Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Razorcake Reviews OPERATION MINDFUCK

From RAZORCAKE'S 11-20-23 review of OPERATION MINDFUCK:

"[Guffey's] expertise shines through in every chapter of this book. Operation Mindfuck: QAnon and the Cult of Donald Trump is not only a well written and well researched look into the abyss of bullshit known as QAnon, but it is also very funny and quite sad at the same time—an interesting, entertaining, and sometimes frightening read."
 
To read RAZORCAKE'S entire review, click HERE
 

Friday, November 24, 2023

THE SECOND OSWALD

To mark the 60th anniversary of the assassination of Lee Harvey Oswald, I suggest listening to Andrei Codrescu's new podcast, THE SECOND OSWALD. Click HERE to listen to Episode One, "The Useful Idiot." Here's the producer's ballyhoo:

A new podcast and play, THE SECOND OSWALD sheds light on a little known aspect of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Could the accused assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, been set up to be the patsy? The series focuses on writer Kerry Thornley who served with Lee Harvey Oswald in the US Marines and wrote a novel about him a year before he killed JFK. Thornley would later implicate himself in the conspiracy and became a major influence on Q-Anon and other fringe underground groups through his writings. This is not just another conspiracy theory. The limited podcast series and play is written by former National Public Radio (NPR) commentator and Peabody award winner Andrei Codrescu.

FYI: THE SECOND OSWALD is also the title of one of the earliest JFK assassination books, namely Richard H. Popkin's THE SECOND OSWALD (1966), which is included on my list of ESSENTIAL JFK ASSASSINATION BOOKS.

This would also be an appropriate time to watch the suppressed episodes of THE MEN WHO KILLED KENNEDY, Nigel Turner's nine-part documentary about the complex web of global events that led to the assassination. Almost twenty years ago, in April of 2004, the History Channel not only withdrew Episodes 7, 8 and 9 from circulation, but went so far as to apologize for airing them in the first place. The network did this after being threatened with legal action from the surviving family of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Thanks to YouTube, however, all three of these banned episodes are now available to be seen again. I highly recommend watching all nine parts of THE MEN WHO KILLED KENNEDY, but the following trilogy of suppressed episodes are undoubtedly compelling. 

"Episode 7: The Smoking Guns" can be seen HERE. 

"Episode 8: The Love Affair" can be seen HERE. 

"Episode 9: The Guilty Men" can be seen HERE.

The Alpha/Omega Cryptoscatology Black Friday Special!!!

To commemorate the passing of yet another stupid ass holiday, I'm opening up the legendary Guffey Vault for a limited time only. I'm selling copies of both my first book (CRYPTOSCATOLOGY: CONSPIRACY THEORY AS ART FORM) and my latest book (DEAD MONKEY RUM)! *CHOKE GASP!* Signed copies of CRYPTOSCATOLOGY are $20.00 and signed copies of DEAD MONKEY RUM are $20.00... or you can get both for only $35.00!!! Shipping and handling is included in the price (if you're located in the United States, that is). I'll write whatever you want in the books, within unreason. Offer applies while supplies last! If you're interested, feel free to contact me via my email address: cryptoscatology@gmail.com. MAHALO!!!


 PRAISE FOR CRYPTOSCATOLOGY:
 
"Whether you believe or disbelieve in deep and hidden conspiracies, Robert Guffey's droll yet thought-provoking book Cryptoscatology should be required reading. From the valid to the invalid, from the provable to the possible, from real life to art, Guffey shuffles the most prominent names and topics in conspiracyland. They are all laid on the vivisection table with often surprising results. Don't miss this ride." 
 
--Jim Marrs (author of The New York Times Best Sellers Crossfire, Rule by Secrecy, and The Trillion-Dollar Conspiracy)

"A sane and penetrating analysis into the murky realm of contemporary theory. Guffey is sure to inform and entertain you with Cryptoscatology."
 
--Alan Cantwell, M.D. (AIDS & the Doctors of Death)
 
 "Finally, a scholarly book takes conspiracy theory seriously. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. For fans of science fiction, conspiracy theory or a good spy story (a true story, at that), Cryptoscatology is required reading."
 
 --Tessa B. Dick (Philip K. Dick: Remembering Firebright)
 

PRAISE FOR DEAD MONKEY RUM:

"Robert Guffey's fantastic novel, DEAD MONKEY RUM, will at least bring your brain out of a coma, if not get your imagination off the couch. This is a thinly masked tribute/adventure to the late Stanislaw Szukalski and his boundless imagination. This book is a mental gymnasium."

-- Robert Williams (Visual Addiction, Hysteria in Remission, and Through Prehensile Eyes)
 
"A fantastically rich and entertaining piece of work with an original sharp edge."
 -- Jim Woodring (writer/artist of Weathercraft, The Frank Book, and One Beautiful Spring Day)

 

"Stanislaw Szukalski would love DEAD MONKEY RUM. This novel is addictive like a heavy drug. Make space in your calendar to read it all."

