Hal Johnson's Blog, page 11

A garland of quotations CVII

Is this my best book? Maybe

Man suffers, it is possible; but just look at Aldebaran rising!
•Victor Hugo, Les Misérables (1862).

I have never seen the evening Star set behind the mountains but it was as if I had lost a Hope our of my Soul—as if Love were gone, & a sad Memory only remained— / O it was my earliest Affection, the Evening Star / —One of my first utterances in verse was an address to it, as I was returning from the New River, and it looked newly bathed as well as I—I could remember that...

Blvd. of Blood

Continued from here. Table of contents for ease of navigation here.

(The story so far: Colin Lang, respectable actuary at Radcliffe Worth Partners, has purchased a rifle and plenty of ammunition. There are still about four months until April, when he plans to use them.)

So many books I write

16.

Right before Christmas, like a miracle, Colin found what he needed at a Target. He’d been there shopping for a bicycle—window shopping really, since he wasn’t going to buy anything until the post-Christmas s...

Truly Wordless Comic Panels

Perhaps your library has my books?

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Sal Buscema!

A garland of quotations CVI

Perhaps your library has my books?

Justice, like lightning, shall ever appear
To some men hope, and to other men fear!
•Tony Isabella, Black Lightning #1 (1977).

For such is the fate of great truths, that their duration is only as a flash of lightning in the long and dark night of error. The happy time is not yet arrived, when truth, as falsehood has been hitherto, shall be the portion of the greatest number.
•Cesare Beccaria, On Crimes and Punishments (1764).

Text within this block will maintain its ...

Blvd. of Blood

Continued from here. Table of contents for ease of navigation here.

(The story so far: Colin Lang grows a beard and continues to plan something mysterious and horrible; Bernie Feldman knows only that he has some part to play in it on April 10; also, he has always hated Alan Jancewicz.)

These books you can read complete

12.

Delia Jancewicz frogmarched Alan, her only son, to the car. He would be upset if they were late, even by a minute, but he also refused to hurry. He took his time tying his shoes; ...

Truly Wordless Comic Panels

My latest book! Knights of legend!

N.B.: Paratext doesn’t count!

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Toth & Barry!

A garland of quotations CV

Consider supporting me by buying a book

It may be replied that some meddlesome human writers, notably Boethius, have let this secret out.
•C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (1941).

O Fortuna,
like the moon
you are changeable,
always waxing
or waning;
now this abominable life
oppresses
and then it soothes
by capricious whim;
it melts poverty
and power
like ice.
•Carmina Burana (C 13).

For every climat hath the diel
After the tornynge of the whiel
Which blinde fortune overthroweth;
Whereof the certain noman knoweth....

Blvd. of Blood

Continued from here. Table of contents for ease of navigation here.

(The story so far: Colin Lang has acquired a tricked-out, unregistered rifle. Officer John Oberman and the rest of the police have no idea what he’s up to. CW: Hate crimes, antisemitism, constant looming threat of violence.)

Remember I also write "real" books

10.

Officer John Oberman crouched behind the vehicle in the synagogue parking lot and watched the three boys and wondered: How much of a swastika did he have to let them paint?...

Truly Wordless Comic Panels

These books I wrote—for filthy lucre!

Thanks for reading Hal Johnson Books! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Lou Fine!

A garland of quotations CIV

None dare stop you from buying a book!

Even though the gods themselves willed it no such good fortune could befall me.
•Homer, Odyssey.

—I don’t mean to presume to dictate to you in the slightest degree but why did you leave your father’s house?
—To seek misfortune, was Stephen’s answer.
•Joyce, Ulysses (1922).

I soon came to a resolution of making this launch into the wide world, by repairing to London, in order to seek my fortune, a phrase which, by the bye, has ruined more adventurers of both sexes...