MOUNTAINS, SEAS AND GIANTS aka BERGE MEERE UND GIGANTEN (1924) – Written by Alfred Döblin, later famous for the novel Berlin Alexanderplatz. A 2021 translation of the book uses the title Mountains Oceans Giants: A Novel of the 27th Century.
I wanted to make sure I made my blog post about this work during its Centennial year and I’m squeezing it in with a little time to spare. Berge Meere und Giganten is quite a piece of work, ranging as it does from standard Future History themes to dystopian settings and ultimately an Earth ravaged by wild and grotesque abominations of nature unleashed by reckless experimentation and terraforming.
The novel is almost Dune-like in its environmental concerns and its epic scope, in this case from shortly after World War One to the 2600s AD. Given Döblin’s experimental use of language I would have loved to read a review by James Joyce if he had ever read this novel.
Berge Meere und Giganten is broken down into nine main sections: Continue reading
It is such a waste that so few installments of National Educational Television Playhouse are available despite video copies still being in their archives. For six years, N.E.T. Playhouse offered up some of the most interesting, profound and innovative productions from around the world. That 1966-1972 run puts what passes for educational television today to shame. 
HAMILE (January 15th, 1970) – A Ghanaian adaptation of Hamlet written by that nation’s Joe C. De Graft and performed by actors from the National Theatre of Ghana. 
YESTERDAY THE CHILDREN WERE DANCING (February 26th, 1970) – A 90-minute CBC drama about the 1964 terrorist attacks in Canada launched by Quebec Separatists and plans for further attacks during the federal elections. 
KNOCKING OFF NUMBER ONE – For the THIRD week in a row the number one team in NCAA Division Two was upset. The UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI MULES visited the (1) PITTSBURG (KS) STATE GORILLAS. The Mules kicked the Gorillas in the teeth, leading them 24-10 at Halftime before consummating the Upset 37-13. 
“THAT WAS NUMBER FIIIVE!” – Staying in D2 for a moment, the SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM took it on the road against the country’s 5th ranked OUACHITA BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TIGERS. The Tigers led 7-3, 10-6 and 17-9 in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters, respectively. In the 4th, the Crimson Storm toppled OBU 18-17.
NUMBER SEVEN TAKES A FALL – In the NAIA the 12th ranked MIDAMERICA NAZARENE UNIVERSITY PIONEERS welcomed the number 7 team in the nation – the BENEDICTINE COLLEGE RAVENS. A 10-7 Ravens lead in the 1st became a 24-24 tie by the Half. In the 3rd the Pioneers went up 27-24 and an explosive 4th Quarter saw MNU edge BC 48-47. 
THE RED CROSS 
HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM BALLADEER’S BLOG! This year for my October 31st horror post I’m looking at my favorite stories from H.P. Lovecraft’s earliest works by year of publication. 
THE ALCHEMIST – Count Antoine de C- is the last of his family line. Hundreds of years earlier one of his ancestors caused the death of the sorcerer Michel Mauvais. Michel’s sorcerer son Charles cursed the Count’s family so that all male descendants would die shortly after turning 32 years of age. 
THE CAPTAIN AND TENNILLE (1976-1977) – Balladeer’s Blog’s recurring Forgotten Television posts look at the variety show hosted by the musical duo called the Captain and Tennille. The pair were married in real life and their full names were Toni Tennille and Daryl Dragon. Since “Captain Dragon” sounds like a superhero, the recording partners just went by the Captain and Tennille. 
“UNRIVALED” is the name of the brand-new Women’s Basketball league set to tip off in January of 2025. WNBA stars like Napheesa Collier are running the league and some other big-name WNBA players have already been signed. CAITLIN CLARK is being wooed with a fat contract but has not yet committed. 
Balladeer's Blog 