Bloody Birthday Greetings

It's novelist Cormac McCarthy's birthday today. McCarthy is the author of numerous books, including All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plains. But my favorite is Blood Meridian, McCarthy's black magic Western incantation to the beast in man. Here's a quote from Mr. McCarthy:

"There's no such thing as life without bloodshed. I think the notion that the species can be improved in some way, that everyone could live in harmony, is a really dangerous idea. Those who are afflicted with this notion are the first ones to give up their souls, their freedom. Your desire that it be that way will enslave you and make your life vacuous."

Amen.

Mild Devotion to Majesty

The new Polyphonic Spree CD, Together We're Heavy, came out today in North America and it is indeed a fucking masterpiece. Go now, brothers and sisters! Go now and partake of this wonderful, beautiful, cosmic soundscape before it's too late. The End is nigh and you must enjoy these sounds while you still can! It's dark here in Nightmare Town, so you gotta receive salvation where and when you can!

Ramsey Campbell

It's sad to think that there are some people in the world who have never had the, eh . . . pleasure . . . of reading a Ramsey Campbell novel or short story. In all seriousness, he is probably the greatest living practitioner of the modern horror tale. Campbell is prolific, so you should choose wisely when first approaching him. For novels, start with either Nazareth Hill (1997), The Darkest Part of the Woods (2002), The Doll Who Ate His Mother (1975), or the truly harrowing The Face that Must Die (Scream/Press edition, 1983). For short stories, a good place to start is with the splendid Arkham House anthology, Alone with the Horrors (1993).

Here's a link to a pretty good interview with Mr. Campbell on the Suicide Girls web site:

http://suicidegirls.com/words/Ramsey+Campbell/

And while you're there, don't forget to check out Quinne, Jenna, Seraphim, Danielle, Adora, or any of the other lovely girls who make life a little more interesting!

R.I.P. Part Two

Marlon Brando died today at the age of 80. If you knew Brando only for his intermittent film work during the 1980s and 1990s, then you haven't had the pleasure of witnessing a truly great actor at work. His body of work will live on, no doubt continuing to fascinate, frustrate, and ultimately serve as a template for what acting can achieve.

Check out the following links for more info:

http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1252926,00.html

http://film.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,12589,1252894,00.html

http://film.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,8544,1252898,00.html

R.I.P.

One of the last of the original pulp writers, Hugh B. Cave, died on June 27th at the age of 93. Although he wrote in various genres, he's arguably best known for his horror short stories "Stragella", "The Brotherhood of Blood", and "Murgunstruum". In 1991, Cave received the Life-Achievement Bram Stoker Award.

Check out the link for more info:

http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/story.jsp?story=536546