Keith R.A. DeCandido's Blog

noon on Thanksgiving….

So it’s time for “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” by Arlo Guthrie, as always.

stuff for what I’m thankful

This year, for the first time since 2000, my household is primarily responsible for creating Thanksgiving dinner. When I was married to Marina, we did Thanksgiving and had the immediate family over for a Thanksgiving dinner that couldn’t be beat. But then Marina and I split up, and my next two relationships were with people who came with cats, which made it impossible for me to host family gatherings, as one of my four parents is violently allergic to cats (like, she can’t even walk in the door of a place that has had a cat in it once).

Therefore, my parents took Thanksgiving back starting in 2001 (though that year we went to Indianapolis to do Thanksgiving with Terri’s family), but over the last few years, they have not had the energy for it, so we’ve been going out to restaurants for Thanksgiving.

(The exception was 2020, which is always the exception. Wrenn and I now live down the street from my parents, so that year we did Thanksgiving in three different houses over Zoom, with my parents cooking half the stuff, us cooking half the stuff, and us trading half of what we made on the porch of their house.)

Anyhow, we did a bunch of different restaurants over the last few years, but they all either closed or changed their Thanksgiving menu to something we didn’t like as much or were too expensive, or some damn thing. For years, Wrenn and I have been trying to convince my parents to just let us do it, either in their kitchen or in our kitchen and we’d bring it over.

This year, they finally decided to let us do the latter. The turkey (pictured above right after I stuffed it with Wrenn’s stuffing) went into the oven at 7 this morning. We’re also making mashed potatoes, carrots and parsnips braised in lemon balsamic vinegar, salad, and mushrooms and bacon fried up together. In addition, there will be sweet potato-and-apple sog made by my mother and ham cooked by my father, and Helga is making dessert, plus there will be the traditional cranberry-sauce-in-a-can-with-the-ridges-from-the-can-so-you-know-it’s-traditional.

Anyhow, this year I am grateful for many things, as always.

There’s my family, both blood and chosen, from Wrenn and the Forebearance and the Godmommy to our fabulous furry feline companions Kaylee and Louie to my various cousins and aunts and uncles to our godchildren Ohana and Sabrina (and also Sabrina’s husband and infant daughter, who is adorable) to our fake child Matthew to the Woodlawn Posse and the Poker Gang and the New Years Gang and the Trivia Gang (bits of those four gangs overlap some) and the Dragon Con Bagel Gang and the Eastern Pennsylvania Gang (which isn’t actually a gang yet — we have to get all our friends in the Harrisburg-Stroudsberg corridor together one of these days) and the Moved From Nebraska To Texas This Year Gang (okay, two people aren’t really a gang, but I wanted to keep the gag going with Sammie and Stone) and most especially the Raleigh Gang of ToniAnn, Kyle, Drew, Loki, Jazz, and the mighty Professor Zoom.

There’s all the friends I interact with online, most of whom I don’t get to see nearly as often as I’d like, and some of whom I’ve never actually met, but who are all wonderful people whom I adore very much, whether on Facebook Messenger, Discord, text message, e-mail, Signal, WhatsApp, Snapchat, or Instagram.

There’s all the folks I see at conventions, whether fans, colleagues, volunteers, or whomever. The community of folks at cons, whether tiny literary relaxacons or huge-ass media cons, is always joyous and welcoming and nifty and inspiring. I’ve done my usual huge number of cons this year, and all of them were wonderful, from old favorites Farpoint and Shore Leave and Dragon Con and Philcon and Indiana Comic Con to relative newcomers ConVivial and Trek Long Island and Origins and Horror on Main to new-to-me ones MidSouthCon and JordanCon and Archon to returning old favorites ConnectiCon and Starbase Indy to even the two that I had to miss, Tell-Tale Steampunk (due to having COVID) and New York Comic-Con (due to having karate obligations).