-- Irek Dobrowolski (director of the Netflix documentary, Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski)

 

 "Yetis, Tiki Gods, Cryptozoology, and rum-filled adventure! Sign me up and tell me when the ship sails! I'm recommending this Robert Guffey novel to all my friends, family, and foes to take their minds completely off whatever they are thinking about. Wonderful."

-- Loren Coleman (Mysterious America, The Field Guide to Lake Monsters and Sea Serpents, The Field Guide to Bigfoot, Curious Encounters, and 40 other books - Director of the International Cryptozoology Museum)

 
"DEAD MONKEY RUM succeeds at being a pursuit thriller, with suspense and tension as the monkey and Stephanie evade their cryptid enemies, and comedy as the two exchange jabs at each other. It is cinematically fast. DEAD MONKEY RUM should be adapted to a [...] Ralph Bakshiesque animated film where both the zaniness of the narrative and the latent satire would really flourish."

-- Exotica Moderne

Thursday, November 23, 2023

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Every monster movie lover's favorite Thanksgiving movie is Fred F. Sear' wonderfully outrageous 1957 film, THE GIANT CLAW (as evidenced by the GIANT CLAW banner that appears on the Classic Horror Film Board every Thanksgiving). 

Here's a brief excerpt from Calum Russell's 11-21-23 FAR OUT article entitled "The Film John Carpenter Called His 'Favourite Bad Movie'":

Speaking about the 1957 film The Giant Claw by Fred F. Sears, Carpenter proudly called the movie: “Every monster movie lover’s favourite bad movie. Absolutely brilliantly dumb. The silliest monster ever. Giant puppet chickenhawk made in Mexico. Jeff Morrow, Mara Corday, Morris Ankrum and the entire earth shrink in terror from the squawking anti-matter chicken”.

Continued, he added: “It’s got it all. Stock footage. Inane narration. Great fifties love scene aboard an airplane. Toy planes crashing. Toy helicopter landing. Toy train destroyed. Toy cities destroyed. The ultimate”.

To read Russell's entire article, click HERE. 

THE GIANT CLAW is included in Arrow Video's 2021 Blu-ray set entitled COLD WAR CREATURES: FOUR FILMS FROM SAM KATZMAN, which also contains Edward L. Cahn's CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN (1955), Fred F. Sears' THE WEREWOLF (1956), and Edward L. Cahn's ZOMBIES OF MORA TAU (1957).


Here's Arrow's product description:

"Zombies! Werewolves! Atomic Mutation! Intergalactic Avians! Let this quartet of classic terrors take you back to the golden age of B-Movie Monsters! A mob boss hires an ex-Nazi scientist to reanimate his dead thugs in Creature with the Atom Brain. An auto-accident survivor is used as an experimental subject to create a vaccine for nuclear fallout with hair-raising side-effects in The Werewolf. Treasure hunters get more than they bargained for in the search for a cargo of diamonds that went down with a sunken ship when they discover the zombified crew members are guarding the loot in Zombies of Mora Tau. Meanwhile, an enormous bird from outer-space descends to chow down on the people of planet Earth in The Giant Claw! Four fantastic feature presentations from prolific producer Sam Katzman with a bounty of brand new extras and a raft of new writing by a range of respected raconteurs. These Cold War Creatures are coming for you!"

Click HERE to read Jaime Pina's PUNKGLOBE interview with renowned writer/artist Stephen R. Bissette, who contributed bonus material (i.e., a "live" video lecture and bonus booklet text) to this set. Happy Thanksgiving!!!

TRAILERS FROM HELL: JOE DANTE ON THE GIANT CLAW 

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Mae Brussell on JFK

To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, you might want to read Mae Brussell's REBEL MAGAZINE article entitled "The Nazi Connection to the JFK Assassination," which was published on 11-22-83 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of JFK's death.

You might also want to check out Brussell's 11-3-86 episode of WORLD WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL in which she offers further commentary on the Nazi links to the U.S. and French governments during the 1980s. This topic begins at the 26:42 mark. You can listen to the entire episode right HERE


Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Scenes from a Reading

This past Friday, Long Beach City College hosted a signing for me as part of their Fall 2023 Writer's Reading Series. I read a chapter from my latest novel, DEAD MONKEY RUM, as well as a short story from my forthcoming collection, CRYPTOPOLIS & OTHER STORIES (due to be released by Lethe Press in January). Here are two brief video excerpts from the event as well as a couple of photos. Thanks to Jeff Epley for the invitation!


