Tag Archives: Balladeer’s Blog

COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM OCTOBER 17th

Dickinson State Blue Hawks helmet NEWNUMBER FOURTEEN ROLLS – The number 14 team in the nation – the DICKINSON STATE BLUE HAWKS – took it on the road against the DAKOTA STATE TROJANS. The 1st Half ended with the Blue Hawks on top by a mere 14-9 but after the break Dickinson State made their move. In the end the Blue Hawks won out 31-14.

Frostburg State BobcatsBOBCAT STADIUM BLOWOUT – Last night the FROSTBURG STATE BOBCATS welcomed the UNIVERSITY OF CHARLESTON GOLDEN EAGLES. The Bobcats were less than gracious hosts, leading the Golden Eagles 28-0 by Halftime on their way to a 42-7 demolition of their opponents.

Point University good helmetROAD WARRIORS – The POINT UNIVERSITY SKYHAWKS won a 35-10 affair at the CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY EAGLES   ###   Meanwhile the VALLEY CITY STATE VIKINGS smacked around their hosts the PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAINTS 35-7   ###   And the WALDORF COLLEGE WARRIORS utterly annihilated the MAYVILLE STATE COMETS to the tune of SIXTY-THREE to NOTHING. Continue reading →

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THE GHOST GARDEN (1918): HALLOWEEN NOVEL

Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long celebration of Halloween continues.

Ghost GardenTHE GHOST GARDEN (1918) – Written by female author Amelie Rives. This story starts out in Colonial Virginia. Melany Horsemanden was almost legendary for her beauty but also for her mean-spirited nature and casual cruelty.

She had an elaborate dream-mansion constructed for herself and named it Her Wish. True love comes Melany’s way but her selfish and outrightly villainous nature drives away the only man who truly loved her, not just her wealth and beauty.

Horsemanden dies young and her ghost haunts the mansion for years. Eventually Evan Radford, a wealthy northern man, shows up and is so intrigued by the history of the deserted mansion Her Wish that he explores the grounds. Continue reading →

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MAD MAX (1979)

Mad MaxMAD MAX (1979) – Balladeer’s Blog’s “Weirdness at the End of the World” takes a look at one of the best movies in the best franchise in the crowded Post-Apocalypse sub-genre.

I recently re-watched this 1979 gem in the full 93 minute Aussie “language” version. Using the sub-titles to make sure I missed nothing from the heavy accents, I was struck once again by how part of the post-apocalyptic atmosphere is filled in via the full text of what the Main Force Patrol radio operators are saying AND by the news reports. Outside of those brief touches Mad Max perfectly embodies the cinematic principle of “show don’t tell.”  

In a dying world after a limited nuclear war over oil between world powers, Mad Max is set in a few Australian towns which escaped destruction presumably because they were safely away from strategic sites targeted by missiles. Supplies are tight and citizens are warned not to abuse their food rationing privileges.

Law and order have become very tenuous concepts amid this spreading societal collapse. There is no evidence of anyone except local authorities being in charge, including their law enforcement arm, the Main Force Patrol (MFP) which includes Max Rockatansky, brought to life by Mel Gibson. 

Mad Max BThough in real life this sense of no larger government having control may have been a function of the film’s low budget, I find it adds nicely to the uncertain atmosphere. In just a few years the American telefilm The Day After would come close to presenting that same air of confusion about the new state of affairs following a catastrophic war.

Who’s in charge? And who – if anyone – won? Like the opening song One of the Living in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome would later remind us, a very old saying pointed out that following a nuclear war the living would envy the dead.

Getting back to the Main Force Patrol, their “uniform” is the all-black outfit with thigh holsters for their shotguns that became Mad Max’s signature look. Their bronze badges are why the lawless element derisively refers to them as “the bronze.” Continue reading →

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THE CENTENARIAN (1822): GOTHIC HORROR

CentenarianTHE CENTENARIAN (1822) – Written by THE Honore de Balzac. Thirty-one days of Halloween continue here at Balladeer’s Blog! The Centenarian or The Two Beringhelds was one of the “quickie” novels that Balzac wrote in his early career, this one under the pseudonym Horace de Saint-Aubin.  

