Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · 2d

Good morning. It's Friday!

Thoughts for today:
1) Reoccurring dream: finding a secret room, or wing, or basement of a house.
2) The House of Dies Drear is a fantastic and beautiful book.
3) Scooby Doo also once investigated a haunted skyscraper.
4) Keep trying. Be loud. Be very very loud.

The House of Secrets — by Nina Bawden | Illustrated by Wendy Worth [hardcover front cover]

The House of Dies Drear — by Virginia Hamilton [cover illustration by Eros Keith | mass market paperback front cover]

A Power Boys Adventure: The Mystery of the Haunted Skyscraper — by Mel Lyle [illustrated by Raymond Burns | hardcover front cover]

[A Power Boys Adventure: The Mystery of the Haunted Skyscraper — by Mel Lyle | illustrated by Raymond Burns | hardcover back cover detail]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · 4d

Have you sent out your Halloween cards yet?

Greeting cards and other spooky goodies available at www.SpookyPumpk.in

Spooky Pumpkin greeting card and envelope.

2 Spooky Pumpkin travel mugs: Orange Pumpkin on black mug and Black Pumpkin on orange mug.

SPOOKY PUMPKIN: Have you sent out your Halloween cards yet? Available at SpookyPumpk.in (link in bio)

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · 9d

Good morning. It's Friday!

Increasingly the houses around me in my neighborhood are growing haunted.

Last night I dreamt I was buying a big run-down hotel in a town in economic free-fall with a suitcase full of cash. Everything about it was sketchy.

Keep trying.
Be loud.
Stay warm and stay safe.

Evil [Is a Quiet Word — by Theodus Carroll] | Warner Books • 78-844 • $1.50 [cover illustration by Charles Moll | cover design by Gene Light | mass market paperback front cover]

Mystery of the Red Carnations — by Mary C. Jane | 50¢ [cover illustrator unknown | mass market paperback front cover]

Jeff and the Bad Guy — written by Aleda Renken, art by Michael Norman [mass market paperback front cover]

[Evil Is a Quiet Word — by Theodus Carroll | illustration by Charles Moll | mass market paperback inner front cover detail]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · 12d

T-shirts, hoodies, spooky pumpkins for Halloween.

Link in bio...

Black Spooky Pumpkin image on orange background

Orange spooky pumpkin on black zip-up hoodie

SPOOKY PUMPKIN — T-Shirts, hoodies, & other goodies for a frightening October. | Available at SpookyPumpk.in (link in bio)

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · 16d

Good afternoon. It's Friday! First Friday in October.

Take a break from all the horror, and lean into the spooky.

Keep trying.
Be loud.
Have some fun when you can.

Glimpse Into Terror — The latest Clarissa Ross gothic novel | A mourning young widow is suddenly gifted with ESP — but one vision is of her own nightmarish murder! | NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED | magnum M books | 74735 | $1.50 | Larger Type | EASY EYE | Non-Glare Paper [mass market paperback front cover]

Dead Romantic — by Simon Brett, Author of the Charles Paris Mysteries | First Time in Paperback | "A chilling psychological mystery." —Time | Dell • 20043-1 • U.S. $3.50 CAN. $4.50 [illustrator unknown | mass market paperback front cover with emboss]

Black & white illustration of boy in rowboat playing the flute, with tall grasses, flowers, and dense trees in the background [The Root Cellar title page illustration detail | illustration by N. R. Jackson]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · 17d

Vol 2 of my 1999 work-in-progress demo is now available on Bandcamp for streaming/download.

www.thatpromising.com

Plus, check out the reissue of Eddy Dyer's incredible 1999 debut, Explosion Alone. And give a listen to writer/cartoonist Summer Pierre's remarkable 2004 album Far From Here.

Nathan Pyritz — Rough Cuts on the Way to Poetry, Vol. 1 & Vol. 2 [album covers]

Summer Pierre — Far from Here [album cover and CD]

Eddy Dyer — Explosion Alone | Remastered 25th Anniversary Edition of a Quiet Masterpiece [album cover and 12" vinyl]

thatpromising.com | LINK IN BIO | thatpromisingseadog.bandcamp.com

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · 18d

It's October! Are you prepared?

Look your best with a spooky pumpkin shirt!
Available now at www.spookypumpk.in

Spooky Pumpkin handmade in orange tissue paper

SPOOKY PUMPKIN: T-Shirts & other goodies for a fashionable October | Available att SpookyPumpk.in (link in bio)

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · 23d

Good morning! It's Friday.

The weather is beautiful here in Boston and October approaches.

Keep trying.
Be loud.
Take care of each other everybody.

