Discussions of Japanese detective fiction, especially those concerning the pre-World War II period, will inevitably mention the name Edogawa Rampo. Essayists will mention how he was the first full-time modern crime writer in Japan, and how he’s considered the father of the Japanese detective story. They will also mention how Hirai Tarō’spen name, Edogawa Rampo,…
Here is a photo of me as a fierce, honorable, and kinda-hot Viking Spear-Dane: Okay. So it’s actually a photo of Viking Barbie from a website where they sell Barbies of the World. But on days when life gets tough, and the writing’s not going well, this is how I like to think of myself.…
Recently, the web was aflutter with the news that in 2012 Baltimore plans to cut off funding for its Poe House. This imminent closing has raised again the question of which city can call itself the Poe city. Six cities lay claim to Edgar Allan Poe: Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charlottesville, Richmond, and New York. Although born…
