The Deconstructionist: So It’s Come To This: A Post That Lists Things.

Filed Under The Deconstructionist, The Simpsons, WftEotW, webcomic, Flash Fiction Contest, Dinosaurs, Lists, writer's strike | 4 Comments

Final-Logo

There’s a heck of a lot going on these days, so I’ll do my best to sum it all up:
 
A winner for Flash Fiction Contest Gamma will be announced by Friday. Meanwhile, Flash Fiction Contest Delta is underway, and the topic is ‘Celebrity’, so get writing! Heath Ledger died the same day I posted this topic, so now I feel somehow responsible for death.
 
Our webcomic, ‘Waiting for the End of the World’, will continue as soon as some technical troubles are worked out. So don’t despair, but do go back and read the earlier comics- or re-read them. There’s a lot going on to keep track of!

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The Terror (1963)

Filed Under BBT, Jef Taylor, horror, Jack Nicholson, Roger Corman, Boris Karloff, Eyes pecked out, Phased plasma rifle | 2 Comments

 

 

 

Movie Reviews with BBT Critic Jef Taylor

 

 

 

One of Napoleon’s soldiers, traveling the countryside, becomes entranced by a spectral woman.  He follows her to the looming castle of a crumbling baron.  There he uncovers a mystery containing an old romance, murder, revenge, witchcraft, madness, and shifting identity.  It sounds like a perfect vehicle for a young Jack Nicholson.  Or at least that’s what director Roger Corman thought.

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Info For Our Resident Authors!

Filed Under Writing, Freedom Of Speech, Lord of the Rings | Leave a Comment

Whilst at the Lord of the Rings geek site I inhabit a good portion of the time, I found a thread about a wonderful foundation called The White Tree Fund.  In the words of my friend who is one of the founders:

SILVER LEAVES…From the White Tree of Hope

Who are we?

The White Tree Fund (TWTF) was inspired by a painting done by world-renowned artist Ted Nasmith. This painting, commissioned for the 2004 edition of The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien, was of the White Tree of the Kings of Gondor. In Tolkien’s world of Middle-earth, this White Tree of the Kings represented the hope and healing of a people, and had a long lineage of light and renewal.
Renewal. Healing. Enduring hope. This is the vision of The White Tree Fund – and we are dedicated to upholding the ideals of Middle-earth such as unity, nobility, courage, honour and peace. To this we also add the qualities symbolized by the White Tree of the Kings, renewal, healing and enduring hope. This forms the core of our Fellowship as we follow in the footsteps of the Last Alliance to strengthen the stand against oppression and tyranny, and care for our brothers and sisters in their times of need. In the tradition of the peaceful gardeners of the Shire, we put the spirit of our Earth first and make caring for it and replenishing it our priority. And, lead by the example of the Istari, we aim to help those reaching for knowledge and understanding.
TWTF is an incorporated non-profit and our mandate includes the support of:

• humanitarian and aid programs;
• environmental initiatives; and
• literacy programs assisting children and adults.

Our first edition

Silver Leaves (SL) is the official journal of The White Tree Fund (TWTF). The purpose of SL is to educate, raise awareness, support charitable initiatives, and entertain. SL accepts submissions from established scholars, authors, and artists as well as from those new to the publishing world. While the focus of SL is on TWTF’s mandated humanitarian efforts, particularly those from within the Tolkien community, SL is open to scholarly and creative submissions from other fandoms according to the theme of the up-coming issue.

Each issue may include a range of topics in features such as academic essays, creative writing, and featured artwork; interviews and event reports; artistic spotlights on costuming, weaponry, handmade items, and writing by invited guests; puzzles; humanitarian, community, and volunteer updates; and book and movie reviews. Silver Leaves will be available in printed and electronic formats to members of TWTF and to non-members who purchase subscriptions.

**************************************************************

Many Branches

"There are groves of fandoms out there, each one filled with branches whispering stories, your stories. SL introduces Many Branches , where we’ll capture those stories and tell them throughout the pages of the journal.

The inaugural edition focuses on how you’ve been Inspired by Tolkien.

Tolkien’s work has inspired people to do many things such write, paint, sculpt, help the environment, help others, and even help themselves. Have you been inspired by Tolkien’s work, or by his life? Tell us how!"

