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News Roundup 2024-12-22

Personal / Website News

Review: Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore

One more article up here at the website before 2024 ends and I am going out talking to what I believe is the video game of the year: Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore.

Slipcase of Arzette with an xbox case poking out from it. Next to it is a CD version of Arzette in a sleeve as well. The cover is pink. It depicts Arzette slashing her sword. Behind her are various characters from the game, culled from the game's cut scenes.
Personal copy of Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore on Xbox. The packaging mimics that of a CD-i game.

I had pre-ordered this game from Limited Run thinking it would be a fun little CD-i Zelda curio, but it turned out to be a fantastic adventure/Metroidvania that I could not put the controller down (I beat the game across all difficulties in just a few days). I loved this game and I hope you check out my write up about it here.

Fan2Fan Podcast Appearances

The cool kids at the Fan2Fan Podcast have dropped two episodes that I am a guest on.

First there is the episode “Nick Diak Recommends“.

Square image thats used as a thumbnail for the podcast episode. The picture depicts a row of horror VHS covers such as Army of Darkness, They Live, Dead Alive, lien, V/H/S/2. The thumbnail says: F2F taff Picks. New Pan2Fan Podcast Episode! Nick Diak Staff Recommends. fanpodcast.com.
Thumbnail for Fan2Fan Episode of Nick Diak – Staff recommends.

Nick Diak's Movie Recommendations – Fan2Fan Podcast

And then there is an episode of me reminiscing about Scarecrow Video in Seattle back in the 2000s.

Square thumbnail for the podcast episode. The image shows a black and white photo (but the letters are in yellow) of the Scarecrow Video sign above the entrance to the store. It says "F2f New Fan2Fan Podcast Episode! Found 1988. Scarecrow Video. Leading the way for video in a digital age. Fanpodcast.com.
Thumbnail for Fan2Fan Episode about Scarecrow Video.

Scarecrow Video with Nick Diak – Fan2Fan Podcast

These episodes can be streamed via the links above, or the embedded players, or through your favorite Podcast App. Check them out!

Sincere appreciation to the Fan2Fan crew for having me on their podcast.

Vilioti Noir

Sincerely chuffed to find myself name dropped in the new book Vilioti Noir: Interviews with the World’s Greatest Neo-Noir Creatives. What an honour!

Cover shows a pinup girl/femme fatale. She has nylon elbow length gloves, a dress with red sequins, and is pointing a gun. She has black hair and is standing in front of a red curtain.
Cover for Vilioti Noir.

The book is the brain child of Lady Medusa and Jimmy Vargas. I’ve reviewed Vargas’ fiction in an issue of Exotica Moderne, and I’ve reviewed Medusa/Vargas’ prior collaboration, Vilioti Vintage, right here at my website. Give it a read!

Thank you page. Lady Medusa and Jimmy Vargas list lots of folks to thank. Vargas has me listed. Sincere appreciation!
Thank you page from Vilioti Noir.

I don’t think Vilioti Noir is out in the wild for purchase yet, but when it is, it will probably be found at the Vilioti Press website.

Citation News

The New Peplum has been cited in Ronald Blankenborg’s essay “The Wide Canvas of human Drama: Fantasizing Antiquity Through Graphic Novel” in the open source/access journal Thersites.

Journal cover. White background. There are two images on the cover contains in circles: one is of two roman statues pained in rainbow colors and the other are statues in various poses with balls around them. It's vaporware looking. The Cover says: Journal for Transcultural Presences & Diachronic Identities from Antiquity to Date. Thersites 12/2024. Matthias Heinemann, Adrian Weiss, & Christine Walde (eds.). Fantastic antiquities and where to find them: ancient worlds in (post-)modern novels. www.thersites-journal.de.
Cover of Thersites 19/2024.

The essay can be read here – check it out!

McFarland Holiday Sale

Did you miss out on McFarland’s Black Friday sale of 35% off books? Well, worry not for the publisher is still doing an online sale, though at 20% off instead of 35% off. Still a great deal! During check out, use code HOLIDAY24 to get 20% off your order.

If you want to support me, consider buying a copy of The New Peplum or Horror Literature from Gothic to Post-Modern:

The New Peplum book. The cover is a scene from the Rock version of Hercules - it shows Hercules and his companions and small army behind him.
Cover art for The New Peplum

New Peplum McFarland Page

Cover is black and red. The black is a spooky person in a hooded cloak surrounded by silhouettes of trees. Behind the figure is a red light.
Cover of Horror Literature from Gothic to Post-Modern: Critical Essays.

Horror Literature McFarland Page

If you want to support Michele, consider buying James Bond and Popular Culture and Horror in Space: Critical Essays (I have essays in both):

Cover shows Sean Connery as Bond, holding his Walther PPK and a martini. Behind him is a swirl of the gun barrel.
Cover of James Bond and Popular Culture.

James Bond McFarland Page

Cover is a frame from the movie Jason X where it shows Jason walking through a circular hallway on a space station.
Cover for Horror in Space.