Speaking of karate, there’s also the dojo, which is always a source of wonderfulness. First of all, the community of Kenshikai Karate is magnificent, not just at Honbu (headquarters) here in the Bronx, but our sister branches in Italy, Japan, South Africa, and Chile. We had a mess of people from Kenshikai Italia in October for a big black belt promotion, and it was glorious. We have such wonderful people in our discipline, I couldn’t ask for finer companions in my martial arts journey. Karate has been so good for me both physically and mentally — I couldn’t maintain the convention schedule I just discussed in the previous paragraph without the physical and mental stamina I get from going to the dojo several times a week — plus I get to teach, which I truly love. There’s my afterschool program, which is going very strong after over a decade, and I also sometimes teach at the dojo (in particular filling in for Shuseki Shihan Paul while he’s been on vacation the past three weeks). I also want to express gratitude to a bunch of other martial artists who aren’t part of Kenshikai but who are good folks and fun to geeble about training with, whether in person or online.

There’s all the people who read my work, whether my novels, my pop-culture commentary on Reactor Magazine and in various anthologies, my short fiction in various magazines and anthologies, or my babblings online. Without y’all, I’d just be a guy throwing words into the aether, so thanks for reading my scribblings! I also want to particularly thank the supporters of my Patreon, which I have been very bad about keeping up with this year, and I hope to get back on the horse with it next year.

There’s the people who publish my work. I want to particularly express my gratitude to the Weird Tales folks, as this year I got to have stories in two issues of the venerable magazine, which was a huge thrill for me, and the Weird Tales Presents imprint of Blackstone Publishing also published my new original series Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD this year, which I hope will be the start of something wonderful. On top of that, I got to read the audio version of one of the two aforementioned stories, my first time doing a professional audio production! And it came out really well, too! (I get to do it again for another story I will have in the magazine next year.) I also want to thank my editors and publishers at, not just WT and Blackstone, but also Plus One Press, Reactor, Becky Books, ATB Publishing, BOOM! Studios/Archaia Publishing, Fantastic Books, Moonstone, New Legend Productions, Christopher D. Abbott, Crazy 8 Press, and most especially Danielle Ackley-McPhail and Mike McPhail of eSpec Books, who are not only wonderful publishers, but two of the best friends and finest people you could ask for.

Speaking of Chris Abbott, there’s also the music in my life, as I not only did my usual performing with the Boogie Knights at ConVivial, Farpoint, and Shore Leave, but I also got to join the Chris Abbott Band for a couple of gigs, and there will be more with them in the future. I adore doing silly songs with the Knights, and performing with them never fails to be a blast, and getting to play straight-up rock and roll with Chris and the gang has been absolutely stupendous. I can’t wait to do more with both bands in 2026. I’m also pleased to say that I was able to integrate the doumbek I got at Pennsic in 2024 into my percussion arsenal quite skillfully.

Finally, I’m incredibly grateful to live in New York City, which is the greatest city in the world, and in New York State, which is a state I feel safer and healthier in than I would in many another state. And that’s as much as I’m going to say about that, as the current political landscape is something I’m not grateful for, and not something I want to get into here. (This is supposed to be a happy post.)

There are possibly other things I’m grateful for, but I need to post this and get back to food prep, so I’m just gonna say that I’m grateful for all the things — including you reading this! In fact, especially you reading this!

my Starbase Indy schedule

This coming weekend, I’ll be back at Starbase Indy in Indianapolis, Indiana for the first time since 2019. I’m one of the special guests alongside actor Lisa Wilcox (Star Trek: The Next Generation, A Nightmare on Elm Street); filmmakers James Bradford Huston (A Winter of Empires), Demetrius Witherspoon (Submerge Universe), and Da’Rell Miller (ParaGenex); musicians the Red Rum Pirate Band and the Threepios; podcasts StarPodTrek and Starship Tempest; improv artists Starship Edsel; cosplayers Knightmage, Danger Angel Cosplay, and Mogchelle; DJ Ray Skills; and the magnificently brilliant drag performer Moxie Anne Magnus.