Balzac himself looked down on The Centenarian and other early works that he churned out for quick money like the Pulp writers of a century later. Still, this work has value, just like the early Pulp stories from writers like Tennessee Williams, Dashiell Hammett and others. Plus I’m a Napoleon geek so I love immersing myself in the time period in which the novel is set.

The title character is really Count Maxime Beringheld Sculdans. The Centenarian was born in 1470 and led an adventurous life, supposedly even serving as a ship’s doctor when Columbus visited the New World. During his wanderings across the globe Count Maxime studied all the medicine and related sciences that he could.

Under the Rosicrucians the Centenarian learned various secrets of alchemy, including universal healing powers and immortality. Those last two secrets often worked hand in hand: Maxime would use his powers to mystically withdraw the illness or injury out of a sufferer but his “fee” was the draining of the life essence of another person in return. 

Honore de BalzacThe Centenarian leeches out the vitality of his victims but NOT by sucking out blood like a vampire. He drains their life force via alchemical means with his “medical” equipment. By the time of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, Count Maxime has grown a bit weary of his eternal life in typical Gothic style.  

In recent centuries our title character has devoted himself to secretly watching over his family line, mysteriously saving their lives or killing off their enemies at crucial periods. The Centenarian has most recently intervened in Spain during the Wars of the French Revolution, saving the life of his descendant General Tullius Beringheld.

Intrigued, Tullius seeks out information on his enigmatic savior and eventually learns the Centenarian’s true identity and about his supernatural nature. By this point (the 1790s) Maxime’s body is misshapen. His arms are emaciated but his torso and legs are thick and muscular.

He is unusually tall but the skin on his head is so thin that his  scalp and facial features resemble a living skull. He smells of the grave but his powers of healing make others treat him with fear and respect despite the awful fee he demands.  

The Centenarian’s additional powers include immunity to hanging and other forms of mortal injury. He has superhuman strength and his fiery eyes can induce fear, paralysis or death. He can read minds and teleport as well.   Continue reading →

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS FROM BALLADEER’S BLOG

Per the Glitternight Index:

Ottawa (AZ) SpiritNCCAA  1. OTTAWA UNIVERSITY (AZ) SPIRIT    ###     2. CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS    ###     3. GREENVILLE COLLEGE PANTHERS    ###     4. GENEVA COLLEGE GOLDEN TORNADOES    ###     Continue reading →

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THE WIZARD OF THE MOUNTAIN (1867): HALLOWEEN STORY

Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long celebration of Halloween continues!

wizard of the mountainTHE WIZARD OF THE MOUNTAIN (1867) – Written by William Gilbert, father of THE W.S. Gilbert.

This book centers around the wizard Innominato (“Nameless One”) in Italy during the 1200s. Though sometimes classed as a novel this is technically a collection of episodes or short stories centering around the customers of the Innominato.

These figures pay the feared wizard for his services but dark twists often befall the customers anthology show style. Here are the individual episodes:

THE DOCTOR ONOFRIO – An evil lawyer (the doctor of the title, as in juris doctorate) wants the Innominato to magically grant him wealth and a restoration of his youth. The wizard agrees but warns the lawyer to change his ways. If he doesn’t, every malevolent act he commits will age him. The vile man’s behavior quickly ages him to death.

THE LAST LORDS OF GARDONAL – A sleazy nobleman lusts after a beautiful peasant girl but in his feverish pursuit accidentally kills her. He wants the wizard to bring the girl back to life. The Innominato does … but she turns out to be a vampire.

THE ROBBER CHIEF – A bandit comes into conflict with our sorcerer. The magician serves up a very cold revenge that goes beyond the grave. After he is killed the dead outlaw’s ghost is mystically condemned to haunt a palace until he has done sufficient penance for all of his evil acts in life.   Continue reading →

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL RESULTS FROM OCTOBER 12th

HEADLINES

Missouri S&T Miners helmetDIVISION TWO OVER DIVISION ONE – The NCAA Division Two’s MISSOURI S&T MINERS traveled to face Division One’s TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Miners were on top 10-7 in the 1st Quarter but by Halftime the Tigers tied things up at 17-17. The 3rd Quarter ended with Missouri S&T ahead 23-17 before they held on to win the game 23-20.

