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Tag Archives: richard
Devil’s Lake Monster by Richard Stevenson
Devil’s Lake Monster Richard Stevenson Legend has it fresh water octopi reside in Devil’s Lake. Drowned canoes of Nakota braves. Back in the day. But, nah, the Nakota Sioux have it the creature was more like a plesiosaur, and … Continue reading
Organism 46B by Richard Stevenson
Organism 46B Richard Stevenson Organism 46B?! What kinda moniker is that for a lithe querulous cryptid who bumped his noggin to break ice in Siberia? I’ve scarfed enough intrepid trappers who braved chilly temperatures to discover me. The least … Continue reading
The Zaratan by Richard Stevenson
The Zaratan Richard Stevenson The Zaratan’s giant turtle’s shell houses trees and shrubs, looks like an island, a good place to dock, but no – The island that was an upside down monster turtle nibbled at birds, the landed … Continue reading
(Care and Feeding of) The Flathead Lake Monster by Richard Stevenson
(Care and Feeding of) The Flathead Lake Monster Richard Stevenson Don’t surface much. You might see me once a year, though I do runs of six appearances when I feel up to it. Slap tag, tumble turns – I … Continue reading
The Bald Beast of Nisqually Hill by Richard Stevenson
The Bald Beast of Nisqually Hill Richard Stevenson The Bald Beast of Nisqually Hill was said to be seven feet tall, had pink eyes that glowed in the dark, wore a Ben Casey white lab coat. Who knows? He … Continue reading
Carnivorous Algae by Richard Stevenson
Carnivorous Algae Richard Stevenson It may look innocent enough: a pond scum colony of algae floating in a large amorphous shape on the surface of the sea. Amoeba-like, the colony first surrounds its victim. Then like a jellyfish, tiny … Continue reading
The Muhuru by Richard Stevenson
The Muhuru Richard Stevenson The Muhuru don’t moo or croon; he just bops you on the noggin when he’s out sloggin’ in a swamp or fen and you get in his way. Ol’ Stegosaurus had a thagomizer – four … Continue reading
White Screamer by Richard Stevenson
White Screamer Richard Stevenson Tennessee’s own Banshee screamer tormented a man who built a farm house for his family of nine in the holler back of White Bluff in twenty aught. Got fed up with the late-night screaming, loaded … Continue reading
Interview with Artist, Richard H. Fay
Interview with Artist, Richard H. Fay AR: What sort of art do you do? RHF: I create art inspired by history, myth, folklore, and legend. I’m a published science fiction, fantasy, and horror artist and a print-on-demand store owner who … Continue reading
An Interview with Author and Poet, Richard H. Fay
An Interview with Author and Poet, Richard H. Fay AR: Do you write poetry, prose, or a mixture of both? RHF: I’m primarily a poet, but I have written some prose fiction (short stories) and nonfiction (articles). AR: Have you … Continue reading
from Dark Watcher: Cryptid Critter Poems by Richard Stevenson
octo-squatch has eight furry legs and a furry head the Basque mountain roads get cold best wear a Squatch Skin coat. * Tahoe Tessie’s on a tear! Took off with Mawsie’s underwear! * the Lake Van Monster – kin to … Continue reading
Manticore: Man-Eating Hybrid Beast of Legend and Art by Richard H. Fay
Manticore: Man-Eating Hybrid Beast of Legend and Art Richard H. Fay A legendary monster that bore many names (Manticore, Manticora, Mantichora, Manticory, Manticoras, Martikhora, Mantiserra, Memecoleous, Mancomorion, and the Satyral), the fearsome Manticore featured in the lore, bestiaries, and creative … Continue reading
Posted in Non-fiction
Tagged fay, Mancomorion, Mantichora, Manticora, Manticoras, Manticore, Manticory, Mantiserra, Martikhora, Memecoleous, richard, Satyral
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Pterosaur Sighting Report by Richard Stevenson
Pterosaur Sighting Report Richard Stevenson O.K. So let me see if I got this straight. You say you saw a pterosaur – not a dinosaur – gotcha – but a giant featherless flying reptile? Would that be a Pteranodon or … Continue reading
Monster of the Mere by Richard Stevenson
