Patrick Nielsen Hayden with more thoughts on Disch: I certainly read him; his SF novels of the 1960s and 70s, particularly Camp Concentration and 334, had an enormous impact on me. But “least read” may be true: according to publishing legend, his SF masterpiece On Wings of Song had a 90% return rate in its… Continue reading

Joseph Bottum: Now we’re talking! In fact, the distinction seems simple enough: Vibrant cultures want something; exhausted cultures don’t. And what do we actually want, today? For a thought experiment, imagine hearing this on tomorrow evening’s new shows: The Vatican announced today that it will soon begin colonizing the planet Mars. Many parts of the… Continue reading

Two Steps Forward…One Step Back Dept.NRO has over the past year improved its science coverage with articles by Jim Manzi backing up John Derbyshire when it comes to evolution, and suggesting conservatives need to be more science literate. Unfortunately, apparently following the “equal time” bullshit approach that NRO would rightfully chortle at when it comes… Continue reading

Joseph Bottum, on the sad news that novelist Thomas M. Disch is dead: Endlessly talented, Tom was always a difficult character, with strange edges and an awkward, unbalanced and finally unbearably sad life. His friend and mentor, the science-fiction writer Philip K. Dick, once turned him into the FBI as a communist spy. He wasn’t,… Continue reading

Fifty Years ago….I actually missed the date: May 8, 1958, when Hammer’s classic version of Dracula was released in the US (as Horror of Dracula). The film made Christopher Lee a star overnight. (It almost type-cast him to death as well.) But the effect it had on cinema is hard to appreciate now. Martin Scorcese… Continue reading