Recommended reading - Phiction: Tales from the World of Phantasm (2024):

Phiction:
Tales from the World of Phantasm

By Don Coscarelli.

Illustrated by Aaron Lea.

Foreward by Joe R. Lansdale.

Paperback.

Published by Molotov Press.

Published 2024.

ASIN: B0D2QZ3MQK

ISBN-13: 979-8988243038

Description:

“Electrifyingly tense and gruesome… Horror fans and cult devotees of the classic horror series will find Coscarelli’s ingenuity a rare treat.” - Kirkus Reviews.

“It’s magnificent. An impressive collection of remarkable short-story horror fiction that I can proudly display on my bookshelf next to Poe, King, Dahl, Barker, Bradbury, and Lovecraft.” - Nick DiGilio, WGN Chicago.

In 1979, filmmaker Don Coscarelli (Bubba Ho-tep, The Beastmaster) wrote and directed what became one of the seminal sci-fi/horror films of that era, Phantasm. The film was a worldwide theatrical success and spawned four

acclaimed sequels.

For the first time in the history of horror cinema, a celebrated filmmaker of a cult-classic horror film series has continued the adventure by swapping mediums and personally authoring a series of fictional works exploring in detail the characters he originally created. Coscarelli has now returned to the world of Phantasm to tell more tales of these inspiring phantasmic heroes.

PHICTION comprises six stories set in the expansive Phantasm world that have never been told before:

In Life and Death in the 'Nam we explore the origin story of our favorite ice cream vendor/hero Reggie and his first encounter with the supernatural forces of evil in the jungles of the Vietnam war. It's a two-fisted tale of a young man enduring the horrors of war and at the same time facing down the horrors of the unknown.

In Behind the Mortuary Door we learn the secrets of the embalming trade from one of the most memorable characters from the original film.

In He Was Home Alone we revisit the young boy Tim, prior to the events from Phantasm Ill, and how, using only his wits and guile, he survives against unspeakable horrors.

In Tobe we follow the trail of one of Phantasm's forgotten characters as he witnesses the key events of that film from an entirely different perspective.

In The Rocky Road we track the events of one of the Phantasm saga's fan-favorite characters, the nunchuck-wielding Rocky as she's mustered out of the armed services and travels the backroads of the rural South in the early 90's. In a desperate search to find her family she encounters love, vengeance and horror, frequently reacting in the only way she knows how, with her fists and her feet.

And finally in Escape From New York we join another Phantasm fan-favorite character, the diminutive Chunk from Phantasm Ravager as he attempts to flee his home in the big city from the horror of an oncoming apocalypse. Along the way he bonds with some unexpected allies on a thrilling quest for survival.

In association with illustrator Aaron Lea (GHOST, Rob Zombie), Molotov Press now presents Phiction: Tales from the World of Phantasm.

Tales from the world of Phantasm.

Phiction conuures six stunning new tales from the world of the classic Phantasm film franchise. Acclaimed filmmaker, series creator and Master of Horror, Don Coscarelli, returns the reader to Morningside Mortuary with revelatory origin stories for some of the Phantasm saga’s most compelling characters including ice cream vendor/action hero Reggie, fan-favorite Rocky from Phantasm III and Chunk from Phantasm: Ravager.

Six Stories from the master of horror.

“You are in for a treat. As with the [Phantasm] films, these stories will give you what people call chicken skin, and others call Goosebumps. What [Phiction] will do above all else, is entertain. Dive in. The dark waters are fines.” – Joe R. Lansdale (best-selling author of Hap & Leonard, Cold in July and Bubba Ho-tep).

On this day in music history - Yesterwynde, by Nightwish (2024):

Yesterwynde

Album by Nightwish,

released September 20, 2024.

Track list:

Yesterwynde; An Ocean of Strange Islands; The Antikythera Mechanism; The Day of; Perfume of the Timeless; Sway; The Children of 'Ata; Something Whispered Follow Me; Spider Silk; Hiraeth; The Weave; Lanternlight.

