Not long after posting yesterday’s blog entry announcing next month’s Book of the Month Club selections, I was contacted by writer John Twelve Hawks via a third party. I have to admit that, given the mystery, speculation, and wild internet rumors surrounding the author (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Twelve_Hawks), I was surprised to hear from him. And even more surprised to have him accept my invitation to join us for a Q&A on The Traveler when discussion on the book begins the week of October 27th. Well, his identity may be shrouded in secrecy but, judging from his website and the message he sent me, one thing is clear: JXIIH is an extremely well-informed, intellectually provocative man/woman/automated response unit. He offered up the following link, www.Kiasworld.co.uk as an example of a website inspired by some of the ideas expressed in The Traveler. Along similar lines, you can check out JXIIH’s official website over at: http://www.randomhouse.com/features/johntwelvehawks/. Interesting, no? Pick up The Traveler and prepare for what should be a very interesting discussion.
I also heard back from author David Anthony Durham who kindly agreed to make time for us when his book, Acacia, comes up for discussion the week of Novemer 3rd. The fact that he built his reputation on the strength of his historical novels makes Acacia, his foray into epic fantasy, particularly intriguing. And, just as a side note, the feedback I’ve heard from people who have met and talked with him at his various convention appearances indicate he’s an extremely affable guy. You can check out David’s blog here: http://www.davidanthonydurham.com/blog/
Finally, one of the most celebrated and prolific authors of the horror genre, Brian Lumley, will also be stopping by to field reader questions and queries when his book, Necroscope, comes up for discussion the week of November 10th. For an overview of the author, his work, and updated news, head on over to: http://www.brianlumley.com/. And be sure to check out the Frequently Asked Questions for some interesting reading.
For those of you who may have missed it, the world did not end today as some had feared. To the disappointment of more than a few, our planet was not swallowed up by a black hole when CERN flipped the switch on its Large Hadron Collider. Or, I assume it didn’t because, as my friend Lawren pointed out, we could well have been sucked up and transported to an alternate but near identical universe and we’d be none the wiser. To be honest, I was reminded it was happening today and I momentarily feared the worst when it appeared as though physical objects had begun to pop out of existence – but it turned out I’d simply forgotten my camera and laptop in the trunk of my car. Intrigued by the doomsayers who predicted the galactic apocalypse (not so much their theories but their post-much-ado-about-nothing takes on the big non-event), I did a little research and was disappointed to discover that some have not so much changed their tune as, oh, slightly altered it. Apparently, according to them, the end of days will not be immediate. Some “experts” claim it may take up to four years for Earth to experience the planet-killing repercussions of this most heinous of scientific experiments. Four years! That should put the apocalypse sometime in 2012…which just so happens to be the end of the Ancient Mayan calendar! Coincidence? Maybe. Until you factor in Nostradamus!
Nostradamus was a 16th century astronomer/astrologer whose astonishingly accurate prophecies have astounded septics and skeptics alike. Among his famous fulfilled prophecies:
The blood of the just will be demanded of London,
Burnt by the fire in the year 66
– Predicted the fire of London on September 2, 1666.
Before the war comes,
the great wall will fall,
The King will be executed, his death coming too soon will be lamented.
(The guards) will swim in blood,
Near the River Seine the soil will be bloodied.
– Predicted the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution.
The year 1999 seven month,
From the sky will come a great King of terror:
To bring back to life the great King of Angolmois, (the Mongols),
Before after Mars to reign by good luck
– Predicted the 1999 MTV premiere of the Tom Green Show that launched the career of the execrable comedian.
The Eastern kings shall carry out the Divine Justice.
Turkey shall be devastated.
– Predicted the Boston Red Sox capturing the 2007 NL East pennant and then devastating perennial MLB turkeys The Cleveland Indians enroute to winning the World Series.
And here’s what Nostradamus had to say about what sounds suspiciously like the Hadron Collider:
Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you,
That is how I know you go on
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on
Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you’re here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on
Scary, no?
Today’s pic: Hey, check out the uplifting signage a secret admirer left for us last week.
Today’s video: Let’s continue our tour of the FX Stage with our host, Carl Binder.
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