MY FIRST STORY COLLECTION! OVER 40 YEARS IN THE MAKING!

Friday, December 28, 2018

UNKNOWN WAR, WRITER TALES


Some Ed Wood fans will be disappointed with James Pontolillo's The Unknown War of Edward D. Wood, Jr. 1942–1946 because the myth of Battle Eddie, Fighting Transvestite, is debunked. The image/story of Wood as a U.S. Marine going into battle with a red (or was it pink?) bra and panties under his fatigues is too appealing to be true—always a clue that something is amiss. He changed the narrative to make a better story. That's what writers do. Even with our own life stories.

We have a lot in common with Walter Mitty, and Baron Munchausen. It is the nature of the beast.

After all didn't Harlan Ellison write a novella called All the Lies that Are My Life?

I'm actually amazed that people keep asking us to write our own bios. After a life of building a story-making machine in your head, it kicks in even when you aren't doing fiction. It's hard to resist your craft. And a little tinkering can make it better . . .

People keep saying I lead an interesting life. Maybe. It doesn't always seem that way when it's happening, but I know how to tell it to make it sound, well, like fiction.

All this doesn't mean that Unknown War isn't a fascinating read, and a valuable addition to the Ed Wood bookshelf. It fills the gaps in the story, and even makes it more interesting. Pontolillo used, and reproduces news clippings and Wood's medical and military records, and truths about the man, and World War Two, become self-evident.

All the mundane documentation. The military is good for that. They also documented Wood catching filariasis, that was cured before it caused elephantiasis, and his getting syphilis from a prostitute in California.

It turns out that Wood was clerk in the Marines, and never was in combat. Wars are mostly paperwork, or I suppose these days they'd say data entry. Office equipment is just as important as weaponry. Non-combat veterans tend to feel shame over their contributions, but they shouldn't. They did their part. They should be honored and thanked for it.

They also tend to tell tall tales about their service.

Actual combat vets don't, and it's hard to get them to tell their stories.

You can't actually blame guys like Wood for embellishing their experiences. He did lose his front teeth in the war, and saying it was the result of the rifle butt wielded by a Japanese soldier sounds better than the reality of getting injured during a ritual concerning his first crossing the Equator. And telling the Battle Eddie myth probably came in handy when people found out about his cross-dressing.

Also his hometown newspaper was cooperative in reporting fictitious combat experiences.

Besides, if you're going to make movies, write books, and become the Patron Saint of Creative Misfits—I imagine that by the end of this century, we will see a religion that worships Wood, along with Bela Lugosi, Tor Johnson, and Vampira—you can't just accept the ordinary, in your work or your life.

Or your story.

Friday, December 21, 2018

CHICANONAUTICA BUZZES THE CAMP OF RACSIM PORN


Chicanonautica reviews The Camp of the Saints, over at La Bloga.

It's Steve Bannon's favorite read:



Could it be influencing recent events?



Is it invasion?


Why?

Thursday, December 13, 2018

SAN DIEGO HUMANOID TACO LEFTOVERS

As usual, I took a lot of photos on my recent San Diego trip. Maybe too many. So here's some of the overflow:


The above was in my room at the El Pensione Hotel.


Down India Street, in Little Italy, there's actually a Mexican restaurant called El Camino, with some great murals.


A beautiful lady smiles.


Some mariachis are ready to play.


And down the street, an artifact of a bygone age.


I had time to do a pilgrimage to Chicano Park.


Took a whole lot of photos there.


These aren't all.


And of course, S.D. is recombocultural tiki country.


So git along into the future, little dogies!


And happy trails to you!

Friday, December 7, 2018

CHICANONAUTICA TALKS HIGH AZTECH NEAR THE BORDER


Chicanonautica, at La Bloga, recalls my recent trip near the border:



To talk about High Aztech at San Diego State University:


As part of William Nericcio's English 220: Robotic Erotic Electrico class:


Ticmotraspasarhuililis: