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Categories
Tag Archives: History
Fictional religious communities
There have been a lot of fictional religious communities. The Children of the New Revelation in my running serial Prophecies and Penalties are hardly the first. So I thought I’d take a look at four examples, two from the 19th century, two … Continue reading
Bad movie night, cinematic history, and “Salem”
We have a tradition in my household of holding “bad movie nights.” These are evening when we bring together a number of friends of humorous (or at least sarcastic) disposition. Once together, and properly provided with food and alcohol, we … Continue reading
Posted in Reviews
Tagged bad movies, cinema, historical films, History, Salem, TV series
13 Comments
Alchemists of alchemy: Principe and Jonson
Everything you know about alchemy is wrong. Well, not everything. Yes, some alchemists tried to discover the Philosophers’ Stone, which could turn base metal into gold and guarantee long life and health. Sort of like going to Vegas. In his … Continue reading
Posted in History, Reading fiction, Reviews
Tagged alchemy, Ben Jonson, History, history of science, Reading, review
8 Comments
Traveling in imagination to Viking Iceland
I’ve recently been reading books on medieval Iceland. It’s a fascinating period in a curious land. The island was settled by Vikings fleeing from the rule of the first major Norwegian king, Harald Finehair (c. 850 – c. 932), or … Continue reading
Posted in History, Reviews
Tagged books, Edda, History, Iceland, literature, Norse mythology, Reading, review, sagas, Snorri Sturluson, Vikings
7 Comments
Chapter 4 of Prophecies and Penalties, and charismatic Instruments
Ethan Knowles may be married to Emily’s former babysitter, but he’s got a history, a history that makes Emily not sure she can trust him. Still, for the moment, he’s the best source she has for what’s going on with … Continue reading
Posted in History, Prophecies and Penalties, Writing fiction
Tagged Amana, charisma, Fiction, History, Max Weber, murder mystery, religion, Writing
9 Comments
Review: Leigh Eric Schmidt, Heaven’s Bride
Seeing that today, March 3, is the anniversary of the passing of the Comstock Act in 1873, I thought it appropriate to review a book about one of the victims of the Comstock Act, Ida C. Craddock (1857-1902). First, a … Continue reading
Posted in History, Reviews
Tagged Anthony Comstock, biography, books, censorship, Comstock Act, History, Ida C. Craddock, Ida Craddock, Reading, review, sex therapist, spiritualism
5 Comments
Chapter Two of Prophecies and Penalties, and Charlie on the MTA
So Emily Fisher is going back to her home town, which she doesn’t want to do, to investigate a murder, something she doesn’t know how to do. Misery may love company, but Emily doesn’t have any on her flight to … Continue reading
Posted in History, Prophecies and Penalties, Writing fiction
Tagged Charlie Card, Charlie on the MTA, Fiction, History, Kingston Trio, murder mystery, Writing
2 Comments
Abigail Lane begins her investigation of the Office, 1934
An extract from the unpublished memoir of Abigail Lane, in response to a reader’s request. This memoir was found in a box in Miss Lane’s house in Connecticut when it was being demolished in 2008. Although I had offered him … Continue reading
Abigail Lane: a biography
As she has appeared in two stories on this blog, here is a brief biography of Abigail Lane, Practicing Magician, Office of Occult Affairs. Abigail Lane was born on November 18, 1851, the only daughter of an impoverished Connecticut cooper, … Continue reading
Posted in Dragon Lady, History, Nightfeather, Writing fiction
Tagged biography, History, Magic, memoir, occult, Writing
11 Comments
Closing out the year on the Sillyverse blog
2013 was a good year for the Sillyverse blog. I wrote, you all replied. So this end of year will sum up what I did, what you did, and what’s to come. What did I do? In 2013, I finished … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Blogging, fantasy, Fiction, History, Magic, Reading, Writing
9 Comments