The Other Side of Time — by Keith Laumer | When time runs backward, can a world be recaptured? | Signet Science Fiction • Q5255 • 95¢ [illustrator unknown | mass market paperback front cover]

The Lincoln Hunters — by Wilson Tucker | An Ace Science Fiction Special | "A time travel classic!" –Pittsburgh Press | H-62 / 60¢ [cover art by Leo & Diane Dillon | mass market paperback front cover]

Operation Time Search — by Andre Norton | War Between Atlantis and Mu! | "One of Norton's best..." –Cleveland Press | Ace Book | 63410 / 60¢ [cover illustration by Jack Gaughan | mass market paperback front cover]

[art by Leo & Diane Dillon | The Lincoln Hunters — by Wilson Tucker | mass market paperback front cover detail]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Sep 19

Good morning. It's Friday!

Keep trying.
Be loud.
Be careful out there.

Me, My Goat, and My Sister's Wedding — by Stella Pevsner | A Minstrel Book | It's not easy to hide a goat! | A MinstrelTM Book / Published by Pocket Books / 0•671•66206•6•275 [paperback front cover — cover illustration © 1986 Paul Tankersley]

Honeymoon Confidences — by The Bride Herself [unjacketed hardcover front cover]

Mr. Tickle — by Roger Hargreaves [paperback front cover]

Extract from The New York T———, June 12, 19––: MARRIED | TURNER–GRAY,—On Wednesday, June 11, at Trinity Church, by the Rev. Frederick H. Cook, Violet Eleanor, daughter of William Worthington and Ellen Gibson Gray, to Mr. Halcom R. Turner. | TURNER–CAMERON.—On Wednesday, June 11, at Trinity Church, by the Rev. Frederick H. Cook, Janet Louise, daughter of Andrew Stilton and Margaret Allen Cameron, to Mr. Keith J. Turner. | New York City, June 12, 190–. Never have two more beautiful brides trod old Trinity's aisles than yesterday, when Miss Violet Gray, daughter of William Worthington Gray, and her dearest friend, Miss Janet Cameron, daughter of Andrew Stilton Cameron, figured in a double wedding which brought all society into town. The event was made even more interesting than usual, because of the relationship of the bridegrooms, who are twin brothers, sons of Travers J. Turner, the steel magnate. Mr. and Mrs. Halcom Turner went on board the Lusitania last evening to sail early this morning for a tour, embracing England and the Continent. Mr. and Mrs. Keith Turner left yesterday afternoon on the Twentieth Century Limited for the West. Their trip will extend as far as the coast. [interior detail from Honeymoon Confidences — by The Bride Herself]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Sep 12

Good morning. It's Friday.

I'm tired. How are you doing today?

Catseye — by Andre Norton | Ace Book | G-654 50¢ | "Admirably conceived and written, should fascinate young or old readers." — H. H. Holmes, New York Herald-Tribune | Complete & Unabridged [mass market paperback front cover | illustrator unknown]

Jemimalee — by Mary Elsie Robertson, illustrated by Judith Gwyn Brown | Avon C Camelot | The adventures of a cat who writes poetry. | $1.50 | 45849 [paperback front cover]

Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat — by Sara Swan Miller, illustrated by True Kelley [paperback front cover]

CAT [detail from back cover of Catseye — by Andre Norton | illustrator unknown]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Sep 5

Good morning! It's Bandcamp Friday.

I use this as an opportunity to share some great music I helped put into the world.

Listen for free - Bandcamp link in bio.

Nathan Pyritz — Rough Cuts on the Way to Poetry, Vol. 1 (tps002.1 [1998]) [album cover - photo and design by Nathan Pyritz]

Eddy Dyer — Explosion Alone | Remastered 25th Anniversary Edition of a Quiet Masterpiece (tps003 [1999/2024]) [album cover - photo by Kevin Mertens / design by Nathan Pyritz]

Summer Pierre — Far From Here (tps004 [2004]) [album cover - illustrations by Summer Pierre / design by Nathan Pyritz]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Aug 29

Good morning. It's Friday!

The rain is slight, cool, calming, and appreciated.

Three's a Crowd — by Marie McSwigan | T 192 [illustrator unknown | paperback front cover]

A Mother's Problem Solver — Compiled by Verna Birkey and Jeanette Turnquist | Power Books | $5.95 [illustrator unknown | paperback front cover]

Be-good-to-your-marriage Therapy — written by Kass Perry Dotterweich | illustrated by R.W. Alley | $1 [paperback front cover]

[Front cover detail from A Mother's Problem Solver — Compiled by Verna Birkey and Jeanette Turnquist | illustrator unknown]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Aug 22

Good morning. It's Friday!

