Category Archives: History

Posts and pages with historical content.

One billion years plus forty: Brian Aldiss and the history of sci-fi

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Brian Bixby

One of my constant readers, Judy (whose blog demonstrates her skills as a photographer), sent me a copy of Brian W. Aldiss’s Billion Year Spree: The True History of Science Fiction (1973), along with some cards featuring her photography. The … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Reading fiction, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

The Goths (gothic writers, that is): twin birthdays

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Tuesday, July 9,  is another twin birthday of significance for readers of this blog. Two famous writers of gothic novels, Mrs. Radcliffe (1764-1823), author of The Mysteries of Udolpho, and “Monk” Lewis (1775-1818), nicknamed for his most popular work, The Monk, were … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Reading fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Chapter 17 of Martha’s Children, and the Walker Report

Posted on June 14, 2013 by Brian Bixby

In “To unburden all my plots and purposes,” chapter 17 of Martha’s Children, Sherlock Kammen finds out more about how Martha and sorcerers may affect his chances to get back on the police force. And for all you women’s libbers, as … Continue reading →

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Chapter 14 of Martha’s Children, the ’45, and the new blog background

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Brian Bixby

In “If Fortune be a woman, she’s a good wench,” chapter 14 of Martha’s Children, we get to meet the woman Sherlock Kammen trusts the most. Yes, she’s dead. No, this is not just some cynical joke of Kammen’s. Ivy … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Martha's Children, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

The false prophet of Leyden, Massachusetts

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Brian Bixby

My recent post on cities reminded me of a curious story from the town of Leyden, Massachusetts. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (for that is the official name of this state, a peculiarity shared with Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Kentucky) is completely … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Part 2 of Martha’s Children begins, and on city boundaries

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Martha’s Children takes a sharp turn as part 2 begins with chapter 13, “He sleeps by day, more than the wildcat.” And like a wildcat, Sherlock Kammen dislikes being bothered, unless it’s for a darned good reason. Being turned into … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Martha's Children, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Spring Witches (a reblog)

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Brian Bixby

I haven’t reblogged someone else’s piece here before, so this is a first. The author, a Salem State University history professor, has a blog in which she offers a wide variety of images to illustrate historical topics. Found out about … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 2 Comments

In pursuit of a history of spiritual shaking

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Brian Bixby

After being sick for a month, I decided to get out of the house and go visit the former site of a Shaker village. Most Americans these days, if they think of the Shakers at all, think of their finely … Continue reading →

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Two birthdays related to magic and Hollywood on April 23

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Brian Bixby

It’s time to celebrate the complexities of America’s Madonna/whore complex about women with the birthdays of Marjorie Cameron (1922-1995) and Sandra Dee (1942-2005). It would be easy to categorize Dee as the Madonna and Cameron as the whore. But things … Continue reading →

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Tragedy and uncertainty in Boston

Posted on April 15, 2013 by Brian Bixby

This is a blog about mysteries and magic. Well, today we have had a real-life mystery unfold through the magic of explosives technology: the multiple bombings at the Boston Marathon, just across the river. As death tolls from explosions go, … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments