Getting Weird in Los Angeles

The history and mystique of Los Angeles lends itself to many works of fiction, songs and movies. These are some of my favorite movies tinged with (or steeped in) oddness, the kind of oddness that can only play out against the background of Los Angeles.


Welcome to Pittsburgh: Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror

What if UFOs landed at the Point? What if all that was left of the city was a virtual reality archive? What if we slipped into Elfland? Check out these sci-fi, fantasy and horror titles set in Pittsburgh to find out.


Speculative, Surreal and Uncanny Short Fiction Collections

The speculative is a space in fiction where the unexpected and impossible can creep in. These recent collections of short stories all deal in the speculative fiction realm but vary in approach and tone. Take a look and find one to suit your mood! 




Gentrification Stories

If you’re on the waiting list for the book, “When No One Is Watching,” here is a list of some of the best recent stories featuring gentrification at their core.  


His Hideous Heart

It’s the perfect time of year to read something creepy. Check out “His Hideous Heart,” a collection of stories inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s work.



Witchy Women and Haunted Places

The books on this list range in tone from Latinx folklore-derived magical realism to claustrophobic psychological terror but they all feature the uncanny, the surreal, or the supernatural in the … Continued