Tag Archives: Magic

The end of the Knights Templar, 1314

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Today marks the 699th anniversary of one of the major steps in the destruction of the Knights Templar: the burning of the last Grand Master, Jacques de Molay, as a relapsed heretic. It was one of the last acts in … Continue reading →

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Chapter 4 of Martha’s Children, and looking for models in detective fiction

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Brian Bixby

“Of kings and rippers,” chapter four of Martha’s Children, is now available. Think Martha’s the worst thing that could have happened to Ned? Ned thinks so. And then he finds out he’s wrong. If you’re not reading the story, you can … Continue reading →

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Chapter 3 of Martha’s Children, and the evolution of monsters

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Brian Bixby

“Vampire Evolution,” the third chapter of Martha’s Children, my current serial, is now up. While bound in his coffin, Ned makes a friend. But in the topsy-turvey world of being a vampire, he soon regrets it. Yes, I’m posting the chapter … Continue reading →

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Another birthday – Pamela Colman Smith

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Brian Bixby

I couldn’t let this day go by without saying a word about Pamela Colman Smith (February 16, 1878 – September 18, 1951), because she was connected to two topics on this blog: the occult and horror fiction. Pamela had an … Continue reading →

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Chekhov’s gun control: Lessons in writing, part 3

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Brian Bixby

In discussing writing with some other bloggers, we have recently been mentioning “Chekhov’s gun.” This is a rule cited by Russian author Anton Chekhov that if you include a gun in a story (Chekhov referred to a play), someone ought … Continue reading →

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Stories as constellations: Lessons in writing, part 2

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Some people will tell you it’s characters that drive a story, others that it’s plot. A few will even claim it’s ideas. Truth is that it’s none of these. It’s connections. Your story is made up of how you connect … Continue reading →

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Panzers and plodders: Lessons in writing, part 1

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Brian Bixby

They’re the two types of writers. Didn’t know that? Neither did I. Found this out when I was at Arisia, the Boston sci-fi/fantasy convention in January. You see, my hearing, like James Thurber’s eyesight, sometimes plays tricks on me. I … Continue reading →

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Chapter 23, the end of “The Dragon Lady of Stockbridge”

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Chapter 23, “‘ . . . but what we are becoming.’,” concludes The Dragon Lady of Stockbridge: A Tale of Magic in the Gilded Age. What has happened to Rebecca’s body? And what is Abigail going to do about it? It’s … Continue reading →

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Chapter 22 of Dragon Lady, and my patron saint of digressions

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Brian Bixby

“Solomon Davis takes charge,” chapter 22 of The Dragon Lady of Stockbridge, is now available. The future leader of the Office of Occult Affairs arrived on the scene too late to prevent the holocaust in the previous chapter. What’s left for … Continue reading →

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The climax of “The Dragon Lady of Stockbridge”

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Brian Bixby

Chapter 21, “‘It is not what we have lost . . .’” is now available. There’s no point in saying anything more about it, or gussying up this post with pictures. (If you’ve not read any of the story before, … Continue reading →

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