The end of Summer is in sight, and it's time to start thinking about going back to school soon. What are you going to learn today?

Effective Typesetting with the IBM Tape Composer — by Christina Gardner | (sticker: #13 | IBM Typesetting Book | $5.xx [hardcover book cover]

Automatic Production Planning for the Construction of Complex Ships — by Christopher Rose [paperback book cover]

Recorder Playing — by Steve Rosenberg [paperback book cover]

[Recorder Playing | paperback book back cover detail]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Aug 15

Good morning. It's Friday again!

Where is my mind?

The Mind Cage — by A. E. van Vogt | America's most widely-read writer of science-fiction again demonstrates his superb gift for combining high-voltaged suspense and incredible imagination in . . . THE MIND CAGE | TOWER | 43-503 | 60¢ | A Tower Book [mass-market paperback front cover - illustrator unknown. For the first three years of his life, Alfred Vogt only spoke Plautdietsch at home. He was never a Scientologist.]

The Mind Traders — by J. Hunter Holly | Alone on an alien planet where every living creature was an enemy | MB MacFadden Books | 60¢ | 60-291 [mass market paperback front cover — illustrator unknown. Joan Carol Holly lived and wrote in Lansing, Michigan and from her various book dedications, had a strong love of cats.]

Wild Talent — by Wilson Tucker | ESP ruled his life and tormented the nation! | Avon / G1301 / 50¢ | "A first-rate thriller ... suspense, surprise, and fast readability." —New York Herald Tribune [mass market paperback front cover. Arthur Wilson "Bob" Tucker coined the term "space opera".]

[back cover detail from The Mind Cage, by A. E. van Vogt]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Aug 8

It's Friday. I am on vacation.

[Clear glass duckling with orange beak, outside beneath a roof] (photo by Nathan W. Pyritz)

Shelter — Cambridge, Massachusetts | 2025

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Aug 1

Today is Bandcamp Friday. What a good day to try some new music.

#summerpierre #eddydyer #bandcamp #thatpromisingseadogmedia

Today is Bandcamp Friday | August 1, 2025 | Any day is a great day to try new music. Today it just helps us a little bit more.

Summer Pierre - Far From Here (2004) [CD & Jewel Case] | On CD, download, and streaming

Eddy Dyer - Explosion Alone [Remastered 25th Anniversary Edition] (2024) [Album cover & orange vinyl record] | On vinyl, download, and streaming

THANK YOU! | https://www.thatpromising.com | https://thatpromisingseadog.bandcamp.com

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Jul 25

Good morning. It's Friday.

It's time to drop the needle.
Drop the mic.
Drop the charade.

Chipmunk Punk | Featuring: Simon, Theodore & Alvin | Excelsior [12" record jacket front cover - art by Doug Oudekerk]

Pac-Man Fever | Buckner & Garcia [12" record jacket front cover]

Music inspired by Star Wars and Other Galactic Funk by Meco [12" record jacket front cover - art by Robert Rodriguez]

Alvin [Chipmunk Punk | 12" record jacket back cover detail - art by Doug Oudekerk]

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Jul 18

Good morning. It's Friday!

Choose your own adventure.

Incident at Exeter: Unidentified Flying Objects Over America Now — by John G. Fuller | A nationwide bestseller at $5.95 — NOW 75¢ | Berkley | S1354 [mass market paperback cover]

The Fleet - Book 1 — Edited by David Drake and Bill Fawcett | Featuring ... Anne McCaffrey, Poul Anderson, Gary Gygax, Margaret Weis and Others! | In the far reaches of space they are mankind's last line of defense against alien forces | ACE • 0-441-24086-0 • [$4.75 CANADA] • $3.50 U.S. [mass market paperback cover - illustration by James Gurney]

The Fleet - Book 3: Break Through — Edited by David Drake and Bill Fawcett | Featuring ... Larry Niven, Steve Perry, Gary Gygax and Others! | They've tasted the blood of defeat. Now the brave men and women of the Fleet live only for victory! | ACE • 0-441-24105-0 • [$4.95 CANADA] • $3.95 U.S. [mass market paperback cover - illustration by James Gurney]

[Detail from back cover of The Fleet - Book 3: Break Through — Edited by David Drake and Bill Fawcett - illustration by James Gurney]

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Jul 11

Good morning? It's Friday!

I'm only happy 'cause of you.
I'm only happy when I'm blue.

