Because I can, a meme about books! 1) What author do you own the most books by? Either Philip K. Dick or Larry Niven, with Ernest Hemingway close behind. 2) What book do you own the most copies of? More than likely, it’s Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Other contenders? TheContinue reading “On a Books & Reading Meme”
Author Archives: Allyn
On The Stalwart Companions
Long time Allynologists know two things. 1) I am a Sherlock Holmes student/fan/scholar. 2) I am a Teddy Roosevelt Republican. Over the weekend, I bought a book that brought the two together — H. Paul Jeffers’ The Stalwart Companions. Originally published in the late-1970s, The Stalwart Companions is an hitherto untold Sherlock Holmes tale thatContinue reading “On The Stalwart Companions”
On Allyn’s “The Eleventh Hour” Thoughts
This isn’t a review of Doctor Who‘s “The Eleventh Hour,” per se, which debuted on BBC1 over the wekeend. I am, honestly, still processing it. Running it in the background, so to speak. What this is, however, is collection of things I’ve written elsewhere, in response to others, about the episode, which serves as aContinue reading “On Allyn’s “The Eleventh Hour” Thoughts”
On Puzzling Reading
I’m reading P.D. James’ The Children of Men. I’ve never read this before — or, if I did, it’s completely unfamiliar to me. I’ve also not seen the movie, though I’ve wanted to; just have never gotten around to it. Haven’t even bought it. But I saw the movie tie-in edition of the novel, withContinue reading “On Puzzling Reading”
On Arthurian Mysteries
Last summer, I wrote and submitted an outline for a Merlin novel, based on the BBC series which begins its second season on SyFy this Friday. As I described it at the time, I had a “barking mad” idea, I wrote it out, and I got the loveliest rejection letter I’ve ever had in allContinue reading “On Arthurian Mysteries”
On Sharpe’s Challenge
Something kept bothering me as I was watching Sharpe’s Challenge; I couldn’t figure out who was playing the General’s daughter. At first, I thought it was Billie Piper, but I knew that wasn’t right. But I knew it was someone I knew from British television. It was Lucy Brown from Primeval who, as a blond,Continue reading “On Sharpe’s Challenge”
On Baseball Movies
Spring is here, the start of a new baseball season is at hand. This year feels auspicious. The Cubs :cubs: are having a solid spring. Who knows what the coming season will hold? Could this be the year? Such is the hope of the Cubs fan. 😉 Instead of ruminating on the coming season, let’sContinue reading “On Baseball Movies”
On Rethinking Some Old Star Trek
Some recent discussion on TrekBBS, specifically about the alternate possibilities Paramount considered for Star Trek: Generations, brought to mind something I wrote a decade ago (!) that reimagined Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s finale, “All Good Things…,” as a multi-generational crossover film event. In other words, what if Rick Berman, Brannon Braga, and Ronald D.Continue reading “On Rethinking Some Old Star Trek”
On Strange Encounters
In general, on my commute, I try to keep to myself. My commute is in two legs — a subway trip into the heart of Baltimore, and then a light rail trip out to Timonium. The subway trip is generally quiet; in the morning it’s professionals on their way into the city, and in theContinue reading “On Strange Encounters”
On Watching Rainfall
For reasons unknown, the train stopped. It was evening, and I was heading home. The day had been dreary — dark clouds, winds, periods of heavy rain followed by mist. Were it not for the overcast skies and the rainfall, the day might’ve been brilliant; temperatures hovered near seventy, even this morning. When the trainContinue reading “On Watching Rainfall”