 

Friday, November 17, 2023

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEWS CRYPTOPOLIS & OTHER STORIES

"Guffey brings together 25 horror shorts that swing wildly between terrifying mindtrips and gritty realism. Throughout, Guffey’s blunt prose lends a sense of normalcy to the fantastic as his cast of losers from all walks of life face the cruelties of their existence—sexual violence, drugs, war, parenthood, and poverty [...]. Though not for the faint of heart, this bizarre and over-the-top collection is sure to thrill devotees of weird fiction."

--PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY has just posted a terrific review of my forthcoming short story collection, CRYPTOPOLIS & OTHER STORIES, which will be released by Lethe Press on January 13. Click HERE to read the entire review!!!

Monday, November 13, 2023

Reading at Long Beach City College!

If you happen to find yourself anywhere near Long Beach, CA on Friday morning, then this might be a good place to park your butt for an hour. I plan to read a chapter from my new novel, DEAD MONKEY RUM, as well as a short story from my forthcoming collection, CRYPTOPOLIS & OTHER STORIES.


Sunday, November 12, 2023

Recluse on Church of Mabus Radio (11-10-23)

Recommended: Listen to S. William Snider (AKA Recluse) discuss his latest book, THE ART: THE SECRET HISTORY OF PSYWAR, CONSPIRITAINMENT, AND THE SHATTERING OF REALITY (BOOK 1):

Church of Mabus: S. William Snider

The Art: The Secret History of Psywar, Conspiritainment, and the Shattering of Reality Book I

Thursday, November 2, 2023

HALLOWEEN IS COMING AGAIN...

ON JANUARY 13th!!!

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CRYPTOPOLIS...
 
"If you're tired of the same wines and you're curious about the vintage only just whispered about, have a deep draught of Robert Guffey's CryptopolisYou don't have to descend with Fortunato to the deepest cellars to find this bottle of Amontillado. Here it is! If Poe collaborated with Robert Anton Wilson...if Borges had a lovechild with Lovecraft, which was subsequently adopted by Kafka...you might get Cryptopolis. I think too that Clark Ashton Smith would admire this collection. Written with the obsessive precision of a mysterious staircase descending into the abyss, Cryptopolis will take you to strange epiphanies..."  
 
-- John Shirley, author of The Feverish Stars

 

"Once upon a time, weird and speculative fiction had an underground full of stories that were not written as calling cards or as film treatments or as extended internet memes. Guffey's tales resist genre gentrification; they move into your mind to turn it into a punk house squat!" 

--Nick Mamatas, author of Move Under Ground and The Second Shooter

"The First Feature-Length Vampire Film" by Gary D. Rhodes

Recommended Reading: I suggest taking a few moments away from your Dia de los Muertos celebration in order to read Gary D. Rhodes' brand new MEDIUM article entitled "The First Feature-Length Vampire Film":

It’s back, the original screen bloodsucker, out of its cinematic grave.

The first feature-length vampire film was not F.W. Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922). A newly-unearthed discovery makes clear that it was The Afterlife Wanderer, produced in Russia in 1915 and starring Olga Baclanova, who would go on to appear in Tod Browning’s Freaks (1932) [...].

The Afterlife Wanderer [was] released in Russia in 1915 as Zagrobnaia skitalitsa. Directed by Viacheslav Turzhanskii, the film’s publicity touted it as Russia’s “first occult drama.”

One review described The Afterlife Wanderer’s title character as a “vampire who sucks the blood of the living people at night.” Another called her a “vampire woman sucking blood from loved ones.” No doubt about it: she was a real vampire and a reel vampire.

In the film, Olga Baclanova plays Vera, a young lady who commits suicide. Her spirit “merges” with the soul and body of another woman, allowing Vera to remain on earth....

To read the entire article, click HERE.

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

THE INVISIBLE MAN ENDORSES CHAMELEO & DEAD MONKEY RUM!!!

Dr. Jack Griffin (AKA the Invisible Man) has recently provided the following endorsement for my book, CHAMELEO: A STRANGE BUT TRUE STORY OF INVISIBLE SPIES, HEROIN ADDICTION, AND HOMELAND SECURITY:

"The mere act of reading CHAMELEO gives one power! Power, I said! Power to walk into the gold vaults of the nations, into the secrets of kings, into the Holy of Holies... power to make multitudes run squealing in terror at the touch of one's invisible little finger! Even the moon is frightened of the secrets contained within CHAMELEO... frightened to death! The whole world's frightened to death of CHAMELEO! Buy your copy TODAY! HA HA HA HA HA!"

Dr. Griffin added, "When I'm relaxing in the privacy of my secret laboratory after wreaking havoc against the frightened multitudes, I enjoy whiling away the hours by reading exciting South Sea adventures about talking monkeys and stolen Tiki idols, and Robert Guffey's latest novel, DEAD MONKEY RUM, hits the sweet spot!"



What follow are various disturbing images of Dr. Griffin wandering around the Southern California landscape in between causing indiscriminate acts of chaos
on All Hallows' Eve...