On this day in movie history - Heretic (2024):

Heretic

directed and written by Scott Beck, Bryan Woods,

released at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on September 8, 2024.

Music by Chris Bacon.

Cast:

Hugh Grant, Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, Topher Grace, Elle Young, Julie Lynn Mortensen, Haylie Hansen, Elle McKinnon, Hanna Huffman, Anesha Bailey, Miguel Castillo, Stephanie Lavigne, Wendy Gorling, Carolyn Adair, River Codack.

On this day in movie history - The Fire Inside (2024):

The Fire Inside

directed by Michael Noer,

written by Barry Jenkins,

released at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on September 7, 2024.

Music by Tamar-kali.

Cast:

Ryan Destiny, Jazmin Headley, Kylee D. Allen, Brian Tyree Henry, De'Adre Aziza, Chrystian Buddington, Maurice Wayne Anglin, Teanna Weir, Idrissa Sanogo Bamba, Taytem Douglas, Olunike Adeliyi, Adam Clark, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Nendia Lewars, Sekhai Jayden Smith, Chidubem Rafael Echendu, Sarah Allen, Lanette Ware, Jason Weinberg, Richard Lewis, Chiamaka Glory, Bobby Daniels, Michael Brown, Tyrone Benskin, Tiandria Taylor, Marium Carvell, Jamillah Ross, Amanda Barker, Ivan Daniel Ossa, Kenya Salmon, John Kalbhenn, Jessica Grossi, Dorian Ouaton, Patrick Dussault, Cynthia Zhou, Charlene Wong, Tabitha Tao, Jennifer Huggins, Zak Farion, Ruth Tinker, Matthew Gorman, Matt Standish, Laura Vincent, Donovan Boucher, Neil Crone, Mark Simmons, Myrthin Stagg, James Finlay Fraser, Natasha Spence, Jordan A.K. Brown, Allen Adepoju, Jasmine Jones-Ball, Daniel Jordan Anthony, Nicole Drury, Christine Cleary, Laura Vuculescu, Melissa Karagianis, Amara-Grace Boyce, Za'Niyah-Rose Kirston-Reeves, Selina An, Jim Carey, J. Timothy Hunt, Jack Nguyen, Shubei Zheng.

On this day in music history - I Am Rachel Platten, by Rachel Platten (2024):

I Am Rachel Platten

Album by Rachel Platten,
released September 3, 2024.

Track list:

I Know; First Day; Slow December; The River; Bad Thoughts; Mercy; Surrendering; I Don't Really Care (Set Me Free); Girls; Gimme Something; Need You; Caroline (feat. Michael Bolton).

On this day in movie history - Slingshot (2024):

Slingshot

directed by Mikael Håfström,

written by R. Scott Adams and Nathan Parker,

released in the United States on August 30, 2024.
Music by Steffen Thum.

Cast:

Casey Affleck, Laurence Fishburne, Emily Beecham, Tomer Capone, David Morrissey, Charlotta Lövgren, Mark Ebulué, Nikolett Barabas, Ágota Dunai, Nahna James, Ferenc Iván Szabó, Harry Szovik.

Recommended reading - The Backyard Beekeeper (2024):

The Backyard Beekeeper

An Absolute Beginner's Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden

By Kim Flottum.

Revised and Updated.

Published 2024.
5th Edition.

ISBN-10: 0760385823
ISBN-13: 978-0760385821

Description:

Enjoy the time-honored tradition of beekeeping in your own backyard or urban rooftop with this accessible resource for beekeepers of all skill levels, now in its 5th edition.