Monster of the Mere Richard Stevenson Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Reserve, Martin Mere, Ormskirk, Lancashire – not the sort of place you’d expect honkin’ big swans and ducks to just disappear! Somethin’ the size of and weight of a truck … Continue reading
Merfolk: Sea People of Folklore and Legend by Richard H. Fay
Merfolk: Sea People of Folklore and Legend Richard H. Fay Featured in the lore of many human cultures, merfolk were said to be people of the sea, although some resided in freshwater. In their most usual form, these beings appeared … Continue reading
Kushii by Richard Stevenson
Kushii Richard Stevenson Lake Kusharo on the northern island of Hokkaido, Japan, can claim its own thirty- to- sixty-foot crater lake cryptid. Dubbed Kushii, she’s dark brown with a horse-like head with two giraffe-like stubby nubbins and broad boat bottom … Continue reading
Hoan Kiem Turtle by Richard Stevenson
Hoan Kiem Turtle Richard Stevenson Only one Hoan Kiem Turtle left in Hoan Kiem Lake, Japan; only five specimens known to exist. Not as big as the legend has claimed, but acclaimed nonetheless. Big as a table, but soft and … Continue reading
Posted in cryptid, Fantasy, Poetry
Tagged cryptid, Hoan, Kiem, richard, stevenston, Turtle
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Sabine Thing by Richard Stevenson
Sabine Thing Richard Stevenson The Sabine Things ain’t aggressive or mean; ain’t no gorilla escapee from some zoo: he’s a grey-haired bipedal hominid the like of me or you. Kinda shy, retirin’. Hang fire with the blunderbuss, Gus. Put away … Continue reading
Quickfoot by Richard Stevenson
Quickfoot Richard Stevenson Two sightings reports in the rural U.K. – that’s all you’ve got. No hairy hominid cell phone camera pics, no scat, no hair samples. A hairy blur is all. Not interested in showing up for roll-call – … Continue reading
Mussie by Richard Stevenson
Mussie Richard Stevenson Hi, I’m Mussie of Muskrat Lake. Pleased to make yer acquaintance. Some say I’ve got three eyes; some think I’m a lake-bound walrus, for heaven’s sake! For the record, I’ve got two peeps, same as you. Ain’t … Continue reading
The Gugwe by Richard Stevenson
The Gugwe Richard Stevenson Next time you get the notion of filling a water bottle and prepping a tent, backpack, and sleeping bag for a camp-out in the deep, dark woods, think again! Unless you’ve got a forty-four magnum pistol … Continue reading
Clahuchu and Bride by Richard Stevenson
Clahuchu and Bride Richard Stevenson Last of the Juju tribe of Devil Men, Clahuchu and bride lay side by side in the coffin dug up from their Haitian grave. Mummies most mum about their circumstances, they nevertheless manage to exude … Continue reading
An Argentine Alien by Richard Stevenson
An Argentine Alien Richard Stevenson An Argentine alien has rustled the bushes and stepped into view. He’s not like me or you. He’s but four foot two – kinda green, maybe blue. I’m so outta here, whatever this thing is … Continue reading
Black Demon Shark by Richard Stevenson
Black Demon Shark Richard Stevenson Melanized great white shark or sixty-foot megalodon spied just off the coast of the Baja, California, peninsula? Who knows? He’s got a huge threshing tail though and concentric rows of nasty teeth. Not the sort … Continue reading
Mugwump by Richard Stevenson
Mugwump Richard Stevenson Lake Temiskaming, Ontario, is my home. Don’t often surface, so you may not know me. “Old Tessie” is one handle, but Mugwump?! Really?! That’s such an insulting moniker. Makes me feel like I don’t even swim, just … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy, Poetry, Science Fiction
Tagged cryptid, monster, mugwump, ontario, richard, stevenson, temiskaming
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Skinwalker Ranch by Richard Stevenson
Skinwalker Ranch Richard Stevenson Skinwalker Ranch ain’t on no maps – at least the parts yer interested in: the hellmouth portals, astral wormholes. After you’ve been there though, you’ll know: the solution to the sasquatch/dogman quandary ain’t all material. Hey, … Continue reading
A Variety of Draconic Creatures by Richard H. Fay
