I have a rather ambivalent relationship with Gothic writing.  I've read my share (and continue to do so), but I seem to have difficulty finding authors that are able to create an engaging tale without reverting to unbearably verbose dialogue.  So it was with some expectation of tedium that I began reading "Open Grave: The Book of Horror" by Jeani Rector.  

I was pleasantly surprised.

The book is effectively split in two: the first half short stories, the second a novella.  I found the short stories engaging -- the consistent pace and economical writing made them very memorable, and I must say the author is obviously unafraid of taking risks in the Gothic genre (as can be seen in "The Burial", which is based on Native American rituals).

"Any mad scientists planning to genetically engineer Dracula this Halloween should look to the vampire bat for inspiration. New research pinpoints some of the genetic changes that allowed them to evolve to subsist on a diet of pure blood..."

Read the full article here.

Over the course of the past several years I have tried a number of Absinthe brands, and this past weekend hosted a small gathering where we sampled several... including Taboo.  For those of you who have never tried Absinthe, I will provide a bit of background and a brief summary of what is commonly available.

First, Absinthe is not the mystical/halucinogenic/poisonous/horrible drink that popular culture would have you believe it to be.  Some people have indeed had unfortunately Absinthe experiences, generally due to poor preparation or sampling a less-than-stellar brand.

The prevalent misconception is that Absinthe has hallucinogenic qualities, due in part to some magical ingredient called "Wormwood".  Wormwood is known to contain the chemical Thujone, which is attributed to the psychedelic qualities associated with Absinthe.  In fact, recent studies have proven that traditional Absinthe contained very small amounts of Thujone.  To put the issue in perspective, a person would sucumb to alcohol poisoning long before the effects of Thujone could produce any life-threatening effects.

So, what is Abinthe like?  The predominant flavor is licorice, with perhaps a small amount of bitterness (depending on the brand).

The most recent brand I have tried is Taboo, produced in British Columbia, Canada.  This is quite possibly the nicest brand I have found -- the flavor is excellent, and is not as sweet as Absente.  If you are looking for a brand that actually benefits from the addition of sweetener (water poured over a sugar cube, if serving traditionally), then this is one you must try. 

From College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Illinois

Unlike other cultural trends, goth has staying power.

First came punk. Then came goth. Then came decades of goth, even as less enduring cultural phenomena of its period went the way of Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols. Goth, it seems, in all its dark contrast to mainstream society, has a niche.

That's the conclusion reached by Lauren Goodlad, a professor of English at the University of Illinois, and Michael Bibby, a professor of English at Shippensburg University, who studied the goth subculture. Some 25 years after its emergence as an offshoot of punk rock, they say, goth is undead.

Well, perhaps not strictly-speaking "Gothic", but certainly Victorian.  There are numerous resources on the internet for anyone interested in 19th-century cooking, but many recipes are impractical for two reasons:

1. the ingredients are obscure
2. the quantities are enormous

What I've compiled here are recipes that would be practical for the 21st-century Goth with Victorian tastes (who doesn't have Victorian taste?)... you won't need a large or terribly well-stocked kitchen, just the inclination to obtain the ingredients and spend some time on the preparation.