More than a guide to beekeeping, The Backyard Beekeeper features expert advice for:

Setting up and caring for your own colonies

Selecting the best location to place your new bee colonies for their safety and yours

The most practical and nontoxic ways to care for your bees

Swarm control

Using top bar hives

Harvesting the products of a beehive and collecting and using honey

Bee problems and treatments

New in this edition:

Natural beekeeping techniques like insulating hives for the winter to mimic the advantages of bee homes in the wild

Important new treatments for and updated info on the battle with Varroa mites

How to deal with the new antibiotic recommendations for American foulbrood

Introduction to new recordkeeping technology to consider

In addition to content updates to reflect the most recent research and technology in beekeeping, the book features a new design with larger, easier-to-read text, many new photos, and a more easily navigable structure.

With this complete reference and the expert advice of Bee Culture editor emeritus Kim Flottum, your bees will be healthy, happy, and more productive.

On this day in movie history - MaXXXine (2024):

MaXXXine

directed and written by Ti West,

was released in the United States on July 5, 2024.

Music by Tyler Bates.

Cast:

Charley Rowan McCain, Simon Prast, Mia Goth, Deborah Geffner, Daniel Lench, Elizabeth Debicki, Chloe Farnworth, Brad Swanick, Uli Latukefu, Susan Pingleton, Giancarlo Esposito, Moses Sumney, Zachary Mooren, Halsey, Ned Vaughn, Kevin Bacon, Marcus LaVoi, Sophie Thatcher, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Albert Kong, Toby Huss, Taylor Kowalski, Pegah Rashti, Larry Fessenden, Lily Collins, Marlyn Ortiz, Alison Wonderland, Kristin Carey, Cecilia Kim, Clayton Farris, Portia D. Harris, Olivia Abreu, Vincent Amorosi, Shey Bogumil, Aaron Feder, Karen Hadfield, David Lovio, Maximillian Paul, Naomi Phan, Allen Waiserman.

On this day in music history - Oceans, by Jennifer Thomas (2024):

Oceans

Album by Jennifer Thomas,

released June 7, 2024.

Track list:

Oceans; The Lighthouse; Underwater Carnival Ride; The Siren and the Sailor (Ft. Alexa Ray); Just a Teardrop in the Ocean; Sea of Diamonds; Something Just Like This (Coldplay / The Chainsmokers cover); Mermaids (Ft. Alexa Ray) (from Pirates of the Caribbean, Hans Zimmer); The Metamorphosis Suite: Metamorphosis I:  Transformation; Metamorphosis II:  Flight; Transcendence (Ft. Ryan Stewart, Ardy); You Carried Me Home; Pirates Cove; The Siren and the Sailor (Instrumental Version); You Carried Me Home (A Cappella Version).

On this day in music history - Forever, by Bon Jovi (2024):

Forever

Album by Bon Jovi,

released June 7, 2024.

Track list:

Legendary; We Made It Look Easy; Living Proof; Waves; Seeds; Kiss The Bride; The People’s House; Walls of Jericho; I Wrote You A Song; Living In Paradise; My First Guitar; Hollow Man.

On this day in movie history - Flow (2024):

Flow

directed by Gints Zilbalodis,

written by Gints Zilbalodis, Matiss Kaza and Ron Dyens,

was released at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 22, 2024.
Music by Gints Zilbalodis and Rihards Zaļupe.

Awards:

The Golden Globe (2025).

The Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 97th Academy Awards (2025).

On this day in music history - Casta Diva, by Cecilia Bartoli (2024):

Casta Diva

Album by Cecilia Bartoli,

released May 17, 2024.

Track list:

"Casta Diva" (Critical Ed. Maurizio Biondi and Riccardo Minasi); Nacqui All'affanno E Al Pianto" - "Non Più Mesta; "Cari Giorni" (Romanza Der Ines); Una Parola.Chiedi All'aura; "Mira, O Norma" (Critical Ed. Maurizio Biondi and Riccardo Minasi); "Si, Fino All'ore Estreme" (Critical Ed. Maurizio Biondi and Riccardo Minasi); Prendi: L'anel Ti Dono [Edit]; No Mia Vita, Mio Tesoro; O Rendetemi la Speme; Ira Del Ciel; Vaga Luna Che Inargenti; La Danza; No. 12, Voi Che Sapete; Il Cor VI Dono; Se Mai Senti Spirarti Sul Volto; Come Nave in Mezzo All'onde; Di' Cor Mio; Ma Quando Tornerai.