A Variety of Draconic Creatures Richard H. Fay Most folks, when you say the word “dragon”, envision a four-legged, winged, fire-breathing, reptilian monster. In actuality, although many dragons of both modern popular culture and traditional lore fit snugly into this … Continue reading
Posted in Non-fiction
Tagged beasts, bestiary, bonnacon, creatures, draco, draconic, dragon, drakon, fafnir, fay, gargouille, gargoyle, hesperides, lambton, lindwrum, lindwrums, linton, monsters, mythical, peluda, richard, stollenwurm, tarasque, tatzelwurm, typhon, wode, worm, wyrm, wyvern
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Selected Scifaiku by Richard H. Fay
wander the ether drift past strange and frightful beasts bodiless journey ray gun destruction end of civilization alien conquest clash of tempered steel armoured gladiators meet robotic war games gothic armour mainspring powers pulleys clockwork knight green chitinous domes buzzing … Continue reading
The Good and the Bad of Critiques by Richard H. Fay
The Good and the Bad of Critiques by Richard H. Fay While critiques and literary criticisms often contain useful advice for the aspiring author and poet, there is a dark side to this sector of the literary realm. What I … Continue reading
The Darker Side of Fairy Lore By Richard H. Fay
The Darker Side of Fairy Lore By Richard H. Fay Many people today think of fairies as rainbow-winged pixies prancing about in a sylvan wonderland. However, traditional tales about the denizens of the fairy realm spoke of beings and practices … Continue reading
The Alp and the Schrattl by Richard H. Fay
The Alp and the Schrattl By Richard H. Fay According to traditional Germanic lore, strange creatures haunted the craggy peaks and shadowed vales of the European Alps. Some of these beings delighted in troubling humankind, using supernatural powers to harass … Continue reading
Some Arms and Armour Terms and Facts by Richard H. Fay
Some Arms and Armour Terms and Facts by Richard H. Fay Even in this supposed Age of Information, some people still seem a bit misinformed when it comes to proper terminology used for and certain actual facts about historic arms … Continue reading
Some Arms and Armour Terms and Facts by Richard H. Fay Even in this supposed Age of Information, some people still seem a bit misinformed when it comes to proper terminology used for and certain actual facts about historic arms … Continue reading
Robert the Bruce by Richard H. Fay
Robert the Bruce by Richard H. Fay Alexander III’s fatal fall down a seaside cliff during a stormy night in 1286 plunged the kingdom of Scotland into a cascade of events that eventually led to a series of wars with … Continue reading
Edward IV by Richard H. Fay
Edward IV by Richard H. Fay The fifteenth century English civil war that became known as the “Wars of the Roses” arose out of tension between the rival houses of Lancaster and York. Both dynasties could trace their ancestry back … Continue reading
Speculative Poetry: Past, Present, and Future by Richard H. Fay
Speculative Poetry: Past, Present, and Future Richard H. Fay Occasionally shoved into a dark, stuffy corner of the literary attic by its critics, speculative poetry actually possesses a heritage and current potential at least as rich and exciting as that … Continue reading
Radioactive Frogs by Richard Stevenson
Radioactive Frogs Richard Stevenson Ribbit… Rubbit… Friggit… We’re radioactive frogs. Don’t snap up insects on the wing now we’re the size of dogs. We let the swallows swoop down for a gnat and skeeter feast, then we snap them up … Continue reading
Dark Matter by Richard Stevenson
Dark Matter Richard Stevenson Dark matter, dark matter… The brouhaha and chatter is you take up most of space. Most of time too, which is not separate from space but part of a continuum. Confused? Good, so am I! Can’t … Continue reading
Bondegezu, Tree Kangaroo by Richard Stevenson
Bondegezu, Tree Kangaroo Richard Stevenson Yo! Homo sapiens dude, Bondegezu, tree kangaroo. Ain’t no cryptid critter since you guys tracked me down. Lemme get down from this tree. Don’t worry. I ain’t no pugilist, Don’t practice Muay Thai or Kung … Continue reading
Napes by Richard Stevenson
Napes Richard Stevenson Napes, Napes, new world apes: ain’t gorillas or chimpanzees. Napes, napes, c’mon, pull the drapes; let us get a good long look at you. What, did you get tired of the competition for good real estate in … Continue reading