I will have a table in the vendor room, where I’ll be selling and signing books. I’ll also be doing some programming:

Friday

5-6pm: “Zeitgeist and Culture,” w/Lisa Meece and Franklin Oliver (Communciations)

7-8pm: opening ceremonies (Bridge)

8-10pm: book release party for the first Starbase Indy anthology, for which I provided an introduction (Writer’s Room)

Saturday

10-11am: Keith R.A. DeCandido Q & A (Astrophysics)

Sunday

10-11am: “Working Together in Fact and Fiction,” w/Dr. Barrett Caldwell and Lisa Meece (Communications)

Hope to see folks there!

Babylon 5 Rewatch: “Conflicts of Interest”

Garibaldi has a PI adventure that hits every noir cliche in the book. Plus we meet another Zathras and Sheridan tries to get G’Kar and Mollari to agree on something. The Babylon 5 Rewatch has some “Conflicts of Interest.”

An excerpt:

Back when I started this rewatch with “The Gathering,” I described Garibaldi as, “a walking, talking cliché of the maverick cop,” and man, he embodies that in this episode, except now he’s the embittered ex-cop working as a PI. He’s pretty much a Dashiell Hammett character transported to the twenty-third century, and J. Michael Straczynski leaves no cliché unwritten as we follow Garibaldi’s little odyssey here. We’ve got it all! The opening bit to show he has a heart of gold. The pretty woman from the PI’s past who’s with another man now, who happens to be the client. The PI’s antagonistic relationship with his ex-colleagues in the police EarthForce. The big shootout. The unexpected complication. We’ve even got crawling around in unconvincingly clean and spacious ductwork!

I’m doing a Creepshow story!

I’m thrilled to announce that my list of universes I didn’t create that I have nonetheless written fiction in has increased from 49 to 50. It was just announced on Fangoria.com that there will be a new Creepshow anthology, subtitled 13 Tales of Terror, which Monstrous Books will be releasing in 2026 — and I’ll be penning one of those baker’s dozen stories!

Here’s the full list of authors:

James Aquilone (also the editor of the anthology)David AvalloneSimon BestwickNancy A. CollinsDennis CrosbyKeith R.A. DeCandido (hey, that’s me!)Gwendolyn KisteJonathan MaberryLisa MortonSteve NilesNick RobertsThomas SniegoskiTim Waggoner

More info on the Monstrous Books site.

4-Color to 35-Millimeter: Captain America: Brave New World

It has flaws, and you can see the seams of some of the rewrites/reshoots, but overall this is a very well-acted movie that didn’t deserve the lukewarm reception it got. The great superhero movie rewatch takes a gander at the first Cap movie without Chris Evans, Captain America: Brave New World.

An excerpt:

The first half of the movie is more appealing than the second half, as the plot so dominates everything in the latter portions that the charm of the early part of the movie is muted. The first half gives us Anthony Mackie at his most charismatic, continuing the work he did in his prior appearances to make Sam Wilson the best person around. Where Rogers inspired loyalty that comes from pure awe, Wilson inspires loyalty that grows out of friendship and respect. In addition, Wilson’s banter with Torres is a delight, as is their shared banter with Bradley. The friendship that has developed between Wilson and Bradley, and shown throughout the early part of the film, is the best part of it. Wilson needs Bradley’s cynicism and Bradley needs Wilson’s optimism. Plus, it’s Mackie and Carl Lumbly, and every time two actors this great are together, it’s always going to be amazing.

Babylon 5 Rewatch: “Lines of Communication”

Delenn meets the Drakh, proving that the Shadow War isn’t as over as they thought. Franklin has sex with Number One, proving he has good taste. Sheridan wakes Ivanova from a sound sleep, proving he has a death wish. The Babylon 5 Rewatch opens some “Lines of Communication.”

