Tag Archives: History

Fictional religious communities

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 →

Posted in Prophecies and Penalties, Reading fiction, Reviews, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Bad movie night, cinematic history, and “Salem”

Posted on April 29, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 , , , , , | 13 Comments

Alchemists of alchemy: Principe and Jonson

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 , , , , , | 8 Comments

Traveling in imagination to Viking Iceland

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Chapter 4 of Prophecies and Penalties, and charismatic Instruments

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Review: Leigh Eric Schmidt, Heaven’s Bride

Posted on March 3, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Chapter Two of Prophecies and Penalties, and Charlie on the MTA

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Abigail Lane begins her investigation of the Office, 1934

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 →

Posted in Dragon Lady, Writing fiction | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Abigail Lane: a biography

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Brian Bixby

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 , , , , , | 11 Comments

Closing out the year on the Sillyverse blog

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Brian Bixby

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 →

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