune! This is one that definitely bears a re-read. So much world, so much philosophy. I’m not sure if I want to dive into the further series’ though.

Finder, Vol. 01: Sin-Eater 1

Finder, Vol. 02: Sin-Eater 2

McNeil, Carla Speed

The most uniquely original thing I’ve read this year. Finder is so absolutely its own thing that it stands head and shoulders above novel and graphic novel alike.

Weathercraft: A Frank Comic

Congress of the Animals

Woodring, Jim

What if Chuck Jones was an alien from another dimension and tripped on acid while making comics. That comes close. Great stuff. Funny, scary, gross, and exhilarating all without a single word balloon or sound effect.

The Curse of the Pharaohs: A Stunning Investigation Into the 4,000-Year-Old Secrets of the Ancient Egyptians

Vandenberg, Philipp

I don’t know, I bought this in New Orleans because it has a cool map inside and is an esoteric looking hardcover. It’s an interesting read, not quite sure if it’s straight historical, historical fiction, or completely fictional. I’ll have to get back to it soon.

Urban Voodoo: A Beginners Guide to Afro-Caribbean Magic

Black, S. Jason & Hyatt, Christopher

The actual information on Voodoo is good, the essay on Christianity and Hyatt’s sexual practices I could have done without.

The Complete Nemesis: The Warlock, Vol. 1

Mills, Pat

Awesome. A classic of British SF comics.

The Complete D.R. & Quinch

Moore, Alan

Another classic of Bristish SF comics. A lot of fun.

Ex Machina: The Deluxe Edition Book One

Vaughan, Brian K.

I really like Ex Machina. I love the main plot: Superhero mayor of NY. I love the subplot: Strange alien technology infecting the city. Never too arch, or too grounded. Just a great series.

Invincible: Ultimate Collection, Volume 1

Kirkman, Robert

Fast paced, great colorful art. Kirkman is a solid storyteller, but I have trouble connecting with his characters.

Who Goes There?

Jr., John W. Campbell

This is the book that they based the film adaptations for The Thing on. Interesting, but very heavy handed. It’s way less into the suspense angle of ‘who could be the alien in disguise’ and more into ‘how would something like this work in the real world.’ Which is very cool, and is territory none of the movies have really gone into in any great detail.

Await Your Reply

Chaon, Dan

I’m still reading this. It’s really very good, Chaon is a great storyteller.

The Dylan Dog Case Files

Sclavi, Tiziano

Still reading this too. People have been recommending this to me for years. I’m not liking it as much as I thought I would.

Akira, Vol. 1

Otomo, Katsuhiro

I respect the lineage of Akira. I loved the animated film. I’m having trouble getting into the manga. Start shouting at me…now!

The Colour Out of Space

Lovecraft, H.P.

Yet another re-read. I found this way scarier and more intense than I did last time. This one truly highlights what Lovecraft excels at; the palpable air of exterminating dread. What happens when a piece of the universe just drops in on you? You die, and not in a pretty way either.

Paying for It

Brown, Chester

I really liked this. Brown exhaustively explores the modern nature of relationships here, and comes to some pretty interesting and personal conclusions. He would rather have a sexual relationship with escorts, than with a girlfriend. There is a point where it comes across a bit defensive, but the core story is very interesting.

Flatlander

Crashlander

Niven, Larry

Terrific noir SF.

The Novel Of The Black Seal

Machen, Arthur

I gave this a read because I’d read that this was Lovecraft’s inspiration for “Whisperer in the Darkness.” I can see the evolutionary thread there, and both deal with the same general idea: what if these things we know only from folklore turn out to be real? While Lovecraft takes it down the road to SF, Machen just makes it weird.

MY FAVES:

At the top of the list is “Finder.” I was just blown away at how strange, and compelling it was. It reads like an action comic in some parts, a horror comic in others and has the hazy unreality of a fever dream throughout. The story of the ‘Damned Thing’ will haunt me forever. I can’t stress how unique “Finder” is; it’s truly a story that can only be told in the comic format.

Second would probably be “Move Under Ground.” I don’t know if it’s because I was expecting a lame Kerouac knock-off with some mythos sprinkled in, but that’s not what I got. It’s a dark lamentation within a demon plagued world. Just when I thought all of the horror had been drained from Lovecraft’s mythos, Mamatas found a way to make Cthulhu scary again.

The Game of Thrones series. You guys already know, I don’t need to tell you.

This is something that I did because I like D&D and think...

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:21:50 -0500

This is something that I did because I like D&D and think it’s important.

Dungeon Master Sacrifices Virgins in the Name of Role-Playing, Part 1

DECEMBER 8TH, 2011 | BY: TIM MUCCI

In a world where geek culture is becoming ever more pervasive, where videogames sell millions of copies and comic books are adapted into blockbuster movies, there still remains one hobby that rides along the edges. There is still one hobby that is shunned by the mainstream. Join me now as we explore the world of tabletop role-playing games. Join me, the TABLETOP WIZARD!

Pretty amazing.

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:38:40 -0500

Pretty amazing.

"I’m a bit Amish. I don’t trust anything after the horse and buggy. The Internet brings communication..."

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:39:41 -0500

“I’m a bit Amish. I don’t trust anything after the horse and buggy. The Internet brings communication to a more intense level, with increasing political ramifications from this kind of connectivity. It’s a fascinating social experiment, but I’d rather just keep out of the Petri dish. Kickstarter seems to be an entirely benevolent use of the Internet. Things like Harvey’s monument are a good way of taking the power and responsibility into the hands of the people.”

- Alan Moore, in an interview with Fast Company about the Harvey Pekar Project.

HOLY SHIT ALAN MOORE. This just made my everything.

(via ensignau)

housingworksbookstore: Andrea aka artsparrow sums up our ghost...

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:45:21 -0400

housingworksbookstore:

Andrea aka artsparrow sums up our ghost stories event, Around the Campfire, from October 17. Below: Amanda Bullock, Sarah Lynn Knowles, Miles Klee (audio clip), Michelle Augello-Page (audio clip), Tim Mucci (audio clip), Katie Mullins (website), and Will Stratton (website). (via Storychord: Issue #36 Illustration Around The Campfire Mural. | artsparrow)

artsparrow: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! - xo Andrea Sparacio...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:28:26 -0400

artsparrow:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! - xo Andrea Sparacio (artsparrow)

rachelfershleiser:

The ridiculously talented Andrea Sparacio has created the literary Halloween costume of the year. I am in love!

blogtastic: I—or, sorry, my character Starbuck Coffin, the...

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:58:52 -0400

blogtastic:

I—or, sorry, my character Starbuck Coffin, the ranger from Anvaros-on-the-Hill—spent the snowstorm yesterday playing D&D for the first time.

rachelfershleiser:

And thus, as had been foretold, the virgins were sacrificed.

———————————————

Sad that I didn’t get to kill any of you, and that you never got to face Anvar-Ka! Warrior Chieftain, Red King of the Hill, and Blade of the Outer World.

rachelfershleiser: Embrace your awkward,...

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 16:36:56 -0400

rachelfershleiser:

Embrace your awkward, kids.

—————————-

This is almost our full D&D Virgins group. Prepare to truly understand the definition of *nerd*