An excerpt:

The actual contact with the Drakh is very well handled. Lennier realizing that the Drakh are communicating in Minbari rather than translated Interlac, meaning that they’ve had contact with a Minbari before. Both Lennier and Delenn instantly realizing what the Drakh homeworld that they lost was, but not saying anything in front of the emissary. Delenn and Lennier working out a strategy to get out before the Drakh take their revenge. It’s all expertly written and beautifully acted by Mira Furlan and Bill Mumy. Credit also to G.W. Stevens, who is just right as the naïve Religious Caste member who falls for the Drakh’s ploy.

my Philcon 2025 schedule

As I have pretty much every year for the past 35 years or so, I am attending Philcon, which will be held this coming weekend, the 21st to the 23rd of November, in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

I will be doing programming, and I’ll also be sharing a table in the dealer room with one of my publishers, eSpec Books. Among the many guests are Principal Speaker Dr. Charles Gannon, Guest Artist Sara Felix, and Musical Guest Adam Stemple.

Here’s my schedule:

Friday

7-8pm: “Superman (2025),” w/Glenn Hauman, Orenthal V. Hawkins, Lawrence Kramer, and Alyce Wilson (Plaza 2)

Saturday

11am-noon: “Star Trek: Lower Decks: A Retrospective,” w/Inge Heyer, Brian T. Price, Daniel M. Kimmel, and Frank Wu (Crystal 3)

1-2pm: reading, w/Walter H. Hunt and Daniel M. Kimmel (Room 1023)

8-10pm: eSpec Books launch party, w/a cast of thousands, with my Supernatural Crimes Unit: NYPD Book 1: The Thin Blue Ley-Line being one of the books being launched (con suite)

Sunday

11am-noon: autographing, w/Harry “Jack” Heckel, Daniel M. Kimmel, and Robert J. Sawyer (autograph table in the corridor outside the dealer room and the Crystal ballrooms)

It’s a light schedule, but that just means I get to spend more time selling books and talking to people. Looking forward to seeing folks!

the Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026 Kickstarter is live!

We’re live! The crowdfund for Thrilling Adventure Yarns 2026 is now up and running on Kickstarter! It’s already nearly halfway funded, and we haven’t even finished the opening weekend yet! Woot!

Edited by the redoubtable Robert Greenberger, this Crazy 8 Press anthology is the fifth in a series of anthos featuring all-new pulp-style stories by some wonderful storytellers.

Here’s a sample of what’ll be in the book:

a Sherlock Holmes story by Holmes & Watson scribe extraordinaire Christopher D. Abbotta story featuring Tahar Lupin, the adopted son and protege of the famous gentleman thief, by Mary Fana new Max Wiser story by Paul Kupperberga new Birr Blackjaw story by Aaron Rosenberga new Talin & Jareth story by editor Greenberger“Human Resources” by Russ Colchamiro, a sci-fi/horror tale about the HR department“Curse of the Jungle Queen” by Esther M. Friesnermy very own “The Abduction of Ticonderoga Beck!” which brings back Beck and his Stalwart Squad for a new adventureand stories by Derek Tyler Attico, Beth Cato, Russ Colchamiro, Max Allan Collins & Matthew V. Clemens, J.M. DeMatteis, Michael Jan Friedman, Steven Grant, Alisa Kwitney, Will Murray, and Hildy Silverman!

Plus, if we hit our stretch goals, we’ll have stories by Doc Savage creator Lester Dent and the mighty Adam-Troy Castro, and stories will have illustrations as well!

So please consider supporting!

4-Color to 35-Millimeter: Kraven the Hunter

It’s the lackluster latest — and apparently last, thank the heavens — of Sony’s Spider-Man Cinematic Universe Without The Actual Spider-Man. The great superhero movie rewatch is completely unimpressed with Kraven the Hunter.

An excerpt:

Aaron Taylor-Johnson throws himself into the part, at least, having apparently gone to great lengths to get in six-pack-abs shape for the role. But he doesn’t have the operatic bombast of the comics character—plus his accents are all over the place. (His American accent is very mannered, and his Russian dialogue is too heavily accented to be convincing as a native speaker.) He plays the role way too straight, too laconic, too serious. On several occasions, he’s referred to as a lunatic (particularly by Calypso), but that description doesn’t track with how Taylor-Johnson is playing the role at all.

Russell Crowe’s accent is more consistent, but isn’t actually good. The comedy accent he put on to play Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder worked for that part in that movie; the comedy accent he uses in this film, not so much.