“Science Fiction of the 20th Century: An Illustrated History” by Frank M. Robinson (Collector’s Press, 1999)

Take a trip down memory lane of the science fiction world, back to the early twentieth century when the genre was just beginning.  See beautiful, full-color photographs of the many magazine covers and anthology covers that have made the science fiction genre so popular.  With Frank M. Robinson’s words, you will be whisked away in a literal time-machine, and receive an in-depth history lesson on the developments of science fiction over the decades, from the early magazine stages with Amazing Stories, Wonder Stories and Astounding, to notable magazines of the recent decades: Fantasy and Science Fiction and Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine.

Originally published on April 8th 2002.

Originally published in the Long Beach Union.

“Atlas of the Celtic World” by John Haywood (Thames & Hudson, 2001)

Now if King Arthur had had the Atlas of the Celtic World, he would’ve been well remembered today.  Oh sure, you can get a map or chart to just about anywhere today, but can you get one to the past?  How about the early Middle Ages?  How about the Celtic World, of which so little is known about?  John Haywood has done just that, providing you with maps so clear and precise that you could navigate your way through the green hills of Wales today.  Accompanied by an in-depth history lesson for each map, and fill details on the many little-known cultures of this type, Atlas of the Celtic World takes you on a journey that I am sure you’ve never taken before.

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Originally published on April 1^st 2002.

Originally published in the Long Beach Union.

“The Paper Doorway: Funny Verse and Nothing Worse” by Dean Koontz, Illustrated by Phil Parks (HarperCollins, 2001)

When I heard about The Paper Doorway I thought Dean Koontz had had a midlife crisis or something and decided to start writing children’s books, but apparently this is his second delving into the world of the littleluns, having published another children’s book, Santa’s Twin.  And now he brings us this ditty, wonderfully illustrated by Phil Sparks, as you are taken into a world that has a different dimension on every page, approaching the scary and horrific in places, but then jumping back to the humorous and plain zany!

The Monstrous Broccoli Excuse

You see, I don’t like broccoli.
And broccoli does not like me.
It crawls into my room at night
Giving me a monstrous fright.

It scratches at the closet door,
Slithers-rustles across the floor.
This vegetable terminator
Has escaped the refrigerator.

This isn’t merely in my head.
It is really there under my bed.
Oh, Mom, how can I eat, you see,
A fearsome food that would eat me?

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Originally published on April 1^st 2002.

Originally published in the Long Beach Union.