Category Archives: Sample Essays

Some examples of essays written for APA zines. Yes, I’m that old.

Decoding “Classic” TV

Posted on September 22, 2022 by Gene Stewart

A percipient commentary by John Oliver regarding Dick Wolf’s Law and Order empire revealed how propagandistic and unrealistic it is. Diane Neal, who played an assistant district attorney on the show, chimed in to concur a few days later. It’s neither … Continue reading →

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Be Amazed

Posted on September 21, 2022 by Gene Stewart

Remakes are easier to get funded because they have a proven record. That has traditionally been what has driven Hollywood to keep producing retreads. Same story, new cast. What’s been happening lately differs because X-gen and later directors who grew … Continue reading →

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Why I’m So Old

Posted on September 16, 2022 by Gene Stewart

Years ago, having published short fiction for more than a decade, in scads of magazines (remember them?) and anthologies, I’d begun writing novellas and novels.  Some of my novellas began appearing, notably in the War World Series of military sf … Continue reading →

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Freedom of Expression Blues

Posted on August 14, 2022 by Gene Stewart

Glad to hear Rushdie’s off ventilator and on the mend. His life is changed drastically once again due to hate. All our lives are changed once again. It’s appalling. As a writer I’m for free expression and peaceful discourse. Murder … Continue reading →

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Obverse Obsessions

Posted on July 9, 2022 by Gene Stewart

An artist named Stoneham painted The Hands Resist Him, a painting called ‘haunted’ that sold for $150,000 on eBay.  It shows a creepy boy and a large female doll standing in front of a set of French doors, with hands … Continue reading →

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Detecting Patterns

Posted on July 8, 2022 by Gene Stewart

Given my missing eye and intubation rasp, I could play Squint, a mob boss who cornered the market for glasses and is taking care of business by eliminating opticians who can’t see the lay of the land. My tag-line: ‘I … Continue reading →

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Dismissers

Posted on June 22, 2022 by Gene Stewart

Interpretation sabotages both archaeology and ethnology. Cave art is seen in a way to benefit a prevailing view. Carvings, sculpture, and bas-relief at ancient sites are dismissed when anachronism is noticed, such as ancient, modern, or off-continent plants and animals, … Continue reading →

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Do You Hear What I’m Hearing?

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Gene Stewart

Not sure the 1/6/21 hearings will make a dent. People don’t track. They’re kept busy with life trouble, from plagues and supply chain shortages to gnawing anxiety and collapsing healthcare.  Distraction from the coup. Evidence from the hearing could not … Continue reading →

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Let Me Take A Shot At This

Posted on June 9, 2022 by Gene Stewart

Susie and I watched the superb movie BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK. All-star understated layers of oblique dialogue and concise storytelling. Spencer Tracy carries no gun. His character solves problems with appropriate response and is polite and peaceful throughout. Afterwards, … Continue reading →

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Scrape It Off

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Gene Stewart

Influence on writers of cosmic, or weird, horror can and should be credited to H P Lovecraft’s work. Setting aside racism, his work touched on a cold existential view of mankind, Earth, the Solar system, even the Milky Way Galaxy, … Continue reading →

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