Submit your answer to silverleaves@whitetreefund.org** with “Many Branches” in the subject line.

 

Given the fact that a good number of us were weaned on Professor Tolkien’s works, I thought I would link to the site-and it’s publishing opportunity.  Read the guidlines at:  www.whitetreefund.org/journal.htm   I hope you enjoy this as much as I do, and I hope to see some entries from the BBT circle in the second issue!

Have a lovely evening!

~Bonnie/DS Knight

The Evil Resident Book Review, by D. S. Knight

Filed Under BBT Magazine, Zombies, sex, D. S. Knight, DS Knight, Halloween | 1 Comment

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Zombies, Ents and Vulcans, the latest installment of The Evil Resident Book Review!

(Which is late, as always, with this author *winky winky*)

When I took on the task of reading the books Lucien sent me, little did I know I would be getting such quality reading material-er, well, it’s not as if I expected the type of stories we wrote in fifth grade, but I think you catch my drift.  I was uncertain that anything could take me down from the high that the first book gave me, until I picked up Tales of Real and Dream Worlds.  Granted, it’s taken me a while to read it, but that Real Life(TM) stuff tends to get in the way.  I didn’t lose this book in my purse and car this time, but it did get set aside and forgotten now and again.  But, despite all of that, every time I picked it up, I was enthralled with the skill that Mr. Stewart weaves his surreal tales.

The first story, Theater On The Air, is an amusing tale about a family on Halloween night, 1938, and their trials and tribulations due to the reading of The War of the Worlds over the radio.  In a real, down to earth fashion, Mr. Stewart tells, from the family’s point of view, the widespread panic that the story caused, and just how real it actually was. 

I keep trying to think of a modern equivalent in our society that would cause the whole of America to go into the same utter chaos that The War of the Worlds caused in 1938, and the only thing I can come up with, would be the supposed "second coming of Christ."  Not the "Nostradamus says" sort of coming, but someone reading a realistic story of Christ’s return on the air and having the whole country erupt into mass mayhem.  This is what Mr. Stewart captures in Theater On the Air, and it’s wonderful. 

There are, of course, other stories in this book, and all of them are fantastic.  The Statuary Cats, Silence of the Statuary Cats and Kittens of the Statuary Cats, all chronicle a species of creature unkown to man and science that can, as described in the stories, "ossify" and "de-ossify" itself from living flesh to stone at will.  The Jingle, my personal favorite of the bunch, explores the human capacity to have a certain song or melody stuck in the head, but to the extreme that it causes mental illness.  Really, I could go on, but I do not want to give away too much about the book; and, as I said before, all the stories in this debut novel are worth the twelve dollars you pay-and more.  I must congratulate Mr. Stewart on a fantastic first novel, and I look forward to his next work with baited breath.  ~D. S. Knight

P.S.  I also congratulate Natalie L. Sin, the winner of Contest Beta, as she is the lucky recipient of the copy of Tales of Real and Dream Worlds reviewed today!  (And it’s signed too!)

P.P.S.  Look out for my next review, The Zen of Zombie: Better Living Through the Undead-which I have offered up as the prize for Contest Delta!

FFCGamma Ends- FFCDelta Begins!

Filed Under BBT Magazine | 1 Comment

So BBT’s third Flash Fiction Contest comes to a close! We received 5 excellent entries (read them all here), which can only mean that it’s time for a new contest and a new topic.

Flash Fiction Contest Delta starts now and will end on March 21st. The topic is ‘Celebrity’ so set your muses on ‘fame’ and get writing! We need 1,000 words or less, in the sci-fi- fantasy or horror genres, with a clearly satirical bent. Winners will get something nice from us. Read the entire guidelines here.

Thank you and good luck,

–G

 

FFCGamma: The Death of Fables (pt 1) by Adam “Bucho” Rodenberger

Filed Under Fiction, FFC1stplace, FFCGamma | 2 Comments

 We had been patrolling for days with orders to kill on sight. Easter eggs were turning up poisoned everywhere across the city and by the ornate designs on all the suspect eggs, we knew it was the real deal. The bunny had finally retaliated and was taking out a slow revenge on people everywhere. It wasn’t even Easter, but the eggs were showing up on people’s doorsteps like a pre-emptive death gift to beat the rush of the holidays.
 
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