Lawrence C. Connolly

Author: Lawrence C. Connolly

  • Frankenstein, Karloff, and Spike the Mutant

    “I was euphoric in June. Look where we are now.” So begins a new essay in the New York Times that considers how the summer we hoped for got preempted by Covid-Delta. That’s the thing with monsters. You can never be sure they’re gone for good. Cartoon by Dana Summers, Copyright 2021 Tribune Content Agency,…

  • Splash Music:
    What are the shortest songs ever recorded?

    Two of the more popular posts featured on this website deal with flash fiction. That is according to Google Analytics, which shows Putting the Flash in Fiction and The Shortest Flashes Ever Written continue to garner clicks years after being posted. Such interest in ultra-short stories has me pondering their musical equivalents … and contemplating…

  • Like a Preternatural Flash:
    New Music from Craig Spector

    Back in the early days of the pandemic, when the world was hunkering down for a year of cautious isolation, I posted a piece titled “Music to Span the Social Distance.” In it, I recommended finding respite from the bleak news of the day by seeking out tracks by some of my favorite musicians –…

  • Sandra Becerril’s Nightmares:
    First US Edition Coming this Fall

    Thanks to streaming services, it’s never been easier to catch shows from around the world. In the past week, I’ve watched episodes of Lupin (France), 30 Coins (Spain), Babylon Berlin (Germany), and Kingdom (South Korea). I’ve also noticed that many of the best children’s cartoons on Netflix are dubbed imports. Books, unfortunately, are another matter.…

  • New From Borderlands Press:
    Past Masters of Horror and Dark Fantasy

    Scholars, critics, and even psychologists have long touted the therapeutic benefits of vicarious horror. See, for example Why Do We Like Watching Scary Films? (from Psychology Today) or my previous post Horror Films are Good for You. And of course, there were the ancient Greeks, who some 7,000 years ago recognized the importance of purging…

  • Craic at the Fright Pub:
    Remembering the Premiere of Creepshow

    Stephen King and Peter Straub read from The Talisman at the World Fantasy Convention in New Haven, Connecticut, October 1982. Photo:The 21st Century Scop The first rule of Fright Pub is you must listen to Fright Pub. And the second rule of Fright Pub is bring something to drink. That’s because, at this horror-movie podcast,…