Horror in Space McFarland Page

If you’re interested in another book that I have an essay in, consider The Many Lives of the Twilight Zone and Uncovering Stranger Things:

Cover depicts a white door that is open and there is a swirl going on in it. The door stands by itself on a grassy area. Behind it is airspace with stars and planets.
Cover of The Many Lives of The Twilight Zone: Essays on the Television and Film Franchise.

Twilight Zone Product Page

Cover shows the silhouettes of four kids on bikes, with a dark and stormy road going to the horizon. Beneath them are x-mas lights.
Cover for Uncovering Stranger Things.

Uncovering Stranger Things McFarland Page

A Hero Will Endure Paperback Relese + Discount

Vernon Press, the publisher of A Hero Will Endure: Essays at the Twentieth Anniversary of Gladiator, has just released a cheaper, paperback version of the book, just in time for Gladiator 2!

Cover for A Hero Will Endure. It shows a ghostly blue arm running through an orange field of wheat (or some other agricultural plant).
A Hero Will Endure.

The paperback is at the much more friendly price of $57 compared to $96 for the hardcover and $107 for an electronic version. All editions of the book can be found at the Vernon Press product page.

In addition, the publisher is offering a coupon on purchases of the collection! From now until the end of January 2025, if you use code SLZM30 at check out, you’ll get 30% off the title. So, the $57 book now becomes $39.99. Nice!

ECOF 2025

In September of 2025 there will be an Edgar Rice Burroughs Chain of Friendship (ECOF) event down in Willcox, AZ. This event is to celebrate the 150th birthday of Burroughs while also honoring him with a plaque in the town due to his stationing with there the 7th U.S. Calvary in the 1890s. (Note: another ERB convention was held in Willcox back in 2019 and an event recap of that can be read at ERBZine #7059).

Here is a flyer for the 2025 event:

The flyer shows desert mountains with three insert images: one of a young Edgar Rice Burroughs in 1896, one of the author Jeffrey J. Mariotte (who is the guest of honour), and one of the Willcox train depot in the 1880s. The flyer reads was follows: Edgar Rice Burroughs ERB Inc.'s Commemoration of ERB's 150th Birthday! 7th Cavalry Historical Monument Celebration Willcox, AZ, September 25-28, 2025. Formal Dedication on September 27th, 2025. Sponsored by the Suplher Springs Valley Historical Society and the Arizona Apache Deveils Chapter of the Burroughs Bibliophiles.
Flyer for the Edgar Rice Burroughs Circle of Friendship (ECOF) Gathering in Willcox, AZ 2025.

I’ll share more information about the event as I find out more on my website updates. There currently is a fundraiser going on to raise funds for the ERB plaque, and details for that can be found in the QR code in the above graphic, or by checking out the donation page at the Sulphur Springs Valley Valley Historical Society. 3.8K of 5K has been raised already. 

Michele and I will be in attendance for this convention, so I’ve added it to the appearances section of my website as well. 

Publishing Recap

Below is a recap of my publishing endeavors so far in 2024.

Cover of the journal portrays a scene from John Carter's Mars. There is a multi-armed green skinned alien holding a spear riding atop of a multi-legged blue mount that looks like a horse and a brontosaurus? Next to them is Woola, a puppy-like alien with 10 legs. They are on the martian landscape which is very orange.
National Capital Panthans Journal #326.

Comic Book Review: “Carson of Venus: The Flames Beyond#1″ reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #326.

Cover shows a scene from a John Carter moment. There is a free multi-armed alien atop a blue steed. There are robots on spider legs firing weapons. There are round domed buildings that dot the rocky landscape.
National Capital Panthans Journal #327.

Comic Book Review: “Carson of Venus: The Flames Beyond#2″ reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #327.

Cover art by Mark Wheatley. It shows Tarzan atop a barren tree trunk, pulling the string on a bow.
National Capital Panthans Journal #328.

Comic Book Review: “Carson of Venus: The Flames Beyond#3″ reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #328.

Cover is called "Stand with Thoris" by Mark Wheatley. It shows Dejah Thoris wearing a dress and holding a long sword in her right hand. There is a domed building in the distance.
National Capital Panthans Journal #329.

Comic Book Review: “Carson of Venus / Warlord of Mars #1″ reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #329.

Cover shows a sail boat, manned by three folks, on a green sea against a pink sky.
National Capital Panthans Journal #330.

“Wondercon 2019 Coverage: Tarzan, John Carter, and Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc.: What’s New?” reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #330.

Cover of Panthans Journal #331 done by Mark Wheatley. It shows Carson from the Venus stories, jumping through the air, firing his laser pistol down at a group of savage barbarians who are armed with bows.
Panthans Journal #331

Comic Book Review: “The Moon Maid: Catacombs of the Moon #1″ reprinted in the National Capital Panthans Journal #331.

Miscellaneous Tidbits

Some fun things and shout outs from these past few weeks. I shared a lot of autographed swag on Bluesky, so I’m going to reshare them here.

Forgotten Realms Campaign Boxset

Last year I shared the tale of how my Local Comic Book Store back in Federal Way had Jeff Grubb as a customer and did a meet-n-greet and signing event with him. I shared that Grubb has signed one of my Forgotten Realms modules, “Endless Armies”. That recap can be read here.

