I have some thoughts about the movie “Minions”. Be afraid. Be Very Afraid. I recently re-watched the film “Minions“. And as much as I enjoyed it – some things bug me about it. In fact, it contradicts the earlier films, and not just in a small way, but in a few big ways. And that’s […]
The Quick Brown Fox
The paper jutted halfway out of the typewriter, four words black in the moon light: THE QUICK BROWN FOX At least this time, Daniel thought, he had managed four of his own words. He sat there, in the gloom, looking at it. The sleek grey metal body looked darker in the moonlight, and the white […]
Behind The Scenes: Penny Drops
This is the “Behind the Scenes” post for this week’s story, “Penny Drops”, which you can read here if you haven’t already This one didn’t really come together in the same way as the others. Penny’s a character that I’ve had in my mind for quite a while, although I’ve never had a surname for […]
Penny Drops
It was near closing time in the castle. If they weren’t the last visitors, they at least weren’t far off. Penny was standing at the wall, looking out of one of the small cross-shaped windows. She’d had enough of imagining herself as a twelfth-century archer, and was now simply savouring the warm afterglow of Earl […]
Behind The Scenes: The Onyx Ring
I’ve wanted to bring back Munro ever since the story “Elkwood”. (I also want to take the story Elkwood and rewrite it a bit, but that’s another story.) I had the name first and then wondered what would be special about this ring, and what it would do. Of course, it was evil, naturally. I […]
The Onyx Ring
“Don’t move, and you won’t get hurt.” The sawn-off barrel of the shotgun waves an inch from the bald man’s face. “I’m sure we can come to some arrangement,” he says, smiling. “Just give me the money,” the man shouts. “I just want the money.” “How much money do you want?” the bald man asks. […]
Behind The Scenes: Next Time, Be More Careful
The idea of a were-man – a wolf that turns into a human at the full moon – came to me some time on Monday, but I couldn’t work out exactly how to make it work. Rebeca suggested the answer one day while we were out walking the dogs, that I tell it from the […]
Next Time, Be More Careful
The moon is full; I can feel it. I can feel the change in my legs, feel the skin ripping and tearing, the transformation beginning. The pain is almost unbearable for a few minutes as my legs change shape, my chest changes, the hair changes. My family won’t recognise me any more. Even my thoughts […]
Behind The Scenes: The March Society
First off, I have no real idea what inspired me to call this one “The March Society”. The idea that a music journalist wouldn’t see the name and immediately think of John Philip Souza and other purveyors of vaguely military-style pieces in two-four time is nonsense. Second, the idea that someone who was opera mad […]