Karavansara

East of Constantinople, West of Shanghai

Category Archives: Media


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She who must be obeyed

sheSometimes working on the weekend is fun.
I’m writing (well, actually revising, at the moment) an essay on Ayesha and other “lost race” queens from popular fiction.
Happily, my piece will go in a high-profile publication.

And as an extra bonus, it’s been a good excuse for watching again this old Hammer movie from 1965 – a very loose but fun adaptation of H. Rider Haggard‘s classic, She, featuring Ursula Andress, Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.

So, why not spread the joy?
Here are some highlights, courtesy of Youtube.
Cheers!

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Kigan Castle

The Italian poster played the Arabian Nights factor to the hilt.

The Italian poster played the Arabian Nights factor to the hilt.

Something weird today.
The short movie clip you’ll find below is the only thing I was able to find to show you something of Kiganjou no Bouken, also known as Kigan Castle Adventure, also known The adventure of Taklamakan.

The Adventure of Taklamakan is a thoroughly enjoyable, low-budget-but-great-fun 1966 movie featuring the great Toshiro Mifune.
The plot is a weird mash-up of ancient Chinese folklore, Arabian Nights style fantasy and a few dollops of Wu Cheng’en‘s Journey to the West.
But it’s actually based on a story by Dazai Osamu. Continue reading →


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Doing some literary detox

I’m not a good person, so I blame science fiction and fantasy fans.
Been around them too much lately – they bored me to death.
Or maybe, it’s the fact that I read – and wrote – too much genre stuff in the last months, and I’ve reached a sort of saturation.

I’m bored!, like Toyah used to sing.

So it’s time to do some serious detox – because without variety, everything you read (and write!) feels the same, and boredom ensues.
Therefore, in this month of May, I’ll stay clear of the fans, I’ll take long brisk walks and I’ll read history, and crime fiction.
And I’ll write… oh, well, a western.

And for a curious coincidence – or maybe not – I just fell in love with this mystery TV series from Australia, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, which involves history, murders, guns, and a gorgeous, independent woman.
Perfect.

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Celebrating the Gill Man

I’ve been working on a number of water-themed projects, recently, and I’ve had the opportunity of renewing my acquaintance with the Gill Man, also known as the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

 

 

And I told myself I’d really love to do something with a Gill man-like character.
While I wait for the ideas to click, here’s my Pinboard dedicated to the most underrated monster in the Universal classic catalog.

 

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