Box with a gold cover. It shows a nomadic warrior on horseback. It is signed "Enjoy! Jeff Grubb".
Forgotten Realms Campaign setting boxset signed by Jeff Grubb.

Grubb signed lots of other stuff from Michele and I. One of the other items he signed was my Forgotten Realms campaign boxset. Check that bad boy out! And I still have everything in it too!

Space Truckers DVD

Someone on Bluesky did a post that shared their adoration of the Stuart Gordon movie Space Truckers (1996), which afforded me the perfect opportunity to share my autographed copy of the film.

Standard black DVD case. Very red cover. Cover shows Dennis Hopper, Stephen Dorff, and Debi Mazar in space helmets. There are red stars and space explosions everywhere.
Personal copy of Space Truckers signed by Stuart Gordon.

I’ve shared my autographed copy of RobotJox (1990) before (link here), but I never talked about how we met Gordon (RIP). He was a guest at a Monsterpalooza event in the LA Area, and here is a picture of all of us. He will be missed!

Stuart Gordon stands in the middle, arms around Nick and Michele. Behind them is a hotel conference room lobby with vendors selling movie memorabilia.
Nicholas Diak, Michele Brittany, and Stuart Gordon.

Cherry 2000 DVD

The 80s gave us lots of cyberpunk films, from Bladerunner to Akira to Max Headroom. Cherry 2000 is, I feel, a forgotten film of 80s cyberpunk. I have a copy of the DVD signed by cult actor Tim Thomerson and Connie Woods.

Standard black DVD case. Cover shows a red haired Melanie Griffith holding a large rifle. There is a big sun behind her and a red, desert landscape. In Black it is signed "Nick - Tim Thomerson" and in Silver it is signed "To Nick, Love Connie Woods".
Personal copy of Cherry 2000 signed by Tim Thomerson and Connie Woods.

Connie Woods was in an episode of the original run of Twin Peaks. I met her at Twin Peaks reunion at a Hollywood Collector’s show where she signed my DVD:

Nicholas Diak (left) wearing glassing, a grey shirt over another grey shirt. Connie Woods has a white shirt and brown hair.
Nicholas Diak and Connie Woods.

Italian Sexy Comedy

A book from the collection, here is Italian Sexy Comedy. This book is 99% pictures from Italian sex-comedy films, so stockings everywhere. I love it.

But, I also love it in that its shore foreword is pretty informative in talking about how Italian horror films faved the way for the sex comedies. This actually become a big point in my masters thesis back in the day.

Cover shows a portly man next to a black hair woman who is only wearing white panties, white garters, and black stockings.
Personal copy of Italian Sexy Comedy.

My book is also signed by starlet Barbara Bouchet!

Photo in the book. Barbara Bouchet stands in a door frame. She is wearing only a white bra and white panties. In silver marker it is signed "To Nick with Love - Barbara Bouchet".
Barbara Bouchet page from Italian Sexy Comedy signed by the actress.

Victoria Vetri Autographs

A couple months ago I sent off my Blu-ray sleeves of When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970) and Kings of the Sun (1963) to Hammer Glamour lady Victoria Vetri, and I just got them back. Check them out!

Standard Blu-ray case. Shows the movie's poster - which shows a dinosaur eating a woman, a blonde cavewoman holding a spear, people dancing around a fire. In blue marker it is signed "Sanna - Victoria Vetri".
Blu-ray of “When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth” signed by Victoria Vetri.

And:

Kings of the Sun Blu-ray, which shows the poster of the movie. It has Yul Brynner dressed as a Native American, thrusting a spear at George Chakiris, who is wearing armor and a leopard print cape and wielding a sword. Behind them is a titanic Mayan pyramid with multiple skirmishes of soldiers about. In blue sharpie it is signed in the top center "Victoria Vetri".
Kings of the Sun Blu-ray autographed by Victoria Vetri.

Since one film is a spear and fang movie and the other a Mesoamerican Historic Epic, Michele and I will probably wind up talking about them on a vidcast next year.

The Children of Gla’aki

Finally, one more sharing of autographed loot from the archives, is my copy of The Children of Gla’aki.

Cover shows Gla'aki. It looks kinda of like a turtle crossed with a porcupine. It has need like teeth. There's lots of tentacles coming off of its spine body, each one has an eye at the end.
Children of Gla’aki cover.

My copy is signed by the legendary Ramsey Campbell:

Title page of the book. In black (or dark purple?) ink it is signed "Very far to Nicholas! Ramsey Campbell" (It may say something else, but it is kinda a scribble).
Children of Gla’aki title page signed by Ramsey Campbell.

And the prolific Tim Waggoner:

First page of Tim Waggoner's story "The Nature of Water". In black ink it is signed "To Nick - water water everywhere... - Tim Waggoner"
Tim Waggoner’s story signed by the author.

If folks recall, Michele and I rebooted the HP Lovecast Podcast talking about stories from this book. That episode can be streamed at this link, the embedded player below, or through your podcast app of preference.

Ep 26 – The Children of Gla'aki – H. P. Lovecast Podcast