Especially gratifying were all the references to Philadelphia in the text. Baltimore is mentioned only as "a city not familiar to me." Ha! Oates has done her homework. At the end of Poe's life, Philadelphia would have been much more familiar to Poe than Baltimore. And let's not forget, Poe may have been planning on moving back to Philadelphia before his sudden death in that other city.
I've also learned that there is a collection of stories, Poe's Lighthouse, edited by Christopher Conlon and published by Cemetery Dance in 2006 (with atrocious cover art), in which 23 authors continue the narrative (or entirely reimagine it). I haven't been able to locate a copy yet. However, there is continuation of "The Lighthouse" by Robert Bloch which I've read in Sam Moscowitz's anthology, The Man Who Called Himself Poe. And there is story entitled "Poe's Light House," in Richard Selzer's short story collection, Imagine a Woman and Other Tales. I've just ordered a copy of that through my library. Selzer's story is currently being adapted into a movie.
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The Biblio File, was in town recently for the Philadelphia Book Festival and he interviewed the Philly Poe Guy about all things Poe. Nigel also took this picture of me and my talisman, along with some other cool shots of Philly, the true home of Edgar Allan Poe. I'll let you know when the interview is posted.
]]>My first idea for the talk was to give an in-depth look at the relationship between Poe and Lippard, both personally and critically, but I figured that most people just don't know enough about Lippard yet, so I focused on Lippard's life and works, especially The Quaker City. I've been invited back to give a talk on the intersections of Lippard and Poe. I'll let you know when that will be.
A great Q&A followed in which we got to talk about Poe, Lippard's devotion to him, Rosicrucians, Johannes Kelpius, and the Wissahickon Valley. Most unusual question: Is spermaceti a hallucinogenic? See my post on The Quaker City blog about my Lippardian research.
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Hope to see you there.
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Last Saturday was Free Comic Book Day, so I dutifully took my children to the nearest comic shop to further initiate them into the joys of comics. One of the freebies I picked up was a Graphic Classics sampler featuring Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" (along with stories by Conan Doyle, Ambrose Bierce, Lord Dunsany and Mary Shelley). It's a faithful adaptation by Rod Lott, illustrated in a realistic style by Gerry Alanguilan. I have to admit I'm not very adventurous when it comes to comics--I prefer real-life representational drawing--so this adaptation was very welcome and there was just enough of the story to whet a reader's appetite for more Poe, a bit condensed, but still very much Poe. On Sunday, I went to the Abington Library with some crime novelist guy to see Jim Warren, the brilliant publisher of horror magazines in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. As a boy, I was a big fan of his Famous Monsters of Filmland and couldn't wait to receive my monthly allowance money, so I 
Warren, Swierczy and Philly Poe Guycould blow it all on the latest issue (my father just shook his head in bewilderment). Warren also published Creepy, Eerie and Vampirella in magazine format (as well as many others). I was gratified to learn that Warren grew up in the same Philadelphia neighborhood as I did and actually edited all his early magazines from home (on his dining room table). Karen Burnham, at the library, took lots of pictures which you can see here (with captions) and many more here. There are also video snippets of Warren talking here. A stellar event with a stellar guy. Warren is a joy to hear.
Uncle Creepy introduces CaskWarren's magazines often featured Poe adaptations and a few weeks back, Golden Age Comic Book Stories Blog featured a whole week of Poe illustrations and comics, including some of Warren's. The Golden blog is wonderful--so many great things besides the Poe week--but it's not very reader-friendly. It's hard to search and find particular entries and they're sometimes spread out over several entries for a day. Nevertheless, what a treasure trove. If you click here you'll get the archive for April and if you scroll down al the Poe stuff is at the bottom.
To make it easier for you, here are the links to Warren's Creepy and Eerie Poe adaptations. Each image is a thumbnail, so it blows up to a readable size if you click on it:
Cask of Amontillado, part two (note how Montressor gets his comeuppance on the last page)
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Can it get any better than Edgar Allan Poe and George Lippard? Together? In 
Philly? Well then, come on down to the Philly Poe House at 7th and Spring Garden Sts in the Athens of America on Saturday, May 10, 2PM. I'll be talking about that way cool gothic novelist, journalist, labor reformer, historian, Philadelphian and friend of Poe, the mighty George Lippard!
The event is free, but reservations are recommended. Just call the Poe House at (215)597-8780 to reserve a spot.
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Fellow Poeist Rob Velella and the Philly Poe Guy
Wissahickonist Nicholas Bucci (who owns neither a TV nor a computer) and the Philly Poe Guy (who spends a lot of time with both a TV and computer)
RMWHS president Karen Sears and the Philly Poe Guy
All photos by my lovely wife, Kate
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