The Yeren’s Complaint by Richard Stevenson
The Yeren’s Complaint Richard Stevenson Yeah, we’re hairy, healthy Yerin. Don’t appreciate yer starin’ Just wanna root for roots and berries. Never mind our dental caries. Leave us a bar of soap, some shampoo. Let us soak our yarbles in … Continue reading
Fiskerton Phantom by Richard Stevenson
Fiskerton Phantom Richard Stevenson F-f-f- fear the Fiskerton Phantom, ABC – Alien Big Cat — of Lincolnshire, U.K. Big as a cougar; black as a panther. ‘E’s not about to scamper around to the back porch for handouts, miss; ‘e’s … Continue reading
Amomonga by Richard Stevenson
Amomonga Richard Stevenson Amomonga, Negros Island ape – Orang mawas, Ikugan equivalent names. “Wild monkey” that lives in the caves of Mt. Kanlaon. You like the innards of goats and chickens, Have eviscerated a couple of humans too to hear … Continue reading
Akkorakamui by Richard Stevenson
Akkorakamui Richard Stevenson Akkorakamui’s gonna nab you, if not with his long-reach tentacles then by his noxious inky exudate or foul-smelling body odour. Whew! You’ll wanna flee the scene a.s.a.p. lest you burn out both nostrils in a caustic neural … Continue reading
Manipogo by Richard Stevenson
Manipogo Richard Stevenson Manipogo – or Winnipogo – when you’re in a Winnipeg visitin’ mood – you sure got slinky, hinky moves. You can howl, whisper, whimper, croon… Lord knows you’d win a talent show if you ever had to … Continue reading
The Trouble with Unsolicited Messages By Richard H. Fay
The Trouble with Unsolicited Messages Richard H. Fay “We have a genuine extraterrestrial signal,” a SETI technician announced excitedly as he adjusted the knob on the receiver. Every scientist in the crowded dark room gathered closer as a series of … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction, Science Fiction
Tagged fay, messages, richard, space, spam, unsoliceted
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Father Ryan’s Fright by Richard H. Fay
Father Ryan’s Fright Richard H. Fay Originally published in Anotherealm, November 2013 One Sunday morn many years ago, in a small church well outside of Dublin town, Father Ryan stood in the pulpit and railed against belief in the Little … Continue reading
Woodwose by Richard H. Fay
Woodwose Richard H. Fay Saplings quiver then bow, bent by a hirsute brute possessed of gleaming eyes far too human. Originally published in Aphelion, December/January Issue, December 2011
Wondrous Gobbledygook by Richard H. Fay
Wondrous Gobbledygook Richard H. Fay On a wonderful Nagoogoo morn, While the bumox skip across the fwa, I strum the strings of my zidipip And slowly sip a gurgle burgle Beside the pink waters of Baffbee. On the puboo of … Continue reading
Tipsy Rambler by Richard H. Fay
Tipsy Rambler Richard H. Fay Tipsy rambler roams Darkened moorland. Tricksy goblins shift Moonlit landmarks. Befuddled soul trips D o w n Rocky brae. Invisible imps Laugh. Originally published in Aphelion, Issue 182, Volume 18, March 2014
The Brownie by Richard H. Fay
The Brownie Richard H. Fay Sweep, sweep, sweep, Clean the farmhouse floor in secret While tired mortal family sleeps. Wipe the table, dust the cupboard, Keep this farmer’s home looking neat. Churn, churn, churn, Perform certain household magic By making … Continue reading
Silicon Searchers by Richard H. Fay
Silicon Searchers Richard H. Fay Crystals pulsing with life pulverize rocky worlds, probing planetary scraps for lost kin. Originally published in Tales of the Talisman, Volume 8, Issue 1, August 2012
Pixies in the Porridge by Richard H. Fay
Pixies in the Porridge Richard H. Fay cold winter morn hearth flames crackle breakfast simmers impish twitters soft tug draws attention fire left untended vaporous sprites reel across steaming pot porridge burned
Last Thoughts of a Cosmic Fighter Pilot by Richard H. Fay
Last Thoughts of a Cosmic Fighter Pilot Richard H. Fay Shields and thrusters spent; Photon cannon dead. Adrift on the line As saucers break through. Warning sirens blare While fried circuits blow. Smoke blurs reddened sight As I think of … Continue reading