the marble tea webthing

The Quiet Game

When I was a young lad and my family would pile into the car for a long trip, my sister and I would – as children do – be quite loud and obnoxious in the backseat throughout the journey, deprived as we were of any of the usual stimulations and attention required by those of that age. (This was long before we even dreamed of having a portable DVD player to calm us.) In what was to be at once a successful and beautiful stroke of genius, my parents told us how to play “The Quiet Game” which was a very simple game to play in that whoever made any sound first lost.

Determined to be winners, my sister and I shut up for long stretches at a time, much to our parents’ delight, though we weren’t beyond trying to trick each other into laughing or screaming. Naturally, the rules were modified a little to prohibit any touching or prodding of the other contestant. (more…)

Theoretically Being There

It’s been a while since I read Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination, but one interesting thing that stuck with me – if I remember it correctly…and so many times I don’t – was that when the characters would “jaunte” (or teleport) from one place to another, it was important that they have an image of the place they would be landing set firmly in their mind’s eye or else things could go horribly wrong. (more…)

Martha & the Snakes

If I had to choose, I’d say that my favorite Harry Crews book is probably A Feast of Snakes (though that Gypsy’s Curse story from the Classic Crews collection ranks about as high as anything). Grotesque more often than not, his tales expose the slithering underbelly of rural Southern culture in sharp contrast to those of greats such as Capote and O’Connor. It can be vile and depraved, but it’s sure good for your eyes. (more…)