On this day in movie history - Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024):

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

directed by George Miller,

written by George Miller and Nick Lathouris,

was released at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 15, 2024.

Music by Tom Holkenborg.

Cast:

Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, George Shevtsov, Lachy Hulme, John Howard, Angus Sampson, Charlee Fraser, Elsa Pataky, Nathan Jones, Josh Helman, David Field, Rahel Romahn, David Collins, Goran D. Kleut, CJ. Bloomfield, Matuse, Ian Roberts, Guy Spence, Robert Jones, Clarence Ryan, Tim Burns, Tim Rogers, Florence Mezzara, Quaden Bayles, Peter Stephens, Sean Millis, Lee Perry, Dylan Adonis, David Barnett, Anna Adams, Peter Sammak, Shea Adams, Josh Randall, Karl Van Moorsel, Dawn Klingberg, Richard Norton, Stephen Amadasun, Nick Annas, Ripley Voeten, Matthew Van Leeve, Shane Dundas, Jamie Cluff, Adam Thompson, Shyan Tonga, Nellie Collins, Adam Washbourne, James Corcoran, Sasa Vitanovic, Tige Sixel Miller, Justice Jones, Maleeka Gasbarri, Keza Ishimwe, Nat Buchanan, Jacob Tomuri, Mark Wales, Bryan Probets, Danny Lim, Darcy Bryce, Chudier Gatwech, Shivantha Wijesinha, Spencer Connelly, Ben Smith-Petersen, Toby Fuller, Jayden ‘Mozzie’ Irving, Jesse Turner, Jon Iles, Harrison Norris, Ash Hodgkinson, Sean Renfrey, Samarth Kaimliya, Nikos Andronicos, Kelli Bailey, Marcia Coronado, Ning Cyrus, Matt de Souza, Kagga Jayson, Hiroshi Kasuga, Ranjeet Manjrekar, Xanthia Marinelli, Robert McFarlane, Cody Riley, Shakriya Tarinyawat, Alex Time, Daniel Webber, Chong Wei Zhang, Yeye Zhou.

On this day in music history - Tattoo Me, by Lee Aaron (2024):

Tattoo Me

Album by Lee Aaron,

released April 26, 2024.

Track list:

Tattoo; Are You Gonna Be My Girl; Even It Up; What Is and What Should Never Be; Is It My Body; Go Your Own Way; The Pusher; Malibu; Someone Saved My Life Tonight; Connection; Teenage Kicks.

On this day in movie history - Point Blank the Documentary (2024):

Point Blank the Documentary

directed and written by Alan Berry,

was released in the United States on April 3, 2024.
Music by Johnny Mandel.

Cast:

Sharon Acker, Lloyd Bochner, John Boorman, Angie Dickinson, Lee Marvin, Carroll O'Connor, James Sikking, John Vernon, Keenan Wynn.

On this day in movie history - Film is Dead. Long Live Film! (2024):

Film is Dead. Long Live Film!

documentary directed by Peter Flynn,

was released in the United States on March 28, 2024.

Cast:

Louis DiCrescenzo, Stan Taffel, Geoffrey Curtis, Ray Faiola, Stu Fink, Bob Furmanek, Ira Gallen, Michael Lattavo.

Recommended reading - Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman's Trek, by Nana Visitor (2024):

Star Trek: Open a Channel: A Woman's Trek

By Nana Visitor.

Published by Insight Editions.

Published 2024.

Hardcover.

ASIN: B0C7P8NTH2

ISBN-13: 979-8886633016

Description:

Nana Visitor, Star Trek’s Kira Nerys, explores how the series has portrayed and influenced women. Interviews with the stars, writers, producers, and celebrity fans reveal the struggles and triumphs of women both behind and in front of the camera throughout the sixty-year history of Star Trek, and how they have mirrored the experiences of women everywhere.