The Boatniks | Walt Disney Productions | TX 1797 60¢ [paperback front cover]

The Love Bug | Walt Disney Productions... | TX 1477 / 60¢ [paperback front cover]

Charlie The Lonesome Cougar | Based on the Walt Disney Motion Piction | 45¢ | TX 1159 [paperback front cover]

Jim (Dean Jones): the racing driver who was a failure — until Herbie came along | Carole (Michele Lee): a beautiful girl who knows more about cars and racing than most men | Peter Thorndyke (David Tomlinson): Jim's — and Herbie's — worst enemy | Tennessee (Buddy Hackett): the "hippie" mechanic who really understands Herbie | Herbie: the little car with a mind — and a heart — of its own | Now in story form, with photos — the wacky, wonderful Disney movie about a lovable little car that always crosses the finish line first. | Cover photos: Copyright MCMLXVIII Walt Disney Productions | SBS Scholastic Book Services | New York Toronto London Auckland Sydney [paperback back cover detail]

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Jul 4

Good morning. It's Friday, July 4th.

249 years ago, we took a stand against tyranny.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The American Political Tradition — by Richard Hofstadter | A Vintage Book | V-9 | $1.65 [paperback front cover]

Many Peoples One Country — (by Frederica B. Coons, with William H. Cartwright, Milton C. Lee, and John Prater) [hardcover textbook front cover]

Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock 'N' Roll Music — by Greil Marcus | "Probably the best book ever written about rock." — Rolling Stone | Brattle Book Shop - JUL 19 2016 $1 EACH +TX | Stereo Jack's $2.99 [paperback front cover]

[Many Peoples One Country — front cover detail]]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Jun 27

Good morning. It's Friday!

Thursday was a highway, and we had to ride it all day long. In a moment we'll be on the road again.

From Here to Eternity - by James Jones [hardcover front case cover sans jacket]

The Immortality Factor - by Osborn Segerberg, Jr. | Is It Really Possible? | Can We Live Forever? | Here Is An Electrifying Progress Report on Man's Search for Eternal Life. | Y8183 * $1.95 * A Bantam Book [mass market paperback front cover]

Savage Messiah - by H. S. Ede [hardcover jacket front cover]

[The Immortality Factor | front cover detail]

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Jun 20

Good morning June. It's Friday!

The heat is on. The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind.

Ifigenia | Tomo I - by Teresa de la Parra | Monte Avila Editores [paperback front cover]

The Salt Eaters - by Toni Cade Bambara | "...This is Talent." —John Leonard. The New York Times | $3.95 • V-05•394-75050-0 | Montiel [mass market paperback front cover]

Ifigenia | Tomo II - by Teresa de la Parra | Monte Avila Editores [paperback front cover]

MONTIEL [The Salt Eaters - by Toni Cade Bambara — mass market paperback front cover detail]

Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · Jun 13

Good morning. It's Friday. The Thirteenth.

Headphones on. Billy Bragg playing on the iPod. The Clash playing on the coffeeshop speakers. I'm conflicted.

The Summer Game — by Roger Angell | author of FIVE SEASONS | Popular Library | 0-445-08218-6 $2.95 | "The Nation's #1 Choice" —Chicago Tribune | Coast-to-Coast Bestseller! [mass market paperback front cover]

The Red Plains of Jounima — by Dorothy Cork | A Harlequin Romance | 1784 | 60¢ [mass market paperback front cover]

The Natural — by Bernard Malamud | Now a Major Tri-Star Motion Picture Starring Robert Redford | All he ever wanted was to be the best. | Avon Books • 0-308-50609-2 • (Canada $4.95) • U.S. $3.95 [mass market paperback front cover]

...ore attractive personality to ...ow to the sophisticated ...gela Glas? | A HARLEQUIN Romance | ...NADA [The Red Plains of Jounima back cover detail]

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · May 30

Loved/love that magazine. Great reading and beautiful too. I also have a nearly complete collection. Was so bummed when it ended suddenly.

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Nathan Pyritz @npyritz.bsky.social · May 30

Good morning. It's Friday! I'm starting mine with a hot drink in town. Heading home in a few minutes with a cold drink.

Find a VIctim - by Ross Mac-Donald | A Lew Archer Novel | "The Finest Series of Detective Stories Ever Written by an American." - The New York TImes | N7432 * 95¢ * A Bantam Book [mass market paperback front cover]

Fifth Business - by Robertson Davies | "Davies’ trilogy is one of the splendid literary enterprises of this decade." Peter Prescott — Newsweek [mass market paperback front cover]

I Come As a Thief - A Novel by Louis Auchincloss [tattered and torn hardcover book jacket]

ROSS MAC- DONALD [Find a Victim paperback cover detail]