Despite its skeletal arrangement, this feels gigantic, cinematic, the vocal way out front, an exile haunting its own ghost. Lyrics concern Abenaki women trafficked by whites, then universally rejected for their mixed-race offspring. Ferocious. Riveting. Can't stop listening. tinyurl.com/29j96r3c

Out today, and including my story, "Tell Me When I Disappear". Congrats to everyone. As for you, kid #2, let me beat you to your favorite punchline: yes, you're hilarious, I'm once again using my favorite pen name: And Many Others. Now get home. www.skyhorsepublishing.com/978194910273...

Don Henry--composer of maybe the best white-guy song about MLK, and so many more —has a new record about fall. Being him, he gets it all (y’all): the colors and their portent; the sweet nights with real terrors in them; and, here, the dark heart of the heart of the country. tinyurl.com/23cxsh3d

Incredibly, it's been five years since my father-- painter, designer, rocker, clarinetist, author, people-loving hermit, joy spreader-- died. In his honor, here's a story I wrote about him, and the experience of losing him, that appeared in MICHIGAN QUARTERLY: sites.lsa.umich.edu/mqr/2020/07/...

"Don't go 'round tonight..."

As the kids say...mood...

Liked Jamila Woods' last disc, but this one’s wiser, weirder, and warmer—a rare hat-trick. She’s talkin 'bout practice, and getting days right (occasionally), and people she loved or loves. Linking to the single, but don't miss the magical spoken-word ode to her exes. tinyurl.com/cr66uaw4

New fiction. As it says on the post, this one's for board game lovers, baseball cherishers (past or present), people who clutch at friends even as they slip away. And for John Sullivan, gone almost 20 years now. How can that be... glenhirshberg.substack.com/p/say-youre-...

Delighful chat today with Nadia Bulkin, Richard Kadrey, @datlow.bsky.social, @jeffreyford8.bsky.social, et al on the @LovecraftEzine Podcast. We discuss our stories in Ellen's new CHRISTMAS AND OTHER HORRORS anthology. The whole show is here, for your pleasure: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9bM...

A new video premiere, a chance to score some rare things of mine if you want 'em, a couple announcements... glenhirshberg.substack.com/p/a-special-...

Oh, you like to support small businesses? Did you know that every author is a small business? You can support us by buying our books and/or talking about our books. It's that simple. Thanks!

My November, 2023 music roundup. A little brightness, or at least company, for dark days. glenhirshberg.substack.com/p/where-i-lo...

(from my next music round-up, out next week): In place of pulse, blooms of electronically altered brass, sampled strings plucked at (barely) accelerated speed, and a whole lot of empty space.   Light through bare branches. Hope where there’s no reason for it, and also no choice. tinyurl.com/4a6krpyd

But...what will we talk about??

Late to the party (as usual), and he hardly needs me to say so, but JOYLAND really is terrific. SHINING/SALEM'S LOT terrific. For the beautifully evoked era and the titular park, the elegant ghost story and monstrous monster. But most of all for its unironic portrayal of fundamental human decency.

Brand new ghost story. Free (for now) to all. Hope you enjoy it. glenhirshberg.substack.com/p/ioway

Closest thing to a...not hopeful, but human and considered response I have heard since this mess erupted. Also a testament to the power of the liberal arts we're casually discarding. Useful for nothing except seeing each other. Saving the world. One hard conversation at a time. tinyurl.com/mr3zkzjm

Halloween recycle, Northwest style...

At least the moon still remembers how to play Halloween...

Anyone else seen this? Series of shorts based on Machen stories. Almost more reading than film, images intermittently striking. But-- as with that early 70s movie based on Wellman's John the Balladeer-- I love that it exists. That it's in the air, and humming. www.imdb.com/title/tt7218...