The groundbreaking casting of Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura in 1966 was a paradigm shift for women and people of color. Pioneering is no picnic, and she planned to leave the show until none other than the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. contextualized her appearance in people’s living rooms across America as a way for people of color to know they were indeed an important part of the future.

Since then, each Star Trek show has both reflected the values of its time and imagined a future of equality. In her first book, Open a Channel: A Woman’s Trek, Nana Visitor sets out to discover both how Star Trek led the way for women, and how each show was trapped in its own era.

For Visitor, this is more than a book about Star Trek. It’s also about how society and the stories we tell have evolved in the last sixty years, and how the role of women has changed in that time.

STAR AUTHOR: Written by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine actor Nana Visitor, famous for playing Major Kira Nerys. This is both her story and her journey through the stories of other women involved with Star Trek from the 1960s to the 21st century.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: Features interviews with more than a dozen women who starred in Star Trek, including Kate Mulgrew, Sonequa Martin-Green, Terry Farrell, Gates McFadden, Denise Crosby, Tawny Newsome, and Jess Bush.

INSPIRING STORIES: Explore how Star Trek has influenced women in the real world, including soldiers, scientists, and even astronauts. For the book, author Nana Visitor visited ESA HQ and interviewed astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti while she was in orbit around Earth on the International Space Station.

PIONEERING SERIES: Following the humanistic tenets of creator Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek, throughout the decades, led the way in promoting diversity. Youths who grew up with Captain Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, for example, not only learned to accept a woman as a leader but were also able to expand what they could imagine for themselves. The book makes clear how important storytelling is, and how the storytelling of Star Trek has had a profound effect on its audience.

On this day in music history - Intermundia, by Olivia Belli (2024):

Intermundia

Album by Olivia Belli,

released February 23, 2024.

Track list:

Anima I; Bet Ha-Chaim; Respiro 1; Valadier; Diomedea; Respiro 2; Mirando; Anima II; Pian Perduto; Respiro 3; Amber Maze; Frater; Respiro 4; Sibyl.

On this day in movie history - The Movie Man (2024):

The Movie Man

documentary directed by Matt Finlin,

was released at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in the United States on February 12, 2024.

Music by Kevin Drew.

Cast:

Keith Stata.

Recommended reading - Star Trek: Picard: The Art and Making of the Series (2024):

Star Trek: Picard

The Art and Making of the Series

By Joe Fordham.

Published by Titan Books.

Published 2024.

Hardcover.

ISBN-10: 1803363673

ISBN-13: 978-1803363677

Description:

An in-depth look at the making of Star Trek: Picard, a three-season spin-off of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and a must-have for all Star Trek fans.

Star Trek: Picard stars Patrick Stewart, reprising his role as Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The book explores each of the three separate season-long narratives, which tell the story of Picard in later years, as he is brought out of retirement on his family chateau to face old enemies such as the Borg, take command of a new starship, and ultimately reconcile with his past.

New characters such as Doctor Jurati (Alison Pill), Cristóbal Rios (Santiago Cabrera), Soji (Isa Briones) and Elnor (Evan Evagora) feature alongside appearances by old enemies and friends, such as Will Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), the Borg Queen (Annie Wersching), Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), Data (Brent Spiner), and Q (John de Lancie). Season 3 sees a full-scale Next Generation reunion, featuring Worf (Michael Dorn), Dr. Beverley Crusher (Gates McFadden), and Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton).

Alongside interviews with showrunners, writers, cast, and crew, discussing concepts and character arcs, “Spotlight” features explore makeup, costumes, art, and visual effects. A final section features reflections on the much-beloved character from its original incarnation in Star Trek: Next Generation through to its final satisfying conclusion.

This beautifully illustrated hardback, featuring behind-the-scenes and on-set photography, and a range of production art, is an in-depth exploration of a hugely popular and seminal Star Trek character.