St Francis (IN)NUMBER FOUR FALLS – Over in the NAIA the 8th ranked UNIVERSITY OF SAINT FRANCIS (IN) COUGARS welcomed the number 4 team in the nation – the CONCORDIA (MI) CARDINALS. With the score knotted at 27-27 late in the 4th Quarter, the Cardinals attempted a game-winning Field Goal only to see it blocked by the Cougars and returned for a Touchdown. USF won this “Miracle at Mirror Lake” 34-27.

Kansas Wesleyan helmet NEWNINETY – Two teams hung 90 points on their opponents AND shut them out yesterday: The NAIA’s KANSAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY COYOTES absolutely eviscerated their guests the UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY SPIRES 90-0    ###   And in NCAA Division Three the JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY BLUE STREAKS won 90-0 at the CAPITAL CRUSADERS.  Continue reading →

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KILLRAVEN ELEVEN: THE DEATH MERCHANT OF CHICAGO

FOR PART ONE OF BALLADEER’S BLOG’S EXAMINATION OF THIS OLD, OLD MARVEL COMICS STORYLINE CLICK HERE  The revisions I would make are scattered throughout the synopsis below.

Killraven 11AMAZING ADVENTURES Vol 2 #28 (January 1975)

Title: The Death Merchant of Chicago

Synopsis: This issue starts off with a splash page featuring narration which nicely captures the charisma and warrior majesty of Killraven, leader of a group of Freemen rebelling against Earth’s alien conquerors (Martians in the original War of the Worlds comic book but Zetans in my revisions).

We get a reference to his years as a gladiator in the arena circuit set up in a bread and circuses manner by the Martians/ Zetans and the ruling class of human quislings who help them subjugate humanity. We also get a reminder that he is the focal point of the ongoing war, a reference to Killraven’s possession of The Power (a pre-Star Wars variation of The Force) which he is still struggling to master.

The story picks up in early April of 2019 (lol) but you can just picture it as 44 years in the future, as it would have been to readers in 1975. The Freemen and their new member Volcana Ash have traveled from last issue’s Milwaukee battleground with the Death Breeders to the ruins of Meig’s Airfield outside Chicago.

Killraven and his Freemen have been using the place as an observation post to prepare for their assault on the futuristic, skyscraper-tall alien fortress called Death-Birth. Last time around we learned that it is a Martian/ Zetan stronghold built by human slave labor as a combined military post and breeding station for human beings, since the aliens feed on humans like cattle.   Continue reading →

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HELLRAISER: THE FOUR BEST FILMS

Halloween Month continues here at Balladeer’s Blog with my take on the top four (of ten) movies in the Hellraiser franchise. 

HellraiserHELLRAISER (1987) – “Jee-zuz WEPT!” Clive Barker helped translate his novel The Hellbound Heart to the big screen in this film. It’s incredibly rare for a novelist to get to DIRECT a movie version of one of his own works but Barker made the most of it.

Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) has exhausted sexual sensation with women, men, corpses and animals. Seeking new stimulation he solves LeMerchand’s Puzzle Box, a “Rubik’s Cube From Hell” which leaves him at the mercy of the demonic inter-dimensional sadomasochists called the Cenobites of the Order of the Gash. 

Suffering unimaginable torments as the M in this S&M relationship, Frank struggles to escape the Cenobites for good, even if it means sacrificing his brother Larry plus Larry’s wife Julia (Clare Higgins) and daughter Kirsty (Ashley Laurence). Continue reading →

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MUMMY STORY FOR HALLOWEEN – IRAS: A MYSTERY (1896)

Balladeer’s Blog’s month-long celebration of Halloween continues with this vintage mummy tale.

Iras A MysteryIRAS: A MYSTERY (1896) – This story was written by female author Henrietta Dorothy Everett under the pseudonym Theo Douglas. The setting is the 1880s.

Our main character, Egyptologist Ralph Lavenham, becomes haunted by Savak, an evil priest whose spirit was unleashed during a séance Lavenham attended. The spirit of this ancient Egyptian continues harassing our hero until he pieces together the fact that the ghost has an interest in a mummy that the Egyptologist owns. Continue reading →

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